Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

(6.) While Waldo may have been the founder of a party he certainly did not
originate the Waldenses.
(7.) If Waldo did found a party it probably was absorbed and assimilated by
the previously existing Waldenses and others like them.
(8.) Even if Waldo’s party had never been absorbed and corrected by the
others, since the Waldenses whence Baptists are descended are the great and
original body of the Waldenses, which were never a part of the Romish
church, the apostolic continuity line is in no way disturbed. As we have seen,
Waldo’s party — if he founded one — joined the others.
(9.) The Waldenses were but Petrobrussians, Henricians, Arnoldists,
Catharists, Albigenses and Paulicians. In doctrine, organization and practice
they were essentially the same. Whether they were all of one line of descent
from the Apostles is a question of no practical importance; though most of
them probably descended through the Paulician line.
(10.) While there is much direct evidence proving the mass of Waldenses were
ecclesiastically, f676 from the very first, in no way a part of the Romish church,
the discussion of this subject in this and the previous chapter, has incidentally
furnished other proof of this.
(11.) While Dieckhoff and Herzog have rendered service in examining and
sifting Waldensian literature and have shown that unauthorized dates, etc.,
have been assigned certain documents, yet their adoption of the wildness of
the: “higher critics” and reliance on a class of bitter and uncandid Romish
writers render their conclusion unreliable, especially, in view of the
overwhelming proof to the contrary.
(12.) The blind apishness and the assumption with which some writers and
professors of church history, and some others, have adopted Dieckhoff’s and
Herzog’s conclusions, that Valdo originated the Waldenses, has a parallel in
those writers and professors who, because of the “higher criticism” from
Germany, have swallowed its conclusion on the Old Testament — much
learning; very little common sense and original judgment.
(13.) Admit all of Dieckhoff’s and Herzog’s positions on the manuscripts of
the Waldenses, yet by overwhelming proof, we have evangelical life and
Waldenses running back in unbroken line to apostolic times.
(14.) After all discussions and assaults on Waldensian history, the very latest
scholarship supplies sufficient material for proof that the Waldensian history,
as understood in the days of Gilly, Leger, Allix, etc., is substantially correct.