Protestant Revolt in Switzerland and England 1 1 9 true service we can learn and discover only from his true word in the Holy Scriptures and in the trustworthy writings of his twelve apostles, otherwise from no human laws and statutes. " And although I know that for the past five years I have preached in this city of Zurich nothing but the true, pure, and clear word of God, the holy gospel, — the joyous message of Christ, — still I am maligned by many as a here- tic, a liar, a deceiver, and one disobedient to the Christian Church. Wherefore I offer here to justify myself to all who think that my sermons or teachings are unchristian or heret- ical, and to answer kindly and without anger. Now let them speak, in the name of God. Here I am." At these remarks of Master Ulrich, the vicar from Con- The bishop's stance arose, and answered as follows : " My good fellow- vlc ^ r re P lies brother, Master Ulrich, asserts that he has always preached the holy gospel here publicly in Zurich, — of which I have no doubt, for who would not truly and faithfully preach the holy gospel and St. Paul, providing God had ordained him as a preacher ? For I am also a preacher, or priest, though perhaps unworthy, but nevertheless I have taught those in- trusted to me for instruction in the word of God. . . . " But if there is a desire to dispute and oppose good old customs, the ways and usages of the past, then in such case I say that I shall not undertake to dispute anything here at Zurich. For, as I think, such matters are to be settled by a general Christian assembly of all nations, or by a council of bishops and other scholars such as are found at univer- sities, just as occurred in times past among the holy apostles in Jerusalem, as we read in Acts xv. For if such matters touching the common customs and the laudable usages of the past were here discussed, and some decision reached against them, such changes would perhaps not please other Christians dwelling in other places, who would doubtless assert that they had not consented to our views. For what would those in Spain, in Italy, in France, and in the North, say about it ? . . . Accordingly, such matters should, in my opinion, be brought before the universities at Paris,
