We turn again to Jean Paul Perrin, whose testimony regarding matters of the faith of the Waldenses has, from of old, been very highly esteemed. Among other things, he gives an account of the precepts which they left for the building up of a virtuous life; in regard to which, the following is designed to promote a virtuous and godfearing deportment towards those that are without. In the _History of the Waldenses and Albigenses, 3d part, 1st book, 10th chapter, page 153_, we read literally, in the Waldensian and in the English [_Dutch_, the original says] tongue, as follows:
_En qual modo le poble se de aver a aquilli guae son de fora?_
“How shall our intercourse be with those that are without?”
1. _Non amar lo mond._
We must not love the world.
2. _Fugir la mala consortia._
We must shun evil company.
3. _Si es possible aver paz cum fuit._
We must, if possible, live in peace with all men.
4. _Non contendre en judici._
We must not go to law.
5. _Non veniar si meseine._
We must not avenge ourselves.
6. _Amar li ennemic._
We must love our enemies.
7. _Voler sustenir trabails, calomnias, menasas, reprovance, vergognas, eriurias, & totas generations de tormens per la verita._
We must willingly bear labor, calumny, threats, rejection, shame, injuries, and all kinds of torment, for the truth’s sake.
8. _Possessir las armas in patientia._
We must possess our souls in patience.
9. _Non amenar joug cum li non fidel._
We must not be yoked together with unbelievers.
10. _Non communicar a las malas obras, & totalment a las, sabent idolatria, & del servici sentent zo meseine, & enaimi de las autes._
We must have no fellowship with evil works, especially with such as savor of idolatry, and all services which tend in that direction; and thus we are to judge of like matters.
In said tenth chapter some further rules of these people are found, which have reference to the believers themselves, how they must well govern their own lives and bodies. They read as follows:
_Encar en qual maniera li fidel debian regir li lor corps._
“Also, how believers are to govern their own bodies, or themselves.”
1. _Non servir a li desirier mortal de la carn._ They shall not serve the deadly lusts of the flesh.
2. _Gardar li lor membres quilli non sian armas d’iniquitas._ They shall keep their members that they do not become instruments of wickedness.
3. _Regir li lor sentiment._ They shall govern well their thoughts.
4. _Sot mettre la corps a l’espirit._ They shall keep the body in subjection to the spirit.
5. _Mortificar li membres._ They shall mortify their members.
6. _Fugir la ocioseta._ They shall shun idleness.
7. _Gardar sobrieta & mesura en maniar & beavre, & en parolas & en las curas del mond._ They shall observe temperance and sobriety in eating and drinking, as well as in their words, and in the cares of this world.
8. _Far obras de miseridia._ They shall practice works of mercy.
9. _Viore per fe, & per vita moral._ They shall live in faith and morality.
10. _Combatre contra li desirier._ They shall fight against lusts.
11. _Mortificar las obras de la carn._ They shall mortify the works of the flesh.
12. _Istar en temp debit a la Religion._ They shall, at the proper time, attend divine worship.
13. _Ensemp recordar la divina volunta._ They shall speak to one another of the will of God.
14. _Examinar diligentament la conscientia._ They shall diligently examine their consciences.
15. _Mundar & esmendar, & pacificar l’espirit._ They shall purify, improve, and compose the spirit or mind.
These and like precepts the Waldenses presented to their fellow-believers, that they might know how to lead a virtuous and pious life, with regard to God, as well as to their neighbor, and to themselves.