The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 129

The European Union in Prophecy
Determined efforts were put forth by the friars to allure him into a monastery. The
Dominican and Franciscan monks were in rivalry for popular favor. This they
endeavoured to secure by the showy adornments of their churches, the pomp of their
ceremonials, and the attractions of famous relics and miracle-working images.
The Dominicans of Bern saw that if they could win this talented young scholar,
they would secure both gain and honour. His extreme youth, his natural ability as a
speaker and writer, and his genius for music and poetry, would be more effective than
all their pomp and display, in attracting the people to their services and increasing
the revenues of their order. By deceit and flattery they endeavoured to induce Zwingli
to enter their convent. Luther, while a student at school, had buried himself in a
convent cell, and he would have been lost to the world had not God's providence
released him. Zwingli was not permitted to encounter the same peril. Providentially
his father received information of the designs of the friars. He had no intention of
allowing his son to follow the idle and worthless life of the monks. He saw that his
future usefulness was at stake, and directed him to return home without delay.
The command was obeyed; but the youth could not be long content in his native
valley, and he soon resumed his studies, repairing, after a time, to Basel. It was here
that Zwingli first heard the gospel of God's free grace. Wittembach, a teacher of the
ancient languages, had, while studying Greek and Hebrew, been led to the Holy
Scriptures, and thus rays of divine light were shed into the minds of the students
under his instruction. He declared that there was a truth more ancient, and of
infinitely greater worth, than the theories taught by schoolmen and philosophers.
This ancient truth was that the death of Christ is the sinner's only ransom. To Zwingli
these words were as the first ray of light that precedes the dawn.
Zwingli was soon called from Basel to enter upon his lifework. His first field of
labor was in an Alpine parish, not far distant from his native valley. Having received
ordination as a priest, he "devoted himself with his whole soul to the search after
divine truth; for he was well aware," says a fellow Reformer, "how much he must know
to whom the flock of Christ is entrusted."--Wylie, b. 8, ch. 5. The more he searched the
Scriptures, the clearer appeared the contrast between their truths and the heresies of
Rome. He submitted himself to the Bible as the word of God, the only sufficient,
infallible rule. He saw that it must be its own interpreter. He dared not attempt to
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