Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/301

289 LETTER OF NICHOLAS III. TO KUBLAI KHAN. 289 over one sinner who repents, than over ninety and nine just men who need no repentance. Oh ! what happy days are ours if it should be permitted us to furnish to the celestial courts such a subject of joy ! Truly are these things that your majesty announces to us vast and sublime. The finger of God has assuredly touched your heart, since you are inflamed by such holy zeal, that you are willing to place at the service of Christ, and against His enemies your own person, the strength of your people, and your whole empire with all its power and resources." The Pope then concludes by earnestly recommending to the Tartar prince the missionaries that he is sending to him, and the Chris- tians resident in his dominions. The letter to Kublai Khan was precisely to the same effect, and his holiness at the same time conferred, by letters patent of the same date, very extensive powers upon the five Franciscans. He authorises them to preach the word of God in all countries subject to the Tartars, to baptize Abaga, his children, his subjects, and all others who are willing to be converted to the unity of the Christian faith, and to do, collectively and individually, all that may contribute to the glory of God and the propagation of the holy faith.* The historians of the period do not afford us suffi- cient details to enable us to appreciate the results of this new mission to the Tartars. The barbarism of the Mongols, the indifference of the Chinese, the prejudices of the idolaters, the rivalry of the Nes- toiians, who had previously made considerable progress in those countries, and moreover the ignorance of the VOL. I. U
 * Wadding, " Annales Minorum," vol. v. p. 40.