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asketh receiveth。 Such promises ought certainly to encourage and kindle
our hearts to pray with pleasure and delight； since He testifies with
His ＇own＇ word that our prayer is heartily pleasing to Him； moreover；
that it shall assuredly be heard and granted； in order that we may not
despise it or think lightly of it； and pray at a venture。
This you can hold up to Him and say： Here I come； dear Father； and
pray； not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness； but at Thy
commandment and promise； which cannot fail or deceive me。 Whoever；
therefore； does not believe this promise must know again that he
excites God to anger as a person who most highly dishonors Him and
reproaches Him with falsehood。
Besides this； we should be incited and drawn to prayer because in
addition to this commandment and promise God anticipates us； and
Himself arranges the words and form of prayer for us； and places them
upon our lips as to how and what we should pray； that we may see how
heartily He pities us in our distress； and may never doubt that such
prayer is pleasing to Him and shall certainly be answered； which ＇the
Lord's Prayer＇ is a great advantage indeed over all other prayers that
we might compose ourselves。 For in them the conscience would ever be in
doubt and say： I have prayed； but who knows how it pleases Him； or
whether I have hit upon the right proportions and form？ Hence there is
no nobler prayer to be found upon earth than the Lord's Prayer which we
daily pray because it has this excellent testimony； that God loves to
hear it； which we ought not to surrender for all the riches of the
world。
And it has been prescribed also for this reason that we should see and
consider the distress which ought to urge and compel us to pray without
ceasing。 For whoever would pray must have something to present； state；
and name which he desires； if not； it cannot be called a prayer。
Therefore we have rightly rejected the prayers of monks and priests；
who howl and growl day and night like fiends； but none of them think of
praying for a hair's breadth of anything。 And if we would assemble all
the churches； together with all ecclesiastics； they would be obliged to
confess that they have never from the heart prayed for even a drop of
wine。 For none of them has ever purposed to pray from obedience to God
and faith in His promise； nor has any one regarded any distress； but
（when they had done their best） they thought no further than this； to
do a good work； whereby they might repay God； as being unwilling to
take anything from Him； but wishing only to give Him something。
But where there is to be a true prayer there must be earnestness。 Men
must feel their distress； and such distress as presses them and compels
them to call and cry out then prayer will be made spontaneously； as it
ought to be； and men will require no teaching how to prepare for it and
to attain to the proper devotion。 But the distress which ought to
concern us most； both as regards ourselves and every one； you will find
abundantly set forth in the Lord's Prayer。 Therefore it is to serve
also to remind us of the same； that we contemplate it and lay it to
heart； lest we become remiss in prayer。 For we all have enough that we
lack； but the great want is that we do not feel nor see it。 Therefore
God also requires that you lament and plead such necessities and wants；
not because He does not know them； but that you may kindle your heart
to stronger and greater desires； and make wide and open your cloak to
receive much。
Therefore； every one of us should accustom himself from his youth
daily to pray for all his wants； whenever he is sensible of anything
affecting his interests or that of other people among whom he may live；
as for preachers； the government； neighbors； domestics； and always （as
we have said） to hold up to God His commandment and promise； knowing
that He will not have them disregarded。 This I say because I would like
to see these things brought home again to the people that they might
learn to pray truly； and not go about coldly and indifferently； whereby
they become daily more unfit for prayer； which is just what the devil
desires； and for what he works with all his powers。 For he is well
aware what damage and harm it does him when prayer is in proper
practice。 For this we must know； that all our shelter and protection
rest in prayer alone。 For we are far too feeble to cope with the devil
and all his power and adherents that set themselves against us； and
they might easily crush us under their feet。 Therefore we must consider
and take up those weapons with which Christians must be armed in order
to stand against the devil。 For what do you think has hitherto
accomplished such great things； has checked or quelled the counsels；
purposes； murder； and riot of our enemies； whereby the devil thought to
crush us； together with the Gospel； except that the prayer of a few
godly men intervened like a wall of iron on our side？ They should else
have witnessed a far different tragedy； namely； how the devil would
have destroyed all Germany in its own blood。 But now they may
confidently deride it and make a mock of it； however； we shall
nevertheless be a match both for themselves and the devil by prayer
alone； if we only persevere diligently and not become slack。 For
whenever a godly Christian prays： Dear Father let Thy will be done； God
speaks from on high and says： Yes； dear child； it shall be so； in spite
of the devil and all the world。
Let this be said as an exhortation； that men may learn； first of all；
to esteem prayer as something great and precious； and to make a proper
distinction between babbling and praying for something。 For we by no
means reject prayer； but the bare； useless howling and murmuring we
reject； as Christ Himself also rejects and prohibits long palavers。 Now
we shall most briefly and clearly treat of the Lord's Prayer。 Here
there is comprehended in seven successive articles； or petitions； every
need which never ceases to relate to us； and each so great that it
ought to constrain us to keep praying it all our lives。
The First Petition。
Hallowed be Thy name。
This is； indeed； somewhat obscure； and not expressed in good German；
for in our mother…tongue we would say： Heavenly Father； help that by
all means Thy name may be holy。 But what is it to pray that His name
may be holy？ Is it not holy already？ Answer： Yes； it is always holy in
its nature； but in our use it is not holy。 For God's name was given us
when we became Christians and were baptized； so that we are called
children of God and have the Sacraments by which He so incorporates us
in Himself that everything which is God's must serve for our use。
Here now the great need exists for which we ought to be most
concerned； that this name have its proper honor； be esteemed holy and
sublime as the greatest treasure and sanctuary that we have； and that
as godly children we pray that the name of God； which is already holy
in heaven； may also be and remain holy with us upon earth and in all
the world。
But how does it become holy among us？ Answer； as plainly as it can be
said： When both our doctrine and life are godly and Christian。 For
since in this prayer we call God our Father； it is our duty always to
deport and demean ourselves as godly children； that He may not receive
shame； but honor and praise from us。
Now the name of God is profaned by us either in words or in works。 （For
whatever we do upon the earth must be either words or works； speech or
act。） In the first place； then； it is profaned when men preach； teach；
and speak in the name of God what is false and misleading； so that His
name must serve to adorn and to find a market for falsehood。 That is；
indeed； the greatest profanation and dishonor of the divine name。
Furthermore； also when men； by swearing； cursing； conjuring； etc。；
grossly abuse the holy name as a cloak for their shame。 In the second
place also by an openly wicked life and works； when those who are
called Christians and the people of God are adulterers； drunkards；
misers； envious； and slanderers。 Here again must the name of God come
to shame and be profaned because of us。 For just as it is a shame and
disgrace to a natural father to have a bad perverse child that opposes
him in words and deeds； so that on its account he suffers contempt and
reproach； so also it brings dishonor upon God if we who are called by
His name and have all manner of goods from Him teach； speak； and live
in any other manner except as godly and heavenly children； so that
people say of us that we must be not God's； but the devil's children。
Thus you see that in this petition we pray just for that which God
demands in the Second Commandment； namely； that His name be not taken
in vain to swear； curse； lie； deceive； etc。； but be usefully employed
to the praise and honor of God。 For whoever employs the name of God for
any sort of wrong profanes and desecrates this holy name； as aforetime
a church was considered desecrated when a murder or any other crime had
been committed in it； or when a pyx or relic was desecrated； as being
holy in themselves； yet become unholy in use。 Thus t