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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 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