Aspiration and love
If a man, though apparently fervent and prayerful,
is impure and therefore insincere, what must be the
comment upon him? If he reached the
loftiness of his prayer, there would be no
occasion for comment. If we feel the aspiration, hu-
mility, gratitude, and love which our words express,-
this God accepts; and it is wise not to try to deceive
ourselves or others, for "there is nothing covered that
shall not be revealed." Professions and audible pray-
ers are like charity in one respect,- they "cover the
multitude of sins." Praying for humility with what-
ever fervency of expression does not always mean a
desire for it. If we turn away from the poor, we are
not ready to receive the reward of Him who blesses
the poor. We confess to having a very wicked heart
and ask that it may be laid bare before us, but do
we not already know more of this heart than we are
willing to have our neighbor see?
