Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding, which regenerates; but silent prayer, Veritable devotionwatchfulness, and devout obedience enable 30us to follow Jesus’ example. Long prayers, superstition, and creeds clip the strong pinions of love, and clothe religion in human forms. Whatever mate -55:1rializes worship hinders man’s spiritual growth and keeps him from demonstrating his power over error.

    Science can heal the sick, who are absent from their 6healers, as well as those present, since space is no ob-Absent patientsstacle to Mind. Immortal Mind heals what eye hath not seen; but the spiritual capacity to ap-9prehend thought and to heal by the Truth-power, is won only as man is found, not in self-righteousness, but re-flecting the divine nature.

    Thoughts unspoken are not unknown to the divine Mind. Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from 12trusting God with our desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds.

God is not moved by the breath of praise to do more 9than He has already done, nor can the infinite do less Deity unchangeablethan bestow all good, since He is unchang-ing wisdom and Love. We can do more for 12ourselves by humble fervent petitions, but the All-lov-ing does not grant them simply on the ground of lip-service, for He already knows all.

Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the 24blessings 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.

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-30nounces on hypocrites. In such a case, the only acceptable prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our blessings.

    What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, Efficacious petitionslove, and good deeds. To keep the com-6mandments 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 9done. Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude, since he has said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

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 15acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of Love.

    Audible prayer is impressive; it gives momentary 9solemnity and elevation to thought. But does it pro-Audible prayingduce any lasting benefit? Looking deeply into these things, we find that “a zeal . . . 12not according to knowledge” gives occasion for reac-tion unfavorable to spiritual growth, sober resolve, and wholesome perception of God’s requirements. The mo-15tives for verbal prayer may embrace too much love of applause to induce or encourage Christian sentiment.

    Physical sensation, not Soul, produces material ec-18stasy and emotion. If spiritual sense always guided Emotional utterancesmen, there would grow out of ecstatic mo-ments a higher experience and a better life 21with 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-24vine 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.

Professions and audible pray-ers are like charity in one respect, — they “cover the multitude of sins.”

    The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these 6questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of Summit of aspirationthis asking? Do we pursue the old selfish-ness, satisfied with having prayed for some-9thing 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, 12we 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 15a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.

Consistent prayer is the desire to do right.

    The world must grow to the spiritual understanding 6of prayer. If good enough to profit by Jesus’ cup of earthly sorrows, God will sustain us under these sor-rows. Until we are thus divinely qualified and are 9willing to drink his cup, millions of vain repetitions will never pour into prayer the unction of Spirit in demonstration of power and “with signs following.” 12Christian Science reveals a necessity for overcoming the world, the flesh, and evil, and thus destroying all error.

Truth bestows no pardon upon error, but 18wipes it out in the most effectual manner.

We know that a desire for holiness is Desire for holinessrequisite in order to gain holiness; but if we 24desire holiness above all else, we shall sac-rifice everything for it. We must be willing to do this, that we may walk securely in the only practical road 27to holiness. Prayer cannot change the unalterable Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding of Truth; but prayer, coupled with a fervent habitual 30desire to know and do the will of God, will bring us into all Truth. Such a desire has little need of audible expression. It is best expressed in thought and in life.

    In order to pray aright, we must enter into the 15closet and shut the door. We must close the lips and Effectual invocationsilence the material senses. In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must 18deny sin and plead God’s allness. We must resolve to take up the cross, and go forth with honest hearts to work and watch for wisdom, Truth, and Love. We 21must “pray without ceasing.” Such prayer is an-swered, in so far as we put our desires into practice. The Master’s injunction is, that we pray in secret and 24let our lives attest our sincerity.

    Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to God. Self-forgetfulness, 27Trustworthy beneficencepurity, and affection are constant prayers. Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and 30they assuredly call down infinite blessings.