Hütten was again compelled to flee; he reached Zurich, and there met with a generous reception from the noble-hearted Zwingle. But intrigues again compelled him to leave that city; and after passing some time at the baths of Pfeffers, he repaired with a letter from the Swiss reformer to the pastor John Schnepp, who inhabited the small island of Ufnau in the lake of Zurich. This poor minister entertained the sick and fugitive knight with the most touching charity. It was in this peaceful and obscure retreat that Ulrich Hütten, one of the most remarkable men of the sixteenth century, died obscurely about the end of August 1523, after a most agitated life, expelled by one party, persecuted by another, deserted by nearly all, and having always contended against superstition, but, as it would seem, without having ever possessed the truth. The poor pastor, who had some skill in the healing art, had vainly lavished on him all his cares. With him chivalry expired. He left neither money, nor furniture, nor books;--nothing in the world but a pen.[561] Thus was broken the arm of iron that had presumed to support the ark of God. [561] Libros nullos habuit, supellectilem nullam, præter calamum. Zw. Epp. p. 313. CHAPTER IX. Erasmus and Luther--Vacillations of Erasmus--Luther to Erasmus--Erasmus's Treatise against Luther on Free Will--Three Opinions--Effect upon Luther--Luther on Free Will--The Jansenists and the Reformers--Homage to Erasmus--His Anger--The Three Days. [Sidenote: ERASMUS AND LUTHER.] There was in Germany a man more formidable to Erasmus than the ill-fated Hütten: this was Luther. The moment had now arrived when these two great champions of the age were to measure their strength hand to hand. The two reformations at which they arrived were very different. While Luther desired a thorough reform, Erasmus, a friend to half-measures, was endeavouring to obtain concessions from the hierarchy that would unite the extreme parties. The vacillations and inconsistency of Erasmus disgusted Luther. "You desire to walk upon eggs without crushing them," said the latter, "and among glasses without breaking them."[562] [562] Auf Eyern gehen und keines zu treten. L. Opp. xix. 11. At the same time he met the vacillations of Erasmus with absolute decision. "We Christians," said he, "ought to be sure of our doctrine, and able to say _yes_ or _no_ without hesitation. To presume to hinder us from affirming our belief with full conviction, is depriving us of faith itself. The Holy Ghost is no sceptic;[563] and He has written in our hearts a firm and strong assurance, which makes us as certain of our faith as we are of life itself." [563] Der heilige Geist ist kein Scepticus. Ibid. 8.