4—Amawaldensi

Phakathi kobumnyama obathi zinzi phezu komhlaba ngexesha elide lokugquba kobupopi, ukukhanya kwenyaniso akuzange kwenzeke ukuba kucinywe ngokupheleleyo. Kuzo zonke izizukulwana, ayekho amangqina kaThixo—amadoda awayekuthanda ukukholwa kuKristu njengekuphela kwaKhe umxolelanisi phakathi kukaThixo nomntu, awayeyibambe iBhayibhile njengekuphela kwayo umgangatho wobomi, awayeyigcina ingcwele iSabatha yenyaniso. Indlela elaxhomekeka ngayo kula madoda ihlabathi, ayisokuze yazi inzala yawo. Ayebizwa ngokuba angabakreqi, iinjongo zabo ziphikiswa, izimilo zawo zinyeliswa, abakubhalileyo kucinezelwa, kubekwa ngezinye iindlela, okanye kukrazulwa. Kanti ke, sekunjalo, ema aqina, kwathi ukusuka kwisizukulwana ukuya kwesinye alugcina lunyulu ukholo lwawo, lililifa elingcwele kwizizukulwana eziza kulandela. IE18 56.1

Imbali yabantu bakaThixo ngamaxesha obumnyama eyalandela ukongama kweRoma, ibhalwe ezulwini, kodwa kuncinane okubhalwe ngayo kwiingxelo zabantu. Imbalwa imikhondo yobukho bayo enokufumaneka, ngaphandle koko kukwizityholo zabatshutshisi babo. Yayingumthetho waseRoma ukuwucima wonke umkhondo wokuphuma ecaleni kwiimfundiso zayo okanye kwimithetho yayo. Yonke into enokukreqa, nokuba ngabantu okanye imibhalo, yazama ukuyitshabalalisa. Iintetho zentandabuzo, zizinto ezazanele ukuba zenze buncanywe ubomi babatyebileyo okanye abangamahlwempu, abaphezulu okanye abaphantsi. IRoma yazama nokutshabalalisa zonke iingxelo zenkohlakalo yayo ngakwabaphum’ ecaleni. Amaqumrhu obupopi enza imithetho yokuba iincwadi nokubhaliweyo okunezo ngxelo kufuneka konke kuphoswe emalangatyeni. Ngaphambi kokuba kubekho ukubhala ngeemashini, iincwadi zazimbalwa, zaye zikwimo engamelaniyo nokugcinwa; ngoko ke, kwakukuncinane ekwakunokunqanda amaRoma ukuba ayifeze injongo yawo.IE18 56.2

Alikho ibandla elalinokufikelelwa lulawulo lwamaRoma elasindayo ekuphazanyisweni kwenkululeko yesazela. Ngako nje ukuba ubupopi bufumane igunya, bazolula iingalo zabo ukuba butyumze bonke ababesala ukuluvuma ulawulo lwabo, aza amabandla, elinye emva kwelinye, azinikela kulawulo lwayo. IE18 57.1

EBrithani, ubuKristu bokuqala baba neengcambu kwasekuqaleni. Igospile eyamkelwa ngamaBritani kwiinkulungwane zokuqala, ayizange yonakaliswe lukreqo lwaseRoma. Intshuthiso yookumkani abangabahedeni, neyanabela nakula manxweme akude, kuphela kwesipho amabandla okuqala aseBrithani awasifumanayo eRoma. Abaninzi kumaKristu, bebaleka intshutshiso eNgilane, bafumana ukhuselo eScotland; apho yasuka khona inyaniso ukuya eIreland, yaza yamkeleka ngovuyo kuwo wonke la amazwe. IE18 57.2

Yathi yakugqugqiswa iBrithani ngamaSaxon, baqala ubuhedeni ukulawula. Aboyisi bakuthiya ukufundiswa ngamakhoboka abo, aza amaKristu anyanzeleka ukuba abalekele ezintabeni okanye kumahlathi amnyama. Kanti ke ukukhanya, okwakufihliwe okwexeshana, kwaqhubeka kuvutha. Emva kwenkulungwane, eScotland kwakhanya ngokukhanya okwanabela kumazwe akude. Ukusuka eIreland kwafika uColumba ongcwele kunye nasebenza nabo, abathi, bakuba bezijikeleze ngamakholwa awayesasazeke kwisiqithi esisodwa saseIyona, bayenza le ndawo ukuba ibe liziko lwemisebenzi yabo yokuvangela. Phakathi kwabavangeli, kwakukho owayengumgcini weSabatha yeBhayibhile, ngoko ke, yaba le nyaniso iyaziswa ebantwini. Kwamiswa isikolo eIyona, apho kwaphuma khona abavangeli, bengayi kuphela eScotland naseNgilane, kodwa naseJamani, eSwitzerland, naseItaly.IE18 57.3

IRoma yona yayiwamilisele amehlo ayo eBrithani, yagqiba ukuba iyifake phantsi kokonganyelwa yiyo. Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu, abavangeli bayo bathabatha uxanduva lokuguqula lokuguqula abahedeni abangamaSaxon. Bamkelwa ngobubele ngamabharibhari awayezithanda, baza banyanzela amawaka ukuba ayivume inkolo yaseRoma. Wathi wakuqhubela phambili umsebenzi, iinkokeli zobupopi kunye nabaguqukileyo baqubisana namaKristu akuqala. Kwabakho ukwahluka okukhulu. AmaKristu akuqala ayengabantu nje abafikelelekayo, abathobekileyo, abasimilo sabo, imfundiso, nokuziphatha, konke kwayame esiBhalweni, lo gama elinye iqela lalibonakalalisa ukuba neenkolo, ubuyokoyoko, nokuziphakamisa kobupopi. Isithunywa saseRoma sanyanzelisa ukuba la mabandla obuKristu akwamkele ukongama kukaPopi onegunya. AmaBrithani aphendula ngobulali esithi alangazelela ukubathanda bonke abantu, kodwa esithi, uPopi akanalo ilungelo lokongama phezu kwebandla, kwaye banokumnika kuphela oko kumthobela kufanele wonke umlandeli kaKristu. Kwaphindaphindwa kuzanywa ukubenza ukuba bayithobele iRoma; kodwa la maKristu athobekileyo, emangalisiwe likratshi elibonakalaliswa ngabathunywa bayo, baqina kwimpendulo yabo yokuba, ayikho enye inkosi ngaphandle kukaKristu. Kwakuba nje, watyhileka owona moya wobubopi. Yathi inkokeli yomRoma: “Ukuba anibamkeli abazalwana abanizisela uxolo, niya kwamkela abo baya kunizisela imfazwe. Ukuba aniyi kuzimanya nathi ekuboniseni amaSaxon indlela yobomi, niya kwamkela kuwo ukubethwa kokufa.”--J. H. Merle D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, b. 17, ch. 2. Oku yayingekuko ukoyikisa nje okungaphethe nto. Ukulwa nala mangqina enkolo yeBhayibhile kwasetyenziswa imfazwe, ubuqhophololo, nenkohliso, ada amabandla aseBrithani atshatyalaliswa, okanye anyanzelwa ukuba azinikele kwigunya likaPopi.IE18 57.4

Kwimimandla engaphandle kolawulo lweRoma, kwaye kukho amaqela amaKristu awahlala iinkulungwane eziliqela ekudana noko kwinkohlakalo yobupopi. Ayengqongwe bubuhedeni kwaza kwathi ekuhambeni kwamaxesha achukunyiswa ziziphoso zabo; kodwa aqhubeka eyihloniphile iBhayibhile njengekuphela kwayo umgangatho wokholo aza abambelela kuninzi lweenyaniso zayo. La maKristu ayekholelwa ekumeni ngonaphakade komthetho kaThixo aye egcina iSabatha yomthetho wesine. Amabandla awayeyibambile le nkolo nokwenza ayekho kuMbindi Afrika naphakathi kwama-Armeni aseAsiya.IE18 58.1

Kwabo bakwalayo ukungenelela kwegunya lobupopi, kwakunkqenkqeza phambili amaWaldenses. Kulo mhlaba kanye apho ubupopi bugxumeke isihlalo sabo khona, apho ubuxoki nenkohlakalo zaliwa ngamandla amakhulu. Kwaba ziinkulungwane amabandla asePiedmont eyigcinile inkululeko yawo; kodwa ekugqibeleni laya lafika ixesha lokuba iRoma inyanzelise ukuzinikela kwawo. Emva kongquzulwano nombandezeli olungazange lube nempumelelo, iinkokeli zala mabandla zathi zimathidala zakuvuma ukongama kwegunya ekwakubonakala ukuba linikwa imbeko ngumhlaba wonke. Babakho abanye, phofu, abalayo ukuziyekela kwigunya likapopi okanye likabhishophu. Bazimisela ukugcina ukuthembeka kwabo kuThixo nokugcina ubunyulu nobulula benkolo yabo. Kwabakho ukwahlukana. Abo babe bambelele kwinkolo yakudala ngoku barhoxa; abanye, beshiya iAlps eyindawo yokuzalwa, baphakamisa ibhanile yenyaniso kumazwe angaphandle; abanye babalekela kwiingxingwa ezisemacaleni nakwiinqaba zamawa eentaba, baza apho bayigcina inkululeko yokunqula uThixo.IE18 58.2

Ukholo olwathi kwiminyaka lwagcinwa lwafundiswa ngamaKristu angamaWaldensi lwalahluke mpela kwiimfundiso zobuxoki ezaziphuma eRoma. Inkolo yabo yayisekwe phezu kwelizwi elibhaliweyo likaThixo, uhlelo oluyinyaniso lobuKristu. Kanti kunjalo, aba basebenzi bomhlaba bathobekileyo, kwiindawo ababalekela kuzo ezifihlakeleyo, balivalela ngaphandle ihlabathi, bazibophelela ekusebenzeni yonke imihla phakathi kwemihlambi yabo nezidiliya, babengafikelelanga ngokwabo kwinyaniso echasana neemfundiso nolahlekiso lwebandla elikreqileyo. Okwabo yayingeyiyo inkolo esanda kwamkelwa. Inkolo yabo yayililifa elashiywa ngooyise. Balwela inkolo yebandla labapostile,--“ukholo abalunikelwayo kwakanye abangcwele.” Yuda 3. “Ibandla lasentlango,” ingengawo amanqwanqwa olawulo ahleli etroneni kwesona sixeko siyintloko sikhulu emhlabeni, lalilibandla likaKristu eliyinyaniso, elingumalusi wamagugu enyaniso uThixo awayinika abantu baKhe ukuze inikwe umhlaba wonke.IE18 59.1

Phakathi kwezizathu eziphambili ezakhokelela ekwahlukaneni kwebandla lenyaniso eRoma, kwakukho intiyo yiRoma ngakwiSabatha yeBhayibhile. Njengoko kwakuxelwe kwangaphambili sisiprofeto, igunya lobupopi layilahlela phantsi emhlabeni inyaniso. Umthetho kaThixo wanyhashwa eluthulini, lo gama izithethe namasiko abantu aphakanyiswa. Amabandla awayengaphantsi kolawulo lobupopi anyanzeliswa kwasekuqaleni ukuba ahloniphe iCawa njengosuku olungcwele. Phakathi kwempazamo nenkolo eyayigquba, abaninzi, naphakathi kwabantu abanyanisekileyo bakaThixo, boyika kangangokuba, ngelixesha begcina iSabatha, bakuphepha ukusebenza ngeCawa. Phofu oku akuzange kuzanelise iinkokeli zobupopi. Zanyanzelisa ukunganeli kokugcinwa ngcwele kweCawa kuphela, kodwa nokuba iSabatha ihlanjelwe; zaza zabasingela phantsi ngawona mazwi alukhuni abo babonisa ukuyigcina ngcwele. Kwaba kuphela ngokusaba kumkiwe kwigunya leRoma ukuze nabani akwazi ukuwuthobela umthetho kaThixo eseluxolweni.IE18 59.2

AmaWaldensi ayephakathi kwabantu bokuqala eYurophu ukuzuza inguqulelo yeziBhalo eziNgcwele. (Bona ISIHLOMELO) Amakhulu eminyaka ngaphambi koHlaziyo, ayenemibhalo yeBhayibhile ngolwimi lwabo lwenkobe. Babenayo inyaniso ingangxengwanga, kwaza oku kwabenza ukuba babe ngamaxhoba akhethekileyo entiyo nentshutshiso. Babesithi iBandla laseRoma liyiBhabheli ekreqileyo yesiTyhilelo. Lo gama, phantsi koxinzelelo lwentshutshiso eyayiqhuba ixesha elide, abanye bayiyekelela inkolo yabo, kancinane bayekelela imithetho-siseko yayo ebalulekileyo, abanye bayibamba bayiqinisa inyaniso. Kumaxesha obumnyama nokreqo, ayekho amaWaldenses awakwalayo ukongama kweRoma, ala ukunqula imifanekiso njengokunqula izithixo, nawayegcina iSabatha yenene. Phantsi kwezona nkqwithela zoyikeka kakhulu zenkcaso, alugcina ukholo lwawo. Nangona babexatyelwa ngamakrele abadlali bemiboniso, betshiswa phezu kweenyanda zeenkuni zamaRoma, bema bengagungqi elizwini laKhe, nasekumzukiseni uThixo. IE18 59.3

Ngaphaya kwamaqilima aphakamileyo okhuseleko aziintaba—kuzo zonke izizukulwana, isiphephelo sabo babetshutshiswa nabo babecinezelwe—amaWaldenses afumana indawo yokuzimela. Apha, ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwagcinwa kuvutha phakathi kobumnyama beXesha lobuMnyama. Apha, kwiminyaka eliwaka, amangqina enyaniso ayigcina inkolo yakudala.IE18 60.1

UThixo wayebabonelele abantu baKhe ngengcwele enobuhle obumangalisayo, nefanele iinyaniso ezinamandla abazinikwayo ukuba bazigcine. Kwabo babeselubhacweni, iintaba zaziluphawu lobulungisa bukaYehova obungaguqukiyo. Babalathisa abantwana babo kwiindawo eziphakamileyo ezazivele ngaphaya kwabo zinobungangamsha obungatshintshiyo, babaxelela ngaLowo ungaguquguqukiyo nongenaso isithunzi sokujika, olizwi laKhe limi njengeenduli ezingunaphakade. UThixo wazimisa zaqina iintaba wazibhinqisa ngamandla; ayikho enye ingalo, ngaphandle kwaleyo inaMandla angenaMda kuphela, enokuzisusa ezo ntaba kwindawo yazo. Kwangayo loo ndlela, uThixo wamisa umthetho waKhe, isiseko solawulo lwaKhe ezulwini nasemhlabeni. Ingalo yomntu ingafikelela kubazalwana bakhe abutshabalalise ubomi babo; kanti yona loo ngalo [inaMandla angenaMda] ingazinyothula lula iintaba kwiziseko zazo, iziphose elwandle, kwanjengoko inako ukuwutshintsha umyalelo omnye womthetho kaYehova, okanye icime esinye sezithembiso zaKhe kwabo benza intando yaKhe. Ekunyanisekeni kwabo emthethweni waKhe, abakhonzi bakaThixo kufuneka baqine njengeenduli ezingenakuze zitshintshe.IE18 60.2

Iintaba ezijikeleze iintili ezisezantsi zazibubungqina obuhleli bukho bamandla kaThixo okudala, nesiqinisekiso esingasokuze sisilele senkathalo yaKhe ekhuselayo. Abo baphambukeli bafunda ukuyithanda imifuziselo ethuleyo yobukho bukaYehova. Abazanga baziyekela ekukhalazeni ngenxa yobunzima abakubo; bengazanga baziva bebodwa phakathi kweentaba ezimi geqe. Bambulela uThixo kuba ebabekele indawo yokubakhusela kwingqumbo nenkohlakalo yabantu. Baba novuyo ngenkululeko yabo yokunqula phambi kwaKhe. Ngamaxesha onke besukelwa ziintshaba zabo, ukomelela kweenduli kwakubanika inkuseleko eqinisekileyo. Kumawa aphakamileyo nasitheleyo, babevuma iindumiso kuThixo, yaye imikhosi yaseRoma ingakwazi ukuzithulisa iingoma zabo zokubulela.IE18 60.3

Kwakunyulu, kulula, kushushu ukuhlonela uThixo kwaba balandeli bakaKristu. Bayixabisa imitheto-siseko ngaphezu kwezindlu, imihlaba, abahlobo, izizalwana, kwanobomi ngokwabo. Le mithetho-siseko bazama ngokuzingisa ukuyibethelela ezintliziyweni zabatsha. Kususela ebuntwaneni, ulutsha lwafundiswa iziBhalo, lwafundiswa ukuwabamba ngobungcwele amabango omthetho kaThixo. Iikopi zeBhayibhile zazinqabile, ngoko, amazwi axabisekileyo ayo ayefundwa ngentloko. Abaninzi babekwazi ukucengceleza iindawo ezinde zeeTestamente zombini, eNdala neNtsha. Iingcinga ngoThixo zazihlanganiswa ngokufanayo nombono ozukileyo wendalo kunye neentsikelelo ezithobekileyo zobomi bemihla ngemihla. Abantwana abancinane babefundiswa ukuba bakhangele kuThixo benombulelo njengomniki walo lonke uthando nayo yonke intuthuzelo. IE18 61.1

Abazali, benobubele nothando benjalo, babathanda ngobulumko obukhulu abantwana babo kangangokuba bangabaqhelisi ukuzibhodloza. Phambi kwabo kwakukho ubomi bokulingwa nenzima, mhlawumbi nobokufela ukholo. Bafundiswa kwasebuntwaneni ukuba babunyamezele ubunzima, bazinikele ekulawulweni, kodwa bacinge benze ngokwabo. Zisuka nje ekuqaleni, bafundiswa ukuba baluthwale uxanduva, bazilinde ekuthetheni, nokuba babuqonde ubulumko bokuthula. Igama elinye lobudenge elifikelele ezintshabeni zabo lingabeka engozini, kungekuphela lowo ulithethayo, kodwa ubomi bamakhulu abazalwana bakhe; kuba, njengeengcuka ezizingela ixhoba lazo, zazisenza njalo iintshaba zenyaniso ukusukela abo babenesibindi sokubanga inkululeko yokholo lokukhonza. IE18 61.2

AmaWaldensi ancama ubutyebi bawo basemhlabeni ngenxa yenyaniso, athi, ngomonde onenzondelelo, asebenza nzima ukuzuza ukutya kwawo. Lonke ibala elilimekayo phakathi kweentaba laliphuhliswa ngocoselelo; iintili nomhlaba ongatyebanga kangako emacaleni eenduli yayisenziwa ukuba iwavezele ingeniso. Uqoqosho nokuzilandula okukhulu kwaba yinxalenye yemfundo eyafunyanwa ngabantwana njengelifa elikuphela kwalo. Bafundiswa ukuba uThixo ubenze ubomi ukuba bube luqeqesho, nokuba iimfuno zabo zazinokwaneliswa kuphela ngokusebenza nzima, ngokucingakwangaphambili, ukukhathala nokholo. Indlelayayinzima kakhulu idinisa, kodwa yayiphelele, iyile nto umntu ayidingayo kwimoyokuwa kwakhe, isisikolo uThixo awasilungisayo ukuze aqeqeshwe, aphuhliswe. Lo gama ulutsha lwaluqhelaniswa nokusebenza nzima nobunzima, inkcubeko yengqondo yayingatyeshelwanga. Babefundiswa ukuba onke amandla abo ngakaThixo, nokuba konke kwakufuneka kukhulisiwe, kuphuhliselwe umsebenzi waKhe.IE18 61.3

Amabandla amaVaudois, kubunyulu nokuthobeka kwawo, ayefuzisele ibandla lexesha labapostile. Ukwala ukongama kobupopi noobhishophu, ayebambe iBhayibhile njengeyiyo yodwa eyongamileyo, enegunya elingenakona. Abafundisi bawo, ngokungafaniyo nababingeleli baseRoma ababebagagamela, balandela iNkosi yabo, eyayingezanga “kulungiselelwa; [kodwa] yeza kulungiselela.” Bawondla umhlambi kaThixo, bewukhokelela kumadlelo aluhlaza nakwimithombo ephilileyo yelizwi laKhe elingcwele. Kude le nezikhumbuzo zolonwabo lwabantu nekratshi labantu ababutheneyo, kungekuko ezinkonzweni ezintle kakhulu okanye iikhathedrale, kodwa phantsi kwethunzi leentaba, kwiintili zeAlps, ngexesha lengozi, kwiinqaba ezinamatye, ukuba baphulaphule ukushunyayelwa kwegospile, kodwa babetyelela abagulayo, bebafundisa abantwana, bebaluleka abonayo, besebenzela ukuphelisa iimbambano nokukhulisa intsebenziswano kunye nothando lobuzalwana. Ngamaxesha oxolo, babexhaswa yiminikelo yabantu yokuzithandela; kodwa, njengoPawulos owayengumenzi weentente, elowo nalowo wafunda umsebenzi othile wezandla okanye ulwazi anokuthi ngalo, xa kukho isidingo, abe nokuzixhasa.IE18 62.1

Kubafundisi balo, ulutsha lwalufumana ukufundiswa. Nangona ingqwalasela yayinikelwe kumasebe emfundo jikelele, iBhayibhile yayiyeyona isisifundo esiphambili. IiVangeli zikaMateyu noYohane zazifundwa ngentloko, kwakunye nezinye iincwadi [zeTestamente eNtsha] eziliqela. Lwalikwasebenza ukukhuphela iziBhalo. Okunye okwakubhaliwe kwakunayo yonke iBhayibhile, kanti okunye kwakuneendawana ezimfutshane ezikhethiweyo, ekwakuye kwayanyiswe kuzo iingcaciso ngabobabekwazi ukunaba eziBhalweni.Ngaloo ndlela kwavezwa amagugu enyaniso awayekade efihliwe ngabo babezama ukuziphakamisa ngaphezu kukaThixo.IE18 62.2

Ngokusebenza ngomonde nenzondelelo, ngamanye amaxesha enzulwini yomqolomba omnyama, ngokukhanya kwethotshi, iziBhalo ezingcwele zazibhalwa ivesi nevesi, isahluko nesahluko. Waqhubeka ngaloo ndlela umsebenzi, intando kaThixo etyhiliweyo ikhanya ngokwegolide ehlaziyekileyo; lona linokukhanya okukhulu, nokucace kakhulu, nokunamandla awongeziweyo ngenxa yobunzima ekwaphunyelwa kuko ngenxa yalo obuqondwa kuphela ngabo babesenza umsebenzi. Iingelosi zasezulwini zazibarhangqile aba basebenzi bathembekileyo. IE18 63.1

USathana wayekhuthaze ababingeleli bobupopi noobhishophu ukuba balingcwabe ilizwi lenyaniso ngaphantsi kwenkunkuma yemposiso, ulahlekiso, neenkolo; kodwa ngeyona ndlela imangalisayo, yagcinwa ingonakalanga kuwo onke amaxesha obumnyama. Yayingenaso isiqinisekiso somntu, kodwa inoshicilelo lukaThixo. Abantu abakhange badinwe kwimizamo yabo yokuyisithelisa intsingiselo ecacileyo, nelula yeziBhalo, nokuzenza ukuba zibuphikise ubungqina bazo; kodwa njengomkhombe phezu kolwandle olulwayo, ilizwi likaThixo litsiba ngaphaya kwezaqhwithi ezithembisa ngentshabalalo. Njengokuba umgodi unemithombo etyebileyo yegolide nesilivere efihlwe ngaphantsi kobuso bomhlaba, ukuze kunyanzeleke bombe bonke abafuna ukuzuza indyebo enexabiso, zinjalo iziBhalo Ezingcwele ukuba nobutyebi benyaniso obuthi buvele kuphela kofuna ngokuzingisa, nokuthobeka, nangokuthandaza. UThixo wayenza iBhayibhile ukuba ibe yincwadi yokufundwa lulo lonke uluntu, ebuntwaneni, ebutsheni, nasebudodeni, nokuba ifundwe ngalo lonke ixesha. Walinikela ilizwi laKhe kubantu njengesityhilelo sesimilo soMbhali walo. Ukufundwa kweziBhalo yindlela enyulwe lizulu yokuzisa abantu kuqhagamshelano olusondeleneyo noMdali wabo nokubanika ulwazi olucace kakhulu lwentando yaKhe. Iyindlela yokuqhagamshelana phakathi kukaThixo nomntu. IE18 63.2

Nangona amaWaldenses ayekuthabatha ukoyika uYehova njengesiqalosobulumko, yayingawasithelanga into yokubaluleka kokuxhumana nehlabathi, ulwazi lwabantu nobomi obuphilwayo, ekwandiseni ingqondo nasekuvuseni iimbono. Ukusuka kwizikolo zawo ezintabeni, olunye ulutsha lwaluthunyelwa kumaziko emfundo ezixekweni zaseFrance okanye eItaly, apho kwakukho imihlaba ebanzi yokufunda, ukucinga nokuqwalasela kunokuba kwakunjalo kwelokuzalwa leAlps. Ulutsha oluthunyelwe ngaloo ndlela lwalibasesichengeni sezihendo, lubone ububi, luqubisane nabathunywa bakaSathana abanamaqhinga, ababanyanzela ngolona lulahlekiso lurhubuluzayo nezona nkohliso zinobungozi. Phofu imfundo yalo kwasebuntwaneni yayiluhlobo lokubalungiselela konke oku.IE18 63.3

Kwizikolo ababesiya kuzo, kwakungafuneki bathembe mntu. Iingubo zabo zazilungiselelwe ukuba zifihle eyona ndyebo yabo inkulu—amaxwebhu axabisekileyo eziBhalo. La maxwebhu, isiqhamo sokubulaleka iinyanga nemimyaka, babewathwala, baze bathi xa benethuba, bengenzanga ukuze bakrokreleke, babeke intwana yawo endleleni yabo babebonakala benomdla bebukeka bengathi bangayamkela inyaniso. Kwasemadolweni oonina, ulutsha lwamaWaldensi lwaluqeqeshwe ngale njongo; lwaluwuqonda umsebenzi walo, futhi luwenza ngokuthembeka. Abaguqukela kwinkolo yenyaniso, babezuzwa kwezi ndawo zemfundo, kwaye kwakukholisa ngokuba imithetho-siseko yayo inkolo ifunyanwe ithubeleza kuso sonke isikolo; kanti ke, iinkokeli zobupopi zazingakwazi, naxa zizama ukuphanda kangangoko, ukulwazi ukuba luphuma phi kanye olu lahlekiso lonakalisayo, ngokutsho kwazo.IE18 64.1

Umoya kaKristu ngumoya wovangelo. Ukubetha nje kokuqala kwentliziyo eyenziwe ntsha, kukuzisa nabanye kuMsindisi. Wawunjalo umoya wamaKristu amaVaudois [amaWaldensi]. Ayanengqondo yokuba uThixo uwafuna emaninzi ngaphezu kokugcina nje inyaniso inyulu kumabandla awo; nokuba umthwalo oxabisekileyo olele kuwo kukwenza ukuba ukukhanya kwawo kukhanyisele nabo basebumnyameni; baze bathi, ngamandla amakhulu elizwi likaThixo, bazame ukuqhawula imbophelelo ebangelwe yiRoma. Abafundisi bamaVaudois baqeqeshelwa ubuvangeli,kwaye,wonke olindelekeukubaangenele ubufundisi, kwakulindeleke ukuba kuqalaazuze amava obuvangeli. Umvangeli ngamnye kwakufuneka echithe iminyaka emithathu eyokuvangela kude nekhaya ngaphambi kokuba abe ngumalusi webandla ekhaya. Lo msebenzi owawufuna ukuzilandula nokuzincama kwasekuqaleni, wawufaneleke kakhulu ekuqalekeni kobomi bomfundisi ngaloo maxesha okuvavanywa kwemiphefumlo yabantu. Ulutsha olwalubekwa izandla ukuba lube kwesi sikhundla singcwele, lwalibona ngaphambi kwalo, kungekho themba labutyebi nokudunyiswa kwasemhlabeni, kodwa ubomi bokusebenza nzima kunye nengozi, mhlawumbi nesiphelo sokufela ukholo. Abavangeli babephuma ngababini ngababini, njengoko uYesu wayebathuma abafundi baKhe. Umfana ngamnye wayekholisa ukwayanyaniswa nendoda eseyiqinile inamava, lowo mtsha ephantsi kwenkokelo yeqabane lakhe, nekwakufuneka eyithobele ingqeqesho yalo. Aba basebenzi kunye, babengasoloko bekunye, kodwa babeye bahlangane kunye ukuba bathandaze balulekane, babe ngaloo ndlela bayomelezana elukholweni lwabo omnye nomnye.IE18 64.2

Ukuyenza yaziwe injongo yomsebenzi abawenzayo kwakuya kuqinisekisa ukuba yoyisiwe; ngoko ke, babufihla ngononophelo olukhulu obona bume bawo. Wonke umfundisi wayenolwazi lomsebenzi wezandla okanye wemfundo ethile, baza abavangeli bawenza umsebenzi wabo phantsi kwegama lobizo lwasemhlabeni. Babeye bakhethe ukuba ngoosomashishini okanye abathengisi abajikelezayo. “Babethwala isilika, ubuyokoyoko bezihombo, nezinye izinto, ekwakungelula ukuzifumana ngelo xesha ngaphandle kwakwiivenkile ezikude; baza bamkelwa njengabathengisi apho babeya kucekiswa xa bengabavangeli.”-- Wylie, b. 1, ch. 7. Lonke ixesha iintliziyo zabo zaziphakanyiselwe kuThixo ukuba zizuze ubulumko bokubeka ubutyebi obuxabisekileyo kunegolide okanye amagugu. Babehamba befihle iiBhayibhile ezikhutshelweyo, ziphelele okanye zizindawo ezithile; baze bathi xa benethuba, bazitsalele iingqondo zabathengi babo kula maxwebhu. Wawukholiswa ukuvuswa ngaloo ndlela umdla wokufunda ilizwi likaThixo, aze ashiywe ngovuyo amaxwebhu kwabo balangazelela ukuwamkela. IE18 65.1

Umsebenzi waba bavangeli waqala emathafeni nasezintilini emazantsi eentaba zabo, kodwa wanabela ngaphaya kwale mida. Bebethangeenyawo ezingenazihlangu okanye iimbadada kunye neempahla esele Zinexesha nezigqitywe kukuhamba njengezo zeNkosi yabo, babecanda izixeko ezikhulu, bengena kwimimandla ekude. Kuyo yonke indawo babehlwayela imbewu enexabiso. Kwantshula amabandla endleleni yabo, lathi igazi labafelukholo labubungqina benyaniso. Imini kaThixo iya kusityhila isivuno esityebileyo semiphefumlo eyangeniswa kukusebenza kwala madoda anyanisekileyo. Ligqunyiwe lizolile, ilizwi likaThixo lalingena ligqobhoza ubuKristu lisamkeleka ngovuyo emakhayeni nasezintliziyweni zabantu.IE18 65.2

KumaWaldensi, iziBhalo zazingeyiyo ingxelo nje yokuphatha kukaThixo abantu kwixesha eladlulayo, nesityhilelo soxanduva nemisebenzi yexesha eli, kodwa zazikukuvezwa kweengozi nobuqaqawuli bexesha elizayo. Ayekholwa ukuba isiphelo sezinto zonke sasingekho kude kakhulu, aza athi xa eyifunda iBhayibhile ethandaza eneenyembezi, akholelwa nzulu ngakumbi kwiintetho ezixabisekileyo nasekubeni ngumthwalo wawo ukuba abazise abanye ngeenyaniso ezisindisayo. Alibona icebo losindiso libekwe lacaca kumaphepha angcwele, aza afumana intuthuzelo, ithemba, noxolo ekukholelweni kuYesu. Kwathi njengoko ukukhanya kukhanyisa ingqiqo yawo kuzivuyisa iintliziyo zawo, alangazelela ukuyiphosa imitha yako kwabo babesebumnyameni bemposiso yobupopi.IE18 65.3

Aya abona ukuba, phantsi kwenkokelo kapopi nombingeleli, izihlwele zazizama ngelize ukuzuza uxolelo ngokuzingcungcuthekisa emizimbeni yazo ngenxa yesono somphefumlo wazo. Zifundiswe ukuthembela kwimisebenzi yazo elungileyo ukuba izisindise, zahlala zikhangele kwakuzo, iingqondo zazo zigxile kwimeko yokuba nesono kwazo, zizibona zisesichengeni sengqumbo kaThixo, zizibandezela umphefumlo nomzimba, kodwa zingafumani kukhululeka. Ngaloo ndlela, imiphefumlo esezingqondweni yayiqanyangelwe ziimfundiso zaseRoma. Amawaka abashiya abahlobo nezizalwana, achitha ubomi bawo kwiindawo zokuhlala koonongendi. Ngokusoloko kuzilwa nokuzibetha ngenkohlakalo, ngokulinda kwasezinzulwini zobusuku, ngokuthi tywaa ngezisu ubuso bujonge phantsi iiyure ezinde ezidinisayo engqeleni, amatye afumileyo eendawo ezinesizungu ahlala kuzo, ngokwenza amahambo amade, ngokuvuma izono okuhlazisayo nokungcungcuthekiswa okoyikekayo, amawakaayefunangelizeukuzuza uxolokwizazela.Becinezelwe yingcinga yesono, bethwaxwa kukoyika ingqumbo yempindezelo kaThixo, abaninzi babeqhubeka bephetheke kabuhlungu, ide indalo ediniweyo yoyisakale, kuthi kungakhange kubekho nokukhanya okuncinane okanye ithemba, bahle baye engcwabeni. IE18 66.1

AmaWaldensi ayelangazelela ukuqhekezela le miphefumlo isendlaleni isonka sobomi, ukuyityhilela izigidimi zoxolo ezikwizithembiso zikaThixo, nokuyolathisa kuKristu njengekuphela kwaKhe ithemba losindiso. Imfundiso yokuba imisebenzi elungileyo inako ukucamagushela ukwaphulwa komthetho kaThixo ayesithi yakhelwe phezu kobuxoki. Ukuxhomekeka kokulungileyo komntu kuqhawula imbono yothando lukaKristu olungenamda. UYesu wafa engumbingelelo womntu kuba uhlanga oluwileyo lungenakho ukwenza nto inokulwenza lwamkeleke kuThixo. Okuhle koMsindisi owabethelelwa emnqamlezweni wabuya wavuka kusisiseko senkolo yobuKristu. Ukuxhomekeka komphefumlo kuKristu kuyinto enyanisekileyo, kwaye uqhagamshelano lwayo naYe kufuneka lwayame lwaqina, njengolwelungu lomzimba emzimbeni, okanye ngokwesebe emdiliyeni. IE18 66.2

Iimfundiso zoopopi nababingeleli zabakhokelela abantu ukuba basibone isimilo sikaThixo, kanti nesikaKristu, njengesingqongqo, esingwanyalala, nesigxothayo. UMsindisi wayemelwe njengokude kakhulu nemfesane ngasemntwini kwimeko yakhe ewileyo kangangokuba ukuthethelela kwababingeleli neengcwele [ezingabantu abafayo] kufuneka kufuniwe. Abo bangqondo zabo zazikhanyiselwe lilizwi likaThixo, balangazelela ukubalathisa le miphefumlo kuYesu njengoMsindisi wabo onemfesane, nomi olule iingalo, emema bonke ukuba beze kuYe nemithwalo yabo yesono, nexhala labo nokudinwa kwabo. Babelangazelela ukuzisusa zingabikho izithintelo uSathana azibeke zayimfumba ukuze abantu bangaziboni izithembiso, baze beze ngqo kuThixo, bevuma izono zabo, baze bazuze ukuxolelwa noxolo.IE18 66.3

Ngenzondelelo, umvangeli womVaudois [umWaldensi] wayezityhila kwingqondo ephandayo iinyaniso ezixabisekileyo zeendaba ezilungileyo. Ngononophelo, wayeyiveza imibhalo yeziBhalo eziNgcwele. Yayiba luvuyo olukhulu kakhulu kuye ukunika ithemba kumphefumlo osezingqondweni noxikixwe sisono kakhulu, nowawuphelele ekumboneni uThixo enempindezelo, nolindele ukwenza ngobulungisa. Ebesithi ngemilebe ebebezelayonamehloaneenyembezi,namadoloakholisaukugoba amaxesha amaninzi, asebenze ukutyhilela abazalwana bakhe izithembiso ezixabisekileyo ezityhila kumoni ithemba elikuphela kwalo. Ngaloo ndlela, ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwakuye kungene kwingqondo enobumnyama, bulisuse ilifu lobumnyama, lide iLanga loBulungisa likhanye lingene entliziyweni linempiliso kwimitha yaLo. Kwakukholisa ukwenzeka ukuba enye indawo yesiBhalo iphindaphindwe ukufundwa, kuba ofundelwayo efuna ukuyiva iphindwa, ngokungathi ufuna ukuziqinisekisa ukuba uyive kakuhle. Kwakuba njalo ngakumbi ukufunwa ngenzondelelo kokuba kuphindwe la mazwi: “[Igazi] likaYesu Kristu, uNyana wakhe, lisihlambulule kuso sonke isono.” 1 Yohane 1:7. “Njengokuba ke uMoses wayiphakamisayo inyoka entlango, umelwe kukuphakanyiswa ngokunjalo uNyana woMntu; ukuze bonke abakholwayo kuye bangatshabalali, koko babe nobomi obungunaphakade.” Yohane 3:14, 15.IE18 67.1

Baba baninzi abaphumayo kwinkohliso yebango laseRoma. Bakubona kulilize ukungenelela ngokuthethelela kwabantu okanye iingelosi endaweni yomoni. Kwakusithi xa ukukhanya kuvela ezingqondweni zabo, badanduluke ngovuyo, besithi: “UKristu ungumbingeleli wam; igazi laKhe lingumbingelelo wam; isibingelelo saKhe sinyindawo endivuma kuyo izono zam.” Bebeziphosa ngokupheleleyo kokuhle kukaYesu, bephinda amazwi athi, “Lungekho ukholo, akunakubakho ukumkholisa kakuhle.” Hebhere 11:6. “Akukho gama limbi phantsi kwezulu, linikiweyo phakathi kwabantu, esimele ukusindiswa ngalo.” IZenzo 4:12.IE18 67.2

Isiqinisekiso sothando loMsindisi, sabonakala singaphaya kokuqonda kweminye yolu sizi lwemiphefumlo ekukade ibhudlwa sisaqhwithi. Kwakukukhulu kakhulu ukukhululeka esakuzisayo, umsinga omkhulu wokukhanya okwawa phezu kwabo, bada baba ngathi bathwalelwe ezulwini. Izandla zazibekwe ngokuthembela okukhulu esandleni sikaKristu; iinyawo zabo zimi ziqinile kwiLiwa laPhakade. Konke ukoyika ukufa kugxothiwe. Ngoku, babenako ukunqwenela intolongo negoqo leenkuni ukuba, ngezo zinto, bebeya kulizukisa igama loMhlanguli wabo.IE18 67.3

Kwiindawo ezisemfihlakalweni, ilizwi likaThixo laziswa ngaloo ndlela, lafundwa, maxa wambi kumphefumlo omnye, ngamanye amaxesha kwiqela elincinane elalikulangazelela ukukhanya nenyaniso. Kwakukholisa ukuba ubusuku bonke buchithwe ngale ndlela. Kwakuye kube kukhulu ukumangala nokuthanda kwabaphulaphuli ade umthunywawenceba azifumane enyanzelekile ukuba angakwazi ukuyeka ukufunda zide ingqiqo zizibambe iindaba zosindiso. Kwakuthanda ukuba kuvakale amazwi athi: “angaba uThixo ngokwenene uya kuwamkela umnikelo wam? Angaba uya kundincumela? Angaba uya kundixolela?” Impendulo yayifundwa: “Yizani kum nonke nina nibulalekayo, nisindwayo ngumthwalo, ndoninika ukuphumla.” Mateyu 11:28.IE18 68.1

Ukholo lwasibamba isithembiso, yaza yavakala impendulo enovuyo: “akusekho zihambo zinde ziza kwenziwa; akusayi kuphinda kubekho iihambo eziya kwiindawo zabafileyo ezingcwele; Ndinokuza kuYesu ndinje ngokuba ndinje, ndinesono ndingengcwele, akasayi kuwucekisa umthandazo walowo uzohlwayayo. ‘Izono zakho zixolelwe.’ Ezam, nditsho ezam, zinako ukuxolelwa!”IE18 68.2

Umsinga wovuyo olungcwele wawuzalise intliziyo, igama likaYesu liphakanyiswa ngendumiso nombulelo. Loo miphefumlo inovuyo yayibuyela emakhaya ikusasaze ukukhanya, ibalisele abanye, kangangoko inako, amava wayo amatsha; okufumana kwabo iNdlela yenyaniso nokuphila. Kwabakho amandla anondiliseko angaqhelekanga awayethetha ngqo ezintliziyweni zabo babelangazelela inyaniso. Yalilizwi likaThixo, libanika ukoyiseka abo balivayo. IE18 68.3

Umthunywa wenyaniso wayehamba indlela yakhe; kodwa imbonakalo yokuthobeka kwakhe, ukunyaniseka, ukuzingisa nobushushu bakhe, zizinto ekwakusoloko kuthethwa ngazo. Amaxesha amaninzi abaphulaphuli babengabuzi ukuba uvela phi esiya phi. Babethabatheka kakhulu, kuqala bemangalisiwe, kamva ngumbulelo novuyo, kangangokuba balibale ukumbuza. Babesithi xa bemzama ukuba aye emakhayeni abo, wayesithi kufuneka ahambele izimvu ezilahlekileyo. Angaba wayeyingelosi evela ezulwini? Babezibuza.IE18 68.4

Kwiimeko ezininzi umthunywa wayengaphindi abonwe. Wayesiya kwezinye iindawo, okanye wayebugqiba ubomi bakhe kumhadi ongaziwayo, okanyeamathambo akhe abe mhlophekwindawo apho wayengqina ngenyaniso. Wona amazwi awayewashiya ngasemva ayengeke atshatyalaliswe. Ayesenza umsebenzi wawo ezintliziyweni zabantu; iziphumo ezisikelelekileyo ziya kwaziwa kuphela emgwebeni.IE18 69.1

Abavangeli bamaWaldensi babungenela ubukumkani bukaSathana, amagunya obumnyama enziwa aphaphama kakhulu. Onke amalinge okuqhubela phambili inyaniso ayejongiwe yinkosi yobubi, yaza yavusa ukoyika kubathunywa bayo. Iinkokeli zobupopi zabona umhlola kumsebenzi wazo ngendlela yokusebenza kwaba bajikelezayo bathobekileyo. Ukuba ukukhanya kwenyaniso kwakuza kuvunyelwa kuhambe kungaphazanyiswa, kwakuza kuwatshayela amafu emposiso agubungele abantu. Kwakuza kuzisa iingqondo zabantu kuThixo kuphela kuze ekugqibeleni kubutshabalalise ukuba phezulu kweRoma.IE18 69.2

Kwaubukho nje baba bantu, bebambe inkolo yebandla lakudala, babububungqina obuzingileyo bokreqo lweRoma, kwaza, ke ngoko, kwavusa eyona ntiyo nentshutshiso ekrakra. Ukwala kwabo ukuziyeka iziBhalo nako kwakusisikhubekiso engenako ukusinyamezela iRoma. Yazimisela ukubacima emhlabeni. Ngoku kwaqala awona maphulo mabi ngakubantu bakaThixo kumakhaya abo asezintabeni. Ababulali babalandela, waza umboniso ka-Abheli owayemsulwa owathi wawa phambi kukaKayen ongumbulali, wakholisa ukuphindwa.IE18 69.3

Yabhuqwa njalo imihlaba yabo etyebileyo, izakhiwo zabo zatshayelwa, kwathi apho kwakukho amasimi anendyebo namakhaya anoxolo, nabantu abakhutheleyo, kwasala kuyintlango kuphela. Njengoko isilo esitshabalalisayo sisiya siba nengqumbo ngokungcamla igazi, kwaba njalo ukuphenjelelwa kwengqumbo yabobupopi ngokubulaleka kwamaxhoba abo. Abaninzi kula mangqina enkolo enyulu, basukelwa bacanda iintaba, bazingelwa ezintilini apho babezimele khona, befihlwe ngamahlathi amakhulu neencopho zamawa. IE18 69.4

Akukho sityholo sasinokubekwa ngasekuziphatheni kweli qela lamaxhoba. Neentshaba zabo zazivuma ukuba bangabantu abanoxolo, abazolileyonabangcwele. Eyona mposiso yayinkulukubokukuba babengafuni ukunqula uThixo ngokwentando kapopi. Ngenxa yoku, ukwaphula umthetho, konke ukuthotyelwa phantsi, ukungcikivwa, nokuthuthunjiswa okwakunokucingwa ngabantu needemon kwakufunjwa phezu kwabo.IE18 69.5

Kwathi, ngelinye ixesha, xa iRoma izimisele ukuliphelisa eli hlelo lithiyekileyo, kwakhutshwa iphepha [ibull] ngupopi, libagweba njengabakreqi, libanikela ukuba babulawe. (Bona ISIHLOMELO). Babengatyholwa ngokubangoondilele, okanye ngokunganyaniseki, okanye benesiphithiphithi; kodwa kwathiwa banembonakalo yokuhlonela uThixo nobungcwele obabuwexula “izimvu zomhlambi wenene.” Ngoko ke, upopi wayalela “ukuba ihlelo elicekisekayo nelithiyekileyo labanyelisayo,” ukuba “lifungela ukungarhoxi, kufuneka lityunyuzwe njengeenyoka ezinobuhlungu.”--Wylie, b. 16, ch. 1. Ingaba lo Popi uziphakamisileyo wayekulungele ukubuya ahlangane nala mazwi kwakhona? Ingaba wayesazi ukuba abhaliwe ezincwadini zasezulwini, ukuze ajongane naye emgwebeni? “Ekubeni nenjenjalo nakumnye waba bazalwana bam bangabona bancinane, nenjenjalo nakum.” Mateyu 25:40. IE18 70.1

Eli phepha [ibull] lalibizela onke amalungu ebandla ukubaazimanye nephulo lokulwa nabakreqi. Njengomvuzo oyinkuthazo yokungena kulo msebenzi ukhohlakeleyo, eli phepha “labanika uxolelo kuzo zonke iintlungu nezohlwayo zeCawa, zokona jikelele nezithe ngqo; labakhulula bonke abo bazimanya nephulo kuzo zonke izifungo abanokuba bazenza; lakwenza kwasemthethweni konke ukubanga kwabo umhlaba abanokuba bawufumana ngokungekho mthethweni; lathembisa ukuxolela zonke izono zabo zokubulala nawuphi umkreqi. Lazenza azabi lutho zonke izivumelwano namaVaudois [amaWaldensi], layalela abasebenzi babo ukuba babashiye, labalela bonke abantu ukuba bangabaniki luncedo nokuba lolunjani, lagunyazisa bonke abantu ukuba bayihluthe yonke into abanayo.”--Wylie, b. 16, ch. 1. Olu xwebhu lwaluwuveza ngokucacileyo umoya owawuphambili ekuluqhubeni ngasese. Kukugquma kwenamba, ingelilo ilizwi likaKristu, okwakuvakala kulo. IE18 70.2

Iinkokeli zobupopi zazingasayi kuzayamanisa izimilo zazo kwimigangatho ephakamileyo yomthetho kaThixo, kodwa zamisa umgangatho ofanele zona, zazimisela ukunyanzela bonke ukuba bavumelane noku kuba kufunwa yiRoma. Ezona ntlekele zimbi kakhuluzamiselwa. Abapristi nooPopi abakhohlakeleyo babesenza umsebenzi abawunyulelwe nguSathana. Inceba yayingenayo indawo endalweni yabo. Wona la moya wabethelela uKristu, wabulala abapostile, nguwo owaqhuba uNero owayenxanelwe igazi labathembekileyo ngemini yakhe, wawusebenza ukuba ususe emhlabeni abo babeziintanda zikaThixo.IE18 70.3

Iintshutshiso ezafikela abantu abamoyikayo uThixo kwiinkulungwane ezininzi bazinyamezela ngomonde nokuhlala bemzukisa uMhlanguli wabo. Nangona amaphulo ayesemva kwabo, nokubulawa ngabantu kubathe mbende, baqhubeka bethumela abavangeli ukuba bahambise inyaniso eligugu. Babezingelelwa ukubulawa; lona igazi labo lankcenkceshela imbewu ehlwayelweyo, yaphumelela ukuba nesiqhamo. Ngalo ndlela, amaWaldensi angqina ngoThixo iinkulungwane phambi kokuzalwa kukaLutere. Ethe saa kumazwe amaninzi, atyala imbewu yoHlaziyo eyaqala ngexesha likaWycliffe, yanda yanzulu ngemihla kaLutere, kwaye kufuneka ihanjiselwe phambili kuse ekupheleni kwexesha ngabo banentumekelelo yokuphatheka kakubi kwiinto zonke ngenxa “yelizwi likaThixo, nangenxa yobungqina bukaYesu Kristu.” IsiTyhilelo 1:9. IE18 70.4