tidings of redemption through
Christ. The observances enjoined by Rome had failed to bring peace of
soul, and in faith they accepted the Saviour's blood as their
propitiation. These returned to their homes to reveal to others the
precious light which they had received. The truth was thus carried from
hamlet to hamlet, from town to town, and the number of pilgrims to the
Virgin's shrine greatly lessened. There was a falling off in the
offerings, and consequently in the salary of Zwingle, which was drawn from
them. But this caused him only joy as he saw that the power of fanaticism
and superstition was being broken.

The authorities of the church were not blind to the work which Zwingle was
accomplishing; but for the present they forbore to interfere. Hoping yet
to secure him to their cause, they endeavored to win him by flatteries;
and meanwhile the truth was gaining a hold upon the hearts of the people.

Zwingle's labors at Einsiedeln had prepared him for a wider field, and
this he was soon to enter. After three years here, he was called to the
office of preacher in the cathedral at Zurich. This was then the most
important town of the Swiss confederacy, and the influence exerted here
would be widely felt. The ecclesiastics by whose invitation he came to
Zurich were, however, desirous of preventing any innovations, and they
accordingly proceeded to instruct him as to his duties.

"You will make every exertion," they said, "to collect the revenues of the
chapter, without overlooking the least. You will exhort the faithful, both
from the pulpit and in the confessional, to pay all tithes and dues, and
to show by their offerings their affection to the church. You will be
diligent in increasing the income arising from the sick, from masses, and
in general from every ecclesiastical ordinance." "As for the
administration of the sacraments, the preaching, and the care of the
flock," added his instructors, "these are also the duties of the chaplain.
But for these you may employ a substitute, and particularly in preaching.
You should administer the sacraments to none but persons of note, and only
when called upon; you are forbidden to do so without distinction of
persons."(248)

Zwingle listened in silence to this charge, and in reply, after expressing
his gratitude for the honor of a call to this important station, he
proceeded to explain the course which he proposed, to adopt. "The life of
Christ," he said, "has been too long