Part 2 (2/2)
The Master's injunction is, that we pray in secret and 15:24 let our lives attest our sincerity.
Trustworthy beneficence
Christians rejoice in secret beauty and bounty, hidden from the world, but known to G.o.d. Self-forgetfulness, 15:27 purity, and affection are constant prayers.
Practice not profession, understanding not belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence and 15:30 they a.s.suredly call down infinite blessings. Trustworthi- ness is the foundation of enlightened faith. Without a fitness for holiness, we cannot receive holiness.
Loftiest adoration
16:1 A great sacrifice of material things must precede this advanced spiritual understanding. The highest prayer 16:3 is not one of faith merely; it is demonstra- tion. Such prayer heals sickness, and must destroy sin and death. It distinguishes between Truth 16:6 that is sinless and the falsity of sinful sense.
The prayer of Jesus Christ
Our Master taught his disciples one brief prayer, which we name after him the Lord's Prayer. Our Mas- 16:9 ter said, ”After this manner therefore pray ye,” and then he gave that prayer which covers all human needs. There is indeed some doubt 16:12 among Bible scholars, whether the last line is not an addition to the prayer by a later copyist; but this does not affect the meaning of the prayer itself.
16:15 In the phrase, ”Deliver us from evil,” the original properly reads, ”Deliver us from the evil one.” This reading strengthens our scientific apprehension of the peti- 16:18 tion, for Christian Science teaches us that ”the evil one,” or one evil, is but another name for the first lie and all liars.
Only as we rise above all material sensuousness and 16:21 sin, can we reach the heaven-born aspiration and spir- itual consciousness, which is indicated in the Lord's Prayer and which instantaneously heals the sick.
16:24 Here let me give what I understand to be the spir- itual sense of the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father which art in heaven, 16:27 _Our Father-Mother G.o.d, all-harmonious_,
Hallowed be Thy name.
_Adorable One._
16:30 Thy kingdom come.
_Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present._
17:1 Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
_Enable us to know,- as in heaven, so on earth,- G.o.d is 17:3 omnipotent, supreme_.
Give us this day our daily bread; _Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections;_
17:6 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
_And Love is reflected in love;_
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 17:9 evil; _And G.o.d leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death._
17:12 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
_For G.o.d is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All._
CHAPTER II - ATONEMENT AND EUCHARIST
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and l.u.s.ts. - PAUL.
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