While jealousy and hatred towards George were driving forces in the murder, religious fanaticism was the primary reason for the murder. Set your face against sin, and sinful men” (Hogg 79). And now, my son, be strong and stedfast in the truth. Reverend Wringhim also informed Robert of his elect status when he spoke, “All the powers of darkness shall never be able to pluck you again out of your Redeemer’s hand. Because of this, Robert bonded with Reverend Wringhim, the man who raised him and cared for him like his own son. Robert Wringhim’s father disowned him and cared only for George, his first born son and sole inheritor of Dalcastle. The murder of George Colwan is often viewed as one driven by jealousy and hatred. These two factors contribute to Robert’s spiritual blindness and reinforce his belief that as a member of the elect he is predestined for heaven, excused from his sins, and these factors also serve as justification for the murder. Wringhim’s assurance of his election, and Gil-Martin’s Antinomian insistence on a separation between mortal (and moral) behavior and spiritual redemption” (24).
McConnell claims, “Robert Wringhim is blinded to the possibility of a fall from salvation due to the Rev. Robert’s belief that he is one of the elect, as well as urges from the evil Gil-Martin, leads him to commit the murder of his brother. The day of his birthday he also meets the character Gil-Martin in the woods, where his spiritual and intellectual capacities impress Robert. On his eighteenth birthday, Robert’s father figure and minister, Reverend Robert Wringhim instills in him the belief that he is one of the elect, meaning that he is predestined by the Lord for eternal salvation and grace. The primary example of the prevalent theme of religious fanaticism through its deep portrait of the Calvinist concept of predestination in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is the justification of sin, especially when Robert kills his own brother George.
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