Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/48

 it, He  must  rather  feel  offended  than  honored thereby. How, then,  shall  He  feel  moved  to  grant us new  benefits? If we  nevertheless  receive  them, it is  the  effect  of  His  bountiful  goodness,  and  not the result  of  our  sham  prayer.

Therefore, to  be  effective,  our  prayer  must  be inspired  by  confidence. The apostle  St.  James inculcates this,  saying:  "But  let  him  ask  in  faith, nothing  wavering;  for  he  that  wavereth  is  like a  wave  of  the  sea,  which  is  moved  and  carried about  by  the  wind.  Therefore  let  not  that  man think  that  he  shall  receive  any  thing  of  the  Lord" (James i.  6-7). By these  words  the  apostle  designates not  a  common  and  ordinary  confidence,  but one firm  and  steadfast. At the  same  time  he speaks  in  general;  that  is,  his  words  have  reference not  only  to  extraordinary  petitions,  but  to everything  for  which  we  are  accustomed  to  pray.

Moreover, the  explicit  and  positive  promises made by  Christ  in  regard  to  prayer  manifestly have the  purpose  of  inspiring  the  person  praying with firm  confidence  and  the  sure  hope  of  being heard. If, then,  our  prayer  be  wanting  in  this quality, we  do  not  pray  in  the  spirit  of  Christ,  nor in the  terms  in  which  we  ought  to  pray,  and  can not claim  the  fulfilment  of  His  promises.

3. Perseverance. — To  understand  properly  in how  far  perseverance  is  a  quality  of  prayer,  we must,  above  all,  know  what  may  be  the  objects