During the years 1542-6 there were, in this little town of 16,000 people, no less than fifty-eight executions and seventy-six banishments.
In judging the Genevan theocracy it is important to remember that everywhere, in the sixteenth century, punishments were heavier than they are now, and the regulation of private life minuter.[2] Nevertheless, though parallels to almost everything done at Geneva can be found elsewhere, it is true that Calvin intensified the medieval spirit in this respect and pushed it to the farthest limit that human nature would bear.
First of all, he compelled the citizens to fulfil their religious duties.

He began the process by which later the Puritans identified the Jewish Sabbath and the Lord's Day.

Luther had thought the injunction to rest on the Seventh Day a bit of Jewish ceremonial abrogated by the new dispensation and that, after attending church, the Christian might devote the day to what work or pleasure he thought proper.

Calvin, however, forbade all work and commanded attendance on sermons, of which an abundance were offered to the devout.

In addition to Sunday services there were, as in the Catholic church, morning prayers every work day and a second service three days a week.