Chapter I - Prayer
Asking amiss
11:1
Without punishment, sin would multiply. Jesus' prayer,
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."
Remission of penalty
11:5
A magistrate sometimes remits the penalty, but this
A magistrate sometimes remits the penalty, but this
may be no moral benefit to the criminal, and at best, it
only saves the criminal from one form of
punishment. The moral law, which has the
right to acquit or condemn, always demands restitu-
tion before mortals can "go up higher." Broken law
brings penalty in order to compel this progress.
Truth annihilates error
11:12
Mere legal pardon (and there is no other, for divine
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 re-
peat the offence, 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 for an in-
dividual's sin, but because sin brings inevitable suffering.
Desire for holiness
11:21
Petitions bring to mortals only the results of mor-
Petitions bring to mortals only the results of mor-
tals' own faith. We know that a desire for holiness is
requisite in order to gain holiness; but if we
desire 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
to holiness. Prayer cannot change the unalterable
Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding
of Truth; 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 in life.
Prayer for the sick
12:1
"The prayer of faith shall save the sick," says the
"The prayer of faith shall save the sick," says the
Scripture. What is this healing prayer? A mere re-
quest that God will heal the sick has no
power to gain more of the divine presence
than is always at hand. The beneficial effect of
such prayer for the sick is on the human mind, mak-
ing it act more powerfully on the body through a blind
faith in God. This, however, is one belief casting out
another, – a belief in the unknown casting out a belief
in sickness. It is neither Science nor Truth which
acts through blind belief, nor is it the human under-
standing of the divine healing Principle as manifested
in Jesus, whose humble prayers were deep and con-
scientious protests of Truth, – of man's likeness to
God and of man's unity with Truth and Love.
12:16
Prayer to a corporeal God affects the sick like a
Prayer to a corporeal God affects the sick like a
drug, which has no efficacy of its own but borrows its
power from human faith and belief. The drug does
nothing, because it has no intelligence. It is a mortal
belief, not divine Principle or Love, which causes a
drug to be apparently either poisonous or sanative.
12:22
The common custom of praying for the recovery of the
The common custom of praying for the recovery of the
sick finds help in blind belief, whereas help should come
from the enlightened understanding. Changes in belief
may go on indefinitely, but they are the merchandise of
human thought and not the outgrowth of divine Science.
Love impartial and universal
12:27
Does Deity interpose in behalf of one worshipper,
Does Deity interpose in behalf of one worshipper,
and not help another who offers the same measure of
prayer? If the sick recover because they
pray or are prayed for audibly, only peti-
tioners (per se or by proxy) should get well. In divine
Science, where prayers are mental, all may avail them-