e matter was thought to concern Zurich alone. No one
came, with the exception of Doctor Sebastian Hoffmeister from
Schaffhausen, and the Franciscan Sebastian Meier from Bern; the latter,
however, of his own accord, without public commission. A few days
before, Zwingli had compiled and written down in haste, seventy-six
propositions, which contained the sum of what his opponents objected
to, and the substance of his doctrines. He concluded this small paper
with these words: "Let no one undertake to contend here with sophistry
or trifles, but let him come with the Scripture. It is to be regarded
as the judge; by it we may find the truth; or rather it has thus been
found, as I hope and maintain."

It was the second false step of Faber, that, after such a condition
laid down by Zwingli, and approved by the Council, he yet came to
Zurich, or did not from the first emphatically protest against it. The
very practices of the Roman Church, which were most conspicuous and
vulnerable, stood in such direct contradiction to the letter and spirit
of the Gospel, that he, who would defend them from the Holy Scriptures,
even with the greatest skill, was already beaten beforehand. Not only
Zwingli and the more thoroughly instructed of his associates were
convinced of this, but, taught by his preaching, the greater part of
those present also; among whom were a numerous host of youth, ready for
the combat, who had zealously read the Holy Scriptures for themselves.
In their varying looks were seen expectation, confidence, and contempt
of their enemies. The judicial demeanor of the Councils, the confused
behavior of those, who, by their boasting and thoughtless speeches,
betrayed their ignorance, the excitement among the mass of the people
gave the assembly a peculiar expression. "I thought"--says Faber in a
letter describing it--"I had come to Picardy."[1]

Meanwhile, arming himself with as much firmness as possible, he and his
co-deputies took the places assigned them. A hundred and eighty members
of the two Councils had arrived. Of the public teachers, doctors,
canons and the other clergy few were wanting; and the number of
strangers present was also considerable. All the spaces before the open
doors, where anything was to be seen or heard, were filled with
citizens and country people. In a vacant circle, reserved in the
middle, sat Zwingli alone by a table, on which lay copies of the Bible
in different languages.

The burgomaster Rois