2. Further, prayer is but the unfolding of our desires. But our desires are holy in proportion as they are confined to one thing, in accordance with those words of the Psalmist[228]: _One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after._ Whence it would seem to follow that our prayers are acceptable to God just in proportion to their brevity. But to prolong our prayer does not mean that we ask for many things, but that our hearts are continuously set upon one object for which we yearn. 3. Once more, it is unlawful for a man to transgress the limits which God Himself has fixed, especially in matters which touch the Divine worship, according to the words: _Charge the people lest they should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them should perish_.[229] But God Himself has assigned limits to our prayer by instituting the _Lord's Prayer_, as is evident from the words: _Thus shalt thou pray_.[230] Hence we ought not to extend our prayer beyond these limits. But our Lord did not institute this prayer with a view to tying us down exclusively to these words when we pray, but to show us that the scope of our prayer should be limited to asking only for the things contained in it, whatever form of words we may use or whatever may be our thoughts. 4. And lastly, with regard to the words of our Lord _that we ought always to pray and not to faint_,[231] and those of S. Paul, _Pray without ceasing_,[232] we must remark that a man prays without ceasing, either because of the unceasing nature of his desire, as we have above explained; or because he does not fail to pray at the appointed times; or because of the effect which his prayer has, whether upon himself--since even when he has finished praying he still remains devout--or upon others, as, for instance, when a man by some kind action induces another to pray for him whereas he himself desists from his prayer. "Our soul waiteth for the Lord; for He is our helper and protector. For in Him our hearts shall rejoice; and in His Holy Name we have trusted. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee."[233] XV Is Prayer Meritorious? On the words of the Psalmist, _My prayer shall be turned into my bosom_,[234] the interlinear Gloss has: "And if it is of no profit to them (for whom it is offered), at least I myself shall not lose my reward." A reward, however, can only be due to merit. Prayer, then, is meritorious. * * * * *