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illumined and favored by any gifts of the Holy Ghost。
From this you perceive that the Creed is a doctrine quite different
from the Ten Commandments； for the latter teaches indeed what we ought
to do； but the former tells what God does for us and gives to us。
Moreover； apart from this； the Ten Commandments are written in the
hearts of all men； the Creed； however； no human wisdom can comprehend；
but it must be taught by the Holy Ghost alone。 The latter doctrine ＇of
the Law＇； therefore makes no Christian； for the wrath and displeasure
of God abide upon us still； because we cannot keep what God demands of
us； but this ＇namely； the doctrine of faith＇ brings pure grace； and
makes us godly and acceptable to God。 For by this knowledge we obtain
love and delight in all the commandments of God； because here we see
that God gives Himself entire to us； with all that He has and is able
to do； to aid and direct us in keeping the Ten Commandments the
Father； all creatures； the Son； His entire work； and the Holy Ghost；
all His gifts。
Let this suffice concerning the Creed to lay a foundation for the
simple； that they may not be burdened； so that； if they understand the
substance of it； they themselves may afterwards strive to acquire more；
and to refer to these parts whatever they learn in the Scriptures； and
may ever grow and increase in richer understanding。 For as long as we
live here； we shall daily have enough to do to preach and to learn
this。
Part Third。 OF PRAYER。
The Lord's Prayer。
We have now heard what we must do and believe； in which things the best
and happiest life consists。 Now follows the third part； how we ought to
pray。 For since we are so situated that no man can perfectly keep the
Ten Commandments； even though he have begun to believe； and since the
devil with all his power together with the world and our own flesh；
resists our endeavors； nothing is so necessary as that we should
continually resort to the ear of God； call upon Him； and pray to Him；
that He would give； preserve； and increase in us faith and the
fulfillment of the Ten Commandments； and that He would remove
everything that is in our way and opposes us therein。 But that we might
know what and how to pray； our Lord Christ has Himself taught us both
the mode and the words； as we shall see。
But before we explain the Lord's Prayer part by part； it is most
necessary first to exhort and incite people to prayer； as Christ and
the apostles also have done。 And the first matter is to know that it is
our duty to pray because of God's commandment。 For thus we heard in the
Second Commandment： Thou shalt not take the name of the lord； thy God；
in vain； that we are there required to praise that holy name； and call
upon it in every need； or to pray。 For to call upon the name of God is
nothing else than to pray。 Prayer is therefore as strictly and
earnestly commanded as all other commandments： to have no other God；
not to kill； not to steal； etc。 Let no one think that it is all the
same whether he pray or not； as vulgar people do； who grope in such
delusion and ask Why should I pray？ Who knows whether God heeds or will
hear my prayer？ If I do not pray； some one else will。 And thus they
fall into the habit of never praying； and frame a pretext； as though we
taught that there is no duty or need of prayer； because we reject false
and hypocritical prayers。
But this is true indeed that such prayers as have been offered
hitherto when men were babbling and bawling in the churches were no
prayers。 For such external matters； when they are properly observed；
may be a good exercise for young children； scholars； and simple
persons； and may be called singing or reading； but not really praying。
But praying； as the Second Commandment teaches； is to call upon God in
every need。 This He requires of us； and has not left it to our choice。
But it is our duty and obligation to pray if we would be Christians； as
much as it is our duty and obligation to obey our parents and the
government； for by calling upon it and praying the name of God is
honored and profitably employed。 This you must note above all things；
that thereby you may silence and repel such thoughts as would keep and
deter us from prayer。 For just as it would be idle for a son to say to
his father； 〃Of what advantage is my obedience？ I will go and do what
I can； it is all the same〃； but there stands the commandment； Thou
shalt and must do it； so also here it is not left to my will to do it
or leave it undone； but prayer shall and must be offered at the risk of
God's wrath and displeasure。
This is therefore to be understood and noted before everything else； in
order that thereby we may silence and repel the thoughts which would
keep and deter us from praying； as though it were not of much
consequence if we do not pray； or as though it were commanded those who
are holier and in better favor with God than we； as； indeed； the human
heart is by nature so despondent that it always flees from God and
imagines that He does not wish or desire our prayer； because we are
sinners and have merited nothing but wrath。 Against such thoughts （I
say） we should regard this commandment and turn to God； that we may not
by such disobedience excite His anger still more。 For by this
commandment He gives us plainly to understand that He will not cast us
from Him nor chase us away； although we are sinners； but rather draw
us to Himself； so that we might humble ourselves before Him； bewail
this misery and plight of ours； and pray for grace and help。 Therefore
we read in the Scriptures that He is angry also with those who were
smitten for their sin； because they did not return to Him and by their
prayers assuage His wrath and seek His grace。
Now； from the fact that it is so solemnly commanded to pray； you are to
conclude and think； that no one should by any means despise his prayer；
but rather set great store by it； and always seek an illustration from
the other commandments。 A child should by no means despise his
obedience to father and mother； but should always think： This work is a
work of obedience； and what I do I do with no other intention than that
I may walk in the obedience and commandment of God； on which I can
settle and stand firm； and esteem it a great thing； not on account of
my worthiness； but on account of the commandment。 So here also； what
and for what we pray we should regard as demanded by God and done in
obedience to Him； and should reflect thus： On my account it would
amount to nothing； but it shall avail； for the reason that God has
commanded it。 Therefore everybody； no matter what he has to say in
prayer； should always come before God in obedience to this commandment。
We pray； therefore； and exhort every one most diligently to take this
to heart and by no means to despise our prayer。 For hitherto it has
been taught thus in the devil's name that no one regarded these things；
and men supposed it to be sufficient to have done the work； whether God
would hear it or not。 But that is staking prayer on a risk； and
murmuring it at a venture； and therefore it is a lost prayer。 For we
allow such thoughts as these to lead us astray and deter us： I am not
holy or worthy enough； if I were as godly and holy as St。 Peter or St。
Paul； then I would pray。 But put such thoughts far away； for just the
same commandment which applied to St。 Paul applies also to me； and the
Second Commandment is given as much on my account as on his account； so
that he can boast of no better or holier commandment。
Therefore you should say： My prayer is as precious； holy； and pleasing
to God as that of St。 Paul or of the most holy saints。 This is the
reason： For I will gladly grant that he is holier in his person； but
not on account of the commandment； since God does not regard prayer on
account of the person； but on account of His word and obedience
thereto。 For on the commandment on which all the saints rest their
prayer I； too； rest mine。 Moreover I pray for the same thing for which
they all pray and ever have prayed； besides； I have just as great a
need of it as those great saints； yea； even a greater one than they。
Let this be the first and most important point； that all our prayers
must be based and rest upon obedience to God； irrespective of our
person； whether we be sinners or saints； worthy or unworthy。 And we
must know that God will not have it treated as a jest； but be angry；
and punish all who do not pray； as surely as He punishes all other
disobedience； next； that He will not suffer our prayers to be in vain
or lost。 For if He did not intend to answer your prayer； He would not
bid you pray and add such a severe commandment to it。
In the second place； we should be the more urged and incited to pray
because God has also added a promise； and declared that it shall surely
be done to us as we pray； as He says Ps。 50； 15： Call upon Me in the
day of trouble： I will deliver thee。 And Christ in the Gospel of St。
Matthew； 7； 7： Ask； and it shall be given you。 For every one that
asketh receiveth。 Such promises ought certainly to encourage and kindle
our hearts to pray with pleasure and delight； since He testifies w