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332
EPISTLES OF MÂNÛSKIHAR,
in revelation-which is evident, indeed, from his existence when he is a religious purifier, and also from your priestly lordship's knowledge of the rite; indeed, there is no use of that same decree unless the scripture of revelation, likewise, be so-he is to do it with very strict observation, now, since, owing to the reception of terror by the purifiers, that preparation is evidently to produce, as regards their own disposition and movements, much harm and irregularity, and perplexed thoughts among the people, the discredit of the decreer is generated therefrom, and it would have been more reasonable to consider the terror and doubt of the purifiers in another way.
4. That which is so explained by you as though it would remain accomplished and would be in notice -and this is written by you like as it were from a teaching of some description-is not proper; because, thus, every rite in the performance of the desired operation, even by one single teaching, is suitable, which, like the preparation for the statements of lying litigants, is very like, but not correct. 5. For when there are some who have furthered Mêdyôk-mâh' better than the teaching of Afarg', it is well when every single rite in the teaching is right; and as to his rite it is not very clear that deliverance' is promoted by maintaining it. 6. Even on that occasion when Mêdyôk-mâh has mentioned threefold washing, and Afarg once washing3, Mêdyôk-mâh is the after deponent and Afarg the prior
1 See Ep. I, v, 1.
• From pollution.
* In Pahl. Vend. IX, 132,j (see App. IV), where the threefold washing is connected with the name of Afarg, and the once washing with that of Mêdyôk-mâh; but Ep. I, vi, 7-9 agrees with the statement here.
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