But hear what he further says, as he adds a jeering comparison, saying, “That the heretics, who never swear, are like the devil, of whom we do not read that he ever swore.” Page 434, col. 3.
I pray thee, beloved reader, see now, by what author Mellinus seeks to establish his case. It is true, he first quotes this author when presenting the articles of the Waldenses, and this for the reason that the latter has presented them in such a manner that they in every part militate against the Roman church; but now, seeing that said author has presented the article respecting the swearing of oaths (in which the Waldenses deny all swearing) in such a way that it militates against the Calvinistic church, he begins, in order to make the matter doubtful, and to deprive the Waldenses of the article relative to non-swearing, to quote from said author again, and this, in mocking and impious language.
But, becoming more discreet, he commences to extol that which is expressed in the eighteenth article, relative to the swearing of the Waldenses, above the manner of the papists, saying: “But they (the Waldenses) who have learned from Christ, ‘Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil’ (Matt. 5:37), will judge, that the papists, among whom the practice of daily swearing so frivolously is in vogue, are more like that Evil One, that is, the devil, than the Waldenses, who guarding against lying and swearing, and in their daily conversation, are wont to say only, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; as this same writer acknowledges in regard to them. They guard against back-biting, foul words, lying, and swearing, and, as another inquisitor has said: They are prudent in their words, avoid all lying and swearing; also, they teach to avoid all lying, back-biting, and swearing.” A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 434, col. 3, from Frehed. Hist. Bohem., page 232.
With these and like passages from the preceding authors, Mellinus has sought to embellish the Waldenses, to indicate, that they were pious, upright and moral people; but in the mean time he forgot himself, not once thinking that thereby he abundantly establishes that which in other places he endeavors to refute, namely, that the Waldenses rejected all swearing of oaths.
Here we see how excellent truth is, that it cannot remain hid, but is brought to light even by its opponents, either unintentionally or otherwise. I should here leave this subject, but as Mellinus has helped me on the way to show him his perverted zeal, I find it necessary to enter more deeply into the matter. This good, but perversely zealous man, having put all his arguments aside, plainly relates, from an old papistic work of three hundred years ago, that the Waldenses believed all oaths to be mortal sins; yea, that they considered him who would compel another to swear, worse than a murderer. A. Mell. 2d book, fol. 432, col. 4, from Illyrie. Catal., lib. 15, Tit. Waldens. See also, Conferedit. Freher. in Hist. Bohem. and Gretser. Sweluc. Tudens.
Of such and similar passages the writers who present the views of the Waldenses, are full to overflowing, so that it is as clear as the sun, that these people rejected the swearing of oaths and everything that resembles it, even to the saying of the word, Verily, or Certainly, etc.; of which the aforesaid writer also makes mention, saying: “They (the Waldenses) do not say to one another, Verily, Certainly, or the like.”[156] Fol. 432, col. 4.
All this was done from fear of swearing in any wise, because the Lord had so expressly said, “Swear not at all.” Matt. 5:34; hence, they avoided all manners which bore any resemblance to the swearing of oaths.
But, lest any should think that the Albigenses, who were one people with the Waldenses (though others distinguish between them), differed from them in their views, belief, and practice as regards this point, let him read what is noted in the Martyrs Mirror, edition of 1631, page 51, col. 2; where it is stated, from Baronius, for A. D. 1178, num. 3, 4: “That many of the Albigenses, from fear of severe punishment, feigned return to the Roman church; but when an oath was demanded of them, they refused to swear; hence they were pronounced heretics and solemnly, with burning tapers, excommunicated, with an injunction to all Catholics, to shun them; and to all (Romanistic) princes, to expel them from their dominions.
OF THE VIEWS OF THE WALDENSES AGAINST NEARLY ALL ARTICLES OF THE ROMAN CHURCH.
Reinerius, who has written against the Waldenses, gives the following testimony respecting them, as the Jesuits confess in their own print.