Swiss Reformer
147
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 you—
to 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. Many assailed him with gibes and
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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 writ-
ings, 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 igno-
rance 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 forgive-
ness and justification through the blood of Christ, Rome proceeded