Among those who opposed the teachings of that apostate church were the Cathari, Poor Men of Lyons, Lombards, Albigenses, Waldenses, Vaudois, etc. The name Waldenses and Albigenses have frequently been loosely applied to all the bands of people that passed under various titles in different countries and that opposed the doctrines and ecclesiastical tyranny of Rome. Speaking of the twelfth century, Bowling says: "There existed at that dark period, when 'all the world wondered after the beast,' a numerous body of the disciples of Christ, who took the New Testament for their guidance and direction in all the affairs of religion, rejecting the doctrines and commandments of men. Their appeal was from the decisions of councils, and the authority of popes, cardinals, and prelates, to the law and the testimony--the words of Christ and his holy apostles." History of Romanism, p. 272. Egbert, a monkish writer of that age, speaking of them, says that he had often disputed with these heretics, "a sort of people," he adds, "who are very pernicious to the Catholic faith, which, like moths, they corrupt and destroy. They are armed," says he, "_with the words of Scripture_ which in any way seem to favor their sentiments, and with these they know how to defend their errors, and to oppose the Catholic truth. They are increased to great multitudes throughout all countries, to the great danger of the church [of Rome]." For lack of space, an extensive history of these interesting people can not be given; but a few references to them by their most inveterate enemies, the Papists themselves, are of such importance that I can not pass them by unnoticed. The testimony given by Evervinus, a zealous Catholic, in a letter he wrote to the celebrated Bernard, at the beginning of the twelfth century, relative to the doctrine and manners of these so-called _heretics_, is exceedingly valuable. Says he: "There have lately been some heretics discovered among us, near Colonge [sic: Cologne], of whom some have, with satisfaction returned again to the church. One that was a bishop among them, and his companions, openly opposed us, in the assembly of the clergy and laity, the lord-archbishop himself being present, with many of the nobility, maintaining their heresy from _the words of Christ and his apostles_. But, finding that they made no impression, they desired that a day might be fixed, upon which they might bring along with them men skilful in their faith, promising to return to the church, provided their teachers were unable to answer their opponents; but that otherwise, they would rather die than depart from their judgment.