"FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES."
A story is told of a certain nobleman of Alexandria, who complained bitterly to the bishop of that city of his enemies. While in the midst of his tale the bell sounded for prayers, and bishop and nobleman dropped on their knees, the former leading in the Lord's prayer, and the latter leaving for the time his story untold. When the bishop came to the petition, "Forgive us our trespasses," he stopped suddenly, leaving the other to go on alone. The nobleman attempted to continue, but, startled by the sound of his own unaccompanied voice, and recalled by his companion's silence to the significance of the petition, stammered, ceased praying, and rose from his knees, a hopeless man, until he afterward found hope in a better disposition toward his neighbor. It is an easy thing to say, "Forgive us our trespasses" by rote; it is difficult, sometimes, to say it understandingly. If we stop at this petition when we are repeating the Lord's prayer until we have taken in the idea of it, how many of us will go on?