eld their increase.
Economy and severe self-denial formed a part of the education which the
children received as their only legacy. They were taught that God designs
life to be a discipline, and that their wants could be supplied only by
personal labor, by forethought, care, and faith. The process was laborious
and wearisome, but it was wholesome, just what man needs in his fallen
state, the school which God has provided for his training and development.
While the youth were inured to toil and hardship, the culture of the
intellect was not neglected. They were taught that all their powers
belonged to God, and that all were to be improved and developed for His
service.

The Vaudois churches, in their purity and simplicity, resembled the church
of apostolic times. Rejecting the supremacy of pope and prelate, they held
the Bible as the only supreme, infallible authority. Their pastors, unlike
the lordly priests of Rome, followed the example of their Master, who
"came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." They fed the flock of
God, leading them to the green pastures and living fountains of His holy
word. Far from the monuments of human pomp and pride, the people
assembled, not in magnificent churches or grand cathedrals, but beneath
the shadow of the mountains, in the Alpine valleys, or, in time of danger,
in some rocky stronghold, to listen to the words of truth from the
servants of Christ. The pastors not only preached the gospel, but they
visited the sick, catechized the children, admonished the erring, and
labored to settle disputes and promote harmony and brotherly love. In
times of peace they were sustained by the freewill offerings of the
people; but, like Paul the tent-maker, each learned some trade or
profession by which, if necessary, to provide for his own support.

From their pastors the youth received instruction. While attention was
given to branches of general learning, the Bible was made the chief study.
The Gospels of Matthew and John were committed to memory, with many of the
Epistles. They were employed also in copying the Scriptures. Some
manuscripts contained the whole Bible, others only brief selections, to
which some simple explanations of the text were added by those who were
able to expound the Scriptures. Thus were brought forth the treasures of
truth so long concealed by those who sought to exalt themselves above God.

By patient, untiring labor, sometimes in the deep, dark caverns of the