Moreover, he requires the sacraments for his old sick father, his
new-born child, and for his other child of an age to be confirmed.
Now, communion, baptism, confession, all the sacraments, to be of
good quality, must proceed from a safe source, just as is the case
with flour and coin; there is only too much counterfeit money now in
the world, and the sworn priests are daily losing credit, like the
assignats. There is no other course to pursue, consequently, but to
resort to the non-juror, who is the only one able to give valid
absolutions. And it so happens that he not only refuses this, but
be is said to be inimical to the whole new order of things. - In
this dilemma the peasant falls back upon his usual resource, the
strength of his arms; he seizes the priest by the throat, as
formerly his lord, and extorts an acquittance for his sins as
formerly for his feudal dues. At the very least he strives to
constrain the non-jurors to swear, to close their separatist
churches, and bring the entire canton to the same uniform faith.
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