pears to him as it is seen reflected in his own character. When he is himself unforgiving and revengeful towards his enemies, the Lord appears so to him. When he comes into the exercise of forgiveness, the character of the Lord to his appearance undergoes a corresponding change, and he feels that he is forgiven. In a word, it is only an appearance which originates in his own deprav ity, that the Lord is ever angry with him, or is ever unforgiving. The real truth is, that his character must always appear to be corresponding to the state and character of man. And that his true character can be seen only so far as man partakes of his likeness, and comes into the exercise of forgiving love. Continually, therefore, in prayer for forgiveness, should man be reminded of the conditions of his forgiveness. That it is on no other grounds than that of simply exercising the same forgiveness towards his enemies for which he prays to the Lord. And that, if he, from the heart, forgives not men their trespasses, neither will his heavenly Father forgive (or appear to him to forgive) him his trespasses. Notwithstanding all the learned controversies about the Atonement, and about the conditions of forgiveness, and justification with God, the whole truth is summarily, but fully expressed in the words, "forgive and ye shall be forgiven." "For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

"Here again," said Mrs. Livingston, "there is a seeming inconsistency in the language used in this petition, as well as in several other passages in the Bible. In one place it is said, 'God tempted Abraham,' but the explicit declaration of the Apostle James is, 'Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted, neither tempteth he any man. But every

man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed.' If God does not tempt man, why is temptation ever ascribed to Him? Or why are we required to pray that he would lead us not into temptation' if the only cause of the temptation is (as the Apostle James declares) in ourselves our own evil propensities and lusts ? Mr. Clifford replied, "One is the real truth, the other is the apparent truth or the truth as it appears to man in a merely natural, unregenerate state of mind. It is really true that the Lord tempts no man, but that man is tempted only when drawn away of his own lusts and enticed. The cause of the temptation is always in himself. But it does not always appear so to him. It appears to him that external associates and circumstances were the cause of his temptations to sin. He reasons in this manner, 'Had I not been placed in these peculiar circumstances, or influenced by bad associates, I should not have been guilty of the sins I have committed.' Thus he looks out of himself for the cause of his sins. He attributes

the formation of his character, not to any latent evils, or bad propensities in himself, but merely to the external circumstances and associates which were the cause of awakening and bringing them out into open manifestation. And when he prays, 'Lead us not into temptation,' these words are understood by him as meaning, Withhold me from such associates, and from going into such circumstances as will cause me to commit sin. But as he advances in spiritual life, he gradually learns by experience the real truth, that the only cause of his temptations to sin, are within himself are his own evil propensities and lusts, which external circumstances and associates only excite and manifest to him, that apart from these evils within himself, external circumstances and associates can have no power over him. And consequently he then desires to be delivered from these evils within himself, which he now sees to be the cause of his temptations, but which his external circumstances and associates were the means of first exciting and manifesting to him. Thus the language of the petition is perfectly adapted to every state, though differently understood, according to the difference of state and degree of advancement in the regenerate life."

"For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever." These words are a form of acknowledgment, that the laws of order, or divine truth, which is signified by kingdom, and all power

to obey it, and all praise and honor, are to be ascribed to the Lord alone.

66

Amen," is but a solemn asseveration of the truth of what has been uttered."

"Thus you see, that when rightly understood, this simple form of prayer, comprehends every request, which, in a good state of affections, we can make to the Lord. And, instead of disobeying the direct command of the Lord, not to imitate the Pharisees in making long prayers to be seen of men and using a vain repetition of words, it is our duty to conform to his instructions, and rather than multiply words, endeavor to bring our affections into that state of true resignation to the divine will, in which this form of prayer will be seen to express every desire which we ought to cherish, and in which it will be seen to be as the perfect body, of which the real sentiments of veneration and love to the Lord, united to a true resignation to his will, are the soul."

CHAPTER IV.

THE UNION OF MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL CULTURE.

The

Intellectual culture, and moral discipline, must be united. renovating influences of religion must impregnate the streams of knowledge as they descend from the hill of science, or else they will carry only moral disease as they flow through the land.

MR. CLIFFORD always felt a deep and a lively interest in the great subject of education. But while he witnessed with pleasure the advances made by our schools in improving the understanding and cultivating the taste, he often deplored the neglect of moral and religious culture. And he lost no occasion to inspire the young with correct motives of action, and to teach and impress upon them the true ends of acquiring knowledge.

When we had all retired from the breakfast room into the parlor, he entered upon a familiar conversation with Livingston and myself respecting the state of our college. Although not liberally educated himself, he had during life devoted much time to systematic study and miscellaneous reading, and was now well informed in most of the sciences taught in our literary institutions.