possesses sufficient prudence and skill; if
so, let him carry from city to city, from town to town, from village to
village, and even from house to house, among the Swiss, the works of
Luther, and especially his exposition of the Lord's prayer written for the
laity. The more they are known, the more purchasers they will find."(253)
Thus the light found entrance.

At the time when God is preparing to break the shackles of ignorance and
superstition, then it is that Satan works with greatest power to enshroud
men in darkness, and to bind their fetters still more firmly. As men were
rising up in different lands to present to the people forgiveness and
justification through the blood of Christ, Rome proceeded with renewed
energy to open her market throughout Christendom, offering pardon for
money.

Every sin had its price, and men were granted free license for crime, if
the treasury of the church was kept well filled. Thus the two movements
advanced,--one offering forgiveness of sin for money, the other forgiveness
through Christ,--Rome licensing sin, and making it her source of revenue;
the Reformers condemning sin, and pointing to Christ as the propitiation
and deliverer.

In Germany the sale of indulgences had been committed to the Dominican
friars, and was conducted by the infamous Tetzel. In Switzerland the
traffic was put into the 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.
Zwingle 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 Zwingle's success in exposing the friar's
pretensions that he was obliged to leave for other quarters.

At Zurich, Zwingle preached zealously against the pardon-mongers; 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