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
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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。
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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。
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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 done by
discussing in person in the midst of his enemies。〃D'Aubigne； b。 11； ch。
13。
The Romanists； flushed with anticipated triumph； had come to Baden attired
in their richest robes and glittering with jewels。 They fared luxuriously；
their tables spread with the most costly delicacies and the choicest wines。
The burden of their ecclesiastical duties was lightened by gaiety and
reveling。 In marked contrast appeared the Reformers； who were looked upon by
the people as little better than a company of beggars； and whose frugal fare
kept them but short time at table。 Oecolampadius's landlord； taking occasion
to watch him in his room； found him always engaged in study or at prayer；
and greatly wondering； reported that the heretic was at least 〃very pious。〃
At the conference； 〃Eck haughtily ascended a pulpit splendidly decorated；
while the humble Oecolampadius； meanly clothed； was forced to take his seat
in front of his opponent on a rudely carved stool。〃Ibid。； b。 11； ch。 13。
Eck's stentorian voice and unbounded assurance never failed him。 His zeal
was stimulated by the hope of gold as well as fame； for the defender of the
faith was to be rewarded by a handsome fee。 When better arguments failed； he
had resort to insults； and even to oaths。
Oecolampadius； modest and self…distrustful； had shrunk from the combat； and
he entered upon it with the solemn avowal： 〃I acknowledge no other standard
of judgment than the word of God。〃Ibid。； b。 11； ch。 13。 Though gentle and
courteous in demeanor； he proved himself able and unflinching。 While the
Romanists； according to their wont； appealed for authority to the customs of
the church； the Reformer adhered steadfastly to the Holy Scriptures。
〃Custom；〃 he said； 〃has no force in our Switzerland； unless it be according
to the constitution； now； in matters of faith； the Bible is our
constitution。〃Ibid。； b。 11； ch。 13。
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The contrast between the two disputants was not without effect。 The calm；
clear reasoning of the Reformer； so gently and modestly presented； appealed
to minds that turned in disgust from Eck's boastful and boisterous
assumptions。
The discussion continued eighteen days。 At its close the papists with great
confidence claimed the victory。 Most of the deputies sided with Rome； and
the Diet pronounced the Reformers vanquished and declared that they；
together with Zwingli； their leader； were cut off from the church。 But the
fruits of the conference revealed on which side the advantage lay。 The
contest resulted in a strong impetus to the Protestant cause； and it was not
long afterward that the important cities of Bern and Basel declared for the
Reformation。
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Chapter 10
Progress of Reform in Germany
Luther's mysterious disappearance excited consternation throughout all
Germany。 Inquiries concerning him were heard everywhere。 The wildest rumors
were circulated； and many believed that he had been murdered。 T