realize it. But I have ever noted that in this Pilgrim's Progress of
our life, those are most likely to attain to the Celestial City, and
all its golden glories, who, like CHRISTIAN, start from the lowliest
beginnings; and as the learning our letters leads to reading the
greatest books, so the simplest method of directing the attention and
the most mechanical means of developing Will, may promptly lead to the
highest mental and moral effect.

Prayer is generally regarded as nothing else but an asking or begging
from a superior power. But it is also something which is really very
different from this. It is a formula by means of which man realizes
his faith and will. Tradition, and habit (of whose power I have
spoken) or repetition, have given it the influence or prestige of a
charm. In fact it is a spell, he who utters it feels assured that if
seriously repeated it will be listened to, and that the Power to whom
it is addressed will hear it. The Florentines all round me as I write,
who repeat daily, "_Pate nostro quis in cell, santi ficeturie nome
tumme_!" in words which they do not understand, do not pray for daily
bread or anything else in the formula; they only realize that they
commune with God, and are being good. An intelligent prayer in this
light is the concentration of thought on a subject, or a _definite_
realization. Therefore if when _willing_ that tomorrow I shall be calm
all day or void of irritation, I put the will or wish into a brief and
clear form, it will aid me to promptly realize or feel what I want.
And it will be a prayer in its reality, addressed to the Unknown Power
or to the Will within us--an invocation, or a spell, according to the
mind of him who makes it.

Thus a seeker may repeat: "I _will_, earnestly and deeply, that during
all tomorrow I may be in a calm and peaceful state of mind. I _will_