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our words expressthis God accepts； and it is wise not to try to deceive
our。 selves or others； for 〃there is nothing covered that shall not be
revealed。〃 Professions and audible prayers are like charity in one
respect they 〃cover a multitude of sins。〃 Praying for humility； with
whatever 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 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 willing to have our neighbor see？
We ought to examine ourselves； and learn what is the affection and
purpose of the heart； for this alone can show us what we honestly are。
If a friend informs us of a fault； do we listen to the rebuke patiently；
and credit what is said？ Do we not rather give thanks that we are 〃not
as other men？〃 During many years the author has been most grateful for
merited rebuke。 The sting lies in unmerited censurein the falsehood
which does no one any good。
The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions： Do we love
our neighbor better because of this asking？ Do we pursue the old
selfishness； satisfied with having prayed for something better； though we
give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently
with our prayer？ If selfishness has given place to kindness； we shall
regard our neighbor unselfishly； and bless them that curse us； but we
shall never meet this great duty by simply asking that it may be done。
There is a cross to be taken up； before we can enjoy the fruition of our
hope and faith。
Dost thou 〃love the Lord thy God with all thy heart； and with all thy
soul； and with all thy mind？〃 This command includes mucheven the
surrender of all merely material sensation； affection； and worship。 This
is the E1 Dorado of Christianity。 It involves the Science of Life； and
recognizes only the divine control of Spirit； wherein Soul is our master；
and material sense and human will have no place。
Are you willing to leave all for Christ； for Truth； and so be counted
among sinners？ No！ Do you really desire to attain this point？ No！
Then why make long prayers about it； and ask to be Christians； since you
care not to tread in the footsteps of our dear Master？ If unwilling to
follow His example； wherefore pray with the lips that you may be
partakers of His nature？ Consistent prayer is the desire to do right。
Prayer means that we desire to； and will； walk in the light so far as we
receive it； even though with bleeding footsteps； and waiting patiently on
the Lord； will leave our real desires to be rewarded by Him。
The world must grow to the spiritual understanding of prayer。 If good
enough to profit by Jesus' cup of earthly sorrows； God will sustain us
under these sorrows。 Until we are thus divinely qualified； and willing
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。〃 Christian Science reveals a necessity for overcoming the
world； the flesh and evil； and thus destroying all error。
Seeking is not sufficient。 It is striving which enables us to enter。
Spiritual attainments open the door to a higher understanding of the
divine Life。
One of the forms of worship in Thibet is to carry a praying…machine
through the streets； and stop at the doors to earn a penny by grinding
out a prayer； whereas civilization pays for clerical prayers； in lofty
edifices。 Is the difference very great； after all？
Experience teaches us that we do not always receive the blessings we ask
for in prayer。
There is some misapprehension of the source and means of all goodness and
blessedness； or we should certainly receive what we ask for。 The
Scriptures say： 〃Ye ask； and receive not； because ye ask amiss； that ye
may consume it upon your lusts。〃 What we desire and ask for it is not
always best for us to receive。 In this case infinite Love will not grant
the request。 Do you ask Wisdom to be merciful and not punish sin？ Then
〃ye ask amiss。〃 Without punishment； sin would multiply。 Jesus' prayer；
〃forgive us our debts；〃 specified also the terms of forgiveness。 When
forgiving the adulterous woman He said； 〃Go； and sin no more。〃
A magistrate sometimes remits the penalty； but this may be no moral
benefit to the criminal； and at best； it only saves him from one form of
punishment。 The moral law； which has the right to acquit or condemn；
always demands restitution； before mortals can 〃go up higher。〃 Broken
law brings penalty； in order to compel this progress。
Mere legal pardon （and there is no other； for divine Principle never
pardons our sins or mistakes till they are corrected） leaves the offender
free to repeat the offense； if； indeed； he has not already suffered
sufficiently from vice to make him turn from it with loathing。 Truth
bestows no pardon upon error； but wipes it out in the most effectual
manner。 Jesus suffered for our sins； not to annul the divine sentence
against an individual's sin； but to show that sin must bring inevitable
suffering。
Petitions only bring to mortals the results of their own faith。 We know
that a desire for holiness is requisite in order to gain it； but if we
desire holiness above all else； we shall sacrifice everything for it。 We
must be willing to do this； that we may walk securely in the only
practical road to holiness。 Prayer alone cannot change the unalterable
Truth； or give us an understanding of it； but prayer coupled with a
fervent habitual desire 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 life。
APPENDIX E
Reverend Heber Newton on Christian Science：
To begin； then； at the beginning； Christian Science accepts the work of
healing sickness as an integral part of the discipleship of Jesus Christ。
In Christ it finds； what the Church has always recognized； theoretically；
though it has practically ignored the factthe Great Physician。 That
Christ healed the sick； we none of us question。 It stands plainly upon
the record。 This ministry of healing was too large a part of His work to
be left out from any picture of that life。 Such service was not an
incident of His careerit was an essential element of that career。 It
was an integral factor in His mission。 The Evangelists leave us no
possibility of confusion on this point。 Co…equal with his work of
instruction and inspiration was His work of healing。
The records make it equally clear that the Master laid His charge upon
His disciples to do as He had done。 〃When He had called unto Him His
twelve disciples； He gave them power over unclean spirits； to cast them
out； and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease。〃 In
sending them forth； 〃He commanded them； saying； 。 。 。 As ye go；
preach； saying； The kingdom of heaven is at hand。 Heal the sick； cleanse
the lepers； raise the dead； cast out demons。〃
That the twelve disciples undertook to do the Master's work of h