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

97
arguments, treating his opponents with proud contempt, and silencing them
with his stentorian voice and final appeals to the authority of Rome.
Occasionally he uttered an oath, “Potz Marter.” A contemporary poet,
Nicolas Manuel, thus described his conduct: —
“Eck stamps with his feet, and claps his hands,
He raves, he swears, he scolds;
‘I do,’ cries he, ‘what the Pope commands,
And teach whatever he holds.’ “ f162
Oecolampadius of Basle and Haller of Berne, both plain and modest, but
able, learned and earnest men, defended the Reformed opinions.
Oecolampadius declared at the outset that he recognized no other rule of
judgment than the Word of God. He was a match for Eck in patristic
learning, and in solid arguments. His friends said, “Oecolampadius is
vanquished, not by argument, but by vociferation.” f163 Even one of the
Romanists remarked, “If only this pale man were on our side!” His host
judged that he must be a very pious heretic, because he saw him constantly
engaged in study and prayer; while Eck was enjoying rich dinners and good
wines, which occasioned the remark, “Eck is bathing in Baden, but in
wine.” f164
The papal party boasted of a complete victory. All innovations were
forbidden; Zwingli was excommunicated; and Basle was called upon to
depose Oecolampadius from the pastoral office. Faber, not satisfied with
the burning of heretical books, advocated even the burning of the
Protestant versions of the Bible. Thomas Murner, a Franciscan monk and
satirical poet, who was present at Baden, heaped upon Zwingli and his
adherents such epithets as tyrants, liars, adulterers, church robbers, fit only
for the gallows! He had formerly (1512) chastised the vices of priests and
monks, but turned violently against the Saxon Reformer, and earned the
name of “Luther-Scourge “(Lutheromastix). He was now made lecturer in
the Franciscan convent at Lucerne, and authorized to edit the acts of the
Baden disputation. f165
The result of the Baden disputation was a temporary triumph for Rome,
but turned out in the end, like the Leipzig disputation of 1519, to the
furtherance of the Reformation. Impartial judges decided that the
Protestants had been silenced by vociferation, intrigue and despotic
measures, rather than refuted by sound and solid arguments from the