The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #150071   Message #3507499
Posted By: MGM·Lion
23-Apr-13 - 03:30 AM
Thread Name: BS: Militant atheism has become a religion
Subject: RE: BS: Militant atheism has become a religion
On your side, Musket, as you know. But, semantically now ~~ 'suffer' as used by Jesus had nothing to do with 'making them suffer', it just meant 'allow' in C17 English: "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not" [Luke 18.16] simply means, "Let the children come & listen to me and don't prevent them".

Retained that meaning right up to Jane Austen at least; Miss Bates in Emma, who has fallen on hard times but retains her dignity, thinking that Mr Perry the apothecary might not charge for attending her niece Jane, says "That cannot be suffered, you know. Mr Perry has a wife and children to support and is not to be giving away his time."

~M~