The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 183

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 Zwingli, and having the
arrangement of matters, they would make sure of victory by choosing,
themselves, not only the place of the combat, but the judges that should
decide between the disputants. And if they could once get Zwingli into
their power, they would take care that he did not escape them. The
leader silenced, the movement could speedily be crushed. This purpose,
however, was carefully concealed.
The disputation was appointed to be held at Baden; but Zwingli
was not present. The Council of Zurich, suspecting the designs of the
papists, and warned by the burning piles kindled in the papal cantons for
confessors of the gospel, forbade their pastor to expose himself to this
peril. At Zurich he was ready to meet all the partisans that Rome might
send; but to go to Baden, where the blood of martyrs for the truth had just
been shed, was to go to certain death. Oecolampadius and Haller were
chosen to represent the Reformers, while the famous Dr. Eck, supported
by a host of learned doctors and prelates, was the champion of Rome.
Though Zwingli was not present at the conference, his influence
was felt. The secretaries were all chosen by the papists, and others
were forbidden to take notes, on pain of death. Notwithstanding this,
Zwingli received daily a faithful account of what was said at Baden.
A student in attendance at the disputation made a record each evening
of the arguments that day presented. These papers two other students
undertook to deliver, with the daily letters of Oecolampadius, to Zwingli
at Zurich. The Reformer answered, giving counsel and suggestions. His
letters were written by night, and the students returned with them to
Baden in the morning. To elude the vigilance of the guard stationed
at the city gates, these messengers brought baskets of poultry on their
heads, and they were permitted to pass without hindrance.

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