LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
FOR "CHARITY."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sta,—One word more for "charity." I do not ask for its exten- sion, but only for its retention, in the places it has always held. All " love " is not "the fulfilling of the law." The divine 'Ayiez-n, therefore, which -is the fulfilling of the law, cannot always be best rendered by "love." Such is my opinion, in opposition to Dr. Plumptre's and Mr. Russell Martinea.u's, and I have the Catholic Church on my side. The Vulgate, which was the authorised version of our Church up to the Reforma- tion, used the word "charity," whose retention I plead for. Tyndale and certain Reformers substituted " love " for "charity," but this substitution was not allowed for above fifty years, so that we may say that, with a break of only fifty years during the century of the Reformation, the Church has in certain places used " charity " for eivica-4 for 1,400 years.
I cling to its retention as an old, catholic word. What I dread in the invariable use of " love " for dyciirs is not exactly what Dr. Plumptre imputes to me. What I do dread, I claim the right of describing in my own words. It is the substitu- tion by the various Protestant sects, whether Christian or non- Christian, Theist or non-Theist, of some factitious "enthusiasm of humanity" for the still, small voice of man's most persistent instinct, which, as I believe, the Catholic Church exists to re- port and to render audible to the dull ears of the masses.— I am, Sir, &c.,
Langton Lodge, Blandford, ,Tuly 17th. G. D. SNOW.
[This discussion must end here.—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
