Chapter I - Prayer
7:1
The only civil sentence which he had for error was,
The only civil sentence which he had for error was,
"Get thee behind me, Satan." Still stronger evidence
that Jesus' reproof was pointed and pungent is found
in his own words, – showing the necessity for such
forcible utterance, when he cast out devils and healed
the sick and sinning. The relinquishment of error de-
prives material sense of its false claims.
Audible praying
7:8
Audible prayer is impressive; it gives momentary
Audible prayer is impressive; it gives momentary
solemnity and elevation to thought. But does it pro-
duce any lasting benefit? Looking deeply
into these things, we find that "a zeal . . .
not according to knowledge" gives occasion for reac-
tion unfavorable to spiritual growth, sober resolve, and
wholesome perception of God's requirements. The mo-
tives for verbal prayer may embrace too much love of
applause to induce or encourage Christian sentiment.
Emotional utterances
7:17
Physical sensation, not Soul, produces material ec-
Physical sensation, not Soul, produces material ec-
stasy and emotion. If spiritual sense always guided
men, there would grow out of ecstatic mo-
ments a higher experience and a better life
with 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-
vine 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.
Danger from audible prayer
7:27
The danger from prayer is that it may lead us into temp-
The danger from prayer is that it may lead us into temp-
tation. By it we may become involuntary hypocrites, ut-
tering desires which are not real and consoling
ourselves in the midst of sin with the recollection
that we have prayed over it or mean to ask for-
giveness at some later day. Hypocrisy is fatal to religion.
8:1
A wordy prayer may afford a quiet sense of self‑
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,
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
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