The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 174
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 explain Scripture to sustain a
preconceived theory or doctrine, but held it his duty to learn what is its
direct and obvious teaching. He sought to avail himself of every help to
obtain a full and correct understanding of its meaning, and he invoked
the aid of the Holy Spirit, which would, he declared, reveal it to all who
sought it in sincerity and with prayer.
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