A letter to Charles Boissevain (1842–1927), editor in chief of the Algemeen Handelsblad, about forgiveness in general and about the forgiveness of the offenses of political opponents in particular. Kuyper draws upon the Lord’s Prayer, the teachings of Jesus and Paul, and the doctrine of the church to make his case.

This letter to the editor was occasioned by a commentary on 1895.13 that Boissevain had written in his column From Day to Day. Kuyper had opened his series of articles De Christus en de sociale nooden (see 1895.13) by declaring that he wished to forgive anyone who had injured him in political struggles and that “among us Christians it is always easy to forgive.” (In 1887.04, he had said that “forgiveness comes easily for him who has been forgiven much by his God.”) Boissevain characterized this announced forgiveness as simply a matter of words and as a slap in the face of Kuyper’s opponents. He contested the position that forgiveness always comes easily among Christians.