er be not in them. It is indeed not a question of the places
and buildings in which we assemble, but only of this
unconquerable prayer, that we pray it and bring it before God as
a truly common prayer.

[Sidenote: Proof From the Scriptures]

XIII. The power of this prayer we see in the fact that in olden
times Abraham prayed for the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, etc.,
Genesis xviii [Gen. 18:32], and accomplished so much, that if
there had been ten righteous people in them, two in each city,
God would not have destroyed them. What then could many men do,
if they united in calling upon God earnestly and with sincere
confidence?

St. James also says: "Dear brethren, pray for one another, that
ye may be saved. For the prayer of a righteous man availeth much,
a prayer that perseveres and does not cease" [Jas. 5:16 ff.]
(that is, which does not cease asking ever more and more,
although what it asks is not immediately granted, as some timid
men do). And as an example in this matter he sets before us
Elijah, the Prophet, "who was a man," he says, "as we are, and
prayed, that it might not rain; and it rained not by the space of
three years and months. And he prayed again, and it rained, and
everything became fruitful." There are many texts and examples in
the Scriptures which urge us to pray, only that it be done with
earnestness and faith. As David says, "The eyes of the Lord are
upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry." [Ps.
33:18] Again, "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him,
to all that call upon Him in truth." [Ps. 145:18] Why does he
add, "call upon Him in truth"? Because that is not prayer nor
calling upon God when the mouth alone mumbles.

[Sidenote: Thoughtless Prayer]

What should God do, if you come along with your mouth, book or
_Paternoster_,[29] and think of nothing except that you may
finish the words and complete the number? So that if some one
were to ask you what it all was about, or what it was that you
prayed for, you yourself would not know; for you had not thought
of laying this or that matter before God or desiring it. Your
only reason for praying is that you are commanded to pray this
and so much, and this you intend to do in full. What wonder that
thunder and lightning frequently set churches on fire, because we
thus make of the House of Prayer a house of mockery, and call
that prayer in which we bring nothing before God and desire
nothing from Him.

But we should