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314
EPISTLES OF MÂNUSKÎHAR.
and when a shower of rain occurs thereon so that the whole place shall be thoroughly wetted, inside and outside, it is proper ? 8. And if some one says that this is the case of a rite by a teaching of authority, and the rule is by a teaching of private authority, is not the whole rite by any teaching proper, that consists in this washing which is thoroughly preserved as they keep it in practice??'
9. The reply is even this, that every rite (nirông) is to be performed in such manner as that which is said to be most preservative, and most connected with the declaration of revelation and the testimony of the high-priests concerning it. 10. And not for the reason that Médyôk-mâh's teaching is more preservative ? as to one rite, and after that something of Afarg is more preservative, is the operation to be performed by the statement of Mêdyðk-mâh ; but whatever is the more preservative of Mêdyôkmâh's is collected from Mêdyôk-mâh, all the more preservative of Afarg from Afarg, and that which is the more preservative of any other high-priest from that which has the most preservative approval of the high-priest. 11. That which those highpriests have said, which they decide by just authority, is the commandment of the learned of the realm, which has lawfully arisen over the provinces (shôhârâno); but even that statement opposing it which is much testified and manifestly more of a deliverance, or which is declared as an exposition
1 This string of arguments appears to be quoted from the epistle to which the writer is replying, but as they are separated from their context it is difficult to understand the exact line of argument, or to be sure that they are translated correctly.
? From pollution or sin.
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