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History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week - John N. Andrews

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some say as old as Sylvester [pope in Constantine's<br />

time], o<strong>the</strong>rs as <strong>the</strong> apostles <strong>the</strong>mselves. Secondly,<br />

it is very generally disseminated: <strong>the</strong>re is no<br />

country where it has not gained some footing.<br />

Thirdly, while o<strong>the</strong>r sects are pr<strong>of</strong>ane <strong>and</strong><br />

blasphemous, this retains <strong>the</strong> utmost show <strong>of</strong> piety;<br />

<strong>the</strong>y live justly before men, <strong>and</strong> believe nothing<br />

respecting God which is not good."[13]<br />

Mr. Jones gives Saccho's own opinion as<br />

follows:--<br />

"Their enemies confirm <strong>the</strong>ir great antiquity.<br />

Reinerius Saccho, an inquisitor, <strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

most cruel persecutors, who lived only eighty years<br />

after Waldo [A.D.1160], admits that <strong>the</strong> Waldenses<br />

flourished five hundred years before that preacher.<br />

Gretser, <strong>the</strong> Jesuit, who also wrote against <strong>the</strong><br />

Waldenses, <strong>and</strong> had examined <strong>the</strong> subject fully, not<br />

only admits <strong>the</strong>ir great antiquity, but declares his<br />

firm belief that <strong>the</strong> Toulousians <strong>and</strong> Albigenses<br />

condemned in <strong>the</strong> years 1177 <strong>and</strong> 1178, were no<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> Waldenses."[14]<br />

702

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