Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.djvu/495

Rh Christians and sinners get their full award, but not always in this world. The followers of Christ must drink his cup for centuries to come. Ingratitude and persecution will fill it to the brim; but God pours the riches of joy into the understanding, and gives us strength according to our day. Sinners flourish as the green bay-tree; but, looking farther, the Psalmist could see their end, — namely, destruction.

Prayer cannot change the Science of Being. Goodness alone reaches the demonstration of Truth. A request that another may work for us never does our work. The habit of pleading with the Divine Mind, as one pleads with a human being, perpetuates the belief in God as humanly circumscribed, — an error which impedes spiritual growth.

We reach the Science of Christianity through demonstration; but in this world one's good will “be evil spoken of,” and error will war against Truth.

The Divine Principle corrects and governs man. Person may pardon, but Principle reforms the sinner. God is not separate from the Wisdom He bestows. The talent 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 ask pardon, and that afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence.

If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is made better merely because he prays, it is an evil. He is made worse who continues in sin because he thinks himself forgiven. Audible prayer is impressive; it gives momentary solemnity and elevation to thought; but does a state of ecstasy produce any lasting benefit? Looking deeply into these things, I find