Where could the man of God be found to complete the work? He was sought among the ministers, but to no effect. The Reform was liable to perish, not from want of work, but from want of workmen. 'Alas!' cried Farel, 'where shall we find the preachers we require? I cannot tell.'[759] It is true that ex-priests and monks frequently offered themselves, but what workmen they were! One day it was a simpleton without any capacity; at another, a coward who did not care to undertake a task so full of peril; one man was immoral; another self-sufficient; a third was worldly; a fourth altogether monkish. Farel was dismayed. 'You speak to me of Dennis,' he said, 'but Dennis is a monk from head to foot.'[760] The reformer had as much trouble in putting these sham fellow-helpers aside, as in contending with desperate enemies. 'Beware of the tonsure,' he said to his friends, 'of the tonsure and the tonsured.'[761] 'We want none of those skimmers[762] of Scripture,' he said, 'who turn to every wind like weathercocks on the steeples; none of those flatterers of princes and magistrates, who wish to please them for their bellies' sake, or through fear of being banished: none of those dissolute monks, who seek only to please master or mistress. No, no; none of these mercenaries; for it is to be feared that if we take them to lead the flocks, we shall enter into a more inextricable labyrinth than that through which we have passed.' Not only Geneva but Western Europe required 'a God-fearing pastor,' as Farel said; a doctor who could explain with learning the teachings of Holy Scripture; an evangelist who, with eloquence full of life, should convert souls to Christ; a champion who should fight valiantly against the doctors of Rome and lead them captive to the truth; and a man of administrative capacity who could establish order in the churches of God. The earth had shaken, old buildings had been thrown down. It was requisite to erect in their place an edifice more conformable with the original design—one with more air, more light, more warmth. Where could the man be found who, gifted with wisdom from God like Solomon, should raise a temple to Him which should manifest his glory? He was sought for everywhere, perseveringly yet ineffectually. And yet the man whom God had elected was soon to appear. [739] The author is unknown, but the poem was in Bonivard's possession.—See the Mémoires d'Archéologie, iv. p. 271. [740] Chron. MS. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 63 to 67.—Registres du Conseil. [741] 'Vergebene Arbeit, unnütze Zeitverschwendung, elendes Kinderspiel.'—Rothe, professor at Heidelberg, _Theologische Ethik_, iii. p. 1017.—Rothe, who has not long been dead, is considered an eminent theologian in Germany. [742] Registres du Conseil des 10, 13, 24 et 31 Mars 1536.—MS. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 63. [743] Registres du Conseil du 3 Avril 1536. [744] Registres du Conseil du 3 Avril 1536.—MS. de Roset, liv. iii. ch. 63. [745] Registres du Conseil du 6 Avril 1536.