the great controversy-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


practices　would　inevitably　be　overthrown。

Step　by　step　the　Reformation　advanced　in　Zurich。　In　alarm　its　enemies
aroused　to　active　opposition。　One　year　before；　the　monk　of　Wittenberg　had
uttered　his　No　to　the　pope　and　the　emperor　at　Worms；　and　now　everything
seemed　to　indicate　a　similar　withstanding　of　the　papal　claims　at　Zurich。
Repeated　attacks　were　made　upon　Zwingli。　In　the　papal　cantons；　from　time　to
time；　disciples　of　the　gospel　were　brought　to　the　stake；　but　this　was　not
enough；　the　teacher　of　heresy　must　be　silenced。　Accordingly　the　bishop　of
Constance　dispatched　three　deputies　to　the　Council　of　Zurich；　accusing
Zwingli　of　teaching　the　people　to

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　181

transgress　the　laws　of　the　church；　thus　endangering　the　peace　and　good　order
of　society。　If　the　authority　of　the　church　were　to　be　set　aside；　he　urged；
universal　anarchy　would　result。　Zwingli　replied　that　he　had　been　for　four
years　teaching　the　gospel　in　Zurich；　〃which　was　more　quiet　and　peaceful　than
any　other　town　in　the　confederacy。〃　〃Is　not；　then；〃　he　said；　〃Christianity
the　best　safeguard　of　the　general　security？〃Wylie；　b。　8；　ch。　11。

The　deputies　had　admonished　the　councilors　to　continue　in　the　church；　out　of
which；　they　declared；　there　was　no　salvation。　Zwingli　responded：　〃Let　not
this　accusation　move　you。　The　foundation　of　the　church　is　the　same　Rock；　the
same　Christ；　that　gave　Peter　his　name　because　he　confessed　Him　faithfully。
In　every　nation　whosoever　believes　with　all　his　heart　in　the　Lord　Jesus　is
accepted　of　God。　Here；　truly；　is　the　church；　out　of　which　no　one　can　be
saved。〃D'Aubigne；　London　ed。；　b。　8；　ch。　11。　As　a　result　of　the　conference；
one　of　the　bishop's　deputies　accepted　the　reformed　faith。

The　council　declined　to　take　action　against　Zwingli；　and　Rome　prepared　for　a
fresh　attack。　The　Reformer；　when　apprised　of　the　plots　of　his　enemies；
exclaimed：　〃Let　them　come　on；　I　fear　them　as　the　beetling　cliff　fears　the
waves　that　thunder　at　its　feet。〃Wylie；　b。　8；　ch。　11。　The　efforts　of　the
ecclesiastics　only　furthered　the　cause　which　they　sought　to　overthrow。　The
truth　continued　to　spread。　In　Germany　its　adherents；　cast　down　by　Luther's
disappearance；　took　heart　again；　as　they　saw　the　progress　of　the　gospel　in
Switzerland。

As　the　Reformation　became　established　in　Zurich；　its　fruits　were　more　fully
seen　in　the　suppression　of　vice　and　the　promotion　of　order　and　harmony。
〃Peace　has　her　habitation　in　our　town；〃　wrote　Zwingli；　〃no　quarrel；　no
hypocrisy；　no　envy；　no　strife。　Whence　can　such　union　come　but　from　the　Lord；
and　our　doctrine；　which　fills　us　with　the　fruits　of　peace　and
piety？〃Ibid。；　b。　8；　ch。　15。

The　victories　gained　by　the　Reformation　stirred　the　Romanists　to　still　more
determined　efforts　for　its　overthrow。

182

Seeing　how　little　had　been　accomplished　by　persecution　in　suppressing
Luther's　work　in　Germany；　they　decided　to　meet　the　reform　with　its　own
weapons。　They　would　hold　a　disputation　with　Zwingli；　and　having　the
arrangement　of　matters；　they　would　make　sure　of　victory　by　choosing；
themselves；　not　only　the　place　of　the　combat；　but　the　judges　that　should
decide　between　the　disputants。　And　if　they　could　once　get　Zwingli　into　their
power；　they　would　take　care　that　he　did　not　escape　them。　The　leader
silenced；　the　movement　could　speedily　be　crushed。　This　purpose；　however；　was
carefully　concealed。

The　disputation　was　appointed　to　be　held　at　Baden；　but　Zwingli　was　not
present。　The　Council　of　Zurich；　suspecting　the　designs　of　the　papists；　and
warned　by　the　burning　piles　kindled　in　the　papal　cantons　for　confessors　of
the　gospel；　forbade　their　pastor　to　expose　himself　to　this　peril。　At　Zurich
he　was　ready　to　meet　all　the　partisans　that　Rome　might　send；　but　to　go　to
Baden；　where　the　blood　of　martyrs　for　the　truth　had　just　been　shed；　was　to
go　to　certain　death。　Oecolampadius　and　Haller　were　chosen　to　represent　the
Reformers；　while　the　famous　Dr。　Eck；　supported　by　a　host　of　learned　doctors
and　prelates；　was　the　champion　of　Rome。

Though　Zwingli　was　not　present　at　the　conference；　his　influence　was　felt。
The　secretaries　were　all　chosen　by　the　papists；　and　others　were　forbidden　to
take　notes；　on　pain　of　death。　Notwithstanding　this；　Zwingli　received　daily　a
faithful　account　of　what　was　said　at　Baden。　A　student　in　attendance　at　the
disputation　made　a　record　each　evening　of　the　arguments　that　day　presented。
These　papers　two　other　students　undertook　to　deliver；　with　the　daily　letters
of　Oecolampadius；　to　Zwingli　at　Zurich。　The　Reformer　answered；　giving
counsel　and　suggestions。　His　letters　were　written　by　night；　and　the　students
returned　with　them　to　Baden　in　the　morning。　To　elude　the　vigilance　of　the
guard　stationed　at　the　city　gates；　these　messengers　brought　baskets　of
poultry　on　their　heads；　and　they　were　permitted　to　pass　without　hindrance。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　183


Thus　Zwingli　maintained　the　battle　with　his　wily　antagonists。　He　〃has
labored　more；〃　said　Myconius；　〃by　his　meditations；　his　sleepless　nights；　and
the　advice　which　he　transmitted　to　Baden；　than　he　would　have　done　by
discussing　in　person　in　the　midst　of　his　enemies。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　11；　ch。
13。

The　Romanists；　flushed　with　anticipated　triumph；　had　come　to　Baden　attired
in　their　richest　robes　and　glittering　with　jewels。　They　fared　luxuriously；
their　tables　spread　with　the　most　costly　delicacies　and　the　choicest　wines。
The　burden　of　their　ecclesiastical　duties　was　lightened　by　gaiety　and
reveling。　In　marked　contrast　appeared　the　Reformers；　who　were　looked　upon　by
the　people　as　little　better　than　a　company　of　beggars；　and　whose　frugal　fare
kept　them　but　short　time　at　table。　Oecolampadius's　landlord；　taking　occasion
to　watch　him　in　his　room；　found　him　always　engaged　in　study　or　at　prayer；
and　greatly　wondering；　reported　that　the　heretic　was　at　least　〃very　pious。〃

At　the　conference；　〃Eck　haughtily　ascended　a　pulpit　splendidly　decorated；
while　the　humble　Oecolampadius；　meanly　clothed；　was　forced　to　take　his　seat
in　front　of　his　opponent　on　a　rudely　carved　stool。〃Ibid。；　b。　11；　ch。　13。
Eck's　stentorian　voice　and　unbounded　assurance　never　failed　him。　His　zeal
was　stimulated　by　the　hope　of　gold　as　well　as　fame；　for　the　defender　of　the
faith　was　to　be　rewarded　by　a　handsome　fee。　When　better　arguments　failed；　he
had　resort　to　insults；　and　even　to　oaths。

Oecolampadius；　modest　and　self…distrustful；　had　shrunk　from　the　combat；　and
he　entered　upon　it　with　the　solemn　avowal：　〃I　acknowledge　no　other　standard
of　judgment　than　the　word　of　God。〃Ibid。；　b。　11；　ch。　13。　Though　gentle　and
courteous　in　demeanor；　he　proved　himself　able　and　unflinching。　While　the
Romanists；　according　to　their　wont；　appealed　for　authority　to　the　customs　of
the　church；　the　Reformer　adhered　steadfastly　to　the　Holy　Scriptures。
〃Custom；〃　he　said；　〃has　no　force　in　our　Switzerland；　unless　it　be　according
to　the　constitution；　now；　in　matters　of　faith；　the　Bible　is　our
constitution。〃Ibid。；　b。　11；　ch。　13。

184


The　contrast　between　the　two　disputants　was　not　without　effect。　The　calm；
clear　reasoning　of　the　Reformer；　so　gently　and　modestly　presented；　appealed
to　minds　that　turned　in　disgust　from　Eck's　boastful　and　boisterous
assumptions。

The　discussion　continued　eighteen　days。　At　its　close　the　papists　with　great
confidence　claimed　the　victory。　Most　of　the　deputies　sided　with　Rome；　and
the　Diet　pronounced　the　Reformers　vanquished　and　declared　that　they；
together　with　Zwingli；　their　leader；　were　cut　off　from　the　church。　But　the
fruits　of　the　conference　revealed　on　which　side　the　advantage　lay。　The
contest　resulted　in　a　strong　impetus　to　the　Protestant　cause；　and　it　was　not
long　afterward　that　the　important　cities　of　Bern　and　Basel　declared　for　the
Reformation。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（185）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　10

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Progress　of　Reform　in　Germany


Luther's　mysterious　disappearance　excited　consternation　throughout　all
Germany。　Inquiries　concerning　him　were　heard　everywhere。　The　wildest　rumors
were　circulated；　and　many　believed　that　he　had　been　murdered。　There　was
great　lamentation；　not　only　by　his　avowed　friends；　but　by　thousands　who　had
not　openly　taken　their　stand　with　the　Reformation。　Many　bound　themselves　by
a　solemn　oath　to　avenge　his　death。

The　Romish　leaders　saw　with　terror　to　what　a　pitch　had　risen　the　feeling
against　them。　Though　at　first　exultant　at　the　supposed　death　of　Luther；　they
soon　desired　to　hide　from　the　wrath　of　the　people。　His　enemies　had　not　been
so　troubled　by　his　most　daring　acts　while　among　them　as　they　were　at　his
removal。　Those　who　in　their　rage　had　sought　to　destroy　the　bold　Reformer
were　filled　with　fear　now　that　he　had　become　a　helpless　captive。　〃The　only
remaining　way　of　saving　ourselves；〃　said　one；　〃is　to　light　torches；　and　hunt
for　Luther　through　the　whole　world；　to　restore　him　to　the　nation　that　is
calling　for　him。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　9；　ch。　1。　The　edict　of　the　emperor　seemed
to　fall　powerless。　The　papal　legates　were　filled　with　indignation　as　they
saw　that　it　commanded　far　less　attention　than　did　the　fate　of　Luther。

The　tidings　that　he　was　safe；　though　a　prisoner；　calmed　the　fears　of　the
people；　while　it　still　further　aroused　their　enthusiasm　in　his　favor。　His
writings　were　read　with　greater

186

eagerness　than　ever　before。　Increasing　numbers　joined　the　cause　of　the
heroic　man　who　had；　at　such　fearful　odds；　defended　the　word　of　God。　The
Reformation　was　constantly　gaining　in　strength。　The　seed　which　Luther　had
sown　sprang　up　everywhere。　His　absence　accomplished　a　work　which　his
presence　would　have　failed　to　do。　Other　laborers　felt　a　new　responsibility；
now　that　their　great　leader　was　removed。　With　new　faith　and　earnestness　they
pressed　forward　to　do　all　in　their　power；　that　the　work　so　nobly　begun　might
not　be　hindered。

But　Satan　was　not　idle。　He　now　attempted　what　he　has　attempted　in　every
other　reformatory　movementto　deceive　and　destroy　the　people　by　palming　off
upon　them　a　counterfeit　in　place　of　the　true　work。　As　there　were　false
christs　in　the　first　century　of　the　Christian　church；　so　there　arose　false
prophets　in　the　sixteenth　century。

A　few　men；　deeply　affected　by　the　excitement　in　the　religious　world；
imagined　themselves　to　have　received　special　revelations　from　Heaven；　and
claimed　to　have　been　divinely　commissioned　to　carry　forward　to　its
completion　the　Reformation　which；　they　declared；　had　been　but　feebly　begun
by　Luther。　In　truth；　they　were　undoing　the　very　work　which　he　had
accomplished。　They　rejected　the　great　principle　which　was　the　very
foundation　of　the　Reformationthat　the　word　of　God　is　the　all…sufficient
rule　of　faith　and　practice；　and　for　that　unerring　guide　they　substituted　the
changeable；　uncertain　standard　of　their　own　feelings　and　impressions。　By
this　act　of　setting　aside　the　great　detector　of　error　and　falsehood　the　way
was　opened　for　Satan　to　control　minds　as　best　pleased　himself。

One　of　these　prophets　claimed　to　have　been　instructed　by　the　angel　Gabriel。
A　student　who　united　with　him　forsook　his　studies；　declaring