Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Peter de Bruys the Father of the Petrobrussians – Part One of two

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 4h August 16, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Peter de Bruys the Father of the Petrobrussians – Part One of two

The darkness of the preceding centuries became still deeper in the twelfth. The Catholic church which had been going farther and farther away from the faith of the apostles, now made rapid strides in its departure, plunging into the grossest errors in doctrine and practice. Still, through the thick darkness, some gleams of light appear, showing that the true cause of Christ had not become entirely extinct. Prominent among those who protested against the corruptions of the Catholics was Peter de Bruys, who made his appearance about 1110.

He made great efforts to reform the abuses and to remove superstitions, which were crowned with abundant success. His followers, who became quite numerous during the twenty years of his ministry, were called Petrobrussians. Peter de Bruys first raised his voice in the Province of Dauphine in southwestern France, but the Catholic clergy becoming aroused and alarmed at his success, by their influence he and his followers were expelled from that province. He visited other provinces and kingdoms, his itinerant labors being everywhere blessed. His preaching was readily received by the mountaineers. The country people and the inhabitants of towns, especially Toulouse, rallied about the standard upheld by him.

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: Elder John R. Daily, Primitive Monitor, 1897, pp. 422-423.