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and he will find that he is no better than others； and that in the
presence of God all must lower their plumes； and be glad that they can
attain forgiveness。 And let no one think that as long as we live here
he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness。 In
short； if God does not forgive without ceasing； we are lost。
It is therefore the intent of this petition that God would not regard
our sins and hold up to us what we daily deserve； but would deal
graciously with us； and forgive； as He has promised； and thus grant us
a joyful and confident conscience to stand before Him in prayer。 For
where the heart is not in right relation towards God； nor can take such
confidence； it will nevermore venture to pray。 But such a confident and
joyful heart can spring from nothing else than the ＇certain＇ knowledge
of the forgiveness of sin。
But there is here attached a necessary； yet consolatory addition： As we
forgive。 He has promised that we shall be sure that everything is
forgiven and pardoned； yet in the manner that we also forgive our
neighbor。 For just as we daily sin much against God and yet He forgives
everything through grace； so we； too； must ever forgive our neighbor
who does us injury； violence； and wrong； shows malice toward us； etc。
If； therefore you do not forgive； then do not think that God forgives
you； but if you forgive； you have this consolation and assurance； that
you are forgiven in heaven； not on account of your forgiving； for
God forgives freely and without condition； out of pure grace； because
He has so promised； as the Gospel teaches； but in order that He may
set this up for our confirmation and assurance for a sign alongside of
the promise which accords with this prayer； Luke 6； 37： Forgive； and ye
shall be forgiven。 Therefore Christ also repeats it soon after the
Lord's Prayer； and says； Matt。 6；14： For if ye forgive men their
trespasses； your heavenly Father will also forgive you； etc。
This sign is therefore attached to this petition； that； when we pray；
we remember the promise and reflect thus： Dear Father； for this reason
I come and pray Thee to forgive me； not that I can make satisfaction；
or can merit anything by my works； but because Thou hast promised and
attached the seal thereto that I should be as sure as though I had
absolution pronounced by Thyself。 For as much as Baptism and the Lord's
Supper appointed as external signs； effect； so much also this sign can
effect to confirm our consciences and cause them to rejoice。 And it is
especially given for this purpose； that we might use and practice it
every hour； as a thing that we have with us at all times。
The Sixth Petition。
And lead us not into temptation。
We have now heard enough what toil and labor is required to retain all
that for which we pray； and to persevere therein； which； however； is
not achieved without infirmities and stumbling。 Besides； although we
have received forgiveness and a good conscience and are entirely
acquitted； yet is our life of such a nature that one stands to…day and
to…morrow falls。 Therefore； even though we be godly now and stand
before God with a good conscience； we must pray again that He would not
suffer us to relapse and yield to trials and temptations。
Temptation； however； or （as our Saxons in olden times used to call it）
Bekoerunge； is of three kinds； namely； of the flesh； of the world and
of the devil。 For in the flesh we dwell and carry the old Adam about
our neck； who exerts himself and incites us daily to inchastity；
laziness； gluttony and drunkenness； avarice and deception； to defraud
our neighbor and to overcharge him； and； in short； to all manner of
evil lusts which cleave to us by nature； and to which we are incited by
the society； example and what we hear and see of other people； which
often wound and inflame even an innocent heart。
Next comes the world； which offends us in word and deed； and impels us
to anger and impatience。 In short； there is nothing but hatred and
envy； enmity； violence and wrong； unfaithfulness； vengeance； cursing；
raillery slander； pride and haughtiness； with superfluous finery；
honor； fame； and power； where no one is willing to be the least； but
every one desires to sit at the head and to be seen before all。
Then comes the devil； inciting and provoking in all directions； but
especially agitating matters that concern the conscience and spiritual
affairs； namely； to induce us to despise and disregard both the Word
and works of God to tear us away from faith； hope； and love and bring
us into misbelief； false security； and obduracy； or； on the other hand；
to despair； denial of God； blasphemy； and innumerable other shocking
things。 These are indeed snares and nets； yea； real fiery darts which
are shot most venomously into the heart； not by flesh and blood； but by
the devil。
Great and grievous； indeed； are these dangers and temptations which
every Christian must bear； even though each one were alone by himself；
so that every hour that we are in this vile life where we are attacked
on all sides； chased and hunted down； we are moved to cry out and to
pray that God would not suffer us to become weary and faint and to
relapse into sin； shame； and unbelief。 For otherwise it is impossible
to overcome even the least temptation。
This； then； is leading us not into temptation； to wit； when He gives us
power and strength to resist； the temptation； however； not being taken
away or removed。 For while we live in the flesh and have the devil
about us； no one can escape temptation and allurements； and it cannot
be otherwise than that we must endure trials； yea； be engulfed in them；
but we pray for this； that we may not fall and be drowned in them。
To feel temptation is therefore a far different thing from consenting
or yielding to it。 We must all feel it； although not all in the same
manner； but some in a greater degree and more severely than others； as；
the young suffer especially from the flesh； afterwards； they that
attain to middle life and old age； from the world； but others who are
occupied with spiritual matters； that is； strong Christians； from the
devil。 But such feeling； as long as it is against our will and we would
rather be rid of it； can harm no one。 For if we did not feel it； it
could not be called a temptation。 But to consent thereto is when we
give it the reins and do not resist or pray against it。
Therefore we Christians must be armed and daily expect to be
incessantly attacked； in order that no one may go on in security and
heedlessly； as though the devil were far from us； but at all times
expect and parry his blows。 For though I am now chaste； patient； kind；
and in firm faith； the devil will this very hour send such an arrow
into my heart that I can scarcely stand。 For he is an enemy that never
desists nor becomes tired； so that when one temptation ceases； there
always arise others and fresh ones。
Accordingly； there is no help or comfort except to run hither and to
take hold of the Lord's Prayer； and thus speak to God from the heart：
Dear Father； Thou hast bidden me pray； let me not relapse because of
temptations。 Then you will see that they must desist； and finally
acknowledge themselves conquered。 Else if you venture to help yourself
by your own thoughts and counsel； you will only make the matter worse
and give the devil more space。 For he has a serpent's head； which if it
gain an opening into which he can slip； the whole body will follow
without check。 But prayer can prevent him and drive him back。
The Seventh and Last Petition。
But deliver us from evil。 Amen。 In the Greek text this petition reads
thus： Deliver or preserve us from the Evil One； or the Malicious One；
and it looks as if He were speaking of the devil； as though He would
comprehend everything in one so that the entire substance of all our
prayer is directed against our chief enemy。 For it is he who hinders
among us everything that we pray for： the name or honor of God； God's
kingdom and will； our daily bread； a cheerful good conscience； etc。
Therefore we finally sum it all up and say： Dear Father pray； help that
we be rid of all these calamities。 But there is nevertheless also
included whatever evil may happen to us under the devil's kingdom
poverty； shame； death； and； in short； all the agonizing misery and
heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth。
For since the devil is not only a liar； but also a murderer； he
constantly seeks our life； and wreaks his anger whenever he can afflict
our bodies with misfortune and harm。 Hence it comes that he often
breaks men's necks or drives them to insanity； drowns some； and incites
many to commit suicide； and to many other terrible calamities。
Therefore there is nothing for us to do upon earth but to pray against
this arch enemy without ceasing。 For unless God preserved us； we would
not be safe from him even for an hour。
Hence you see again how God wishes us to pray to Him also for all the
things which affect our bodily interests； so that we seek and expect
help nowhere else except in Him。 But this matter He has put last； for
if we are to be preserved and deliv