Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures | Page 8

record: "His rebuke is fearful." The strong language of our Mas- ter confirms this description.
7:1 The only civil sentence which he had for error was, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Still stronger evidence 7:3 that Jesus' reproof was pointed and pungent is found in his own words,- showing the necessity for such forcible utterance, when he cast out devils and healed 7:6 the sick and sinning. The relinquishment of error de- prives material sense of its false claims. Audible praying
Audible prayer is impressive; it gives momentary 7:9 solemnity and elevation to thought. But does it pro- duce any lasting benefit? Looking deeply into these things, we find that "a zeal . . . 7:12 not according to knowledge" gives occasion for reac- tion unfavorable to spiritual growth, sober resolve, and wholesome perception of God's requirements. The mo- 7:15 tives for verbal prayer may embrace too much love of applause to induce or encourage Christian sentiment. Emotional utterances
Physical sensation, not Soul, produces material ec- 7:18 stasy and emotion. If spiritual sense always guided men, there would grow out of ecstatic mo- ments a higher experience and a better life 7:21 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 "di- 7:24 vine ear" is not an auditory nerve. It is the all-hearing and all-knowing Mind, to whom each need of man is always known and by whom it will be supplied. Danger from audible prayer
7:27 The danger from prayer is that it may lead us into temp- tation. By it we may become involuntary hypocrites, ut- tering desires which are not real and consoling 7:30 ourselves in the midst of sin with the recollection that we have prayed over it or mean to ask for- giveness at some later day. Hypocrisy is fatal to religion.
8:1 A wordy prayer may afford a quiet sense of self- justification, though it makes the sinner a hypocrite. 8:3 We never need to despair of an honest heart; but there is little hope for those who come only spasmodi- cally face to face with their wickedness and then seek to 8:6 hide it. Their prayers are indexes which do not correspond with their character. They hold secret fellowship with sin, and such externals are spoken of by Jesus as "like 8:9 unto whited sepulchres . . . full . . . of all uncleanness." Aspiration and love
If a man, though apparently fervent and prayerful, is impure and therefore insincere, what must be the 8:12 comment upon him? If he reached the loftiness of his prayer, there would be no occasion for comment. If we feel the aspiration, hu- 8:15 mility, gratitude, and love which our words express,- this God accepts; and it is wise not to try to deceive ourselves or others, for "there is nothing covered that 8:18 shall not be revealed." Professions and audible pray- ers are like charity in one respect,- they "cover the multitude of sins." Praying for humility with what- 8:21 ever fervency of expression does not always mean a desire for it. If we turn away from the poor, we are not ready to receive the reward of Him who blesses 8:24 the poor. We confess to having a very wicked heart and ask that it may be laid bare before us, but do we not already know more of this heart than we are 8:27 willing to have our neighbor see? Searching the heart
We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way 8:30 only can we learn what we honestly are. If a friend informs us of a fault, do we listen pa- tiently to the rebuke and credit what is said? Do we not 9:1 rather give thanks that we are "not as other men"? During many years the author has been most grateful 9:3 for merited rebuke. The wrong lies in unmerited cen- sure,- in the falsehood which does no one any good. Summit of aspiration
The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these 9:6 questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? Do we pursue the old selfish- ness, satisfied with having prayed for some- 9:9 thing better, though we give no evidence of the sin- cerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer? If selfishness has given place to kindness, 9:12 we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is 9:15 a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith. Practical religion
Dost thou "love the Lord thy God with all thy 9:18 heart, and