uld be willing to dispute with him upon those points. John Faber, one of the three deputies whom the bishop of Constance had seait, and his chief vicar, answered, that
He also offered to deliver his judgment respecting tithes,
the revenues of the church, the condition of infants not
baptised, and confirmation, if any person should be willing
to dispute with him upon those points. John Faber, one
of the three deputies whom the bishop of Constance had
seait, and his chief vicar, answered, that he was not come
to dispute about ceremonials and customs, which had for
many ages been used in the church; nor did he think fit
to debate about that affair then, but would refer it to the
general council, which was to meet shortly, according to
the constitution of the diet of Nuremberg. Zuinglius replied, “that they ought not to regard how long a thing
has been or has not been in use, but to observe only,
whether or not it be agreeable to truth, or the law of God,
to which custom could not be opposed; and that there
were learned men in the present assembly who could very
well determine the matters in question, without referring
them to a council, since even private Christians, enlightened by the spirit of God, could discern between those
that did and did not^understand the Scripture.
” The result
of this conference was in favour of Zuinglius; for the senate ordained by an edict, “that he should go on to teach
and preach the word of God, and the doctrine of the gospel, after the same manner that he had hitherto done; and
that no pastors, either in the city or country, should teach
any thing that could not be proved by the gospel, and
should also abstain from accusations of heresy.
”