l truth, superior to the
narrow restrictions of human power, raised above decretals and the
decisions of Councils, drawing to herself all noble spirits with an
irresistible charm, of all objects the most worthy of pursuit and
untiring effort--and besides these a third, easily overlooked by the
inexperienced youth--by the thinker in his quiet chamber, but not by
the practical man, who must mingle directly with the people--the
necessity of a higher, a more infallible authority than his own, an
authority acceptable to all good men and acknowledged by all. It was
well for him that he knew how to connect this with the results of his
investigation. Not by ignoring the understanding, not by a cowardly
retreat, where others ventured freely to inquire, not by an assent,
that feared to ask for proof, lest one should cry out, "Wo to the
heretic!"--No! but by boldly examining for himself and using his
reason, he only arrived at the more settled conviction of the truth of
the Holy Scripture and of the divine power of the faith built thereon.
"Take good, strong wine," wrote he to the nuns in Oedenbach, at a later
period, "it tastes good to the healthy, makes him glad of heart,
strengthens him, warms his blood. But he, who lies sick of a distemper,
or fever, and cannot taste it, much less drink it, wonders how those
who are healthy can drink it. The fault is not in the wine, but in the
disease. So the Divine Word is altogether right in itself, and revealed
for the good of men. But he, who cannot bear it, nor understand it, and
will not receive it, is sick. Thus let them be answered, who wickedly
say, God would not have his Word _understood_," (we must subject reason
to faith) "as if God wished to expose us to danger."

In order to attain completely that firm ground, where settled
conviction is the result of the union of faith and knowledge, he could
scarcely have done a wiser thing, than to withdraw into the more quiet
retreat, which was opened for him in the neighboring Einsiedeln.

Far and wide, throughout the Confederacy, and the surrounding
countries, was spread the name and glory of this monastery, which, like
St. Gall and Muri, was subject to the rule of Benedict. It dates its
origin as far back as the ninth century, and was built on that spot,
occupied in the beginning by the hermit's cell of Meinhard, a German
count. A legend of a voice, that fell from heaven, when in the
following century the Bishop of Constance was dedicati