christian science-第30部分

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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