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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
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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。
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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 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
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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