we acknowledge God to be the author of our faith, the foundation of our hope, and the object of our affections.
III. All these favors, and whatever else we can desire for our spiritual goods, our Lord is readier to bestow, than we to ask. " It shall come to pass," He says, " that before their call, I will hear, as they are yet speaking I will hear." (Is. lxv. 24.) If we do not obtain what we ask for, the reason is, either because we offer Him undue petitions, or do not pray in the manner in which we ought. Even in refusing this kind of petitions, God shows His mercy to us; "for in His mercy," observes St. Augustine, "He denies those things, which He could not grant but in His wrath." Be grateful to the giver of all good gifts, for the privilege of addressing Him in prayer, and on all occasions take advantage of it.
WEDNESDAY.
The Benefit of Prayer—III.
I. In order to receive the advantages resulting from prayer, we must know how to pray. " Before prayer," says the Wise Man, " prepare thy soul." (Ecclus. xviii. 23 ) This preparation consists, 1. In prostrating ourselves with all humility of heart before our God, and in acknowledging our unworthiness to appear in His pure sight, as did the publican, and the centurion in the Gospel. " He hath regard to the prayers of the humble, and hath not despised their petition." (Ps. ci. 18.) And "the prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds." (Ecclus. xxxv. 21.) To pray well, we must, in the second place, be in peace and charity with our neighbors, and pardon all their offences against us. " When you shall stand to pray, forgive, if you have any thing against any man." (Mark xi. 25.) 3. We must
