STUDY of the Bible, however careful, without the "Key" that opens up its spiritual meaning, and therefore its use to us, is much like the study of some lovely piece of silk embroidery from the back instead of the front. The difficulties of the work may be seen from the back,—the knots and the fastenings; the great labor and patience which were required may be understood, and something of the design and coloring may be guessed at; but who that had never seen embroidery except from the back would in this way have any idea as to what it is like?
Many people in their youth are obliged to spend much time in studying the Bible from this point of view, and it is not very surprising if in later years they discontinue such discouraging and unprofitable work. What good is it to us to know that once upon a time a wretched people were enslaved and cruelly oppressed; that they escaped, and after countless troubles came into possession of a good land, where they were owners and possessors, if the story is merely ancient history to us, and we do not see that this slavery, release, and prosperity is the history of each unruly heart until brought to a knowledge of man's real being and shown the way to escape from bondage?
There is perhaps no one subject which has been more helpfully illumined by our Leader's "Key" than the subject once so obscure and bewildering,—that of prayer. "How shall I pray?" "What things may I ask for and what not?" "Why are my requests not granted, while another (who is certainly no better than myself) gets what he wants?" Such questions have passed through the minds of many who earnestly desired to know the truth, and finding no answer and seeing nothing but darkness in every direction, prayer may have been abandoned altogether, as one might refuse to touch some machine the use of which is not known, the mechanism not understood.
