although a foreboding of the fruitless struggles, which he thus
prepared for himself, is awakened within us, there is also at the same
time a growing admiration of the power displayed by him, and his
persevering activity, not only in the field of politics, but in his
vocation as a teacher, preacher, and theological writer, which he yet
fulfilled with undiminished fidelity. He, who feels such strength
within, durst aim at the very highest. Not in blind hatred of the
existing order, would he destroy it: out of party-spirit, pride, or
lust for dominion: a noble image of a father-land not split asunder,
but made young again, reviving in fuller vigor under new forms, hovered
before his soul. Heart and head had contributed to its outlines; nor
was its realization, by means of a sincere and general effort, beyond
the range of possibility. Can it then be imputed to him as a crime,
that so few comprehended his ideal, that the time was not ripe for it?

In Bern, meanwhile, the negotiations touching the Christian
_Buergerrecht_ were actively carried on by the government during the
Religious Conference, in spite of the opposition, as it appears, of a
party averse to the Alliance. Roist and the town-clerk, Mangolt, sent
information of this to Zurich in several letters. They spoke of
consultations with intimate acquaintances, with trusty friends, and of
the confidential but unofficial communications of the latter. Zwingli
also, busy as he was during the session of that Diet, aided the Zurich
Council by drawing up two opinions for the removal of certain doubts on
the part of Schwytz. After a happy issue in ecclesiastical as well as
political matters, Zwingli ascended the pulpit once more and took his
leave: "Understand now"--so he concluded his discourse--"the liberty,
which Christ gives you, and abide therein according to the word of the
Apostle. You know under what a yoke our consciences groaned, and how we
were led from one false hope to another; from one law to another. But
now you see that freedom and hope rest upon knowledge and trust; upon
confidence toward God through Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son.
Never suffer yourselves to be robbed of freedom and the salvation of
your souls. Nothing requires so much courage as this. And as our
forefathers, thanks be to God! stood up everywhere bold and unterrified
in defence of personal liberty, much more should we stand fast in those
things, which give us peace of conscience here and