nder 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
Zwingle these words were as the first ray of light that precedes the dawn.

Zwingle was soon called from Basel, to enter upon his life-work. 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."(242) 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.

"The Scriptures," said Zwingle, "come from God, not from man, and even
that God who enlightens will give thee to understand that the speech comes
from God. The word of God ... cannot fail; it is bright, it teaches
itself, it discloses itself, it illumines the soul with all salvation and
grace, comforts it in God, humbles it, so that it loses and even forfeits
itself, and embraces God."(243) The truth of these words Zwingle himself
had proved. Speaking of his experience at this time, he afterward wrote:
"When ... I began to give myself wholly up to the Holy Scriptures,
philosophy and theology (scholastic) would always keep suggesting quarrels
to me. At last I came to this, that I thought, 'Thou must let all that
lie, and learn the meaning of God purely out of His own simple word.' Then
I began to ask God for His light, and the Scriptures began to be much
easier to me."(244)

The doctrine preached by Zwingle was not received from Luther. It was the
doctrine of Christ. "If Luther preaches Christ," said the Swiss Reformer,
"he does what I am doing. Those whom he has brought to Christ are more
numerou