按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
down； he was brought so low that all hope of his recovery was relinquished；
and the report was widely circulated that he was dead。 In that trying hour
his hope and courage were unshaken。 He looked in faith to the cross of
Calvary； trusting in the all…sufficient propitiation for sin。 When he came
back from the gates of death； it was to preach the gospel with greater
fervor than ever before； and his words exerted an unwonted power。 The people
welcomed with joy their beloved pastor； returned to them from the brink of
the grave。 They themselves had come from attending upon the sick
180
and the dying； and they felt； as never before； the value of the gospel。
Zwingli had arrived at a clearer understanding of its truths； and had more
fully experienced in himself its renewing power。 The fall of man and the
plan of redemption were the subjects upon which he dwelt。 〃In Adam；〃 he
said； 〃we are all dead； sunk in corruption and condemnation。〃 Wylie； b。 8；
ch。 9。 〃Christ 。 。 。 has purchased for us a never…ending redemption。 。 。 。
His passion is 。 。 。 an eternal sacrifice； and everlastingly effectual to
heal； it satisfies the divine justice forever in behalf of all those who
rely upon it with firm and unshaken faith。〃 Yet he clearly taught that men
are not； because of the grace of Christ； free to continue in sin。 〃Wherever
there is faith in God； there God is； and wherever God abideth； there a zeal
exists urging and impelling men to good works。〃D'Aubigne； b。 8； ch。 9。
Such was the interest in Zwingli's preaching that the cathedral was filled
to overflowing with the crowds that came to listen to him。 Little by little；
as they could bear it； he opened the truth to his hearers。 He was careful
not to introduce； at first； points which would startle them and create
prejudice。 His work was to win their hearts to the teachings of Christ； to
soften them by His love； and keep before them His example； and as they
should receive the principles of the gospel； their superstitious beliefs and
practices would inevitably be overthrown。
Step by step the Reformation advanced in Zurich。 In alarm its enemies
aroused to active opposition。 One year before； the monk of Wittenberg had
uttered his No to the pope and the emperor at Worms； and now everything
seemed to indicate a similar withstanding of the papal claims at Zurich。
Repeated attacks were made upon Zwingli。 In the papal cantons； from time to
time； disciples of the gospel were brought to the stake； but this was not
enough； the teacher of heresy must be silenced。 Accordingly the bishop of
Constance dispatched three deputies to the Council of Zurich； accusing
Zwingli of teaching the people to
181
transgress the laws of the church； thus endangering the peace and good order
of society。 If the authority of the church were to be set aside； he urged；
universal anarchy would result。 Zwingli replied that he had been for four
years teaching the gospel in Zurich； 〃which was more quiet and peaceful than
any other town in the confederacy。〃 〃Is not； then；〃 he said； 〃Christianity
the best safeguard of the general security？〃Wylie； b。 8； ch。 11。
The deputies had admonished the councilors to continue in the church； out of
which； they declared； there was no salvation。 Zwingli responded： 〃Let not
this accusation move you。 The foundation of the church is the same Rock； the
same Christ； that gave Peter his name because he confessed Him faithfully。
In every nation whosoever believes with all his heart in the Lord Jesus is
accepted of God。 Here； truly； is the church； out of which no one can be
saved。〃D'Aubigne； London ed。； b。 8； ch。 11。 As a result of the conference；
one of the bishop's deputies accepted the reformed faith。
The council declined to take action against Zwingli； and Rome prepared for a
fresh attack。 The Reformer； when apprised of the plots of his enemies；
exclaimed： 〃Let them come on； I fear them as the beetling cliff fears the
waves that thunder at its feet。〃Wylie； b。 8； ch。 11。 The efforts of the
ecclesiastics only furthered the cause which they sought to overthrow。 The
truth continued to spread。 In Germany its adherents； cast down by Luther's
disappearance； took heart again； as they saw the progress of the gospel in
Switzerland。
As the Reformation became established in Zurich； its fruits were more fully
seen in the suppression of vice and the promotion of order and harmony。
〃Peace has her habitation in our town；〃 wrote Zwingli； 〃no quarrel； no
hypocrisy； no envy； no strife。 Whence can such union come but from the Lord；
and our doctrine； which fills us with the fruits of peace and
piety？〃Ibid。； b。 8； ch。 15。
The victories gained by the Reformation stirred the Romanists to still more
determined efforts for its overthrow。
182
Seeing how little had been accomplished by persecution in suppressing
Luther's work in Germany； they decided to meet the reform with its own
weapons。 They would hold a disputation with Zwingli； and having the
arrangement of matters； they would make sure of victory by choosing；
themselves； not only the place of the combat； but the judges that should
decide between the disputants。 And if they could once get Zwingli into their
power； they would take care that he did not escape them。 The leader
silenced； the movement could speedily be crushed。 This purpose； however； was
carefully concealed。
The disputation was appointed to be held at Baden； but Zwingli was not
present。 The Council of Zurich； suspecting the designs of the papists； and
warned by the burning piles kindled in the papal cantons for confessors of
the gospel； forbade their pastor to expose himself to this peril。 At Zurich
he was ready to meet all the partisans that Rome might send； but to go to
Baden； where the blood of martyrs for the truth had just been shed； was to
go to certain death。 Oecolampadius and Haller were chosen to represent the
Reformers； while the famous Dr。 Eck； supported by a host of learned doctors
and prelates； was the champion of Rome。
Though Zwingli was not present at the conference； his influence was felt。
The secretaries were all chosen by the papists； and others were forbidden to
take notes； on pain of death。 Notwithstanding this； Zwingli received daily a
faithful account of what was said at Baden。 A student in attendance at the
disputation made a record each evening of the arguments that day presented。
These papers two other students undertook to deliver； with the daily letters
of Oecolampadius； to Zwingli at Zurich。 The Reformer answered； giving
counsel and suggestions。 His letters were written by night； and the students
returned with them to Baden in the morning。 To elude the vigilance of the
guard stationed at the city gates； these messengers brought baskets of
poultry on their heads； and they were permitted to pass without hindrance。
183
Thus Zwingli maintained the battle with his wily antagonists。 He 〃has
labored more；〃 said Myconius； 〃by his meditations； his sleepless nights； and
the advice which he transmitted to Baden； than he would have do