Author's Preface.

"Biographersshould not busy themselves so much with deeds, as their moving causes; withwhat motives, by what means, for what ends and under what circumstances theywere performed. If we limit ourselves to a simple detail of facts, our judgmentis determined by success; and upright men are condemned as evil or imprudent,because of the unfavorable issue of their endeavors. To set forth the views ofZwingli and the high mark to which he strove to carry everything, weredangerous—would open a wide door to envy and calumniation, and would not bepermitted by the government of Zurich; since it would be a violation of the Landfriede,various resolutions of the cities and the Hereditary Union with Austria.Without this, however, the history of his life would be dry, and posteritywould neither admire nor love Zwingli, but regard him as a thoughtless, foolishman. The unhappy catastrophe has placed everything in a false light."

Theforegoing remarks of Bullinger show with what caution our forefathers wereobliged to speak of Zwingli's political acts. Indeed, after the battle ofCappel they were looked upon with little favor, even in the Reformed portion ofthe Confederacy. Bullinger himself, Zwingli's successor, was for the momentfilled with despondency. He wrote to his friend, Myconius: "We will never cometogether again. No one trusts his neighbor any longer. Surely, surely, we livein the last times. It is all over with the Confederacy." The passageabove-cited was written perhaps at this juncture. But he soon recovered hiscourage. His confidence in God returned with renewed strength, and he thenbegan that career, which was so active, so noble and so full of blessing. Hecontinued the work of his illustrious predecessor, and described it also with apowerful pen and a reverent heart, leaving behind, for thoughtful readers atleast, intimations of what he durst not wholly reveal to his contemporaries.Three centuries have since gone by, and unrestricted access to archives andmultiplied investigations have brought to light reports and documents hithertounknown. From these materials, the author endeavored, fifteen years ago, to delineatethe life and times of Zwingli. That volume was designed for those, who studyhistory as a science: the aim of this one is to present the same results in apopular form. And as our people, now a-days, pay so much attention to what iswritten and spoken, let them hear once more the voice of one of the nobleststatesmen of former ages; let them consider his acts, and ponder over his sadfate. If we regard him merely as a reformer of the Church, he may perhapsappear to us surrounded by a brighter glory; but history demands a fullrepresentation, and such a representation exhibits him as a man "possessed oflike passions with ourselves." Yet, just in the acknowledgement of his owninfirmities by Zwingli, and in his submission with humble faith to a HigherPower, do the unmistakable features of true religion shine victoriously abovethat worship of self which springs only from vain conceit.—May the followingwork produce the same conviction in the mind of the reader!

Preface.

The volume,here translated, was published in Zurich in the year 1842, and may be regardedas the fullest and most reliable history of Zwingli and his times that has yetappeared; for, in addition to the numerous works, in Latin and German, whichrelate to this particular period, the author has had free access to an immensemass of important and necessary state-papers, long buried in the archives ofthe Canton.