The doctrine preached by Zwingli was not received from Luther . It was the doctrine of Christ . " If Luther preaches Christ ," said the Swiss Reformer , " he does what I am doing . Those whom he has brought to Christ are more numerous than those whom I have led . But this matters not . I will bear no other name than that of Christ , whose soldier I am , and who alone is my Chief . Never has one single word been written by me to Luther , nor by Luther to me . And why ? . . . That it might be shown how much the Spirit of God is in unison with itself , since both of us , without any collusion , teach the doctrine of Christ with such uniformity ." --D ' Aubigne , b . 8 , ch . 9 .
In 1516 Zwingli was invited to become a preacher in the convent at Einsiedeln . Here he was to have a closer view of the corruptions of Rome and was to exert an influence as a Reformer that would be felt far beyond his native Alps . Among the chief attractions of Einsiedeln was an image of the Virgin which was said to have the power of working miracles . Above the gateway of the convent was the inscription , " Here a plenary remission of sins may be obtained ." -- Ibid ., b . 8 , ch . 5 . Pilgrims at all seasons resorted to the shrine of the Virgin ; but at the great yearly festival of its consecration multitudes came from all parts of Switzerland , and even from France and Germany . Zwingli , greatly afflicted at the sight , seized the opportunity to proclaim liberty through the gospel to these bondslaves of superstition .
" Do not imagine ," he said , " that God is in this temple more than in any other part of creation . Whatever be the country in which you dwell , God is around you , and hears you . Can unprofitable works , long pilgrimages , offerings , images , the invocation of the Virgin or of the saints , secure for you the grace of God ? What avails the multitude of words with which we embody our prayers ? What efficacy has a glossy cowl , a smooth-shorn head , a long and flowing robe , or goldembroidered slippers ? God looks at the heart , and our hearts are far from Him ." " Christ ," he said , " who was once offered upon the cross , is the sacrifice and victim , that had made satisfaction for the sins of believers to all eternity ." -- Ibid ., b . 8 , ch . 5 . To many listeners these teachings were unwelcome . It was a bitter disappointment to them to be told that their toilsome journey had been made in vain . The pardon freely offered to them through Christ they could not comprehend . They were satisfied with the old way to heaven which Rome had marked out for them . They shrank from the perplexity of searching for anything better . It was easier to trust their salvation to the priests and the pope than to seek for purity of heart .
But another class received with gladness the tidings of redemption through Christ . The observances enjoined by Rome had failed to bring peace of soul , and in faith they accepted the Saviour ' s blood as their propitiation . These returned to their homes to reveal to others the precious light which they had received . The truth was thus carried from hamlet to hamlet , from town to town , and the number of pilgrims to the Virgin ' s shrine greatly lessened . There was a falling off in the offerings , and consequently in the salary of Zwingli , which was drawn from them . But this caused
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