Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

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intellectual process, rather than a sudden breach with the world; but, after
he once had chosen the Scriptures for his guide, he easily shook off the
traditions of Rome, which never had a very strong hold upon him. That
process began at Glarus, and was completed at Zurich.
His moral character at Glarus and at Einsiedeln was, unfortunately, not free
from blemish. He lacked the grace of continence and fell with apparent
ease into a sin which was so common among priests, and so easily
overlooked if only proper caution was observed, according to the wretched
maxim, “Si non caste, saltem caute.” The fact rests on his own honest
confession, and was known to his friends, but did not injure his standing
and influence; for he was in high repute as a priest, and even enjoyed a
papal pension. He resolved to reform in Glarus, but relapsed in Einsiedeln
under the influence of bad examples, to his deep humiliation. After his
marriage in Zurich, his life was pure and honorable and above the reproach
of his enemies.
NOTES ON ZWINGLI’S MORAL CHARACTER.
Recent discussions have given undue prominence to the blot which rests on
Zwingli’s earlier life, while yet a priest in the Roman Church. Janssen, the
ultramontane historian, has not one word of praise for Zwingli, and violates
truth and charity by charging him with habitual, promiscuous, and
continuous licentiousness, not reflecting that he thereby casts upon the
Roman Church the reproach of inexcusable laxity in discipline. Zwingli was
no doubt guilty of occasional transgressions, but probably less guilty than
the majority of Swiss priests who lived in open or secret concubinage at
that time (see § 2, p. 6); yea, he stood so high in public estimation at
Einsiedeln and Zurich, that Pope Hadrian VI., through his Swiss agent,
offered him every honor except the papal chair. But we will not excuse
him, nor compare his case (as some have done) with that of St. Augustin;
for Augustin, when he lived in concubinage, was not a priest and not even
baptized, and he confessed his sin before the whole world with deeper
repentance than Zwingli, who rather made light of it. The facts are these:
—
1) Bullinger remarks (Reformationsgesch. I. 8) that Zwingli was
suspected in Glarus of improper connection with several women (“weil
er wegen einiger Weiber verargwohnt war”). Bullinger was his friend
and successor, and would not slander him; but he judged mildly of a