ecause they spring from love, not compulsion. Still more--it is proved
by all experience, that just in proportion as the marriage tie is
worthily apprehended and held sacred, the heart is at the same time
expanded with love for all men, and the sharing of common joys and
sorrows in our own families teaches us to understand and share those of
others also.

Hence Christianity has declared marriage to be pure and by no means
placed him, who feels called to it by God and nature, below another,
who has the power or inclination to remain independent in order to
labor for the good of his brethren. The latter ought to be highly
esteemed, but the choice left free to each one according to his own
will, or necessity.

This is not the place to quote the passages, in which the Holy
Scriptures speak of marriage, even in the case of preachers of the
Gospel, the shepherds of the congregation. They are too numerous, too
decided, too striking for any one to overthrow or weaken. Laying hold
of these, Zwingli had drawn up the papers just mentioned. Ten of his
associates signed with him the one addressed to the Bishop. Others
approved of the thing, but did not yet venture to avow it openly. The
concluding words of the memorial to the Confederates will here exhibit
the character of the author in the clearest light:

"These and many other reasons, derived from the Holy Scriptures, have
moved us, O honorable Lords, to petition Your Worships in regard to
marriage, which we design to enter into, yea to make known several
among us, who have entered into it, that Your Worships may not be
adverse thereto, seeing the great scandal thus given to all men; seeing
our wounded consciences, with which we daily attend to the
administration of God's Word and the sacraments, though everywhere our
continual weakness is acknowledged and no peace is left to us.
Therefore we exhort Your Worships as our Fathers (for we have all
sprung from one glorious Confederacy, and are yours and of yours); by
God, our Creator, who made us all of _one_ clay, so that we recognize
each other as brethren; by the blood of Jesus Christ, which he shed for
all alike, so that no one can claim for himself more than another; by
the Holy Ghost, who is God, and in all his illuminations and
inspirations has never forbidden marriage to the priesthood, but rather
enjoined it: Take pity on us your true and willing servants, so that,
though it be not sinful for us before God, it may not be