e heavens; and it is
greater than the city, by the holy prophets named Babylon, which pretends
to be divine, wins herself to heaven, and brags that her wisdom is
immortal; and finally, though without reason, that she never did err, nor
ever can."(351)

Others arose from century to century to echo this protest. And those early
teachers, who, traversing different lands and known by various names, bore
the character of the Vaudois missionaries, and spread everywhere the
knowledge of the gospel, penetrated to the Netherlands. Their doctrines
spread rapidly. The Waldensian Bible they translated in verse into the
Dutch language. They declared "that there was great advantage in it; no
jests, no fables, no trifles, no deceits, but the words of truth; that
indeed there was here and there a hard crust, but that the marrow and
sweetness of what was good and holy might be easily discovered in
it."(352) Thus wrote the friends of the ancient faith, in the twelfth
century.

Now began the Romish persecutions; but in the midst of fagots and torture
the believers continued to multiply, steadfastly declaring that the Bible
is the only infallible authority in religion, and that "no man should be
coerced to believe, but should be won by preaching."(353)

The teachings of Luther found a congenial soil in the Netherlands, and
earnest and faithful men arose to preach the gospel. From one of the
provinces of Holland came Menno Simons. Educated a Roman Catholic, and
ordained to the priesthood, he was wholly ignorant of the Bible, and he
would not read it, for fear of being beguiled into heresy. When a doubt
concerning the doctrine of transubstantiation forced itself upon him, he
regarded it as a temptation from Satan, and by prayer and confession
sought to free himself from it; but in vain. By mingling in scenes of
dissipation he endeavored to silence the accusing voice of conscience; but
without avail. After a time he was led to the study of the New Testament,
and this, with Luther's writings, caused him to accept the reformed faith.
He soon after witnessed in a neighboring village the beheading of a man
who was put to death for having been rebaptized. This led him to study the
Bible in regard to infant baptism. He could find no evidence for it in the
Scriptures, but saw that repentance and faith are everywhere required as
the condition of receiving baptism.

Menno withdrew from the Roman Church, and devoted his life to teaching the
truths