See here, beloved reader, how pure, upright and unfeigned was the conduct of these old Waldenses in this respect; how steadfastly and blamelessly they practiced their confession, desiring to bear not even the appearance of having fellowship with those who waged war and fought against their enemies.
Nevertheless, these Taborites, because of their aversion to war and the superstitions, had separated from the Hussites, and also truly held in those times, as cannot be inferred otherwise, the true confession of the Waldenses, although, as it is thought, some endeavored to force in infant baptism among them; however, their confession in regard to this article, delivered in the year 1431, at Prague, in Bohemia, to M. John Rockenzahn, makes no mention at all of it, yea, they employ such expressions therein as is utterly impossible to apply to infant baptism.
In _J. Mehrning’s History of Baptism, p. 611_, we read these words: “I have before me the confession of the Taborites, drawn up A. D. 1431, which in all respects agrees with our doctrine, and which I intend to have printed at the proper time.”
Concerning the difference between the Hussites proper and Taborites, who were united with them, D. Balthazar Lydius gives this explanation: “The followers of John Huss were divided into two sects, the one called _Praguers_, the other _Taborites_; of whom the Taborites were the stricter. Tract entitled: ‘_Where the church was before the year 1160, or before the time of the Waldenses;’ printed in the year 1624, p. 25_.”
Their confession is as follows: “First, concerning the sacrament of baptism,--which is the first sacrament by which God imparts, especially the first sacramental grace, if we are spiritually regenerated; because it is a sign of the spiritual regeneration proceeding from God,--we hold, according to the tenor of the holy Scriptures, and sincerely confess from the heart, that the sacrament of baptism is the ablution of man, performed by another with water, who pronounces the words prescribed by Christ, which effectually signify the ablution of the soul from sin, which is expressly founded in the Gospel; for Christ, with words as well as by deed, taught that those who believe in him should be thus baptized. He taught this with words when he said to the apostles: ‘Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ Matthew, 23:19. He taught it by deed when he himself was baptized by John, in Jordan. Matt. 3. _Bapt. Hist._, second part, _pp._ 743, 744, from _B. Lyd. Wald., pp. 10, 11_.
_A. D. 1431._--At this time, also Scotland, though otherwise very superstitious, experienced no inconsiderable reformation in the true worship of God, which was effected by various persons zealous for the honor of God and the welfare of his church. So that some resolved and endeavored to reform not only the article of baptism, which was shamefully, and not less to the detriment of many innocent souls, abused by the Roman church, but also various other articles which, from sheer superstition, were maintained by them according to human opinion. They were determined to retain the good, and abolish the evil.
Among those who at this time undertook the reformation of the same, one Paul Craus is especially mentioned, who also opposed auricular confession, the invocation of the saints, the idolatrous sacrament, etc. For this he was condemned as a heretic; but how he finally ended will be shown at the right time and place. Compare the account in the fifteenth book _van den Ondergang, p. 796, col. 1_, _with Vinc. Cal., fol. 368, Georg. Pac. c. 11. Herm. Mod., fol. 274._
NOTE.--Whether this Paul Craus was fully enlightened in all other articles pertaining to the worship of God, we cannot definitely prove; even as, on the other hand, we have found nothing which might tend to derogate his belief; though we have sought in good faith for that which would be derogatory to him; as well as for that which would make him acceptable; hence we have deemed it well to accord also to him a place among the good confessors of the evangelical truth.