moulded and exalted before they transpire in word or deed.
What are the motives of prayer? Do we pray to make ourselves better, or to benefit those who hear us, — to enlighten the ignorance of the Infinite, or to be heard of men? Are we benefited by praying? The desire that goes forth, hungering after righteousness, is blessed of our Father, and does not return unto us void.
God is not moved by the breath of praise to do more than He has already done; nor can the Infinite do less than bestow all good, since He is unchanging Wisdom and Love. How can the All-perfect do more for us because of our petitions, or grant them simply on the ground of lip-service, when He already knows all?
God is Love; can we ask Him to be more? God is Intelligence; can we inform the Infinite Mind, or tell Him anything He does not already comprehend? Do we hope to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which always pours forth more than we can receive? Does spoken prayer bring us nearer the Source of all being and blessedness?
What we most need is the prayer of daily desire, — of deeds, not words. Asking that we may love God will never make us love Him; but the longing to be better, higher, and purer, — expressed in daily watchfulness, and in striving to assimilate more of the divine character, — this will mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness.
The danger from audible prayer is, that it may lead us into temptation. By it we may become involuntary hypocrites, uttering desires which are not real, — consoling ourselves, in the midst of sin, with the recollection
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