His　passion　is　。　。　。　an　eternal　sacrifice；　and　everlastingly　effectual　to
  heal；　it　satisfies　the　divine　justice　forever　in　behalf　of　all　those　who
  rely　upon　it　with　firm　and　unshaken　faith。〃　Yet　he　clearly　taught　that　men
  are　not；　because　of　the　grace　of　Christ；　free　to　continue　in　sin。　〃Wherever
  there　is　faith　in　God；　there　God　is；　and　wherever　God　abideth；　there　a　zeal
  exists　urging　and　impelling　men　to　good　works。〃D'Aubigne；　b。　8；　ch。　9。
  Such　was　the　interest　in　Zwingli's　preaching　that　the　cathedral　was　filled
  to　overflowing　with　the　crowds　that　came　to　listen　to　him。　Little　by　little；
  as　they　could　bear　it；　he　opened　the　truth　to　his　hearers。　He　was　careful
  not　to　introduce；　at　first；　points　which　would　startle　them　and　create
  prejudice。　His　work　was　to　win　their　hearts　to　the　teachings　of　Christ；　to
  soften　them　by　His　love；　and　keep　before　them　His　example；　and　as　they
  should　receive　the　principles　of　the　gospel；　their　superstitious　beliefs　and
  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。　T