Protestantism in Switzerland - James Aitken Wylie

scattered so plentifully on this same soil. After this
second sowing came the preacher Capito, to be
succeeded by the eloquent Hedio, both of whom
watered that seed by their clear and pious
expositions of the Gospels. In 1522, a yet greater
evangelist settled in Basle, Ecolampadius, under
whom the Reformation of this important city was
destined, after years of waiting and conflict, to be
consummated. Ecolampadius, so scholarly, so
meek and pious, was to the prompt and courageous
Zwingli what Melancthon was to Luther.
With all his great parts, Ecolampadius was
somewhat deficient in decision and courage. We
have seen him combating alone at Baden in 1526,
and at Bern by the side of Zwingli in 1528, yet all
the while he had not taken the decisive step in his
own city. Not that he felt doubt on the question of
doctrine; it was the dangers that deterred him from
carrying over Basle to the side of Protestantism.
But he came back from Bern a stronger man. The
irresolute evangelist returned the resolved
Reformer; and the learned Basle is now to follow
the example of the warlike Bern.
73