°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > large catechism >

µÚ17ÕÂ

large catechism-µÚ17ÕÂ

С˵£º large catechism ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡Call¡¡upon¡¡Me¡¡in¡¡the
day¡¡of¡¡trouble£º¡¡I¡¡will¡¡deliver¡¡thee¡£¡¡And¡¡Christ¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Gospel¡¡of¡¡St¡£
Matthew£»¡¡7£»¡¡7£º¡¡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¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡Dear¡¡Father¡¡let¡¡Thy¡¡will¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡God
speaks¡¡from¡¡on¡¡high¡¡and¡¡says£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡When¡¡both¡¡our¡¡doctr

·µ»ØÄ¿Â¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ