he regarded the ordinance of the Supper asperse a hin- derance, 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. "Believ- ers," said he, " should use the sacraments more for their neighbors' 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 regretted that oc- casion was given fur the contest between Switzerland and Germany about the ordinance which is at once the feast of Christian love and the symbol of Christian uni- t}', yet, when we weigh all the circumstances of the dis- cussion, we think that there are not wanting grounds for thankfulness that Luther opposed the doctrine of Zurich. The storm, indeed, left many traces 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 oc- curred. The germ of rationalism thus early developed in the system of Zwingli, if not entirely eradicated, was at least in a measure and for a time repressed. CEco- lampadius next took part in the discussion of Baden (May, 1526), where he maintained the tenets of Zwingli against Eck and the old Roman party with great effi- ciency ; j'et Zwingli and his followers were condemned as heretics, and strong resolutions were passed against the Reformation. The countrj', however, was too far advanced towards the principles of the Reformation for these resolutions to have much effect, and CEcolampa- dius and his colleagues continued to labor faithfully in its cause. On his return to Basle CEcolampadius pub- lished a more extended liturgy, and introduced the prac- tice of singing the Psalms in German. The last was a most popular measure, and greatly helped the cause of the Reformation. The hymns were not as melodious as they might have been, and the Papists made much sport of them ; but they supplied a long-felt want of thousands of pious hearts. As dangers thickened, the activity of the Reformer was redoubled ; he preached everj' day, he composed and published a Catechism for children, and during the prevalence of the plague in 152G he devoted himself with unwearied constancy to the sick and dying. In the mean time the council of Berne introduced the Reformation in that canton, and thus brought on a religious conference (Jan., 1528), in which Zwingli and CEcolampadius took the leading part. This led to the spread of the Reformation through the whole canton, and greatly encouraged its disciples in Basle. The latter city was gradually divided into two opposite parties. In order to bring matters to a crisis, CEcolam- padius induced the evangelical!}' inclined citizens to present a petition to the councils for the uniformity of worship, while at the same time he took such measures with Zwingli as would prevent an outbreak ; all passed well, and it was decided that a conference should be held, to determine on the continuation or the rejection of the mass, on the fourteenth day after Whitsuntide, 1529, until which time mass was to be read only in three churches throughout the city. On Feb. 8, 1529, the people assem- bled, and demanded that such members of the council as were opposed to the Reformation shoidd resign their office, and that their places should be filled by appoint- ment from the grand council, instead of by the remain- ing members, as formerly ; the emblems of Roman Cath- olic worship were removed from the churches, and on the following day the council acceded to all demands. CEcolampadius was immediately appointed to the high- est offices, and as such took an active part in procuring the adoption of ordinances in favor of the Reformation, dated April 1, 1529. The universit}'^ also was reorgan- ized, and received a new impulse in the hands of its for- mer professors. CEcolampadius was universally recog- nised as the leading spirit, and while he lived he was, by common consent, allowed to exercise a general super- vision over all the parishes of the city and suburbs, as
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well as to control the university affairs. He experi- enced much annoyance from the Anabaptists, who were not by any means satisfied with the Reformation ; he held several conferences with them (in August, 1525, June 10, 1527, and in 1531), but without result, and the sect continued to increase, notwithstanding the strin- gent measures adopted against them by the council of Easle. lu 1531 he abolished the custom of posting the names of parties under excommunication on the doors of the churches, while at the same time he endeavored to establish a regular system of Church discipline. He differed from Calvin, who wished the absohite union of the Church and State, while fficolampadius argued that, while moving harmoniously side by side, each should have its distinct sphere and jurisdiction. "The civil power," he says in a letter to Zwingli, "will be- come even more insupportable than Antichrist, if it robs the Church of her authority in spiritual things." He disapproved especially the use of violent means for the propagation of truth, and vainly endeavored to mod- erate the ardor of his friend Zwingli. Thus he warned the latter at the approach of the catastrophe of the Hel- vetic Reformation against war; and had Zwingli follow- ed this good advice, he might have saved his own life, which was sacrificed in the unfortunate issue of the battle of Cappel, in October, 1531. After the death of this good but rash Reformer, the ministers of Zurich unanimously chose Q^^colampadius as the successor of Zwingli. But he felt it his duty to remain in Basle. Only a few weeks after the death of his friend, he was himself called to pass from the Church militant to the Church triumphant. His last hours on earth were full of in- terest. A severe illness suddenly arrested his incessant labors, which had long since undermined his sickly frame. He took the communion with his family; then assembled the magistrates and the ministers of Basle around his dying-bed, and moved their hearts by pious exhortations. Concerning himself he said : " The charge that I committed the crime of adulterating the truth does not affect me. By the grace of God, I approach the judgment-seat of Christ with a good conscience. There it will appear that I have not seduced the Church. I leave you behind as witnesses of this my assurance ; and I confirm you as such in these my dying moments." He died Nov. 24, 1531, surrounded by ten ministers kneeling in prayer. Shortly before he had fervently recited the penitential psalm of David (Psa. li), and exclaimed, "I shall soon be with the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus, help and deliver me!" The whole city mourned his death. His remains were deposited in the cathedral church. The mouth of slander circulated the rumor that he had committed suicide, or was killed by a member of his family. Even Luther, under the influence of strong prejudice, was not ashamed to give credence to the lie. But it had the good effect to bring out a minute de- scription of his last days by two eye-witnesses — his friend GrynaBus and his servant Gundellinger. He left a wife, Wilibrandis Rosenblatt, whom he had married (1528) after the death of his mother; a son, Eusebius, who died the same year; and two daughters, Alitheia and Irene. The widow married after\vards successively two other Reformers — his friends Capito and Bucer of Strasburg, the last of whom she followed to Cambridge, in England. But. in 1564, her body was deposited in the same grave with QLcolampadius. The memory of the first Reformer of Basle is still cherished, and the fruits of his pious labors are seen to this day.