Ecolampadius-Reformation at Basle [pp. 218-236]

2Teolampadius.
(Ecolampadius found it necessary to engage. From his peculiar position at Basle, and his relation to Wittemberg, and
Zurich, it seemed for awhile, as if he was destined to be a mediator between the two parties in that unhappy controversy,
which destroyed the visible unity of the church of the Reformation, and arrayed her members into two hostile factions. But
with all his excellence, he was not equal to the exigency; perhaps no man, however great his piety, learning, moderation, and
tact, could have prevented the split; yet the strife might possibly have been less bitter, if the reformer of Basle had declined to join either side. Unhappily for such a result, he had a
lurking tendency to that spurious spirituality, which undervalues
all external means of grace. Thus he regarded the ordinance of
the Supper as per se a hindrance, rather than a means of grace;
as a form, from which the Christian should seek to be freed,
rising above it to immediate fellowship with God. "Believers,"
said he, "should use the sacraments more for their neighbours'
sake than their own. For themselves they are already under
the influence of the Holy Spirit, they are free, they are purified,
they are justified, and being one with Christ, the kingdom of
God is already within them." Now while it is deeply to be re gretted, that occasion was given for the contest between Switzer land and Germany about the ordinance, which is at once the
feast of Christian love, and the symbol of Christian unity, yet
when we weigh all the circumstances of the discussion, we think
that there are not wanting grounds for thankfulness, that Lu ther so stoutly opposed the doctrine of Zurich. The storm,
indeed, left many a trace of its desolating march; yet we are
inclined to believe that the atmosphere was thereby rendered
purer than it would have been, if no such war of the elements
had occurred. The germ of rationalism thus early developed in
the system of Zwingle, if not entirely eradicated, was at least
in a measure, and for a time repressed.
The promise of CEcolampadius, when installed pastor of St.
Martins, not to change, mero mnotu, the established forms of wor ship, was faithfully kept. For a long time he contented him self with announcing from the pulpit, his new views of doctrine
and worship. At length the time came for reducing them to
practice. The first step was the introduction of a reformed lit
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