Swiss Reformer
143
Like John Luther, Zwingli’s father desired an education for his son,
and the boy was early sent from his native valley. His mind rapidly
developed, and it soon became a question where to find teachers
competent to instruct him. At the age of thirteen he went to Bern,
which then possessed the most distinguished school in Switzerland.
Here, however, a danger arose which threatened to blight the promise
of his life. Determined efforts were put forth by the friars to allure
him into a monastery. The Dominican and Franciscan monks were in
rivalry for popular favor. This they endeavored to secure by the showy
adornments of their churches, the pomp of their ceremonials, and the
attractions of famous relics and miracle-working images.
The Dominicans of Bern saw that if they could win this talented
young scholar, they would secure both gain and honor. His extreme
youth, his natural ability as a speaker and writer, and his genius for
music and poetry, would be more effective than all their pomp and
display, in attracting the people to their services and increasing the
revenues of their order. By deceit and flattery they endeavored to
induce Zwingli to enter 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 same peril. Providentially his father
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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