OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, FROM THE DIET OF AUGSBURG 1530, TO THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS A CONTINUATION OF MILNER'S HISTORY. BY HENRY STEBBING, D. D. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: T. CADELL, STRAND, AND W. BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAP. II. Conflict between the Catholic and Reformed Cantons. Death of Zuingle. Progress of Affairs to the Diet of CENTURY XVI. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, FROM THE DIET OF AUGSBURG. CHAP. I. STATE OF RELIGION IN SWITZERLAND-CORRUPTION OF THE CLERGY-ZUINGLE. THE state of religion in Switzerland, at the commencement of the sixteenth century, presented the same melancholy aspect as in other countries. There were circumstances which rendered improvement even less probable than in most of those which received the returning light of the gospel. While the simple character of the people afforded a ready opening to the appeals of superstition, their political condition still further favoured their close alliance with the papal court. Emancipated from the yoke of Germany, by as bold an effort as had ever been made by an oppressed people, they naturally became the ally of the Roman pontiffs against the power of the Emperors. This alliance was sedulously fostered by the Church; and no means were left unemployed which could tend to keep the Swiss in a state of servile obedience. Both Berne and Zurich set an example of complete subjection to its will; and as they formed the bulwark of the new confederacy, their advice was willingly adopted by most of the other cantons. Switzerland at this time furnished the best mercenary soldiers in Europe; and thus the court of Rome was enabled to derive from its rocky |