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

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Zwingli was in a dangerous position. He was repeatedly threatened with
assassination. But he kept his courage, and felt sure of ultimate victory. He
replied in the Archeteles (“the Beginning and the End”), hoping that this
first answer would be the last. f78 He protested that he had done no wrong,
but endeavored to lead men to God and to his Son Jesus Christ in plain
language, such as the common people could understand. He warned the
hierarchy of the approaching collapse of the Romish ceremonies, and
advised them to follow the example of Julius Caesar, who folded his
garments around him that he might fall with dignity. The significance of
this book consists in the strong statement of the authority of the Scriptures
against the authority of the Church. Erasmus was much displeased with it.
§ 15. PETITION FOR THE ABOLITION OF CLERICAL
CELIBACY. ZWINGLI’S MARRIAGE.
In July of the same year (1522), Zwingli, with ten other priests, sent a
Latin petition to the bishop, and a German petition to the Swiss Diet, to
permit the free preaching of the gospel and the marriage of the clergy as
the only remedy against the evils of enforced celibacy. He quotes the
Scriptures for the divine institution and right of marriage, and begs the
confederates to permit what God himself has sanctioned. He sent both
petitions to Myconius in Lucerne for signatures. Some priests approved,
but were afraid to sign; others said the petition was useless, and could only
be granted by the pope or a council. f79
The petition was not granted. Several priests openly disobeyed. One
married even a nun of the convent of Oetenbach (1523); Reubli of Wyticon
married, April 28, 1523; Leo Judae, Sept. 19, 1523.
Zwingli himself entered into the marriage relation in 1522, f80 but from
prudential reasons he did not make it public till April 5, 1524 (more than a
year before Luther’s marriage, which took place June 13, 1525). Such
cases of secret marriage were not unfrequent; but it would have been better
for his fame if, as a minister and reformer, he had exercised self-restraint till
public opinion was ripe for the change.
His wife, Anna Reinhart, f81 was the widow of Hans Meyer von Knonau, f82
the mother of three children, and lived near Zwingli. She was two years
older than he. His enemies spread the report that he married for beauty and
wealth; but she possessed only four hundred guilders besides her wardrobe
and jewelry. She ceased to wear her jewelry after marrying the Reformer.