Chapter 1: 'Science and Health with Key to The Scriptures' by Mary Baker Eddy

Chapter I - Prayer

8:1
A wordy prayer may afford a quiet sense of self‑

justification, though it makes the sinner a hypocrite.

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

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

unto whited sepulchres . . . full . . . of all uncleanness."

Aspiration and love

8:10
If a man, though apparently fervent and prayerful,

is impure and therefore insincere, what must be the

comment upon him? If he reached the

loftiness of his prayer, there would be no

occasion for comment. If we feel the aspiration, hu-

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

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-

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

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?

Searching the heart

8:28
We should examine ourselves and learn what is the

affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way

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