made manifest in the blessings they bring. Whether these arc acknowledged or not, they attest our worthiness to be made partakers of Love. God is “the same yesterday, to-day, and forever;” and He who is immutably right will do right, without being reminded of His duty. The wisdom of man is insufficient to advise God.
Wesley knew the nature and effect of real prayer, as his hymns abundantly prove: —
| My prayer hath power with God; the grace |
| Unspeakable I now receive. |
| Through faith I see Thee face to face; |
| I see Thee face to face, and live! |
| In vain I have not wept and strove; |
| Thy nature and Thy name is Love. |
Who would stand before a blackboard, and pray the Principle of mathematics to work out the problem? The rule is already established, and it is our task to work out the solution. Shall we ask the Divine Principle of all good to do His work? That work was finished long ago; and we have only to avail ourselves of God's rule, in order to receive the blessing.
The Divine Being must be reflected by man; else man is not the image and likeness of the Patient, Tender, and True, “the one altogether lovely.” To understand God is the work of eternity.
When thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and, when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
So spake Jesus. The closet typifies the sanctuary of Spirit, whose door shuts out sinful sense, but opens to Truth, Life, and Love. Closed to error, it is open to
