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 ZWINGLI

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ZWINGLI

more radical than Zwingli's and questioning even the authority of the state. Zwingh persecuted them mercilessly with imprisonment, torture, banishment, and death; their leader Fehx Manz was drowned. The war against these visionary spirits was more serious for Zwingli than that against Rome. At first Rome allowed itself to be soothed by evasive words; the "Lutheran sects" were aimed at and the ZwingUans clung to the word of God, was the information supphed to Clement VII by Zurich on 19 August, 1524. Soon, however, the breach with the ancient Church was too plain to be doubted. The cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Lucerne, Zug, and Fribourg remained true to the old Faith, and offered determined opposition to Zwingh. They could not see that Zwingli was more favoiu'ed by God than the ancient saints and teachers; in his clerical life he was not superior to others, and he was inclined rather towards distui-bance than towards peace.

The CathoUc cantons, however, also strove to aboUsh abuses, issuing in 1525 a Concordat of Faith with important reforms which, however, never found general recognition. From 21 IMay to 8 Jime, 1526, they held a public disputation at Baden, to which they invited Dr. Johann Eck of Ingolstadt. Zwingh did not venture to appear. The disputation ended with the complete victory for the old Faith, but those who beUeved that the teaching of Zwingh could be driven out of the world by disputations de- ceived themselves; it had already taken too deep root. In St. Gall the Humanist and burgomaster Vadian worked successfully in Zwingh's interest; in Schaffhausen, Dr. Sebastian Hofmeister; in Basle, OEcolampadius. For Berne, which, notwith- standing the efforts of Berchtold Haller, had previously maintained a non-committal attitude, the reUgious disputation held at Zwingli's suggestion, in Jan., 1528, was decisive. Zwingli himself came to the city, and the Cathohc cause was but weakly represented. The new doctrines were then introduced as sweepingly into Berne as they had been at Zurich, and many places and counties which had previously wavered followed its example. Zwingh could also point to briUiant successes in 1528 and 1529. He ensured the predominance of his reforms through the "Christian Civic rights", agreed upon between Zurich and the towns of Constance (1527), Berne and St. Gall (1528), Biel, Miilhausen, and Schaffhausen (1529). To compel the Cathohc cantons to accept the new doctrines, he even urged civil war, drew up a plan of campaign, and suc- ceeded in persuading Zurich to declare war and march against the Cathohc territories. The Cathohc dis- tricts had endeavoured to strengthen their position by forming a defensive alliance with Austria (1529), the "Christian Union." At tlus juncture, however, they received no assistance. Berne showed itself more moderate than Zurich, and a treatyof peace was arranged, which, however, was verj' unfavour.able for the Cathohcs.

In Zurich Zwingli was now the cqrnmanding per- sonahty in all ecclesiastical and political questions. He was "burgomaster, secret arj', and covmcil" in one, and showed himself daily more overbearing. His insolence indeed prevented an agreement with Luther regarding the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, when a disputation was arranged between the two heresiarchs at Marfvirt in October, 1529. As a statesman, Zwingli embarked in secular politics with ambitious plans. "\^'ithin tliree years", he vvTites, "Italy, Spain and G<Tmany will take our view". Even the King of France, whose greatest enemy lie had previously been, he sovight to win to his side in 1531 Willi the work "Christiana- fidei exijosilio", and was oven pre])ared to jiay him a yearly pensiim. By prohibiting intercourse with the Catholic cantons he compelled them to resort to arms. On 9 Oct.,

1531, they declared war on Zurich, and advanced to Kappel on the frontiers. The people of Zurich hastened to oppose them, but met a decisive defeat near Kappel on 11 Oct., Zwingli falhng in the battle. After a second defeat of the Reformed forces at Gubel, peace was concluded on 23 Oct., 1531. The peace was of long duration, since the Catholic \'ictors dis- played great moderation. Zwingli's death was an event of great importance for all Switzerland. His plan to introduce his innovations into the CathoUc cantons by force had proved abortive. But even Cathohcs, who claimed the same rights in religious matters as the people of Zurich, regarded him as the "governor of all confederates". Zwingli is regarded as the most "liberal" of all the Reformers, and was less a dogmatist than Calvin. His statue, with a sword in one hand and the Bible in the other, stands near the municipal hbrary at Zurich, which has also a Zwingh museum.

Heinrich Bulhnger (1504-75), Zwingli's successor, undertook the internal development of the new doc- trines. His father (also named Heinrich), who was pastor at Bremgarten and embraced the Reformation early, sent Bullinger to Emmerich and Cologne, where he received a thorough Humanistic training (cf. K. Kraft, " Auf zeichungen des schweiz. Re- format ors H. Bulhnger iiber seine Studien zu Em- merich u. Kohl", Elberfeld, 1870). Even from his earhest activity as teacher in the Cistercian monas- terj' near Kappel (1523-29) and later as pastor in Bremgarten (1529-31), Bullinger proved himself a zealous heutenant of Zwingli's. In 1528 he accom- panied the latter to the religious disputation at Berne. On 9 Dec, 1.531, he was chosen as Zwingh's successor, pastor of the Grossmimster at Zurich, a position which he held to the end of his life (1575). Bull- inger regarded union with Luther on the question of the Lord's Supper as his chief task. For this purpose he composed in 1536, with Myconius and Grj'nsus, the "First Helvetic Confession", a profession of faith which was recognized by the Evangehcal towns of Switzerland. In the same year also ap- peared the "Wittenberg Concordia". When Bullinger refused to subscribe to this agreement, which was brought about by Butzer, Luther burst out into abuse of Zwingli. The attempt to bring about an agreement between BuUinger and Calvin on tliis question at Geneva was more successful, the "Consensus Tigurinus" being concluded be- tween them in 1545. As the expression of his personal religious conviction Bullinger composed the "Second Helvetic Confession", which was printed in 1566, and was recognized by all the Evan- gelical churches except that of Basle.

Besides discharging the office of preacher, Bulhnger displayed great literary activity. He carried on a large correspondence with several crowned heads, with Ladj' Jane Grey in London, Vadian, Graubtindenn, and many others. More than 100 sermons and theological treatises from his pen are known, as well as one drama, "Lucretia and Brutus". His "Diarium" and his extensive history of the Reformation (see hililiog- raphy) are still valuable. It is an undecided question how far his history is independent and how far a compilation of other writings. In character Bullinger was particularly hosjiitable, and many fugiti\-es from England and France found refuge with him. Although less overbearing than Zwingh and Luther, he was still intolerant; he approved the the execution of Servetus at Geneva. He died on 17 Sept., 1575.

Zwingli's works were first collected and published bv his son-in-law, Rudolf Gwalter, and entitled: "Opera D. H. Zwingli vigilantissinii Tigurinic ecclesia! Antistitis, partim quidem ab ipso Latino conscript a, partim vero e vernaculo sermono in Latinum translata: omnia novissinie recognita,