The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 50

The European Union in Prophecy
their minds dwelling upon their sinful condition, seeing themselves exposed to the
wrath of God, afflicting soul and body, yet finding no relief. Thus conscientious souls
were bound by the doctrines of Rome. Thousands abandoned friends and kindred, and
spent their lives in convent cells. By oft-repeated fasts and cruel scourgings, by
midnight vigils, by prostration for weary hours upon the cold, damp stones of their
dreary abode, by long pilgrimages, by humiliating penance and fearful torture,
thousands vainly sought to obtain peace of conscience. Oppressed with a sense of sin,
and haunted with the fear of God's avenging wrath, many suffered on, until exhausted
nature gave way, and without one ray of light or hope they sank into the tomb.
The Waldenses longed to break to these starving souls the bread of life, to open
to them the messages of peace in the promises of God, and to point them to Christ as
their only hope of salvation. The doctrine that good works can atone for the
transgression of God's law they held to be based upon falsehood. Reliance upon human
merit intercepts the view of Christ's infinite love. Jesus died as a sacrifice for man
because the fallen race can do nothing to recommend themselves to God. The merits
of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith. The
dependence of the soul upon Christ is as real, and its connection with Him must be as
close, as that of a limb to the body, or of a branch to the vine.
The teachings of popes and priests had led men to look upon the character of
God, and even of Christ, as stern, gloomy, and forbidding. The Saviour was
represented as so far devoid of sympathy with man in his fallen state that the
mediation of priests and saints must be invoked. Those whose minds had been
enlightened by the word of God longed to point these souls to Jesus as their
compassionate, loving Saviour, standing with outstretched arms, inviting all to come
to Him with their burden of sin, their care and weariness. They longed to clear away
the obstructions which Satan had piled up that men might not see the promises, and
come directly to God, confessing their sins, and obtaining pardon and peace.
Eagerly did the Vaudois missionary unfold to the inquiring mind the precious
truths of the gospel. Cautiously he produced the carefully written portions of the Holy
Scriptures. It was his greatest joy to give hope to the conscientious, sin-stricken soul,
who could see only a God of vengeance, waiting to execute justice. With quivering lip
and tearful eye did he, often on bended knees, open to his brethren the precious
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