large catechism-第25章

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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　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