Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures | Page 7

infinite Mind. We plead 3:21 for unmerited
pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really
grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of
the 3:24 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.
3:27 If we are ungrateful for Life, Truth, and Love, and yet return
thanks to God for all blessings, we are in- sincere and incur the sharp
censure our Master pro- 3:30 nounces 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 4:1 divine Truth and Love, we
cannot conceal the ingrati- tude of barren lives. Efficacious petitions
4:3 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 com- 4:6 mandments of our Master and follow his example, is our
proper debt to him and the only worthy evidence of our gratitude for all
that he has 4:9 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."
4:12 The habitual struggle to be always good is unceas- ing prayer. Its
motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring,- blessings which,
even if not 4:15 acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness
to be partakers of Love. Watchfulness requisite
Simply asking that we may love God will never 4:18 make us love Him;
but the longing to be better and holier, expressed in daily watchful-
ness and in striving to assimilate more of 4:21 the divine character, will
mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness. We reach
the Science of Christianity through demonstration of the 4:24 divine
nature; but in this wicked world goodness will "be evil spoken of," and
patience must bring experience. Veritable devotion
4:27 Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding,
which regenerates; but silent prayer, watchfulness, and devout
obedience enable 4:30 us to follow Jesus' example. Long prayers,
superstition, and creeds clip the strong pinions of love, and clothe
religion in human forms. Whatever mate- 5:1 rializes worship hinders
man's spiritual growth and keeps him from demonstrating his power

over error. Sorrow and reformation
5:3 Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform and the
very easiest step. The next and great step re- quired by wisdom is the
test of our sincerity, 5:6 - namely, reformation. To this end we are
placed under the stress of circumstances. Temptation bids us repeat the
offence, and woe comes in return for 5:9 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 5:12
be measured to you again," and it will be full "and run- ning over."
Saints and sinners get their full award, but not always 5:15 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 5:18 affections, giving us strength according to our
day. Sin- ners flourish "like a green bay tree;" but, looking farther, the
Psalmist could see their end, - the destruction of sin 5:21 through
suffering. Cancellation of human sin
Prayer is not to be used as a confessional to cancel sin. Such an error
would impede true religion. Sin is forgiven 5:24 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 merely by praying, 5:27 prayer
is an evil. He grows worse who continues in sin because he fancies
himself forgiven. Diabolism destroyed
An apostle says that the Son of God [Christ] came to 5:30 "destroy the
/works/ of the devil." We should follow our divine Exemplar, and seek
the de- struction of all evil works, error and disease included. 6:1 We
cannot escape the penalty due for sin. The Scrip- tures say, that if we
deny Christ, " he also will deny us." Pardon and amendment
6:3 Divine Love corrects and governs man. Men may pardon, but this
divine Principle alone reforms the sinner. God is not separate from the
wis- 6:6 dom 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 6:9 that we have nothing to do but to ask pardon,
and that afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence. To cause