Page 6 - 08 Luther Before the Diet

they endeavored to induce Zwingli to enter

their convent. Luther, while a student at

school, had buried himself in a convent cell,

and he would have been lost to the world had

not God's providence released him. Zwingli

was not permitted to encounter the same

peril. Providentially his father received

information of the designs of the friars. He

had no intention of allowing his son to follow

the idle and worthless life of the monks. He

saw that his future usefulness was at stake,

and directed him to return home without

delay.

The command was obeyed; but the youth

could not be long content in his native valley,

and he soon resumed his studies, repairing,

after a time, to Basel. It was here that Zwingli

first heard the gospel of God's free grace.

Wittembach, a teacher of the ancient