And now, since I wish your presence so much, in order to be able to
give in an account, how dare you deny me? The deputies repeated what
they had said before. If I wished to lay anything before the bishop, in
regard to his doctrine, I could write to him. Now--said I--if no
arguments can persuade you to show me this favor, I beg you by our
common faith, our common baptism, for the sake of Christ our Lord and
Saviour, if you durst not listen as ambassadors, do it then as
Christians. Here arose an indignant murmur among the councillors and at
last, being exhorted by the burgomaster, and feeling themselves the
unworthiness of the opposition, they took possession of their former
places."

The people's priest began now by referring to the internal harmony of
Zurich and her peaceful position toward foreign countries. He asked
whether these could be a result of seditious doctrines, and such
especially as were derived from the Gospel, which commands us to render
unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and obey our rulers? He showed
what human ordinances were, and denied that he rejected them without
discrimination. Their beneficial tendency ought to be proven, and they,
who enjoin them, ought to observe them also. He had never encouraged a
violation of the rules of fasting, but rather advised them to be kept,
in order to spare the weak. Yet he esteemed such restraint pharisaical
and in conflict with the letter and spirit of the Gospel. Vattli was
about to make objections, when Engelhart drew out his Greek Testament,
and, having opened it at the beginning of the fourth chapter of the
first epistle to Timothy, handed it to Zwingli. Zwingli translated the
passage. Then the suffragan said nothing on this point, but exhorted
the Council to respect the decrees of the Fathers and their usages, and
not to sunder themselves from the Church. "Do not suffer yourselves to
be persuaded, my dear lords"--replied Zwingli--"that anything permitted
by us can produce such an effect. Among all people, he who does
righteousness and loves God, he who believes the words of Jesus and
follows Him, belongs to his Church."--This was succeeded by many
speeches on one side and the other, which gradually became so warm that
the burgomaster dissolved the meeting. But a unanimous resolution was
passed by the Great Council, to request the Bishop, so to influence the
highest authorities that by means of a council of learned men and
synods an opportunity should