to pass； he shall have whatsoever he saith。 Therefore I say unto you；
What things soever ye desire when ye pray； believe that ye receive them；
and ye shall have them。
Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of； before ye ask Him。〃
CHRIST JESUS。
The prayer that reclaims the sinner and heals the sick； is an absolute
faith that all things are possible to Goda spiritual understanding of
Himan unselfed love。 Regardless of what another may say or think on
this subject； I speak from experience。 This prayer； combined with self…
sacrifice and toil； is the means whereby God has enabled me to do what I
have done for the religion and health of mankind。
Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind。 Desire is prayer；
and no less can occur from trusting God with our desires； that they may
be moulded and exalted before they take form in audible word； and in
deeds。
What are the motives for prayer？ Do we pray to make ourselves better； or
to benefit those that hear us； to enlighten the Infinite； or to be heard
of men？ Are we benefited by praying？ Yes； the desire which goes forth
hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father； and it does not
return unto us void。
God is not moved by the breath of praise to do more than He has already
done； nor can the Infinite do less than bestow all good； since He is
unchanging Wisdom and Love。 We can do more for ourselves by humble
fervent petitions； but the All…loving does not grant them simply on the
ground of lip…service； for He already knows all。
Prayer cannot change the Science of Being； but it does bring us into
harmony with it。 Goodness reaches the demonstration of Truth。 A request
that another may work for us never does our work。 The habit of pleading
with the divine Mind； as one pleads with a human being； perpetuates the
belief in God as humanly circumscribedan error which impedes spiritual
growth。
God is Love。 Can we ask Him to be more？ God is Intelligence。 Can we
inform the infinite Mind； or tell Him anything He does not already
comprehend？ Do we hope to change perfection？ Shall we plead for more at
the open fount； which always pours forth more than we receive？ The
unspoken prayer does bring us nearer the Source of all existence and
blessedness。
Asking God to be God is a 〃vain repetition。〃 God is 〃the same yesterday；
and to…day； and forever〃； and He who is immutably right will do right；
without being reminded of His province。 The wisdom of man is not
sufficient to warrant him in advising God。
Who would stand before a blackboard； and pray the principle of
mathematics to work out the problem？ The rule is already established；
and it is our task to work out the solution。 Shall we ask the divine
Principle of all goodness to do His own work？ His work is done； and we
have only to avail ourselves of God's rule； in order to receive the
blessing thereof。
The divine Being must be reflected by manelse man is not the image and
likeness of the patient； tender； and true； the one 〃altogether lovely〃；
but to understand God is the work of eternity； and demands absolute
concentration of thought and energy。
How empty are our conceptions of Deity！ We admit theoretically that God
is good； omnipotent； omnipresent； infinite； and then we try to give
information to this infinite Mind； and plead for unmerited pardon； and a
liberal outpouring of benefactions。 Are we really grateful for the good
already received？ Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we
have； and thus be fitted to receive more。 Gratitude is much more than a
verbal expression of thanks Action expresses more gratitude than speech。
If we are ungrateful for Life； Truth； and Love； and yet return thanks to
God for all blessings； we are insincere； and incur the sharp censure our
Master pronounces on hypocrites。 In such a case the only acceptable
prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our blessings。
While the heart is far from divine Truth and Love； we cannot conceal the
ingratitude of barren lives； for God knoweth all things。
What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace；
expressed in patience； meekness； love； and good deeds。 To keep the
commandments of our Master and follow his example； is our proper debt to
Him； and the only worthy evidence of our gratitude for all He has done。
Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and
heartfelt gratitude； since He has said： 〃If ye love Me； keep My
Commandments。〃
The habitual struggle to be always good； is unceasing prayer。 Its
motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring which； if not
acknowledged in audible words； attest our worthiness to be made partakers
of Love。
Simply asking that we may love God will never make us love Him； but the
longing to be better and holierexpressed in daily watchfulness； and in
striving to assimilate more of the divine characterthis will mould and
fashion us anew； until we awake in His likeness。 We reach the Science of
Christianity through demonstration of the divine nature； but in this
wicked world goodness will 〃be evil spoken of；〃 and patience must work
experience。
Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding； which
regenerates； but silent prayer； watchfulness； and devout obedience；
enable us to follow Jesus' example。 Long prayers； ecclesiasticism； and
creeds； have clipped the divine pinions of Love； and clad religion in
human robes。 They materialize worship； hinder the Spirit； and keep man
from demonstrating his power over error。
Sorrow for wrong…doing is but one step towards reform； and the very
easiest step。 The next and great step required by Wisdom is the test of
our sinceritynamely； reformation。 To this end we are placed under the
stress of circumstances。 Temptation bids us repeat the offence； and woe
comes in return for what is done。 So it will ever be； till we learn that
there is no discount in the law of justice； and that we must pay 〃the
uttermost farthing。〃 The measure ye mete 〃shall be measured to you
again；〃 and it will be full 〃and running over。〃
Saints and sinners get their full award； but not always in this world。
The followers of Christ drank His cup。 Ingratitude and persecution
filled it to the brim； but God pours the riches of His love into the
understanding and affections； giving us strength according to our day。
Sinners flourish 〃like a green bay…tree〃； but； looking farther； the
Psalmist could see their endnamely； the destruction of sin through
suffering。
Prayer is sometimes used； as a confessional to cancel sin。 This error
impedes true religion。 Sin is forgiven； only as it is destroyed by
Christ…Truth and Life If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is
cancelled； and that man is made better by merely praying； it is an evil。
He grows worse who continues in sin because he thinks himself forgiven。
An apostle says that the Son of God （Christ） came to 〃destroy the works
of the devil。〃 We should follow our divine Exemplar； and seek the
destruction of all evil works； error and disease included。 We cannot
escape the penalty due for sin。 The Scriptures say； that if we deny
Christ； 〃He also will deny us。〃
The divine Love corrects and governs man。 Men may pardon； but this
divine Principle alone reforms the sinner。 God is not separate from the
wisdom He bestows。 The talents He gives we must improve。 Calling on Him
to forgive our work； badly done or left undone； implies the vain
supposition that we have nothing to do but to ask pardon； and that
afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence。
To cause suffering； as the result of sin； is the means of destroying sin。
Every supposed pleasure in sin will furnish more than its equivalent of
pain； until belief in material life and sin is destroyed。 To reach
heaven； the harmony of Being； we must understand the divine Principle of
Being。
〃God is Love。〃 More than this we cannot ask； higher we cannot look；
farther we cannot go。 To suppose that God forgives or punishes sin；
according as His mercy is sought or unsought； is to misunderstand Love
and make prayer the safety…valve for wrong…doing。
Jesus uncovered and rebuked sin before He cast it out。 Of a sick woman
He said that Satan had bound her； and to Peter He said； 〃Thou art an
offense unto me。〃 He came teaching and showing men how to destroy sin；
sickness； and death。 He said of the fruitless tree； 〃It is hewn down。〃
It is believed by many that a certain magistrate； who lived in the time
of Jesus； left this record： 〃His rebuke is fearful。〃 The strong language
of our Master confirms this description。
The only civil sentence which He had for error was； 〃Get thee behind Me；
Satan。〃 Still stronger evidence that Jesus' reproof was pointed and
pungent is in His own wordsshowing the necessity for such forcible
utterance； when He cast out devils and healed the sick and sinful。 The
relinquishment of error deprives material sense of its false claims。
Audible prayer is impressive； it gives momentary solemnity and elevation
to thought； but does it produce any lasting benefit？ Looking deeply into
these things； we find that 〃a zeal 。 。 。 not according to knowledge；〃
gives occasion for reaction unfavorable to spiritual growth； sober
resolve； and wholesome perception of God's requirements。 The motives for
verbal prayer may embrace too much love of applause to induce or
encourage Christian sentiment。
Physical sensation； not Soul； produces material ecstasy； and emotions。
If spiritual sense always guided men at such times； there would grow out
of those ecstatic moments a higher experience and a better life； with
more devout self…abnegation； and purity。 A self…satisfied ventilation of
fervent sentiments never makes a Christian。 God is not influenced by
man。 The 〃divine ear〃 is not an auditoria！ nerve。 It is the all…
hearing and all…knowing Mind； to whom each want of man is always known；
and by whom it will be supplied。
The danger from audible prayer is； that it may lead us into temptation。
By it we may become involuntary hypocrites； uttering desires which are
not real； and consoling ourselves in the midst of sin； with the
recollection that