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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
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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。
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〃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。 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 acc