Chapter I - Prayer
Veritable devotion
5:1
rializes worship hinders man's spiritual growth and keeps
rializes worship hinders man's spiritual growth and keeps
him from demonstrating his power over error.
Sorrow and reformation
5:3
Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform
Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform
and the very easiest step. The next and great step re-
quired by wisdom is the test of our sincerity,
– namely, reformation. To this end we are
placed under the stress of circumstances. Temptation
bids us repeat the offence, and woe comes in return for
what is done. So it will ever be, till we learn that there
is no discount in the law of justice and that we must pay
"the uttermost farthing." The measure ye mete "shall
be measured to you again," and it will be full "and run-
ning over."
5:14
Saints and sinners get their full award, but not always
Saints and sinners get their full award, but not always
in this world. The followers of Christ drank his cup.
Ingratitude and persecution filled it to the brim; but God
pours the riches of His love into the understanding and
affections, giving us strength according to our day. Sin-
ners flourish "like a green bay tree;" but, looking farther,
the Psalmist could see their end, – the destruction of sin
through suffering.
Cancellation of human sin
5:22
Prayer is not to be used as a confessional to cancel sin.
Prayer is not to be used as a confessional to cancel sin.
Such an error would impede true religion. Sin is forgiven
only as it is destroyed by Christ, – Truth and
Life. If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is
cancelled, and that man is made better merely by praying,
prayer is an evil. He grows worse who continues in sin
because he fancies himself forgiven.
Diabolism destroyed
5:29
An apostle says that the Son of God [Christ] came to
An apostle says that the Son of God [Christ] came to
"destroy the works of the devil." We should
follow our divine Exemplar, and seek the de-
struction of all evil works, error and disease included.
6:1
We cannot escape the penalty due for sin. The Scrip-
We cannot escape the penalty due for sin. The Scrip-
tures say, that if we deny Christ, "he also will deny us."
Pardon and amendment
6:3
Divine Love corrects and governs man. Men may
Divine Love corrects and governs man. Men may
pardon, but this divine Principle alone reforms the
sinner. God is not separate from the wis-
dom He bestows. The talents He gives we
must improve. Calling on Him to forgive our work
badly done or left undone, implies the vain supposition
that we have nothing to do but to ask pardon, and
that afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence.
6:11
To cause suffering as the result of sin, is the means
To cause suffering as the result of sin, is the means
of destroying sin. Every supposed pleasure in sin
will furnish more than its equivalent of pain, until be-
lief in material life and sin is destroyed. To reach
heaven, the harmony of being, we must understand
the divine Principle of being.
Mercy without partiality
6:17
"God is Love." More than this we cannot ask,
"God is Love." More than this we cannot ask,
higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go. To
suppose that God forgives or punishes sin
according as His mercy is sought or un-
sought, is to misunderstand Love and to make prayer
the safety-valve for wrong-doing.
Divine severity
6:23
Jesus uncovered and rebuked sin before he cast it
Jesus uncovered and rebuked sin before he cast it
out. Of a sick woman he said that Satan had bound
her, and to Peter he said, "Thou art an of-
fence unto me." He came teaching and
showing men how to destroy sin, sickness, and death.
He said of the fruitless tree, "[It] is hewn down."
6:29
It is believed by many that a certain magistrate,
It is believed by many that a certain magistrate,
who lived in the time of Jesus, left this record: "His
rebuke is fearful." The strong language of our Mas-
ter confirms this description.