CHAPTER XI. TIMES OF REFRESHING IN THE MEDIEVAL AND DARK AGES-THE WALDENSES. The WE now approach that period in the history of the Church, extending from the sixth century to the time of the glorious Reformation in the sixteenth century. This long and mournful period, which we truly designate as the "dark ages," was ushered in by growing superstition in the Church, and by advancing and momentous changes in the Roman empire. The Gospel net had been widely cast, and, as the Saviour had foretold, had gathered of every kind, both bad and good.”* Church, freed from persecution, enjoying the sunshine of imperial and worldly favour, gradually sunk into a state of superstition, worldliness, and formalism. The rapid and easy transition of multitudes from Paganism to Christianity, the substitution of a nominal and showy form of Christian profession in the place of vital and simple godliness, prepared the way for that awful corruption of the Gospel and apostasy from the faith, which soon fully developed itself in the Papacy—that "Man of Sin" foretold by St. Paul.† The "let," or * Matt. xiii. 47, 48. † 2 Thess. ii. 3. hindrance, to the manifestation of this Antichristian Power, to which the Apostle had adverted, was about to be "taken away." The Empire of the Roman Cæsars was fast breaking up, and its "dominion and greatness" were passing into other hands. The enervated legions of the once mighty Rome proved too feeble effectually to resist the countless hordes of the barbarian Goths and Vandals now breaking in upon the empire. "At this crisis, very different was the conduct of various professors of Christianity and ministers of the Gospel. Some of the latter, disgusted by the general depravity, desirous of flying from the contagion of evil, or alarmed for their general safety, had deserted their parochial charges, and betaken themselves to the monasteries. Others had become negligent and careless, and were absorbed in the common vortex of iniquity. Many of the laics, who were religiously disposed, but who had no spiritual guidance to keep them in the right way, separated themselves from their domestic and social ties, put away their wives, abandoned their children, and professing a new kind of abstinence, occasioned great scandal to the name of Christianity. Abandonment of some sort seemed to be the universal infatuation. licentious, and they who cared nothing about religion, were given over to work all uncleanness with greediness. The pious were not satisfied with the precepts of the Law and the Gospel, but tried to find out for themselves a more perfect way, and sought new means of propitiat The ing the Divine wrath, of gaining for themselves supernatural protectors, and of appeasing a God, who, as they were taught to believe, was not satisfied with the sacrifice of his only-begotten Son."* The same writer, speaking of the earlier portion of the period now under review, adds:-"One abuse had followed another in rapid and appalling succession. First came the undue veneration of the memory of holy men, then commemorations in their honour, which savoured of religious services, such as ought to be observed to glorify the Supreme only. Next, the bones and ashes of the pious dead were pronounced to be objects worthy of religious reverence, and for those search was made, and imposture after imposture accompanied their exhumation and exposure to the public eye. The translation of relics from place to place, the divulsion of them, and the deposit of them entire or by morsels, under altars and in churches, led to solemn processions and pilgrimages, and to all manner of extravagant display. They were wrapt in fine linen, and placed in caskets of gold and silver, enriched with precious stones, and the spots where they were enshrined were approached with the utmost awe. Observances, such as the heathen were wont to love, and which certainly were imposing and captivating, found acceptance with the clergy, because they attracted the people. Lights, incense, garlands, tapestry, and music, with all that pomp and pageantry could do to swell the number of reverential and admir * Dr. Gilly's "Vigilantius," pp. 367, 368. ing votaries, were exhibited at these shrines where relics were deposited. Intoxicated with the splendour of the rites by day, and awe-struck by the solemnities that continued through the night, when vigils were kept from sunset to sunrise, individuals were found who fancied they heard sounds and saw sights of preternatural wonder. Some thought that they were admonished or encouraged, or sent on extraordinary missions, by the spirit of the departed saint; others imagined they were suddenly cured of distempers; and miracles were forthwith said to be wrought at these consecrated places."* It is no wonder, amidst this thickening gloom of growing superstition, that the Church, forsaking her duty of upholding the standard of pure truth, lost the reviving and transforming power, and rapidly sunk into a fearful state of spiritual decay and apostasy. Still less can we wonder, that as the consequence and punishment of the Church's unfaithfulness, the Almighty permitted the rise and power of the Papacy, the Antichrist of the West, and of Mohammedanism, the Antichrist of the East; these great antichristian powers arose about the same time to desolate and lay waste "the heritage of the Lord," and have remained up to the present time the two great antagonistic impediments to the spread of the Gospel. It is pleasing, however, to remark, that God, who had promised never to forsake his true Church, and Vigilantius," pp. 442–444. that "the gates of hell should not prevail against her," during this long period of darkness and superstition, left not Himself without witnesses of the power of vital godliness and true Christianity. There was "a little flock"--a witnessing Church, though "prophesying in sackcloth," which upheld the standard of his pure truth. These were God's "hidden ones," to whom He vouchsafed "times of refreshing," whom He blessed, and made blessings to others. The historian of the Reformation records a touching anecdote illustrative of this "In the year 1776, an old building was pulled down, which had formed part of the ancient Carthusian convent at Basle. In a hole in the wall was found secreted a box, in which a poor brother of the Order had deposited some writings. In one of these appeared the following confession : "O most merciful God, I know that I can only be saved, and satisfy thy righteousness, by the merit, the innocent suffering and death of thy well-beloved Son. Holy Jesus! my salvation is in thy hands. Thou canst not withdraw the hands of thy love from me, for they have created and redeemed me. Thou hast inscribed my name with a pen of iron, in rich mercy, and so as nothing can efface it, on thy side, thy hands, and thy feet." Many such instances of true piety occur to us, as we carry our review along the stream of the dark ages, which we cannot stay to notice. Such, and numerous other facts, prove that God had a witnessing Church in |