the great controversy-第34部分

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he　cried　in　despair。　〃Alas！　there　is　no　one　in　this　latter　day　of　His　anger；
to　stand　like　a　wall　before　the　Lord；　and　save　Israel！〃Ibid。；　b。　9；　ch。　2。
Again；　his　thoughts　returned　to　himself；　and　he　feared　being　charged　with
cowardice　in　withdrawing　from　the　contest。　Then　he　reproached　himself　for
his　indolence　and　self…indulgence。　Yet　at　the　same　time　he　was　daily
accomplishing　more　than　it　seemed　possible　for　one　man　to　do。　His　pen　was
never　idle。　While　his　enemies　flattered　themselves　that　he　was　silenced；
they　were　astonished　and　confused　by　tangible　proof　that　he　was　still
active。　A　host　of　tracts；　issuing　from　his　pen；　circulated　throughout
Germany。　He　also　performed　a　most　important　service　for　his　countrymen　by
translating　the　New　Testament　into　the　German　tongue。　From　his　rocky　Patmos
he　continued　for　nearly　a　whole　year　to　proclaim　the　gospel　and　rebuke　the
sins　and　errors　of　the　times。

But　it　was　not　merely　to　preserve　Luther　from　the　wrath　of　his　enemies；　nor
even　to　afford　him　a　season　of　quiet　for　these　important　labors；　that　God
had　withdrawn　His　servant　from　the　stage　of　public　life。　There　were　results
more　precious　than　these　to　be　secured。　In　the　solitude　and　obscurity　of　his
mountain　retreat；　Luther　was　removed　from　earthly　supports　and　shut　out　from
human　praise。　He　was　thus　saved　from　the　pride　and　self…confidence　that　are
so　often　caused　by　success。　By　suffering　and　humiliation　he　was　prepared
again　to　walk　safely　upon　the　dizzy　heights　to　which　he　had　been　so　suddenly
exalted。

As　men　rejoice　in　the　freedom　which　the　truth　brings　them；　they　are　inclined
to　extol　those　whom　God　has　employed　to　break　the　chains　of　error　and
superstition。　Satan　seeks　to　divert　men's　thoughts　and　affections　from　God；
and　to　fix　them　upon　human　agencies；　he　leads　them　to　honor　the　mere
instrument　and　to　ignore　the　Hand　that　directs　all　the　events　of　providence。
Too　often　religious　leaders　who　are　thus　praised　and　reverenced　lose　sight
of　their　dependence　upon　God　and　are　led　to　trust　in　themselves。　As

170

a　result　they　seek　to　control　the　minds　and　consciences　of　the　people；　who
are　disposed　to　look　to　them　for　guidance　instead　of　looking　to　the　word　of
God。　The　work　of　reform　is　often　retarded　because　of　this　spirit　indulged　by
its　supporters。　From　this　danger；　God　would　guard　the　cause　of　the
Reformation。　He　desired　that　work　to　receive；　not　the　impress　of　man；　but
that　of　God。　The　eyes　of　men　had　been　turned　to　Luther　as　the　expounder　of
the　truth；　he　was　removed　that　all　eyes　might　be　directed　to　the　eternal
Author　of　truth。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（171）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　9

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Swiss　Reformer


In　the　choice　of　instrumentalities　for　the　reforming　of　the　church；　the　same
divine　plan　is　seen　as　in　that　for　the　planting　of　the　church。　The　heavenly
Teacher　passed　by　the　great　men　of　the　earth；　the　titled　and　wealthy；　who
were　accustomed　to　receive　praise　and　homage　as　leaders　of　the　people。　They
were　so　proud　and　self…confident　in　their　boasted　superiority　that　they
could　not　be　molded　to　sympathize　with　their　fellow　men　and　to　become
colaborers　with　the　humble　Man　of　Nazareth。　To　the　unlearned；　toiling
fishermen　of　Galilee　was　the　call　addressed：　〃Follow　Me；　and　I　will　make　you
fishers　of　men。〃　Matthew　4：19。　These　disciples　were　humble　and　teachable。
The　less　they　had　been　influenced　by　the　false　teaching　of　their　time；　the
more　successfully　could　Christ　instruct　and　train　them　for　His　service。　So
in　the　days　of　the　Great　Reformation。　The　leading　Reformers　were　men　from
humble　lifemen　who　were　most　free　of　any　of　their　time　from　pride　of　rank
and　from　the　influence　of　bigotry　and　priestcraft。　It　is　God's　plan　to
employ　humble　instruments　to　accomplish　great　results。　Then　the　glory　will
not　be　given　to　men；　but　to　Him　who　works　through　them　to　will　and　to　do　of
His　own　good　pleasure。

A　few　weeks　after　the　birth　of　Luther　in　a　miner's　cabin　in　Saxony；　Ulric
Zwingli　was　born　in　a　herdsman's　cottage　among　the　Alps。　Zwingli's
surroundings　in　childhood；　and

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his　early　training；　were　such　as　to　prepare　him　for　his　future　mission。
Reared　amid　scenes　of　natural　grandeur；　beauty；　and　awful　sublimity；　his
mind　was　early　impressed　with　a　sense　of　the　greatness；　the　power；　and　the
majesty　of　God。　The　history　of　the　brave　deeds　achieved　upon　his　native
mountains　kindled　his　youthful　aspirations。　And　at　the　side　of　his　pious
grandmother　he　listened　to　the　few　precious　Bible　stories　which　she　had
gleaned　from　amid　the　legends　and　traditions　of　the　church。　With　eager
interest　he　heard　of　the　grand　deeds　of　patriarchs　and　prophets；　of　the
shepherds　who　watched　their　flocks　on　the　hills　of　Palestine　where　angels
talked　with　them；　of　the　Babe　of　Bethlehem　and　the　Man　of　Calvary。

Like　John　Luther；　Zwingli's　father　desired　an　education　for　his　son；　and　the
boy　was　early　sent　from　his　native　valley。　His　mind　rapidly　developed；　and
it　soon　became　a　question　where　to　find　teachers　competent　to　instruct　him。
At　the　age　of　thirteen　he　went　to　Bern；　which　then　possessed　the　most
distinguished　school　in　Switzerland。　Here；　however；　a　danger　arose　which
threatened　to　blight　the　promise　of　his　life。　Determined　efforts　were　put
forth　by　the　friars　to　allure　him　into　a　monastery。　The　Dominican　and
Franciscan　monks　were　in　rivalry　for　popular　favor。　This　they　endeavored　to
secure　by　the　showy　adornments　of　their　churches；　the　pomp　of　their
ceremonials；　and　the　attractions　of　famous　relics　and　miracle…working
images。

The　Dominicans　of　Bern　saw　that　if　they　could　win　this　talented　young
scholar；　they　would　secure　both　gain　and　honor。　His　extreme　youth；　his
natural　ability　as　a　speaker　and　writer；　and　his　genius　for　music　and
poetry；　would　be　more　effective　than　all　their　pomp　and　display；　in
attracting　the　people　to　their　services　and　increasing　the　revenues　of　their
order。　By　deceit　and　flattery　they　endeavored　to　induce　Zwingli　to　enter
their　convent。　Luther；　while　a　student　at　school；　had　buried　himself　in　a
convent　cell；　and　he　would　have　been　lost　to　the　world　had　not　God's
providence　released　him。　Zwingli　was　not　permitted　to　encounter　the

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　173

same　peril。　Providentially　his　father　received　information　of　the　designs　of
the　friars。　He　had　no　intention　of　allowing　his　son　to　follow　the　idle　and
worthless　life　of　the　monks。　He　saw　that　his　future　usefulness　was　at　stake；
and　directed　him　to　return　home　without　delay。

The　command　was　obeyed；　but　the　youth　could　not　be　long　content　in　his
native　valley；　and　he　soon　resumed　his　studies；　repairing；　after　a　time；　to
Basel。　It　was　here　that　Zwingli　first　heard　the　gospel　of　God's　free　grace。
Wittembach；　a　teacher　of　the　ancient　languages；　had；　while　studying　Greek
and　Hebrew；　been　led　to　the　Holy　Scriptures；　and　thus　rays　of　divine　light
were　shed　into　the　minds　of　the　students　under　his　instruction。　He　declared
that　there　was　a　truth　more　ancient；　and　of　infinitely　greater　worth；　than
the　theories　taught　by　schoolmen　and　philosophers。　This　ancient　truth　was
that　the　death　of　Christ　is　the　sinner's　only　ransom。　To　Zwingli　these　words
were　as　the　first　ray　of　light　that　precedes　the　dawn。

Zwingli　was　soon　called　from　Basel　to　enter　upon　his　lifework。　His　first
field　of　labor　was　in　an　Alpine　parish；　not　far　distant　from　his　native
valley。　Having　received　ordination　as　a　priest；　he　〃devoted　himself　with　his
whole　soul　to　the　search　after　divine　truth；　for　he　was　well　aware；〃　says　a
fellow　Reformer；　〃how　much　he　must　know　to　whom　the　flock　of　Christ　is
entrusted。〃Wylie；　b。　8；　ch。　5。　The　more　he　searched　the　Scriptures；　the
clearer　appeared　the　contrast　between　their　truths　and　the　heresies　of　Rome。
He　submitted　himself　to　the　Bible　as　the　word　of　God；　the　only　sufficient；
infallible　rule。　He　saw　that　it　must　be　its　own　interpreter。　He　dared　not
attempt　to　explain　Scripture　to　sustain　a　preconceived　theory　or　doctrine；
but　held　it　his　duty　to　learn　what　is　its　direct　and　obvious　teaching。　He
sought　to　avail　himself　of　every　help　to　obtain　a　full　and　correct
understanding　of　its　meaning；　and　he　invoked　the　aid　of　the　Holy　Spirit；
which　would；　he　declared；　reveal　it　to　all　who　sought　it　in　sincerity　and
with　prayer。

174


〃The　Scriptures；〃　said　Zwingli；　〃come　from　God；　not　from　man；　and　even　that
God　who　enlightens　will　give　thee　to　understand　that　the　speech　comes　from
God。　The　word　of　God　。　。　。　cannot　fail；　it　is　bright；　it　teaches　itself；　it
discloses　itself；　it　illumines　the　soul　with　all　salvation　and　grace；
comforts　it　in　God；　humbles　it；　so　that　it　loses　and　even　forfeits　itself；
and　embraces　God。〃　The　truth　of　these　words　Zwingli　himself　had　proved。
Speaking　of　his　experience　at　this　time；　he　afterward　wrote：　〃When　。　。　。　I
began　to　give　myself　wholly　up　to　the　Holy　Scriptures；　philosophy　and
theology　（scholastic）　would　always　keep　suggesting　quarrels　to　me。　At　last　I
came　to　this；　that　I　thought；　‘Thou　must　let　all　that　lie；　and　learn　the
meaning　of　God　purely　out　of　His　own　simple　word。'　Then　I　began　to　ask　God
for　His　light；　and　the　Scriptures　began　to　be　much　easier　to　me。〃Ibid。；　b。
8；　ch。　6。

The　doctrine　preached　by　Zwingli　was　not　received　from　Luther。　It　was　the
doctrine　of　Christ。　〃If　Luther　preaches　Christ；〃　said　the　Swiss　Reformer；
〃he　does　what　I　am　doing。　Those　whom　he　has　brought　to　Christ　are　more
numerous　than　those　whom　I　have　led。　But　this　matters　not。　I　will　bear　no
other　name　than　that　of　Christ；　whose　soldier　I　am；　and　who　alone　is　my
Chief。　Never　has　one　single　word　been　written　by　me　to　Luther；　nor　by　Luther
to　me。　And　why？　。　。　。　That　it　might　be　shown　how　much　the　Spirit　of　God　is
in　unison　with　itself；　since　both　of　us；　without　any　collusion；　teach　the
doctrine　of　Christ　with　such　uniformity。〃　D'Aubigne；　b。　8；　ch。　9。

In　1516　Zwingli　was　invited　to　become　a　preacher　in　the　convent　at
Einsiedeln。　Here　he　was　to　have　a　closer　view　of　the　corruptions　of　Rome　and
was　to　exert　an　influence　as　a　Reformer　that　would　be　felt　far　beyond　his
native　Alps。　A