2 MAY 1885, Page 14

MARRIAGES OF AFFINITY.

[To TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]

SIR,—In reference to your note on Dr. Candlish's letter, does it not occur to yen that if the Scriptural prohibition of unlawful relations of affinity is binding only during the lifetime of the parties, and is cancelled by death, denunciations of particular cases are superfluous ?

It is plainly forbidden to covet a neighbour's wife, and there would seem to be no need for any special denunciation of relations with a father's wife or a brother's wife more than with any neighbour's wife, if affinity is dissolved by death.—I am, Sir, &c., April 30t1s. BEAUCHAMP.

[We do not understand Lord Beauchamp. Our point was that there is nothing either in the account of John the Baptist's condemnation of what Herod did, or in St. Paul's condemnation of what the Corinthians did, except severe moral condemnation of a great moral sin. Of course it aggravated that sin that the persons wronged were nearly allied to the offender.—ED. Spectator.]