The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 69
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 the 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 tentmaker, 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
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