It is true indeed that here and there were found pious men, who in
humility and childlike simplicity wrought works of love and edified
their neighbors, by a redeeming activity and a spotless life. But
characters of this kind were suited only to peaceful, not stormy times,
which called for bolder leaders. Enemies must be met on their own
field, the weapons of the understanding used, and the arguments of
science advanced, not in such a way however as to injure simple-minded
faith. This was the manner in which Christ opposed the scepticism of
the Sadducees and the sophistry of the Pharisees, and this is what is
meant by that saying of his, concerning the wisdom of the serpent and
the harmlessness of the dove. High hung this garland; but it was worthy
of the sweat of the noblest.
Wittenbach knew well how to encourage his pupils to enter the lists and
strive after its attainment. Leo Judæ has given authentic testimony to
this effect in a letter to the council of Biel. "From your city,"
writes he, "came forth this man, regarded by the most learned men of
that age as a the phœnix on account of his manifold acquirements.
Zwingli and I enjoyed his instructions at Basel in the year 1505. Under
his guidance, from polite literature, in which he was equally at home,
we passed over to the more earnest study of the Holy Scriptures. His
sagacity discerned clearly beforehand the events of coming years, the
overthrow of the papal doctrine of indulgences and other groundless
dogmas, by which, for many centuries, Rome had held unthinking mankind
in bondage. Whatever of thorough knowledge we possess, we owe it to him
and must remain his debtors as long as we live."
While yet in Basel Zwingli had received the title of _Magister_ (Master
of the Liberal Arts,) but he never made any use of it himself. One is
our master, he was accustomed to say, Christ.
But now, in the twenty-second year of his age, he must leave Basel
also, and enter on the proper business of his life. John Stucki, pastor
at Glarus, died in the year 1506. Recommended probably by his uncle,
perhaps by his friend Glareanus, the young man was chosen for the
important post. The Bishop of Constance consecrated him to the
priesthood and ratified the choice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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