was possible, and was free to say, "If Christ be in the bread, then
indeed I know not how highly you prize yourselves; but I, poor monk, am
not worthy to look on him once, and hence decline to offer him. Is he
not there?--wo is me! if I offer bread, instead of God, and suffer the
people to adore it." When disputes ran too high, he sometimes broke
them off with the words, "Why so much talk? Now and at my last hour,
I say with David--_Have mercy, O God, upon me, according to thy
loving-kindness. Enter not into judgment with thy servant._ More I do
not wish to know." He was a diamond, unpolished, it is true, and
carelessly set, but always powerful enough to prevent any interference
in the government of his foundation.
At his side, Theobald of Geroldseck, filled the influential post of
Administrator. Zwingli himself writes of him, "His share of knowledge
is quite moderate, but he knows the value of learning, and particularly
seeks intercourse with those, who are possessed of it." By the aid of
such persons he desired to increase the prosperity of the monastery,
for the advantage and maintenance of whose privileges, he was clothed
with power. He was glad therefore to learn that Zwingli was able to
accept a call, and in fact an agreement was entered into by the
attorneys of the two parties on the 14 April, 1516, at Pfaffikon, on
Lake Zurich, in consequence of which Zwingli undertook the office of
preacher and pastor, in the capacity of vicar to the people's priest at
Einsiedeln, for which boarding at the convent-table, 20 florins at the
quarter-fastings, the revenues arising from the penny-offering and
requiems, and his own share of the confession-fees were guaranteed to
him, and the first complete benefice at the disposal of the
Administrator besides. Nevertheless, at their own urgent request, he
still remained pastor of his congregation in Glarus, and discharged his
duties there by the help of a vicar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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