The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 134

The European Union in Prophecy
hands of the Franciscans, under the control of Samson, an Italian monk. Samson had
already done good service to the church, having secured immense sums from Germany
and Switzerland to fill the papal treasury. Now he traversed Switzerland, attracting
great crowds, despoiling the poor peasants of their scanty earnings, and exacting rich
gifts from the wealthy classes. But the influence of the reform already made itself felt
in curtailing, though it could not stop, the traffic. Zwingli was still at Einsiedeln when
Samson, soon after entering Switzerland, arrived with his wares at a neighboring
town. Being apprised of his mission, the Reformer immediately set out to oppose him.
The two did not meet, but such was Zwingli's success in exposing the friar's
pretensions that he was obliged to leave for other quarters.
At Zurich, Zwingli preached zealously against the pardonmongers; and when
Samson approached the place, he was met by a messenger from the council with an
intimation that he was expected to pass on. He finally secured an entrance by
stratagem, but was sent away without the sale of a single pardon, and he soon after
left Switzerland. A strong impetus was given to the reform by the appearance of the
plague, or Great Death, which swept over Switzerland in the year 1519. As men were
thus brought face to face with the destroyer, many were led to feel how vain and
worthless were the pardons which they had so lately purchased; and they longed for
a surer foundation for their faith. Zwingli at Zurich was smitten down; he was brought
so low that all hope of his recovery was relinquished, and the report was widely
circulated that he was dead. In that trying hour his hope and courage were unshaken.
He looked in faith to the cross of Calvary, trusting in the all-sufficient propitiation for
sin. When he came back from the gates of death, it was to preach the gospel with
greater fervor than ever before; and his words exerted an unwonted power. The people
welcomed with joy their beloved pastor, returned to them from the brink of the grave.
They themselves had come from attending upon the sick and the dying, and they felt,
as never before, the value of the gospel.
Zwingli had arrived at a clearer understanding of its truths, and had more fully
experienced in himself its renewing power. The fall of man and the plan of redemption
were the subjects upon which he dwelt. "In Adam," he said, "we are all dead, sunk in
corruption and condemnation." -Wylie, b. 8, ch. 9. "Christ . . . has purchased for us a
never-ending redemption. . . . His passion is . . . an eternal sacrifice, and everlastingly
effectual to heal; it satisfies the divine justice forever in behalf of all those who rely
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