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
  177
  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
  179
  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
  180
  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