preserving the churches which had never submitted to Popery. Their otherwise depressed condition is alluded to in the following plea, which may partly account for the low state of religion afterwards observed in them: "That the wives and families of the pastors may have some little support to prevent them from falling into destitution after the death of the minister, as is almost always the case, both because the amount of property is trifling where the culture of the earth is very laborious, and because the stipends of the pastors are so very inconsiderable that nothing can be reserved. Hence, scarcely any one devotes a son to the ministry, as it is devoting him to misery, and thus the churches are almost always without the requisite number of ministers."

Other letters make known the petty vexations to which the Romanists subjected the Protestants, for instance, as to decoying their children from their homes and placing them in convents, which proceeding is still continued, as we shall have to state. It is the same spirit, and the result is the same, though the outward demonstration may be less marked than when, to apply the words of the prophet, they were openly seen literally "inflaming themselves with idols-slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks."

CHAPTER X.

Later times-River Cluson-Restrictions placed upon Protestants-Vaudois loyalty-Last attempted massacre-Reign of Bonaparte-Characteristics of the Vaudois-Their poverty -Rural occupations-Letters of Felix Neff-Conclusion.

As to the more recent state of the churches of the Vaudois, they must be compared rather with their continental neighbours, than with their ancient forefathers. It is not, therefore, surprising, that till within the last generation, few indications of real spirituality were seen in them.

The Waldenses, for the most part, have been kept clear from false doctrines, but they have yielded to the admission of many worldly practices. Leger observes that this was the case, even in his time. Professed Protestants, as well as Romanists, there may often be seen doing their pleasure on God's holy day;" joining together in singing, dancing, and improving their skill by shooting at a mark, as though the day were theirown; but the most pious of their clergy have, of late, exerted themselves to put down these habits, and such pastimes are in several places restricted to the Roman Catholic festivals on week days. Even at their social gatherings in their winter stables, some are known to amuse themselves with cards and dice, while other

parties assemble for the purpose of Scripture reading and prayer. It is needless to ask which practice is the most consistent with the character of their pious fathers; but are there not many in England of whom similar observations might be made? Dr. Henderson has given an interesting account of his conversation with a poor field labourer, who spoke to him with great simplicity of the advantages he had derived from associating with his neighbours in the exercises of prayer and praise, and gladly laid aside his work that he might hear how his Christian brethren in England were benefited by similar meetings. Now, as in ancient days, it may, we trust, be said, "they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it," Mal. iii. 16.

The river Cluson is now considered as the boundary between the Protestant and the Romanist communities. It is related, that a member of the latter body having been impressed by the exhortations of a Vaudois pastor, they were accustomed to meet for the purposes of religious intercourse, in the evening, or rather at midnight, for the sake of secrecy. Just as these interviews appeared to have been productive of benefit, a sudden storm had swollen the stream till it overflowed its banks, and deluged the surrounding fields. The pastor, however, had promised to visit his convert, and to fail in performing his promise would have appeared to be distrust of the Divine protection. He swam across, and

returned in safety, though he risked his life in the attempt, but this, doubtless, afforded to his auditor a proof of his thorough sincerity. It is pleasing to find that his efforts seem to have been successful. A traveller remarks, that this adventure was scarcely more formidable than what the ordinary functions of the pastors of the Waldenses frequently demand from them during the months of winter. And at that season, the mountains are only to be climbed by those whose feet are protected by clogs with iron spikes.

The banks of the Cluson abound with beautiful scenery. There is a considerable tract of the richest meadow land between the river and the lofty rugged heights in the distance, on which, at different elevations, various cottages are fixed with their small terraced fields and gardens. The valley produces many chestnut, mulberry and almond trees.

Has this pleasing situation any influence in inducing the occupants to yield to the requirements which constrain them to disobey the laws of God? The student of Scripture will recollect the choice made by the Reubenites and Gadites, and the event, Numb. xxxii., Joshua xxi. Suffice it to observe that the Protestants of the valleys are still subject to many vexatious restrictions, which of late have been increased. They are by no means placed on an equal footing with the Papists around them. At the early age of seven years, their children may be taken from them, and bribed or threat

ened into a profession of the Romish faith. They are forbidden to work in the fields on the Popish saints' days, of which there is one in every week, and sometimes two or three. Meanwhile their principles require them to rest on the sabbath, which their Roman Catholic neighbours neglect. Their earnings are therefore small; bread itself is a luxury they cannot always obtain. Jackson mentions several peasants who could only procure Bibles, by abstaining from buying salt for their porridge.

They are strictly prohibited from making proselytes from Romanism. Such an event, if known, might be fatal to both parties. For this reason, the pastors are forbidden to sleep out of the limits of their own parishes; not long since one, who went to a distance, and was prevented from returning by a severe storm, actually had to sit up all night, and be careful that he might fulfil this enactment to the letter.

The manner in which children are often made proselytes to Popery has been noticed; it is further shown by a more recent occurrence which took place in the valley of St. Martin, in a family which appear afterwards to have intermarried with that of the moderator Peyran. A little girl, of seven years old, though carefully instructed in the Vaudois creed, was allowed to associate with the children of the neighbouring Papists. She was clever, and was able to answer the solicitations which they used towards her; but at the same time, according to