In Switzerland from 1516 to 1525 - James Aitken Wylie

of promise and outward signs, will make the
blessing of His death, whose inward power is
eternal, to be actually effective in the Christian for
the strengthening and assurance of faith." This cut
the ground from beneath "transubstantiation" and
the "adoration of the Host." Zwingli led the debate.
He expressed his joy at the decision of the
conference the day before on the subject of images,
and went on to expound and defend his views on
the yet graver matter which it was now called to
consider. "If the mass is no sacrifice," said Stienli
of Schaffhausen, "then have all our fathers walked
in error and been damned!" "If our fathers have
erred," replied Zwingli, "what then? Is not their
salvation in the hands of God, like that of all men
who have erred and sinned? Who authorises us to
anticipate the judgment of God? The authors of
these abuses will, without doubt, be punished by
God; but who is damned, and who is not, is the
prerogative of God alone to decide. Let us not
interfere with the judgments of God. It is
sufficiently clear to us that they have erred." When
he had finished, Dr. Vadian, who was president for
the day, demanded if there was any one present
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