MR. MURPHY'S THEOLOGY.
[To THZ EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIE,—I have been very much gratified by the favourable and appreciative review, in the Spectator of July 1st, of my "Natural Selection and Spiritual Freedom," but I hope that you will publish a few remarks in explanation and defence of my position on a question respecting which I think you in some degree exaggerate the difference between us. You appear to think me a dogmatic Universalist. This is not the case. I believe, and I think you agree with me, that Christ teaches the absolute and universal forgiveness of all sins of weakness and of ignorance ; but for sins of will—" presump- tuous sins "—I only say (p. 118) that I "faintly trust the larger hope." My conclusion on the entire question is, that there are passages in the Old and New Testaments which, when read by themselves, teach the universal triumph of Divine mercy over human sin ; while other passages, when read by themselves, teach the existence of depths of sin that Divine mercy is unable to reach ; but Christ, like St. Pan!, exalts the spirit above the letter, and approves a faith which trusts the graciousness of God even beyond his express promises.
You quote my words, "Evil is punished by its own increase, and goodness rewarded in the same way," with the remark that I do not perceive the difficulty which this truth places in the way of the conversion and forgiveness of all sinners. I do see the difficulty ; but it is a difficulty in the way of believing that sin can be forgiven at all. Yet you and I both "believe in the forgiveness of sins."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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