Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva - James Aitken Wylie

things as necessary to the moral transformation of
England: first, the preaching of the pure Word of
God; second, the rooting out of abuses; and, third,
the correction of vices and scandalous offenses. As
regarded the first, the preaching of the Gospel,
Calvin laid stress upon the manner as well as the
doctrine--upon the life as well as the purity of the
pulpit. "The people," says he, "are to be so taught
as to be touched to the quick, and feel that the
Word of God is a 'two-edged sword.' I speak this,
Monseigneur," continues the Reformer, "because it
appears to me that there is very little preaching of a
lively kind in the kingdom, but that the greater part
deliver it by way of reading from a written
discourse. . . This preaching ought not to be lifeless
but lively. Now you know, my Lord," Calvin goes
on to say, "how St. Paul speaks of the liveliness
which ought to be in the mouth of good ministers
of God, who ought not to make a parade of rhetoric
in order to show themselves off, but the Spirit of
God must resound in their voice." In short, Calvin
desiderated two things--"a good trumpet" and "a
certain sound"--if the Lord Protector would reap
fruit of his labors, and the Reformation be
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