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All ye holy disciples of our Lord,
All ye holy innocents,

St. Stephen,

St. Lawrence,

All ye holy martyrs,

St. Silvester,

St. Gregory,

St. Augustine,

All ye holy Bishops and Confessors,
St. Benedict,

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Pray for him.

'All ye men and women, Saints of God, intercede for him.

'DEPART, Christian soul, out of this world, in the name of God the Father, Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of Holy Ghost, who sanctified thee; in the name of the angels, archangels, thrones and dominations, cherubim and seraphim; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy apostles and evangelists, of the holy martyrs, confessors, monks and hermits, of the holy virgins and of all the saints of God: may thy place be this day in peace, and thy abode in holy Sion. Through Christ our Lord.'

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AGAINST GOD TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME AND HIS TABERNACLE AND THEM THAT DWELL IN HEA

VEN."-Verse 6.

By the expression "them that dwell in heaven," we are to understand not only those who are actually in heaven, or those who are with Christ in paradise, but real Christians, militant here on earth. This interpretation of the passage we ground on that passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians :-" But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (chap. ii. verses 4-6.)

Now real Christians, who dwell in heaven, who are

raised up together and are made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the Bishop of Rome blasphemes. No matter how holy, how exemplary, how godly their lives may be. He brands them all as HERETICS, and consigns them over without mercy to everlasting perdition.

The Cathari, or Puritans of the twelfth century, were denounced as HERETICS; and yet Bernard scrupled not to draw their character as follows.-' If you ask them of their faith, nothing can be more Christian; if you observe their conversation, nothing can be more blameless; and what they speak they prove by deeds. You may see a man, for the testimony of his faith, frequent the Church, honour the elders, offer his gift, make his confession, receive the sacrament. What more like a Christian? As to life and manners, he circumvents no man, overreaches no man, and does violence to no man. He fasts much, he eats not the bread of idleness, he works with his hands for his support.'

In the middle of this century, Peter Waldo, a rich merchant of Lyons, was led either to translate the Scriptures himself, or to procure their translation by others, into the vulgar tongue; and thus had the honour of being the first individual who gave the word of God to the people in any modern language of Europe. No sooner did he and his followers employ the Scriptures, thus translated, in exposing the errors of the Church of Rome, than they were anathematized and excommunicated. In 1172, the Archbishop of Lyons inhibited him from teaching any

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more, on pain of excommunication, and of being proceeded against as an HERETIC; to which Waldo replied, that though a layman, he would not be silent in a matter which concerned the salvation of his fellow-creatures. On this the Pope pronounced him an HERETIC, anathematized him and his adherents, and commanded the Archbishop to proceed against him with the utmost rigour. Waldo was compelled to leave Lyons, and to become a wanderer for the rest of his life. In anathematizing as a HERETIC this eminent servant of Christ, Alexander III. unconsciously verified the passage which we are considering: "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme them that dwell in heaven.' Waldo was indeed a real Christian, one who dwelt in heaven. Having clearly seen, from a careful perusal of the Scriptures, the only way of salvation, through faith in the righteousness of Christ, he was exceedingly desirous of communicating the same knowledge of divine truths to others. For this purpose he abandoned his mercantile pursuits, distributed his wealth among the poor; and, while they flocked to him to partake of his alms, he laboured to impress upon their minds the paramount importance of eternal concerns. He also maintained, at his own expense, several persons who were employed to recite and expound his translation to the people. Being driven from Lyons, he proceeded to Germany, carrying with him the glad tidings of salvation; and at length he settled in Bohemia, where he died, after having been engaged for nearly twenty years in publicly instructing the people.'

With respect to the character of the Waldenses, their bitterest persecutors were forced to bear testimony to the uprightness, integrity, and purity of life of these witnesses for the truth. An inquisitor, who wrote against them, describes them in the following language :—' These HERETICS are known by their manners and conversation. In behaviour they are composed and modest, and no pride appears in their apparel. They neither indulge in finery of attire, nor are remarkable for being ragged or mean. They get their livelihood by manual industry, as day-labourers or mechanics, and their teachers are weavers or tailors. They are not anxious about amassing riches, but content themselves with the necessaries of life. They are chaste, temperate, and sober, and abstain from anger. Even when they work, they either learn or teach. In like manner, also, their women are very modest; avoiding backbiting, foolish jesting, and levity of speech, especially abstaining from lies and swearing.' Seysillius, speaking of the Waldenses, says;— It much strengthens them, that, their HERESY excepted, they generally live a purer life than other Christians. They never swear but by compulsion, and seldom take the name of God in vain: they fulfil their promises with good faith; and, living for the most part in poverty, they profess that they at once preserve the apostolical life and doctrine.' Lelenstenius, a Dominican, says of the Waldenses of Bohemia: In morals and life they are good: true in words, and unanimous in brotherly love; but their faith is incorrigible and vile, as I have

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