Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/349

Rh stances of our condition constrain us to write to your Holiness yet a third time by the hand of our dearly beloved son the presbyter George Badger, who is about to leave us and go away. There is no need that we should repeat what we have already informed you of respecting the misfortunes and troubles which have happened to us, for our afflictions are now doubled since our request that you would leave with us the above named father until our affairs were settled has not been complied with. And now you have ordered him to depart from this place and to leave us like orphans. One thing, however, consoles us, that our last epistle had not reached when you ordered his departure, and that if it had you would not have sent for him to go to you; for our confidence in you is that you would not leave us alone amidst devouring wolves. But still the affliction which his departure occasions us remains the same, while we continue in the same scattered condition in which we were previously. And be not surprised at this, for you could not have sent us one like-minded to care for our estate and to labour for us night and day. Perhaps you may have imagined that his services have become less necessary because others have been sent to our assistance; but, if this is the case you are mistaken. Verily I say unto you, that without him our affairs cannot be settled as we wish; and thus, if you have one real feeling of brotherly love and affection towards us, listen to our request and permit him to remain with us.

"Now the presbyter is preparing to go to Constantinople where he says you have permitted him to go for a time. It may be 's will that his sojourn there may be to our benefit, and may be the means of bringing about a happy termination to our affairs. We therefore obey and submit. Be it moreover known unto you that we have made him our deputy, that he may recommend what seems fit both for our temporal and spiritual building-up. And this we do wittingly, knowing his sincere affection for us, and his perfect knowledge more than that of any other person of all our affairs. He moreover takes with him two important documents which may be useful in supporting our cause. We therefore beg that you will allow him to remain there sufficient time to settle for us what is requisite, … and afterwards we wish that your Holiness will allow him to return