GEORGE HERBERT.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.1 SIR,—The writer of the interesting review of George Herbert's " Country Parson " in the Spectator of March 11th, made, I think, an oversight. He makes the observation that in this treatise Herbert never calls the Communion-table the "altar."
But in chap. 6, on The Parson Praying," are the words:—
God, before whom he then presents himself; yet not as himself alone. but as pies -ating with himself the whole congregation, whose sins he then bears, and brings with his own to the heavenly altar, to be bathed and washed in the sacred laver of Christ's blood."
There is also in " The Life " a piece of indirect evidence that Herbert used both forms of expression in the pulpit—where Iaaak Walton, in describing Herbert's sermons to his village parishioners, says :—" He made them to know the
reason why the Commandments and the Epistles and Gospels were to be read at the altar or Communion-table." As the point has been raised as to his use of the word " altar," it in worth while to turn to the poems which give us the poet himself. The first is " The Church Porch," the second "The Superliminare," the third is called "The Altar." In the porch, Herbert addresses preparatory counsel to one in
his " sweet youth "; he then leads him across the threshold to " taste The church's mystical repast," and when within the church he turns first to the altar,—it is his prime object, and to it the first poem, after entering, is dedicated. This is a poem to be studied. Again in the verses to Love—" Immortal Love "—we find him saying :- "Then shall our hearts pant Thee; then shall our brain All her inventions on Thine altar lay, And there in hymns send back Thy love again."
If in conclusion I may turn to another point, it cannot. I think, but be interesting to see what so great an English Churchman aaid and practised in 1632 upon a matter now much in discussion. I quote from " The Parson Comforting," chap. 15 of " The Country Parson" :—" Besides this in his visiting the sick or otherwise afflicted,. he followeth the Church's counsel, namely, in persuading them to particular confession ; labouring to make them understand the great good use of this ancient and pious ordinance, and how necessary it is in some cases."—I am, Sir, &c.,
Great Tew, Oxon, March 14th. W. T. MALLESON.
[We cannot agree that our correspondent proves his point. Surely in both his quotations "altar" is used in a poetic and metaphorical sense. Bat in any case it is clear that Herbert does not bar or object to the use of the word " Communion- table."—En. Spectator.]
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