184 The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan
[ 182 ] in the confederacy.”“ Is not, then,” he said,“ Christianity the best safeguard of the general security?” 256
The deputies had admonished the councilors to continue in the church, out of which, they declared, there was no salvation. Zwingle responded:“ Let not this accusation move you. The foundation of the church is the same Rock, the same Christ, that gave Peter his name because he confessed Him faithfully. In every nation whosoever believes with all his heart in the Lord Jesus is accepted of God. Here, truly, is the church, out of which no one can be saved.” 257 As a result of the conference, one of the bishop ' s deputies accepted the reformed faith.
The council declined to take action against Zwingle, and Rome prepared for a fresh attack. The Reformer, when apprised of the plots of his enemies, exclaimed,“ Let them come on; I fear them as the beetling cliff fears the waves that thunder at its feet.” 258 The efforts of the ecclesiastics only furthered the cause which they sought to overthrow. The truth continued to spread. In Germany its adherents, cast down by Luther ' s disappearance, took heart again, as they saw the progress of the gospel in Switzerland.
As the Reformation became established in Zurich, its fruits were more fully seen in the suppression of vice, and the promotion of order and harmony.“ Peace has her habitation in our town,” wrote Zwingle;“ no quarrel, no hypocrisy, no envy, no strife. Whence can such union come but from the Lord, and our doctrine, which fills us with the fruits of peace and piety?” 259
The victories gained by the Reformation stirred the Romanists to still more determined efforts for its overthrow. Seeing how little had been accomplished by persecution in suppressing Luther ' s work in Germany, they decided to meet the reform with its own weapons. They would hold a disputation with Zwingle,
256 Wylie, b. 8, ch. 11. 257 D ' Aubigné, b. 8, ch. 11( London ed.).
258 Ibid. 259 Wylie, b. 8, ch. 15.