the great controversy-第35部分

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was　to　exert　an　influence　as　a　Reformer　that　would　be　felt　far　beyond　his
native　Alps。　Among　the　chief　attractions　of　Einsiedeln　was　an　image　of　the
Virgin　which　was　said　to　have　the　power　of　working　miracles。　Above　the
gateway　of　the　convent　was　the　inscription；　〃Here　a　plenary　remission　of
sins　may　be

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obtained。〃Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　5。　Pilgrims　at　all　seasons　resorted　to　the
shrine　of　the　Virgin；　but　at　the　great　yearly　festival　of　its　consecration
multitudes　came　from　all　parts　of　Switzerland；　and　even　from　France　and
Germany。　Zwingli；　greatly　afflicted　at　the　sight；　seized　the　opportunity　to
proclaim　liberty　through　the　gospel　to　these　bondslaves　of　superstition。

〃Do　not　imagine；〃　he　said；　〃that　God　is　in　this　temple　more　than　in　any
other　part　of　creation。　Whatever　be　the　country　in　which　you　dwell；　God　is
around　you；　and　hears　you。　。　。　。　Can　unprofitable　works；　long　pilgrimages；
offerings；　images；　the　invocation　of　the　Virgin　or　of　the　saints；　secure　for
you　the　grace　of　God？　。　。　。　What　avails　the　multitude　of　words　with　which　we
embody　our　prayers？　What　efficacy　has　a　glossy　cowl；　a　smooth…shorn　head；　a
long　and　flowing　robe；　or　gold…embroidered　slippers？　。　。　。　God　looks　at　the
heart；　and　our　hearts　are　far　from　Him。〃　〃Christ；〃　he　said；　〃who　was　once
offered　upon　the　cross；　is　the　sacrifice　and　victim；　that　had　made
satisfaction　for　the　sins　of　believers　to　all　eternity。〃Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。
5。

To　many　listeners　these　teachings　were　unwelcome。　It　was　a　bitter
disappointment　to　them　to　be　told　that　their　toilsome　journey　had　been　made
in　vain。　The　pardon　freely　offered　to　them　through　Christ　they　could　not
comprehend。　They　were　satisfied　with　the　old　way　to　heaven　which　Rome　had
marked　out　for　them。　They　shrank　from　the　perplexity　of　searching　for
anything　better。　It　was　easier　to　trust　their　salvation　to　the　priests　and
the　pope　than　to　seek　for　purity　of　heart。

But　another　class　received　with　gladness　the　tidings　of　redemption　through
Christ。　The　observances　enjoined　by　Rome　had　failed　to　bring　peace　of　soul；
and　in　faith　they　accepted　the　Saviour's　blood　as　their　propitiation。　These
returned　to　their　homes　to　reveal　to　others　the　precious　light　which　they
had　received。　The　truth　was　thus　carried　from　hamlet　to　hamlet；　from　town　to
town；　and　the　number　of　pilgrims　to　the　Virgin's　shrine　greatly　lessened。
There　was

176

a　falling　off　in　the　offerings；　and　consequently　in　the　salary　of　Zwingli；
which　was　drawn　from　them。　But　this　caused　him　only　joy　as　he　saw　that　the
power　of　fanaticism　and　superstition　was　being　broken。

The　authorities　of　the　church　were　not　blind　to　the　work　which　Zwingli　was
accomplishing；　but　for　the　present　they　forbore　to　interfere。　Hoping　yet　to
secure　him　to　their　cause；　they　endeavored　to　win　him　by　flatteries；　and
meanwhile　the　truth　was　gaining　a　hold　upon　the　hearts　of　the　people。

Zwingli's　labors　at　Einsiedeln　had　prepared　him　for　a　wider　field；　and　this
he　was　soon　to　enter。　After　three　years　here　he　was　called　to　the　office　of
preacher　in　the　cathedral　at　Zurich。　This　was　then　the　most　important　town
of　the　Swiss　confederacy；　and　the　influence　exerted　here　would　be　widely
felt。　The　ecclesiastics　by　whose　invitation　he　came　to　Zurich　were；　however；
desirous　of　preventing　any　innovations；　and　they　accordingly　proceeded　to
instruct　him　as　to　his　duties。

〃You　will　make　every　exertion；〃　they　said；　〃to　collect　the　revenues　of　the
chapter；　without　overlooking　the　least。　You　will　exhort　the　faithful；　both
from　the　pulpit　and　in　the　confessional；　to　pay　all　tithes　and　dues；　and　to
show　by　their　offerings　their　affection　to　the　church。　You　will　be　diligent
in　increasing　the　income　arising　from　the　sick；　from　masses；　and　in　general
from　every　ecclesiastical　ordinance。〃　〃As　for　the　administration　of　the
sacraments；　the　preaching；　and　the　care　of　the　flock；〃　added　his
instructors；　〃these　are　also　the　duties　of　the　chaplain。　But　for　these　you
may　employ　a　substitute；　and　particularly　in　preaching。　You　should
administer　the　sacraments　to　none　but　persons　of　note；　and　only　when　called
upon；　you　are　forbidden　to　do　so　without　distinction　of　persons。〃Ibid。；　b。
8；　ch。　6。

Zwingli　listened　in　silence　to　this　charge；　and　in　reply；　after　expressing
his　gratitude　for　the　honor　of　a　call　to　this　important　station；　he
proceeded　to　explain　the　course　which

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he　proposed　to　adopt。　〃The　life　of　Christ；〃　he　said；　〃has　been　too　long
hidden　from　the　people。　I　shall　preach　upon　the　whole　of　the　Gospel　of　St。
Matthew；　。　。　。　drawing　solely　from　the　fountains　of　Scripture；　sounding　its
depths；　comparing　one　passage　with　another；　and　seeking　for　understanding　by
constant　and　earnest　prayer。　It　is　to　God's　glory；　to　the　praise　of　His　only
Son；　to　the　real　salvation　of　souls；　and　to　their　edification　in　the　true
faith；　that　I　shall　consecrate　my　ministry。〃Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　6。　Though
some　of　the　ecclesiastics　disapproved　his　plan；　and　endeavored　to　dissuade
him　from　it；　Zwingli　remained　steadfast。　He　declared　that　he　was　about　to
introduce　no　new　method；　but　the　old　method　employed　by　the　church　in
earlier　and　purer　times。

Already　an　interest　had　been　awakened　in　the　truths　he　taught；　and　the
people　flocked　in　great　numbers　to　listen　to　his　preaching。　Many　who　had
long　since　ceased　to　attend　service　were　among　his　hearers。　He　began　his
ministry　by　opening　the　Gospels　and　reading　and　explaining　to　his　hearers
the　inspired　narrative　of　the　life；　teachings；　and　death　of　Christ。　Here；　as
at　Einsiedeln；　he　presented　the　word　of　God　as　the　only　infallible　authority
and　the　death　of　Christ　as　the　only　complete　sacrifice。　〃It　is　to　Christ；〃
he　said；　〃that　I　desire　to　lead　youto　Christ；　the　true　source　of
salvation。〃　Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　6。　Around　the　preacher　crowded　the　people　of
all　classes；　from　statesmen　and　scholars　to　the　artisan　and　the　peasant。
With　deep　interest　they　listened　to　his　words。　He　not　only　proclaimed　the
offer　of　a　free　salvation；　but　fearlessly　rebuked　the　evils　and　corruptions
of　the　times。　Many　returned　from　the　cathedral　praising　God。　〃This　man；〃
they　said；　〃is　a　preacher　of　the　truth。　He　will　be　our　Moses；　to　lead　us
forth　from　this　Egyptian　darkness。〃Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　6。

But　though　at　first　his　labors　were　received　with　great　enthusiasm；　after　a
time　opposition　arose。　The　monks　set　themselves　to　hinder　his　work　and
condemn　his　teachings。

178

Many　assailed　him　with　gibes　and　sneers；　others　resorted　to　insolence　and
threats。　But　Zwingli　bore　all　with　patience；　saying：　〃If　we　desire　to　gain
over　the　wicked　to　Jesus　Christ；　we　must　shut　our　eyes　against　many　things。〃
Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　6。

About　this　time　a　new　agency　came　in　to　advance　the　work　of　reform。　One
Lucian　was　sent　to　Zurich　with　some　of　Luther's　writings；　by　a　friend　of　the
reformed　faith　at　Basel；　who　suggested　that　the　sale　of　these　books　might　be
a　powerful　means　of　scattering　the　light。　〃Ascertain；〃　he　wrote　to　Zwingli；
〃whether　this　man　possesses　sufficient　prudence　and　skill；　if　so；　let　him
carry　from　city　to　city；　from　town　to　town；　from　village　to　village；　and
even　from　house　to　house；　among　the　Swiss；　the　works　of　Luther；　and
especially　his　exposition　of　the　Lord's　Prayer　written　for　the　laity。　The
more　they　are　known；　the　more　purchasers　they　will　find。〃　Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。
6。　Thus　the　light　found　entrance。

At　the　time　when　God　is　preparing　to　break　the　shackles　of　ignorance　and
superstition；　then　it　is　that　Satan　works　with　greatest　power　to　enshroud
men　in　darkness　and　to　bind　their　fetters　still　more　firmly。　As　men　were
rising　up　in　different　lands　to　present　to　the　people　forgiveness　and
justification　through　the　blood　of　Christ；　Rome　proceeded　with　renewed
energy　to　open　her　market　throughout　Christendom；　offering　pardon　for　money。

Every　sin　had　its　price；　and　men　were　granted　free　license　for　crime　if　the
treasury　of　the　church　was　kept　well　filled。　Thus　the　two　movements
advanced；one　offering　forgiveness　of　sin　for　money；　the　other　forgiveness
through　Christ；　Rome　licensing　sin　and　making　it　her　source　of　revenue；
the　Reformers　condemning　sin　and　pointing　to　Christ　as　the　propitiation　and
deliverer。

In　Germany　the　sale　of　indulgences　had　been　committed　to　the　Dominican
friars　and　was　conducted　by　the　infamous　Tetzel。　In　Switzerland　the　traffic
was　put　into　the　hands　of　the　Franciscans；　under　the　control　of　Samson；　an
Italian

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monk。　Samson　had　already　done　good　service　to　the　church；　having　secured
immense　sums　from　Germany　and　Switzerland　to　fill　the　papal　treasury。　Now　he
traversed　Switzerland；　attracting　great　crowds；　despoiling　the　poor　peasants
of　their　scanty　earnings；　and　exacting　rich　gifts　from　the　wealthy　classes。
But　the　influence　of　the　reform　already　made　itself　felt　in　curtailing；
though　it　could　not　stop；　the　traffic。　Zwingli　was　still　at　Einsiedeln　when
Samson；　soon　after　entering　Switzerland；　arrived　with　his　wares　at　a
neighboring　town。　Being　apprised　of　his　mission；　the　Reformer　immediately
set　out　to　oppose　him。　The　two　did　not　meet；　but　such　was　Zwingli's　success
in　exposing　the　friar's　pretensions　that　he　was　obliged　to　leave　for　other
quarters。

At　Zurich；　Zwingli　preached　zealously　against　the　pardonmongers；　and　when
Samson　approached　the　place；　he　was　met　by　a　messenger　from　the　council　with
an　intimation　that　he　was　expected　to　pass　on。　He　finally　secured　an
entrance　by　stratagem；　but　was　sent　away　without　the　sale　of　a　single
pardon；　and　he　soon　after　left　Switzerland。

A　strong　impetus　was　given　to　the　reform　by　the　appearance　of　the　plague；　or
Great　Death；　which　swept　over　Switzerland　in　the　year　1519。　As　men　were　thus
brought　face　to　face　with　the　destroyer；　many　were　led　to　feel　how　vain　and
worthless　were　the　pardons　which　they　had　so　lately　purchased；　and　they
longed　for　a　surer　foundation　for　their　faith。　Zwingli　at　Zurich　was　smitten
down；　he　was　brought　so　low　that　all　hope　of　his　recovery　was　relinquished；
and　the　report　was　wi