Page 4 - 04 The Waldenses

No church within the limits of Romish

jurisdiction was long left undisturbed in the

enjoyment of freedom of conscience. No

sooner had the papacy obtained power than

she stretched out her arms to crush all that

refused to acknowledge her sway, and one

after another the churches submitted to her

dominion.

In Great Britain primitive Christianity had

very early taken root. The gospel received by

the Britons in the first centuries was then

uncorrupted by Romish apostasy.

Persecution from pagan emperors, which

extended even to these far-off shores, was the

only gift that the first churches of Britain

received from Rome. Many of the Christians,

fleeing from persecution in England, found

refuge in Scotland; thence the truth was