按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
holy in themselves； yet become unholy in use。 Thus this point is easy
and clear if only the language is understood； that to hallow is the
same as in our idiom to praise； magnify； and honor both in word and
deed。
Here； now； learn how great need there is of such prayer。 For because we
see how full the world is of sects and false teachers； who all wear the
holy name as a cover and sham for their doctrines of devils； we ought
by all means to pray without ceasing； and to cry and call upon God
against all such as preach and believe falsely and whatever opposes and
persecutes our Gospel and pure doctrine； and would suppress it； as
bishops； tyrants； enthusiasts； etc。 Likewise also for ourselves who
have the Word of God； but are not thankful for it； nor live as we
ought according to the same。 If now you pray for this with your heart；
you can be sure that it pleases God； for He will not hear anything more
dear to Him than that His honor and praise is exalted above everything
else； and His Word is taught in its purity and is esteemed precious and
dear。
The Second Petition。
Thy kingdom come。
As we prayed in the First Petition concerning the honor and name of God
that He would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickedness
with it； but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both in doctrine
and life； so that He may be praised and magnified in us； so here we
pray that His kingdom also may come。 But just as the name of God is in
itself holy； and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us； so also
His kingdom comes of itself； without our prayer； yet we pray
nevertheless that it may come to us； that is； prevail among us and with
us； so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed
and His kingdom prospers。
But what is the kingdom of God？ Answer： Nothing else than what we
learned in the Creed； that God sent His Son Jesus Christ our Lord； into
the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil； and to
bring us to Himself； and to govern us as a King of righteousness； life
and salvation against sin death； and an evil conscience； for which end
He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost； who is to bring these things home
to us by His holy Word； and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith
by His power。
Therefore we pray here in the first place that this may become
effective with us； and that His name be so praised through the holy
Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may
abide and daily grow therein； and that it may gain approbation and
adherence among other people and proceed with power throughout the
world； that many may find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace； be made
partakers of redemption； being led thereto by the Holy Ghost； in order
that thus we may all together remain forever in the one kingdom now
begun。
For the coming of God's Kingdom to us occurs in two ways； first； here
in time through the Word and faith； and secondly； in eternity forever
through revelation。 Now we pray for both these things； that it may come
to those who are not yet in it； and； by daily increase； to us who have
received the same； and hereafter in eternal life。 All this is nothing
else than saying： Dear Father； we pray； give us first Thy Word； that
the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world； and secondly；
that it be received in faith； and work and live in us； so that through
the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among
us； and the kingdom of the devil be put down； that he may have no right
or power over us； until at last it shall be utterly destroyed； and sin；
death； and hell shall be exterminated； that we may live forever in
perfect righteousness and blessedness。
From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or a
temporal； perishable good； but for an eternal inestimable treasure and
everything that God Himself possesses； which is far too great for any
human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to
pray for the same。 But because He is God； He also claims the honor of
giving much more and more abundantly than any one can comprehend；
like an eternal； unfailing fountain； which； the more it pours forth and
overflows； the more it continues to give； and He desires nothing
more earnestly of us than that we ask much and great things of Him； and
again is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently。
For just as when the richest and most mighty emperor would bid a poor
beggar ask whatever he might desire； and were ready to give great
imperial presents； and the fool would beg only for a dish of gruel； he
would be rightly considered a rogue and a scoundrel who treated the
command of his imperial majesty as a jest and sport； and was not worthy
of coming into his presence： so also it is a great reproach and
dishonor to God if we； to whom He offers and pledges so many
unspeakable treasures； despise the same； or have not the confidence to
receive them； but scarcely venture to pray for a piece of bread。
All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief which does not look to
God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach； much less expects
without doubt such eternal treasures of God。 Therefore we must
strengthen ourselves against it； and let this be our first prayer；
then； indeed； we shall have all else in abundance； as Christ teaches
＇Matt。 6； 33＇： Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you。 For how could He allow us
to suffer want and to be straitened in temporal things when He promises
that which is eternal and imperishable？
The Third Petition。
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven。
Thus far we have prayed that God's name be honored by us； and that His
kingdom prevail among us； in which two points is comprehended all that
pertains to the honor of God and to our salvation； that we receive as
our own God and all His riches。 But now a need just as great arises；
namely； that we firmly keep them； and do not suffer ourselves to be
torn therefrom。 For as in a good government it is not only necessary
that there be those who build and govern well； but also those who make
defense； afford protection and maintain it firmly； so here likewise；
although we have prayed for the greatest need； for the Gospel； faith；
and the Holy Ghost； that He may govern us and redeem us from the power
of the devil； we must also pray that His will be done。 For there will
be happenings quite strange if we are to abide therein； as we shall
have to suffer many thrusts and blows on that account from everything
that ventures to oppose and prevent the fulfillment of the two
petitions that precede。
For no one believes how the devil opposes and resists them； and cannot
suffer that any one teach or believe aright。 And it hurts him beyond
measure to suffer his lies and abominations； that have been honored
under the most specious pretexts of the divine name； to be exposed； and
to be disgraced himself； and； besides； be driven out of the heart； and
suffer such a breach to be made in his kingdom。 Therefore he chafes and
rages as a fierce enemy with all his power and might； and marshals all
his subjects； and； in addition enlists the world and our own flesh as
his allies。 For our flesh is in itself indolent and inclined to evil；
even though we have accepted and believe the Word of God。 The world；
however； is perverse and wicked； this he incites against us； fans and
stirs the fire； that he may hinder and drive us back； cause us to
fall； and again bring us under his power。 Such is all his will； mind；
and thought； for which he strives day and night； and never rests a
moment； employing all arts； wiles； ways； and means whichever he can
invent。
If we would be Christians； therefore； we must surely expect and reckon
upon having the devil with all his angels and the world as our enemies；
who will bring every possible misfortune and grief upon us。 For where
the Word of God is preached； accepted； or believed； and produces fruit；
there the holy cross cannot be wanting。 And let no one think that he
shall have peace； but he must risk what whatever he has upon earth
possessions； honor。 house and estate； wife and children； body and life。
Now； this hurts our flesh and the old Adam； for the test is to be
steadfast and to suffer with patience in whatever way we are assailed；
and to let go whatever is taken from us。
Hence there is just as great need； as in all the others； that we pray
without ceasing： 〃Dear Father； Thy will be done； not the will of the
devil and of our enemies； nor of anything that would persecute and
suppress Thy holy Word or hinder Thy kingdom； and grant that we may
bear with patience and overcome whatever is to be endured on that
account； lest our poor flesh yield or fall away from weakness or
sluggishness。〃
Behold； thus we have in these three petitions； in the simplest manner；
the need which relates to God Himself； yet all for our sakes。 For
whatever we pray concerns only us； namely； as we have said； that what
must be done anyway without us； may also be done in us。 For as His name
must be hallowed and His kingdom come without our prayer； so also