Conclusion to the Fifteenth Century, in the Year 1500

Thus it appears clearly that the old true Waldenses existed, and practiced their worship not only throughout the fifteenth century, but also long afterward, as will be seen from the rest of our account. But that the number of the witnesses we have produced from the Waldenses has not been very great in this century — of this not we, but the enemies of truth have been the cause, who put the writings of these people out of the way.

The writer of the History of Baptism explains this when he says, page 749 to page 750: [n498-1]

1. "That there are so few public testimonies left from the faithful old Waldenses in this fifteenth century, that is, between the years 1400 and 1500, is the fault of their enemies and opponents, who by strategy and violence, as much as they alone could, suppressed their writings and confessions.

2. "Besides, the Waldenses were always and everywhere most cruelly persecuted by their opponents, without a hearing, which prevented them from bringing anything to good light.

3. "Printing came into use only in the fifteenth century, and at its beginning it was for a long time not as common as it now is; so the Waldenses and their successors could not make use of it.

4. "Besides, it was not so absolutely necessary, since their confessions concerning the true use, and the abuse, of baptism came to light well enough through their martyrs, and through the inquisitions and examinations, which their enemies and murderers themselves had to copy into their chronicles and chronologies, much of which has already been presented. From Catal. Test. Verit. Flacc. [n498-2]

5. "Moreover, God, in the midst of His enemies, at all times miraculously preserved in the text of the New Testament the right and true baptismal ordinance of Jesus Christ (that is, baptism upon faith), and also, in many, the Christian baptism of adults, to which they obediently submitted, and suffered patiently all that came upon them on this account.

6. "Finally, the ancient writers throughout all the centuries from the time of Christ until now, indeed, the teachers of the Roman church themselves, had to bear witness to the truth in their books, and to confess by whom infant baptism and all other abuses of baptism were brought in and arbitrarily forced upon the church, and by whom this has everywhere been opposed, as has been shown up to this point. So it is neither useful nor necessary to write much about it, since it serves no purpose. Truth is praised also by the enemy.

This will be enough concerning the testimony of those who in the fifteenth century understood, taught and practiced baptism and other articles according to the rule of the Anabaptists of the present day. So we will leave this matter, and see what persons in those times steadfastly testified with their blood and death to this confession.