him only joy as he saw that the power of fanaticism and superstition was being broken . The authorities of the church were not blind to the work which Zwingli was accomplishing ; but for the present they forbore to interfere . Hoping yet to secure him to their cause , they endeavoured to win him by flatteries ; and meanwhile the truth was gaining a hold upon the hearts of the people .
Zwingli ' s labours at Einsiedeln had prepared him for a wider field , and this he was soon to enter . After three years here he was called to the office of preacher in the cathedral at Zurich . This was then the most important town of the Swiss confederacy , and the influence exerted here would be widely felt . The ecclesiastics by whose invitation he came to Zurich were , however , desirous of preventing any innovations , and they accordingly proceeded to instruct him as to his duties . " You will make every exertion ," they said , " to collect the revenues of the chapter , without overlooking the least . You will exhort the faithful , both from the pulpit and in the confessional , to pay all tithes and dues , and to show by their offerings their affection to the church . You will be diligent in increasing the income arising from the sick , from masses , and in general from every ecclesiastical ordinance ." " As for the administration of the sacraments , the preaching , and the care of the flock ," added his instructors , " these are also the duties of the chaplain . But for these you may employ a substitute , and particularly in preaching . You should administer the sacraments to none but persons of note , and only when called upon ; you are forbidden to do so without distinction of persons ." -- Ibid ., b . 8 , ch . 6 .
Zwingli listened in silence to this charge , and in reply , after expressing his gratitude for the honour of a call to this important station , he proceeded to explain the course which he proposed to adopt . " The life of Christ ," he said , " has been too long hidden from the people . I shall preach upon the whole of the Gospel of St . Matthew ,… drawing solely from the fountains of Scripture , sounding its depths , comparing one passage with another , and seeking for understanding by constant and earnest prayer . It is to God ' s glory , to the praise of His only Son , to the real salvation of souls , and to their edification in the true faith , that I shall consecrate my ministry ." -- Ibid ., b . 8 , ch . 6 . Though some of the ecclesiastics disapproved his plan , and endeavoured to dissuade him from it , Zwingli remained steadfast . He declared that he was about to introduce no new method , but the old method employed by the church in earlier and purer times . 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
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