large catechism-第18章

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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　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　an