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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 His
will must be done and succeed although the devil with all his adherents
raise a great tumult； are angry and rage against it； and undertake to
exterminate the Gospel utterly。 But for our own sakes we must pray that
even against their fury His will be done without hindrance also among
us； that they may not be able to accomplish anything and we remain firm
against all violence and persecution； and submit to such will of God。
Such prayer； then； is to be our protection and defense now； is to
repel and put down all that the devil； Pope； bishops； tyrants； and
heretics can do against our Gospel。 Let them all rage and attempt their
utmost； and deliberate and resolve how they may suppress and
exterminate us； that their will and counsel may prevail： over and
against this one or two Christians with this petition alone shall be
our wall against which they shall run and dash themselves to pieces。
This consolation and confidence we have； that the will and purpose of
the devil and of all our enemies shall and must fail and come to
naught； however proud； secure； and powerful they know themselves to be。
For if their will were not broken and hindered； the kingdom of God
could not abide on earth nor His name be hallowed。
The Fourth Petition。
Give us this day our daily bread。
Here； now； we consider the poor breadbasket； the necessaries of our
body and of the temporal life。 It is a brief and simple word； but it
has a very wide scope。 For when you mention and pray for daily bread；
you pray for everything that is necessary in order to have and enjoy
daily bread and； on the other hand； against everything which interferes
with it。 Therefore you must open wide and extend your thoughts not only
to the oven or the flour…bin but to the distant field and the entire
land； which bears and brings to us daily bread and every sort of
sustenance。 For if God did not cause it to grow； and bless and preserve
it in the field； we could never take bread from the oven or have any to
set upon the table。
To comprise it briefly； this petition includes everything that belongs
to our entire life in the world； because on that account alone do we
need daily bread。 Now for our life it is not only necessary that our
body have food and covering and other necessaries； but also that we
spend our days in peace and quiet among the people with whom we live
and have intercourse in daily business and conversation and all sorts
of doings； in short； whatever pertains both to the domestic and to the
neighborly or civil relation and government。 For where these two things
are hindered ＇intercepted and disturbed＇ that they do not prosper as
they ought； the necessaries of life also are impeded； so that
ultimately life cannot be maintained。 And there is； indeed； the
greatest need to pray for temporal authority and government； as that by
which most of all God preserves to us our daily bread and all the
comforts of this life。 For though we have received of God all good
things in abundance we are not able to retain any of them or use them
in security and happiness； if He did not give us a permanent and
peaceful government。 For where there are dissension； strife； and war；
there the daily bread is already taken away； or at least checked。
Therefore it would be very proper to place in the coat…of…arms of
every pious prince a loaf of bread instead of a lion； or a wreath of
rue； or to stamp it upon the coin； to remind both them and their
subjects that by their office we have protection and peace； and that
without them we could not eat and retain our daily bread。 Therefore
they are also worthy of all honor； that we give to them for their
office what we ought and can； as to those through whom we enjoy in
peace and quietness what we have； because otherwise we would not keep a
farthing； and that； in addition； we also pray for them that through
them God may bestow on us the more blessing and good。
Let this be a very brief explanation and sketch； showing how far this
petition extends through all conditions on earth。 Of this any one might
indeed make a long prayer； and with many words enumerate all the things
that are included therein； as that we pray God to give us food and
drink； clothing； house； and home； and health of body； also that He
cause the grain and fruits of the field to grow and mature well；
furthermore； that He help us at home towards good housekeeping； that He
give and preserve to us a godly wife； children； and servants； that He
cause our work； trade； or whatever we are engaged in to prosper and
succeed； favor us with faithful neighbors and good friends； etc。
Likewise； that He give to emperors； kings； and all estates； and
especially to the rulers of our country and to all counselors；
magistrates； and officers； wisdom； strength； and success that they may
govern well and vanquish the Turks and all enemies； to subjects and the
common people； obedience； peace； and harmony in their life with one
another； and on the other hand； that He would preserve us from all
sorts of calamity to body and livelihood； as lightning； hail； fire；
flood； poison； pestilence； cattle…plague； war and bloodshed； famine；
destructive beasts； wicked men； etc。 All this it is well to impress
upon the simple； namely； that these things come from God； and must be
prayed for by us。
But this petition is especially directed also against our chief enemy；
the devil。 For all his thought and desire is to deprive us of all that
we have from God； or to hinder it； and he is not satisfied to obstruct
and destroy spiritual government in leading souls astray by his lies
and bringing them under his power； but he also prevents and hinders the
stability of all government and honorable； peaceable relations on
earth。
There he causes so much contention； murder； sedition； and war also
lightning and hail to destroy grain and cattle； to poison the air； etc。
In short； he is sorry that any one has a morsel of bread from God and
eats it in peace； and if it were in his power； and our prayer （next to
God） did not prevent him； we would not keep a straw in the field； a
farthing in the house； yea； not even our life for an hour； especially
those who have the Word of God and would like to be Christians。
Behold； thus God wishes to indicate to us how He cares for us in all
our need； and faithfully provides also for our temporal support。 and
although He abundantly grants and preserves these things even to the
wicked and knaves； yet He wishes that we pray for them； in order that
we may recognize that we receive them from His hand； and may feel His
paternal goodness toward us therein。 For when He withdraws His hand；
nothing can prosper nor be maintained in the end； as； indeed； we daily
see and experience。 How much trouble there is now in the world only on
account of bad coin； yea； on account of daily oppression and raising of
prices in common trade； bargaining and labor on the part of those who
wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread！ This
we must suffer indeed； but let them take care that they do not lose the
common intercession； and beware lest this petition in the Lord's Prayer
be against them。
The Fifth Petition。
And forgive us our trespasses； as we forgive those who trespass
against us。
This part now relates to our poor miserable life； which； although we
have and believe the Word of God； and do and submit to His will； and
are supported by His gifts and blessings is nevertheless not without
sin。 For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the
world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience；
anger； revenge； etc。 Besides； we have Satan at our back； who sets upon
us on every side； and fights （as we have heard） against all the
foregoing petitions； so that it is not possible always to stand firm in
such a persistent conflict。
Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and to pray：
Dear Father； forgive us our trespasses。 Not as though He did not
forgive sin without and even before our prayer （for He has given us the
Gospel； in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought
about it）。 But this is to the intent that we may recognize and accept
such forgiveness。 For since the flesh in which we daily live is of such
a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God； and is ever active in
evil lusts and devices； so that we sin daily in word and deed； by
commission and omission by which the conscience is thrown into unrest；
so that it is afraid of the wrath and displeasure of God； and thus
loses the comfort and confidence derived from the Gospel； therefore it
is ceaselessly necessary that we run hither and obtain consolation to
comfort the conscience again。
But this should serve God's purpose of breaking our pride and keeping
us humble。 For in case any one should boast of his godliness and
despise others； God has reserved this prerogative to Himself； that the
person is to consider himself and place this prayer before his eyes；
and he will find that he is no better than others； and that