The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

134But the influence of the reform already made itself felt in curtailing, thoughit could not stop, the traffic. Zwingli was still at Einsiedeln when Samson,soon after entering Switzerland, arrived with his wares at a neighboringtown. Being apprised of his mission, the Reformer immediately set out tooppose him. The two did not meet, but such was Zwingli's success inexposing the friar's pretensions that he was obliged to leave for otherquarters.At Zurich, Zwingli preached zealously against the pardonmongers; andwhen Samson approached the place, he was met by a messenger from thecouncil with an intimation that he was expected to pass on. He finallysecured an entrance by stratagem, but was sent away without the sale of asingle pardon, and he soon after left Switzerland.A strong impetus was given to the reform by the appearance of the plague,or Great Death, which swept over Switzerland in the year 1519. As menwere thus brought face to face with the destroyer, many were led to feelhow vain and worthless were the pardons which they had so latelypurchased; and they longed for a surer foundation for their faith. Zwingli atZurich was smitten down; he was brought so low that all hope of hisrecovery was relinquished, and the report was widely circulated that he wasdead. In that trying hour his hope and courage were unshaken. He looked infaith to the cross of Calvary, trusting in the all-sufficient propitiation for sin.When he came back from the gates of death, it was to preach the gospelwith greater fervor than ever before; and his words exerted an unwontedpower. The people welcomed with joy their beloved pastor, returned tothem from the brink of the grave. They themselves had come from attendingupon the sick and the dying, and they felt, as never before, the value of thegospel.Zwingli had arrived at a clearer understanding of its truths, and had morefully experienced in himself its renewing power. The fall of man and theplan of redemption were the subjects upon which he dwelt. "In Adam," hesaid, "we are all dead, sunk in corruption and condemnation." –Wylie, b. 8,ch. 9. "Christ . . . has purchased for us a never-ending redemption. . . . Hispassion is . . . an eternal sacrifice, and everlastingly effectual to heal; itsatisfies the divine justice forever in behalf of all those who rely upon itwith firm and unshaken faith." Yet he clearly taught that men are not,because of the grace of Christ, free to continue in sin. "Wherever there isfaith in God, there God is; and wherever God abideth, there a zeal existsurging and impelling men to good works."–D'Aubigne, b. 8, ch. 9.