Different short prayers and sighs found in Luther's writings in all kinds of cases. | Volume 10 | Section 166 | Luther Library

I. Preparatory prayers.

To true devotion.

Oh that we were so diligent to pray, at least with sighs of the heart, as God is with charms, enticements, commands, promises and necessities for prayer. Ah, we are too lazy and ungrateful. God forgive us for that and strengthen our faith. Amen.

IX. Part. Matth. 7, 8.

To pray for right worthiness.

1 O Lord, I shall and will pray according to thy commandment and thy promise: if I cannot do it well, and if it be not good, and if it be not accepted in my name, let it be accepted and accepted in the name of my Lord Christ.

Part VIII. Ausl. Joh. 16, § 218.

2 O Lord, it is thine honor to be glorified in that I pray of thee. Therefore, dear Lord, see not that I am unworthy, but that I am in need of thy help, and that thou art the right and only helper of all sinners: therefore, it is in thy honor that I call upon thee, so that I cannot do without thy help etc.

XIII. part. Ev. on Sund. Estomihi, § 19.

Prayer before reading the Bible.

May the eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant us His grace, that we may study the Holy Scriptures well and diligently, and seek and find Christ therein, and through Him have eternal life: and may God help us with grace. Amen.

Part VII. Pr. on Joh. 5, 39-13, § 29.

Prayers based on God's command and promise.

1 Dear Lord, you know that I do not come before you of my own accord, nor of my own judgment, nor of my own worthiness; for if I were to consider this, I should not be able to

I do not lift up my eyes before you and do not know how to begin to pray, but I have come to the fact that you yourself have commanded and earnestly demanded that we call upon you, and have also promised, and sent your own Son, who taught us what we should pray and recited the words. Therefore I know that such a prayer is pleasing to you, and my presumption that I may boast of being God's child before you, however great it may seem, I must be obedient to you, who want it so, so that I do not punish you with lies and sin even more grievously against you through other sins, both by despising your commandment and disbelieving in your promise.

Part VIII. Ausl. Joh. 16, § 206.

(2) O Lord, there is misery and calamity that oppresses and presses me; I would gladly be rid of it: so you said (Matt. 7:7, Luke 11:9), "Ask, and you shall receive"; these are your words, and I come and ask.

Part III. Gen. 32, § 11.

(3) Here I come, dear Father, and ask not of my own presumption, nor of my own worthiness, but of thy commandment and promise, which cannot steal from me, nor lie to me.

X. Part. Gr. cat., §174.

For a gracious hearing.

Father in heaven, I know that you love me, because I love your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. In such trust and confidence I will now confidently ask you to hear me and give me what I ask, not that I am so holy or pious, but that I know that you will gladly give and bestow all things on us for the sake of your Son, Christ Jesus; in whose name I now come before you and ask and do not doubt at all that such a prayer - for my own sake, be it what I will - will be yes and certainly heard.

Part XIII. Pr. on the 5th Sunday after Easter, § 4.

II Catechism Prayers.

On the Ten Commandments, faith, Our Father in general, see in this volume the tract: Simple Way to Pray, for Master Peter, the Barber (p. 1394.).

A.. The first main part.

a. The third commandment.

To fruitful hearing of the sermon.

Dear God, through your dear Son you blessed those who listen to your word. How much better it would be, that we, O eternal, merciful Father, blessedly praise you with a joyful heart, thank you and praise you, that you show yourself so kindly, yes, fatherly towards us poor little worms and talk to us about the greatest and highest thing, namely about eternal life and blessedness. O how unspeakably great and wondrous is your goodness! Again, alas for the ingratitude and blindness of those who not only do not want to hear your word, but also wantonly despise and blaspheme it.

IX. Part. Cl. exeget. Schriften, Luc. 11, 28.

Almighty, eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give me your Holy Spirit to kindle right faith in my heart, to govern, guide and strengthen me. etc.

VI. part. 2. ex. Joel's, 3, 8 87.

3. may Christ our Lord give us his spirit and gifts, not for our glory, but for our use and correction: that is, for us shame and dishonor for our sin and iniquity, but praise and honor, love and thanksgiving to the Lord for his unspeakable grace and gift for ever and ever. Amen.

VI. part. Ausleg. Zach, Vorr., § 9.

Thanksgiving for the Word of God heard.

(1) The ingratitude of the world is so overwhelmingly great and becomes greater day by day that, if the last day does not come, we will have to worry, yes, not worry, but certainly prophesy and wait for the terrible, horrible plague and wrath of God, so that he will draw his light to himself again and let darkness come over everything. And such a plague is already affecting many, because almost the whole multitude has lost God's word in their hearts and despises it so miserably; on the other hand, they cling to the idol Mammon with such diligence and run after him, as if everyone would like to snatch all the world's goods for himself, that one can see how the dear word alone still shines a little on the preaching chair through the sweet voice, although the same preaching chairs are also few.

X. Part. I. Main St., 3rd Commandment; Admonition, Warning etc. (S. 258), § 1.

Dear Father, you have given us your precious, gracious, holy gospel and showered it with unspeakable great graces etc. Help us to keep the same and to remain in it.

Part VIII. Ausl. Joh. 17, § 15.

May God have mercy on us, so that we too, like David, Paul and other saints, may esteem our treasure, which is just the same as they had, so great and exalt it above all goods on earth, and thank God from the bottom of our hearts for having honored us with it above many thousands of others. He might as well have let us go astray as the Turks, the Tartars, the Jews and other idolaters who know nothing of Him; or let us remain stubborn, like the Papists, who blaspheme and condemn this treasure of ours. But that he hath set us in his green pastures, and hath filled us so abundantly with good things.

The fact that he has provided us with pasture and fresh water is all grace. Therefore, we have to thank him all the more.

V. Part. Ausl. d. 23. Psalms, § 42.

To strengthen and preserve at the word.

May God have mercy and help us to keep the letters safe, so that the devil does not tear them from us, that is, so that we are not secure in prosperity, not sad and despondent in tribulations, but always live in the fear of God and pray that God, for the sake of His dear Son, will keep us in the blessed teaching of the gospel. Amen.

IX. Part. Kl. exeg. Writings, Ps. 56, 9.

2 Our Lord God grant us his grace, that we may put away hardness. He may punish and rebuke us harshly enough, as He pleases; but He will not take away His holy word from us, and will not let the fervent and the ruthless break in among us to take away our treasure.

Part XIII. 2nd Pr. on the 1st Sunday after Easter, § 12.

b. The fourth commandment.

Prayers of a Regent, Ecclesiastes etc.

O dear Lord God, may your name be holy! for why do you make me a ruler, a preacher, when you know well that I cannot do your will enough? but be you my helper and let your holy angels also be with me; but will you in this way humble my proud mind, that I should not think myself like you, who are righteous and know all things, etc.

I. Part. Gen. 21; § 303.

3 O Lord God, I am the son of a poor cowherd and a child of sins: but because thou wilt have it so, that the world may be ruled, and peace kept, and the disorderly

If I am to be punished as a bad boy, and if I am appointed to the same office, I will gladly follow you. I would rather be without office and be a private person, but since your will and command are to be obeyed, I will carry out my commanded office in your fear and with all humility. There the humility remains under the beautiful, golden chain, crown, rings etc.; for I am no prince to myself, but to the will of God and to the service of men in their need. I do not need a kingdom, a pulpit, an assembly in the church or a preaching ministry.

Ibid. §180.

4. Lord God, I would rather be hidden in silence without office, without scepter, without crown, gold, silver and without all such great glory and honor. But you have called me to this position, you have wanted me to rule over others: therefore I will now obey your will and serve the common good and not my own desire or pleasure.

Ibid. § 189.

5 Behold, my God and Father, this is your work and order, that I was born and created in this state to rule; no one can deny it, and you yourself recognize it. Therefore grant me, O Lord and Father, that I may preside over your people for your praise and their benefit. Let me not follow my reason, but be thou my reason etc.

VII. part. The Magnif. at the end.

6 Lord, keep your people, the courts, equity and all the secular government, so that everything is done properly, so that the peace is not shattered by rebellion and internal enmity, nor the external discipline made restless and defiled by adultery and other offenses.

IV. Part. Ausl. der 15 Lieder im höh. Chorus, Ps. 132, § 71.

7 Dear Lord God, instruct me; give me strength and wisdom, that I may rule my house or country rightly; be thou the chief ruler, I will gladly be thy servant: only rule and guide me so that I do not overthrow and do harm; for

I will gladly do as much as is in me. If it goes away from me, I will attribute it to you that it is your work and gift, and I will thank you for it. But if it will not go away, I will suffer it patiently; for I can do nothing unless you help. Thou art the Creator, and doest all things that are in heaven and in earth: I alone am thy instrument. Ibid; Ps. 127, §36.

Prayers for house fathers and house mothers.

1 O Lord, thou hast given me a wife, and children, and household, and these also shall I rule by thy command: now therefore will I gladly do all my diligence, as much as it is possible for me, that it may go right. But if it does not go as I would like it to go, I will write: "Patience"; as one is wont to say: Let it go as it goes, for it wants to go its way. But if I have my way, I will say, O Lord, praise, honor, and thanks be to thee. I have not done it, O Lord, but thou hast done it: it is thy grace and thy gift.

Ibid. § 33.

3 Dear Lord God, you have made me a householder, you have given me everything that is necessary for the house and the household, but the ministry is greater and more difficult than that I can manage and decay it. For this reason you represent me, be a householder, and I will gladly yield to you.

Ibid. §45.

4 Dear Lord, you have made me a householder, so help me; for if I am to rule or keep house alone, I will lead the cart so deep into the puddle that it will get stuck in it.

Ibid. §89.

I get up early and let it get sour, but it still doesn't want to go anywhere with me, and I still have to eat my bread with fear and worry. Ibid. §125.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have opened my eyes to see how you have redeemed me from sins by your death and made me an heir of heaven and eternal life; now, Lord, I thank you for such great unspeakable grace; I will also gladly do what I know you want me to do. You have made me a housemother, a householder; dear God, I want to be pious, I want to do with pleasure and love what I should do, and I would rather lose my life over it than not follow you, not faithfully preside over my children and my servants, or annoy them.

Part XIII. 1. Pr. v. 3. Sonnt. n. Trin., § 23.

Prayer of a servant, maid or day laborer.

I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast ordained me to this service, knowing that thereby I serve thee more than all monks and nuns, who have no command of their service; but I have God's command in the fourth commandment; therefore, I will comply with it with pleasure and love.

Part XIII. Pr. on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, § 19.

6. the fifth commandment.

For peace in times of war.

2 Dear God, protect us from war, which desolates the land and all the estates. Rather give us a strong pestilence for it, in which the people are pious and the religion, police and economy, the church, true pure doctrine, secular and domestic government are not so devastated and destroyed, corrupted nor adulterated. Part XXII. Chapter 15, § 14.

Prayer of a war colonel and soldier.

Heavenly Father, here I am according to your divine will in this outward work and service of my overlord, as I owe to you before and to the same overlord for your sake; and I thank your grace and mercy that you have placed me in such work, since I am certain that it is not sin, but is right and a pleasing obedience to your will. But because I know, and have learned by thy gracious word, that none of our good works can help us, and that no man must be saved as a warrior, but as a Christian; I will not at all forsake such obedience and work of mine, but will do the same freely to thy will, believing in my heart that the innocent blood of thy dear Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, alone shall save me and make me blessed. There I endure, there I live and die out, there I contend and do all things; sustain, dear Lord, God the Father, and strengthen me in such faith by thy Spirit. Amen.

X. Theil. 5th ed., Ob Kriegsleute etc., § 79.

2 Dear Lord, my God, you see that I have to get, I would gladly let it go; but I do not build on the right cause, but on your grace and mercy. For I know that if I were to forsake and defy a just cause, thou shouldest let me fall more cheaply than he who falls cheaply, because I rely on my own right and not on thy mere grace and mercy. Ibid. §55.

(3) I will not fight against God, neither will I be in the army where God is robbed of what is God's; but I will be obedient and serve, where Caesar has what is Caesar's, and where God has what is God's.

Part XIII. 2nd Pr. on the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, § 22^.

Prayer before the battle.

Lord, Victoria, the triumph and victory is in your power: if you will give it to me, I will thank you for it; but if you will punish our sin with such harm and sorrow, Lord, I am here and will suffer it patiently.

IV. Part. Ausl. der 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 127, § 171.

Prayer of comfort against all sin and impurity.

Be I who I will, I ask nothing of it; for though I be a sinner, yet know I that therefore my Lord Christ is not a sinner, but abideth righteous and gracious. Therefore I will confidently call and cry out to him, and turn to nothing else; for I have no time now to dispute whether I am chosen or not; but this I feel that I need help, therefore come and seek it in all humility.

XIII Part. Pr. am Sonnt. Remin., § 7.

Prayers for a Christian Marriage Status.

(1) Behold, O God, I hear that matrimony is your work and pleases you; therefore I will enter into it at your word, and I will do as you will, and it shall be pleasing and acceptable to me.

X. Theil. 6th ed., 6, Ecclesiastes, § 22.

2 Oh, dear God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, provide and give me, a poor child, a pious husband or wife, with whom I may divinely live in matrimony by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Ibid, § 26.

Dear Lord God, you see that I cannot abstain from marriage without sin; give me good counsel and provide me with a pious, godly and respectable wife.

Part I. I Mos. 24, § 29.

4 O Lord God, you have made me a man; you see that I cannot live chastely. I call upon you and ask you to govern my plan and give me happiness. Give me good counsel and help me; choose me one with whom I may live honorably and serve you, and through faith and prayer overcome the misfortune and hardship that may befall the married state.

Ibid. § 111.

Prayer of parents for their children for happy marriage.

O Almighty God and Father of our Lord JEsu Christ, who gave me the son or daughter, I pray.

Provide and give them a pious, good and Christian spouse and help them by your Holy Spirit that they may live godly in the marriage state; for it is up to you alone, no one else.

X. Theil. 6th ed., e, Ecclesiastes, § 28.

Prayer for prospective spouses.

O Lord God, who hast created man and woman, and ordained them to the state of matrimony, and blessed them with fruits of the womb, and ordained therein the sacrament of thy dear Son JESUS Christ, and of the church his bride; we beseech thy unfailing goodness, that thou wilt not suffer such thy business, ordinance, and blessing to be rent asunder, nor to perish, but wilt graciously preserve it in us, through JESUS Christ our Lord. Amen.

X. Theil, 6. geb., 4., a, Traub., Schluss.

Prayer of pious spouses.

1. O Lord God, you say to me in your word that you are and will be my Lord and God, and have created me in the likeness of a man and also in the likeness of a woman; this is your creation and your work. I did not make myself like this or become like this: so now give your blessing to your creature; grant that I may become a blessed husband or a blessed wife etc.

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 15 Lieder; 128th Ps., § 14.

2. O Lord God, you created me in the image of a man and also gave me a wife: but now we are both in the world and in the weak flesh, yes, in the midst of the devils, who are destroyers of conjugal love. Therefore give your blessing, even though there may be some offences, so that your blessing and the consideration of your gifts, which are in the marriage state, may overcome them. etc.

Ibid. § 19.

Prayer of comfort for married couples, that they may live in a godly state.

Praise and thanks be to God, for I am and live in a state that is not new, like the state of monks and nuns, which did not exist a thousand years ago; but my state did exist.

a thousand and a half years ago, in which the archfathers, priests and prophets lived. If it pleased God so much in the holy people, it will no doubt please God as well if I live in this state with my dear wife or husband.

X. Theil. 6th ed., e, Ecclesiastes, § 9.

B. The second main part.

Third article.

For the preservation and continuation of the true church.

Dear God, let us therefore stay with your word and the police. Mercy, good deeds, remain with me all my life, that is why I ask, Ps. 68, 29: "Strengthen us in the things you have done for us"; do not stop and do not let the past good deeds remain, but increase them with the future ones. Do not desist as long as I am here on earth.

IV. Part. Excerpt of the first 25 Ps.; Ps. 23, §15.

2. hallowed be thy name: that is, give us devout, godly teachers in the church, who shall reveal and make known thy name to the world, that thou mayest be gracious and merciful, and for thy dear Son's sake, who was crucified for us, forgive us our sin, and give us eternal life; that all men may rely upon thy grace and mercy, and call upon thee, praise thee, give thanks unto thee etc.

I. Part. Gen. 20; § 180.

Almighty, eternal, merciful God and Father of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we see and feel how your church is doing in this life, how fortunate it is, and how it is plagued in many ways by the devil and the world. Therefore, we ask you for the sake of your only begotten Son: first, to comfort and strengthen our hearts with your Holy Spirit, so that we will not be overwhelmed by so much great danger, nor will we succumb; and second, not only to prevent the enemies' schemes and assaults, but also, with your faithful and miraculous

Help the whole world to see, declare and prove that you care for, govern, protect, preserve and save your church, who lives and reigns as the eternal God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

VI. part. 2. ex. Joel's, 3, § 281.

Against the pope and his followers.

May the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this miserable and perilous time, awaken our hearts by His Spirit to right and true repentance, that we may diligently hearken to His word, gladly hear it, accept it with a believing heart, beware of trouble, and that it may be our earnest mind and purpose to amend our lives, to guard against sin and become enemies of it, and in right faith call upon the Son of God to curb the Turk's raging and fury, item, to prevent, control and ward off the plots, intrigues and schemes of the Pope and his followers, so that the churches will not be divided and destroyed by war and bloodshed, and so that the light of the divine Word, which alone shows us and indicates the way to eternal life, will not be extinguished in us. Amen. Amen.

Ibid. 2, § 116.

C. The third main part.

a. The Our Father in general.

The whole Our Father prayerfully.

1. in this part I. Main St. A. Short Form of Praying the Lord's Prayer. (p. 166 ff.)

2. in this part I. Hauptst. L, 3rd commandment, German Mass, § 34-10.

Part VII. Ausl. des Ev. Matth., F, Kurzer Begriff aller vorgeschriebenen Bitten, §§ 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, II, 13, 15, 16.

b. The first request.

Lamentation against the Rottengeister.

Almighty, eternal Father of our Savior JEsu Christ, because our enemies basically seek nothing else - they color and decorate

their doings as they will, for the destruction of true doctrine, and that they may again establish and confirm the wicked abominations and lies of the perverse ministry, so will you cast down into the pit "the bloodthirsty and false ones" - so the Holy Spirit calls them in the 5th Psalm - that they may not bring their lives to the half, nor accomplish what they have set out to do. Let every one who hopes in the Lord and loves his word say amen to this. Amen.

IX. Part. Kl. exeg. Writings, Ps. 55, 23. 24.

Against the hypocrites.

Lord, these do not come in the morning to pray, nor do they need you, nor do they ask if you will hear them; They are full, they are full of vice and all filthiness, that is, full of their righteousness, they do not send themselves, nor do they come to you, that you may make them even, that they may be enlightened and see, but rather they come and want to make you to their liking, compare you to the idol of their heart, as Isaiah says, judge you according to their delusions and dreams, so that they may not see, but be more blinded. Therefore I come and send myself, and yield myself unto thee, that thou mayest prepare me for thy pleasure, that, being taught of thee, I may understand and be wise, how I ought to think rightly of thee, that I may see and be enlightened. They come to bring you their good works and merits, so that they may carry away with them their sins and iniquities the greater; I come, desiring your goods and confessing my sin and evil. For they are well and have no need of a physician; but I, being sick and weak, seek a physician.

IV. Part. Excerpt of the 22 first Ps.; 5th Ps., § 83.

Prayer for faithful teachers.

1. hallowed be thy name: that is, give us devout, godly teachers in the church, who shall reveal and make known thy name to the world, that thou mayest be gracious and merciful, and forgive us our sins, and grant us eternal life, for the sake of thy dear Son, who was crucified for us.

so that all people may rely on your grace and mercy and call upon you, praise you and give thanks to you. Give us the Holy Spirit to govern us and keep us, so that we do not fall back into the kingdom of Satan, who takes it upon himself to completely destroy the Word, faith and the right worship of God.

Part I. Gen. 20; 8180.

May God, the dear Father, keep us by His holy word and not take it away from us because of our sin, ingratitude and laziness. May He keep us from the degenerate spirits and false teachers, but send us faithful and true laborers in His harvest, that is, faithful and pious pastors and preachers. May he also give us all grace to humbly hear, accept and honor the same word as his own, and also to give thanks and praise for it from the heart etc.

X. Theil. 3rd main section, L, One. Way of praying, § 26.

God grant that our theologians may confidently study Hebrew and bring the Bible home to us again from the wanton thieves, and do everything better than I have done; that is, that they do not give themselves captive to the rabbis in their tortured grammar and false interpretation, so that we may find and recognize the dear Lord and Savior brightly and clearly in the Scriptures. To Him be praise and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Part III. Ausl. d. letzt. Words Dav., § 165.

Prayer of a preacher for himself.

1 Lord God, you have appointed me a bishop and pastor in the church; you see how I am so unskilled to carry out such a great and difficult office properly; and if it had been without his counsel, I would have ruined it all together long ago. Therefore I call upon you: I will gladly lend and incline my mouth and my heart to it; I will teach the people; I myself will also always learn and deal with your word and diligently ponder it: need you me as your instrument. Dear Lord, do not forsake me; for where I shall be alone, I shall easily spoil it all together. Part II. Gen. 27, § 76.

I have begun to preach and teach the people, but they do not want to go away, they bump here and there. But that does no harm; because God has commanded me to preach his word, I will not desist from it. If it is detrimental, it is detrimental to our Lord God; if it is detrimental, it is detrimental to me and to Him. Here is God's word and command, and I will go and cast my net, and let God see to it how it is done.

Part XIII. 2nd Pr. on the 5th Sunday after Trinity, § 13.

3. I wish with all my heart that our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who has made us righteous and blessed and has given me power and authority to interpret this epistle, and for you to hear it, that he may preserve and strengthen both me and you, in this doctrine and grace, that the longer we grow and increase in the knowledge of his grace and unfeigned faith, and guard against sects and false doctrine, that we may be found blameless and blameless unto the blessed day of our redemption; To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be praise and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen.

VIII. part. Explan. Explanation of Galatians, 6, § 123.

Defiance and comfort of a diligent preacher in his studies.

Prayer of a chased preacher.

I pray, O Lord, that the multitude of the people may again surround me, cling to me and be subject to me. For this prospereth them for salvation and consolation, where they have

obey whom thou hast given me to be a king; lest they go astray, as sheep without a shepherd (Num. 27:17), or as a people without a ruler and a king, they should be held out to every good robber. If then I am worthy, my Lord, they are worthy also, that they be not taken captive and scattered for my sake; but, my Lord, set me again for them as a head, and gather together those who are scattered in Israel (Ps. 147:2), bringing the members again to the body.

IV. Part. Excerpt of the 22 first Ps.; 7th Ps., § 47.

c. The second request.

Lament over the fruitlessness of good works.

I go to the Sacrament and still remain, as before, without fear. I have received such a great treasure, which remains lying and resting with me, I lament to you. If you have given me this treasure and bestowed it upon me, then grant that it may bear fruit and create another being in me, and that it may prove and show itself to my neighbor.

XI. Part. On Palm Day; Sermon on Confession and the Sacred Heart, § 30.

Luther's prayer for a gracious rain.

O Lord, behold our prayer for the sake of thy promise. We have prayed now, our heart sighs; but the peasants' avarice hinders and restrains them, now that they have become reckless through the gospel, so that they think they can do what they desire. They are not afraid of hell or purgatory, but say: I believe, therefore I will be saved; they become proud, defiant mammonists and cursed misers, who suck the land and the people dry. Just as the usurers among the nobility do everywhere; perhaps God wants to punish them now. Nevertheless, God still has enough means to feed His own, even if He does not let it rain on the wicked.

And when he had said these things, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and prayed, and said, O Lord God, thou hast ever said by the mouth of David thy servant (Ps. 148:18, 19), "The

The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth; he does the will of those who fear him, he hears their prayer and helps them out. How is it then that thou wilt not give rain, because we cry and pray so long? Well then, if you do not give rain, you will give something better, a peaceful and quiet life, peace and unity. Now, we ask so much and have asked so often; if you do not, dear Father, the wicked will say: Christ, your dear Son, is lying, since he says (John 16:23): "Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you" etc. So at the same time they will give the lie to you and to your son. I know that we cry out to you from the bottom of our hearts and longingly sigh, why then do you not hear us? [Just the same night after that a very good fertile rain came.]

XXII Part. Cap. XV, § 11.

Acknowledgement of rightful profession in his stand.

I thank you, Lord God, that you have placed me in a divine and blessed state and office; I will gladly do and suffer in it what I should.

Part XIII. 4th Pr. on the 5th Sunday after Trinity, § 17.

Prayer in his profession and ministry.

Lord, I wait for my office, and do that which thou hast commanded me, and will gladly work and do all that thou wilt; only help me also to keep house, help me also to govern etc.

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 127, § 94 at the end.

For the body's food and need.

Dear Lord, I should and will pray according to your commandment and promise; if I cannot do it well, and if it is neither good nor valid in my name, let it be valid and good in my Lord Christ's name. And only have no doubt that such prayer is pleasing to God and certainly heard, as certainly as Christ's, his only dear Son's, name pleases him, and everything must be yes and granted what he asks.

Part VIII. Ausl. Joh. 16, § 218.

Against the belly care.

Dear Lord God, what you will give me, I will accept with a glad heart in thanksgiving; but what you will not give me, that I will gladly do without; I will be content both with a few goods and with great riches.

I. Part. Gen. 24; § 43.

Comfort in poverty and lack.

Although I suffer poverty here, it does me no harm; yet I know that my dear God will not let me suffer need. For he has given me Christ and all blessedness in him; he will also provide so much that the body will have its need for the short time of its life.

Part XIII. 4th Pr. on the 5th Sunday after Trinity, § 14.

e. The fifth request.

Sigh for peacefulness.

O Lord, give me a peaceful, kind, gentle heart toward everyone, and for Christ's sake cleanse me from all sin. Amen.

XIIIa. Part. 2nd Pr. on the Day of the Lord's Supper. Chr., § 6.

f. The sixth request.

Prayer of consolation in the midst of his calling.

What I do now, I will do in the name of Jesus and in the obedience in which I have been placed by God, and I will do it with joy; if something happens to me about it and the devil comes upon me, what harm does it do me? Nevertheless, I am in the state where God's word teaches me and comforts me; whatever I do or suffer, let it be well done, and let God be pleased with it and be with me with grace.

Part XIII. 4th Pr. on the 5th Sunday after Trinity, § 8.

g. The seventh request.

Prayer for a person possessed by Satan.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, who through your dear Son have commanded us to pray and preach in the holy Christian Church, I pray to you.

We ask thee, therefore, on behalf of thy servant, to forgive him his sins, and to include him in the article of the forgiveness of sins, and to restore him to the bosom of thy holy church, for the sake of thy dear servant, that thou mayest forgive him his sins and include him in the article of the forgiveness of sins, and that thou mayest restore him to the bosom of thy holy church. Therefore we beseech thee for this thy servant, that thou forgive him his sins, and include him again in the article of the forgiveness of sins, and receive him again into the bosom of thy holy church, for the sake of thy dear Son, our Lord Christ. Amen.

XXII. part. Chapter 24, § 103.

2 O Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast called us and the sick to pray, we beseech thee through Jesus Christ, thy dear Son, that thou wouldst fatherly deliver this thy servant from her sickness and from the bondage of the devil. Save, dear God, her soul, which you have purchased and saved from sin, death and the power of the devil, together with her body, through the shedding of the blood of your dear Son Jesus Christ.

XXII. part. Chapter 26, § 58.

Prayer of an oppressed person for the sake of truth.

Therefore, since my hope is in you, hear me, O my God, and do not let them experience joy and glory in me. Let it be enough for them to attack me and persecute me for the truth's sake, lest they also be justified in doing so, who do not have it; for they hope in themselves and not in you.

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 7 Bußps., Ps. 38, V. 18, in the notes.

2. I will suffer this to praise and honor our Lord God, for I am not only guilty of this suffering, but also of death before God; my skin, my hair and my whole body is guilty. Therefore I will accept and endure it in God's obedience and will, "be it tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or peril, or sword" (Rom. 8, 35.), and will suffer it in such faith that God will be praised and glorified through it.

XIII. part. 5 Passion Pr., 1st Pr., § 13.

Prayer for those who fall into poverty for the sake of the gospel.

Oh, dear Lord, let the poor people, both husband, wife and children, who have followed you so far, lament to hear you. Secondly, consider that they have stayed with you for only three days. Third, that they have nothing to eat; for they are in the wilderness etc. Fourth, if you let them go without food, they will die of hunger on the way, especially those who are weak, women and children. Fifth, consider that some have come from afar etc.

XI. Part. 2nd Pr. on the 7th Sunday after Trinity, § 25.

For redemption and salvation.

Dear Father, I am oppressed by evil and torment, and suffer much misfortune and discomfort, and fear hell; deliver me from it, but not otherwise, if it is honorable and praiseworthy to you and your divine will; if not, let not my will, but yours be done. For I prefer thy divine honor and will to all my rest and my chamber, both temporal and eternal.

Part VII. Ausl. des Vater-Unsers etc., § 169.

Prayer of consolation in dying louses or at the time of plague one who fears and is bound to stay half office.

1. lift up, devil, behind me; here is Christ and I am his servant in this work; he shall rule it. Amen.

X. Part. 7. request. Whether one may flee from the dying, § 23.

Another one of a person, so not connected, flees to plague and dying times.

O Lord God, I am weak and fearful, therefore I flee from evil, and do as much as I can to keep myself from it; but

In great distress and repugnance.

I know for certain that our Lord God loves me dearly, even though I am now in this great distress and do not see how I can be helped. But I command my dear God, who now looks upon me in this affliction, as a mother looks upon her little child, whom she has carried under her heart; he will make it well; him also will I ask, believing assuredly that he will hear me and save me.

IX. Part. Kl. exeg. Writings, Ps. 34, 16.

(2) I believe in Jesus Christ, who is my only helper; I call upon him in all my troubles. When I am sick, I say: "If you are willing, Lord, you can help me" (Matth. 8, 2.), but if you are not willing, I will gladly suffer this cross and misfortune for the sake of your name.

Part XIII. 2nd Pr. on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, § 28.

3. "Oh God! do not punish me in your anger," let it be in grace and time, be father and not judge. As St. Augustine also speaks, "Oh God, here, strike here, and spare our there."

IV. Part. The first part of the 7 Penitential Psalms; Ps. 6, § 2.

4 O heavenly Father, thou art so near me, and I knew it not; how am I now so well. Let Esau come, and all the devils, and I will not fear: for I have the Lord my God. Before I looked upon his back in the form and person of a man, in whom I thought he was threatening me with death; and my heart was in great fear lest he should cast me into hell: but now I see his face.

Part II. Gen. 32; § 214.

To avert all evil.

O Almighty God, who is like you? You who forgive sin and remit the iniquity of the rest of your inheritance, who do not keep your wrath forever, but will be merciful. Thou hast turned again to us and had mercy on us; thou hast subdued our iniquity and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. This mercy keep us for ever, that we may walk in the light of thy word, and escape all danger of the devil and the world, through JEsum Christ thy Son and our Redeemer. Amen.

Part VI. Ausl. Micha 7; § 113.

Prayer of a sick father who desires to see his child in a foreign land.

O you dear merciful Father! O God, who art marvelous in thy counsel, I desire to see my son Joseph before I depart from this life; but I am still uncertain whether I sin in it, or whether it is also pleasing to thee: therefore govern and send my conduct and my works according to thy will; help, dear Lord God.

Part II. Gen. 46; § 8.

2 Dear Lord God, you will govern us so that we do not follow our flesh and blood, since we are now to go to a foreign land. O dear Lord, that we may not perish, and that I may not sin and perish, because I long for my son and love him so much.

Ibid. § 10.

Patient surrender of a husband in case of illness and other accident.

That I have a pious wife, well-bred children, obedient servants, money and goods, peace and a good government, these are God's gifts: I will use them with thanksgiving as long as it pleases God and He will grant me. But if my wife and children die, or if there is trouble in the land, then I will suffer it patiently, for you, O Lord, have given me all this from your bountiful bounty.

I am also satisfied that you take it back to yourself; for I know well that without this I could not have had it forever, nor possess it, but would have had to let it go in the end etc.

IV. Part. Ausl. über die 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 127, § 133.

For the sick and dying in fear and terror of death.

Even though I do not fulfill the law, even though I still have sin, and even though I am afraid of death and hell, I know this from the gospel, that Christ has given and given to me all his works: of this I am sure, he does not lie, he will truly keep his promise; and for this I have received baptism as a sign. For thus he saith (Marc. 16, 15. 16.) unto his apostles and disciples, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." I rely on this. For this I know, that my Lord Christ hath overcome death, sin, hell, and the devil, all things for my good.

XI. Part. 2nd Pr. on the 1st Sunday after Easter, § 20.

v. The fifth main part.

Prayers of Confession.

For the knowledge of sins.

Dear God, govern me that I may recognize and confess with spiritual eyes my innate pestilence and weakness, and thus be led to the right knowledge of Christ and be governed, cleansed and sanctified by your Holy Spirit, amen.

XXII. part. Chapter 15, § 13.

When one comes into right knowledge of sins.

This is what my dear gospel and the pious tax collector teach me, that this is the highest wisdom in the sight of God: to know and believe that he is so minded and has established such a kingdom through Christ that he will be merciful and help the poor, condemned sinners.

And so you tie the two together in one word and confession: I am a sinner, but God is gracious to me; I am God's enemy, but he is now my friend; I would be condemned, but I know that he does not want to condemn me, but to have me blessed and an heir in heaven. Yes, that is what he wants, and he has preached it to me and commanded me to believe for the sake of his dear Son, whom he gave for me.

XI. Part. 2nd Pr. on II Sunday after Trinity, § 40.

Sigh to God in confession.

Dear Lord, I know of no piety in my body and in my life, but this is my comfort and defiance before you, that you gladly give to a poor sinner and forgive all sin out of sheer grace.

Part III. Ausl. etl. Cap. d. 5. B. Mos., 9. Cap., § 17.

2 Lord, have mercy on me, I am a poor sinner; but I take comfort in your grace, that you have commanded forgiveness of sins to be preached in your name.

XIII. part. Pr. on Easter Tuesday, § 20.

Confession of own nullity.

All my ability is nothing, all my wisdom is blindness and the greatest foolishness, all my piety and life is condemned to hell; therefore I command myself to your grace, govern me according to your spirit; only leave nothing in me to govern myself and be wise, only make my mind and reason even a fool and keep me in your bosom.

XI. Part. Pr. on the Day of the Finding of the Cross, § 13.

Lament over original sin.

Behold, it is so true that I am a sinner before thee, that sin also is my nature, my inheritance, my conception, not to mention the words, works, and thoughts and life that follow. An evil tree am I and "by nature a child of wrath and sin" (Eph. 2, 3.). And therefore, as long as the same nature and being remain in and on us, so long are we sinners and must say, "Forgive us our trespasses" etc. (Matth. 6, 12.)

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 7. Bußps., Ps. 51, § 10.

Sigh for forgiveness of sins.

Oh Lord! I have unfortunately sinned much and often, now in this, now in another; now the punishment does not come, but passes away. But what does it mean? Surely nothing else, but that though the punishment is hidden, it will surely come. Therefore, dear Father, forgive, I will desist and amend.

Part XIII. 1st Pr. on the 10th Sunday after Trinity, § 21.

Appeal of a penitent sinner from God's judgment seat to His throne of grace.

(1) O Lord, we cannot be right with thee, neither can we stand before thee in judgment; neither will we stand before thee in our righteousness or in our sins: for if thou, O Lord, wilt impute sin, and inquire of us in judgment whether we be righteous and just, we are lost. Therefore let us appeal from such judgment to the throne of thy mercy, and have our refuge in thy goodness. If we have done any good, it is by thy grace. Turn therefore the eyes of thy divine mercy, not of the justice of thy stern judgment, unto us. For if thou shalt impute sin unto us, or look upon it, none of us shall be saved. etc.

IV. Part. Ausl. über d. 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 130, § 44.

2 Dear Lord, before the world I am innocent and sure that it cannot punish me or bring me before the judge; for though I have not done all things, yet I desire of every man that he forgive me for God's sake, even as I forgive every man. Thus I have satisfied her that she has no right against me. But before thee I must truly lay down my feathers, and confess myself guilty of all things, and say, as David himself did (Ps. 143:2), "O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man is righteous." Therefore I cannot deal with thee, if it be right; but will straightway appeal, and call me from thy judgment seat to thy mercy seat.

IX. Part. Pr. on 1 Tim. 1; § 34.

3. Whether I have lived to the best of my ability in the sight of men, but all that I have done* or left undone, remain there under the judgment seat, and go to it as God wills: But I know no other consolation, help, or counsel of my salvation, but that Christ is my mercy seat, who hath done no sin nor evil, and died for me, and rose again, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and taketh me to himself under his shadow and protection; that I may have no doubt that through him I am safe from all wrath and terror in the sight of God.

Ibid. § 43.

4 Oh God, these are your words, that there is greater joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who have no need of repentance, and that all the righteous and the angels should represent and cover sin. Now, O God, I am here, who feel my sin; I am already judged, I only need a shepherd to seek me, therefore I will freely venture on your gospel.

XI. Part. Ausl. d. 3. Sonnt. n. Trin., § 21.

Refuge to the grace of God.

1. of me I am corrupt, your Spirit must sanctify and preserve me; even without the Holy Spirit itself no gift or grace is sufficient before God. For through Adam and sin such things are lost to us all and must be restored without our merit, by grace, that is, restore me to a cheerful, secure conscience in your salvation.

I V. Part. Excerpt from the 7 Penitential Psalms; Ps. 51, § 23. 24.

(2) O Lord, I take all thy goodness, mercy and grace as a sinner and a desperate man, as I go and stand worthy of eternal wrath and hellish fire, if thou shouldest deal with him according to justice and merit. But I do not look at my sin, nor at what I have earned, but at your word and earnest commandment, that you command, admonish and threaten that no one bring any work before you to earn anything, but out of fatherly kindness receive forgiveness of sin and all kinds of benefits, and stand and remain in the pure confidence of your grace.

Part III. Ausl. etl. Cap. d. 5. B. Mos., Cap. 9, § 25.

I am your sin and you are my righteousness. For this reason I am safe. For my sin will not oppress your righteousness, and your righteousness will not let me remain a sinner. Praise be to God, my Beneficent and Redeemer. In thee will I trust, and I shall never be put to shame.

XXII. part. 48. cap., § 35.

Complaint of great unworthiness.

Lord, do not reckon with me, for I do not know how to stand by my works; I would gladly guard against sin and be pious, but that does not help me. This alone helps me, that you preach through St. John that we shall be saved through the forgiveness of sins.

Part XIII. 1st Pr. on the Feast of St. John the Baptist, § 30.

For mercy to God.

1. I am a poor sinner; O God, forgive me my sin, I will gladly be silent of my merit, be silent of all your judgment. XI. Part. Pr. on the 9th Sunday after Trinity, § 14.

2. God, I will not earn anything before you with my works, but I will direct them only to serve my neighbor, and I will keep to your mercy alone.

Ibid.

(3) O God, no man nor creature can help me nor comfort me, so great is my misery; for not bodily nor temporal is my harm. Therefore, you who are God and eternal, who alone can help me, have mercy on me; for without your mercy all things are terrible and bitter to me.

IV. Part. The 7 Penitential Psalms; Ps. 51, §1.

To true wisdom.

O dear God, grant us grace to do all things wisely, that is, in humility and your fear, always considering that we are under your wrath because of our sin, that we may not be among the filth of men, who neither know nor respect their life nor their death, but only fatten the belly and seek honor and power. Part V. Excerpt from the 90th Psalm, § 181.

For remission of the penalty.

You have oppressed with manifold sorrows and bestowed this first wisdom, that we may know your wrath; but now relent, dear Lord God, you have now killed, oppressed and humiliated us enough. Now return to us and be merciful to us: show us also how kind and merciful you are, that we also have, so that we can comfort our hearts in such terrors.

Ibid. § 187.

For divine mercy.

1 O Lord, do superfluous mercy, not a special one, by which the kingdom or health will be exalted. We ask for the fullness and overflow of your mercy. For in this affliction, which oppresses the whole human race, not enough is the particular or special mercy, and the as it were dribbling mercy; but we need a whole deluge and a sea, that it may be enough for us. Then let us glory and be glad. For mercy alone, which redeems us from sin and assures us of eternal blessedness, gives birth to eternal and true joy, gratitude and thanksgiving. Ibid. §193.

2 O dear Lord, let your works appear, that is, make us alive again who are humbled in death; make us righteous or godly who are afflicted by sin, and so show us your own work, that is, life and righteousness.

Ibid. § 203.

Taking refuge in Christ in the anguish of sin.

001 Nevertheless I have forgiveness of sins; and though I feel sins most of all, that they bite me most, and chase me, and terrify me, yet I look upon Christ, and weakly believe on him, and cleave unto him, saying, I am sure thou hast said, He that believeth on me shall have everlasting life." Even though my conscience is troubled and sin terrifies me and makes my heart tremble, it is said: "My son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.

(Matth. 9, 2.) and: "You shall have eternal life, and I will raise you up on the last day.

Part VII. Ausl. Joh. 6; § 171.

(2) I believe in Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered and died, and I rely on the fact that he himself says, "Whoever comes to him he will not cast out. I rely on these words and come to you, dear Lord Christ; for this is your will and heart, also your mouth, they are enough for me and certain, I know well that you do not lie to me, the words will not fail me, you will not cast out those who come to you. Even though I am a child, and not holy or pious enough to stand, yet you are true and will that I should be raised up at the last day. Though I cannot stand, yet, O Lord Christ, thou wilt stand well, and wilt not cast me away.

Ibid. § 147.

(3) O God, these are your words, that there is greater joy in heaven over one sinner who is converted than over ninety-nine righteous who have no need of repentance, and that all the righteous and the angels shall represent and cover sin. Now, O God, I am here, who feel my sin; I am already judged, I only need a shepherd to seek me, therefore I will freely venture on your gospel.

XI. Part. Ausl. d. 3. Sonnt. n. Trin., § 21.

For forgiveness of sins.

1. I am a poor sinner, you know that, my dear Lord; but you have made yourself known to me through your dear Son Jesus Christ, that you would be merciful to me, that you would forgive my sin, and that you would not know wrath or condemnation, and that you would make me believe these things and not doubt them; on this I trust and will go on my way with joy. etc.

XII. Part. Pr. on the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, § 9.

I have sinned and done much evil, for which I am sorry; but you are such a God, who does not consider how pious or how wicked one is, if one only looks and trusts in your goodness. III. part. Gen. 7; § 8.

For redemption from the curse of the law.

Lord God, who can keep it? The more you command, the less one does. We should trust God and keep His commandment; we do not, we find nothing more in the law, except that there is nothing good in us. Therefore Moses gave it to reveal the curse, and when we see and feel it, to lift it up and say, "Now come, Lord, give us the blessing, deliver us from this curse. Gen. 22; § 42.

A powerful sigh of comfort.

O Lord God, I have your promise that my righteousness is nothing else than that you forgive my sin, that is, that you will not impute sin to me.

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 130, § 52.

Several confessional formulas.

In this part; in the Small Catechism, p. 14. 15.

Thanksgiving after absolution.

O merciful Savior, how wisely thou hast attacked it! for thou art my brother, I know it, as it is written in the 22nd Psalm (v. 23): "I will tell thy name unto my brethren"; as also the epistle to the Hebrews (2:12) introduces. Though thou be God, my Lord Christ, and though thou be a king of heaven and earth, I cannot be afraid of thee: for thou art my companion, my brother, my flesh and blood. Let me not be mistaken that I am a sinner, and thou holy. For if I had not been a sinner, thou shouldest not have suffered for me: therefore am I confident. I see also how the pious and the wicked are described here, of whom thou wast willing to be born, that thou mightest comfort the fearful and foolish consciences, that they might freshly trust in thee, as though thou hadst taken away our sin; as indeed he hath taken it away: and that we might be assured of it, he hath left us his word here, which assuredly assures us of the same.

XI. Part. Pr. am Tage Annä, § 10.

2 Dear Lord God, what we have and need is all yours; we did not make it, we did not get it from ourselves or of ourselves, but you gave it to us. But this is especially your own work and mercy, that we, having escaped from the devil, have become free from sin. Therefore, the glory of it belongs to you alone, and not to me etc.

Part XIII. 3rd Pr. on Christ Day, § 27.

E. The sixth main part.

a. Communion Prayers.

Prayer before the reception for holy desire.

My Lord Jesus Christ, behold my wretchedness, misery and poverty. I am scanty and poor, and yet so desirous of this thy medicine, that I long not even for the riches of thy grace. Therefore, O my Lord, kindle in me the desire for your grace and faith in your promise, so that I may not offend you, my most pious and most gracious God, by my perverse unbelief and sloth.

XII. Part. XV. Pr. v. d. dign. Preparation, § 11.

Complaint of unworthiness.

Lord, it is true that I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, yet I am needy and eager for your help and grace, that I may also become godly. So I come to no other reliance than that I have now heard sweet words, when you invite me to your table and say to me, unworthy, that I shall have forgiveness of all sins through your body and blood, if I eat and drink it in this sacrament. Amen.

Dear Lord, your word is true, I do not doubt it, and I eat and drink with you; may it be done to me according to your will and words. Amen.

XII. Part. XVI. pr. v. d. dign. Recommendation, § 8.

To worthiness.

I, poor and wretched man, who am drowned in sins, shall I be worthy that God's Son should be my brother? How can I, poor and wretched creature, be worthy of that?

XI. Part. 1st Pr. on Easter Day, tz 8.

Comfort against the challenge of unworthiness.

O Lord God, you have absolved me through a brother, baptized me and fed me with your body and blood: do with your servant as it pleases you; I will not be angry with you nor blaspheme you, but will endure everything with patience. For I will not that thy covenant, which thou hast made with me in holy baptism and supper of the Lord, should be broken. Part II. Gen. 41:8.

Before enjoyment.

1 Lord, I am fallen, and would that I were strong; therefore thou hast instituted the sacrament for us, that we may kindle and strengthen our faith thereby, and that we may be helped: therefore am I here, and I will receive it.

XI. Part. 1st Pr. on Easter Monday, § 10.

(2) I am a poor sinner; I need help and comfort; I will go to the Lord's supper, and feed myself with the body and blood of my dear Lord Jesus Christ; for he hath instituted this sacrament that all hungry and thirsty souls might be fed and refreshed. He will not rebuke me, much less strangle me, if I come only in the name that I may be blessed, have help and comfort.

XIII. part. 2nd Pr. am Gründonn., § 19.

4) O Lord, you have instituted the sacrament of your body and blood and have left it for us to find forgiveness of sins; so I feel that I am in need of it.

I am. I have fallen into sin and stand in fear and despair, not bold to confess thy word, having so many and so many infirmities; therefore now I come that thou mayest heal me, comfort me, and strengthen me.

XI. Part. On Palm Day, Sermon of Confession and Sacrament, § 20.

A thanksgiving for the spiritual marriage.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have opened my eyes to see how you have redeemed me from sins by your death and made me an heir of heaven and eternal life; now, dear Lord, I thank you for such great unspeakable grace; I will also gladly do what I know you want me to do.

Part XIII. 1st Pr. on the 3rd Sunday after Trinity, § 23.

Fervent prayers of faith.

1. my Lord Jesus Christ is the only shepherd, and I, alas, am the lost sheep that has gone astray, and I am afraid and anxious, and would gladly be pious, and have a gracious God and peace in my conscience; so I hear here that he is as anxious for me as I am for him; I am afraid and anxious, as I come to him, that I may be helped; so he is in anguish and sorrow, and desires nothing but that he bring me again to himself.

XI. Part. 2nd Pr. on the 3rd Sunday after Trinity, § 43.

(2) I know no saint here; I am a poor sinner, and have deserved death; but above sin and death I cleave unto thee, and will not depart from thee. I have taken hold of you, dear Lord Christ, you are my life, and this is the Father's will, that all who cling to you shall have eternal life and be raised from the dead; so be it with me, whether I am beheaded or burned.

Part VII. Ausl. Joh. 6; § 173.

I thank my God that I have learned not to attack my sin with my own repentance, or to begin faith with my works and blot out my sin. Therefore I thank you that another has attacked my sin for me, has borne it, and has taken it away.

4 I am undaunted, for I have God's Son, whom God gave me out of love; this cannot fail: for there is God's word, the holy gospel, which testifies to it. But your word, O Lord, and your Son Jesus Christ will not deceive me; in them I trust and rely; but if I am not yet strong enough in faith, give me grace to believe more firmly, for otherwise I can do nothing for such a great gift and love.

Part XIII. I. Pr. am Pfingstmont, § 26.

Against Disbelief.

O Lord, increase our faith; I would gladly take you for my beloved Father and Christ for my brother, but my flesh will not follow. Therefore, help my unbelief so that I may give glory to your name and believe your word to be true.

XI. Part. 2nd Pr. am Ostert., § 24.

To a new life.

Lord, you have released me from prison, release me further; you have forgiven my sin, forgive it further; you have strangled the devil, strangle him further; you have abolished the law, abolish it further.

IV. Part. Ausl. d. 15 Lieder im höh. Ps. 126, § 42.

2) Lord, turn our prison, that is, redeem us who have begun to be a new creature; so that, just as redemption through Christ has taken place completely and perfectly, we may also grasp it completely and perfectly and find it in ourselves.

Ibid. § 43.

(3) O Lord Christ, I remain with you and cling to you or believe in you, for it is you alone through whom life has been given to me. So I will begin to love God and my neighbor as much as I can, and do all the good I can; and then I am sure that my good works will not help me. My life and work are too little and insignificant to curb death, to close hell, to take away sin and to open heaven.

Part VII. Ausl. d. 6. cap. Joh., §167.

4. May Christ, our dear Lord and Master, who has given us the right mind, increase and strengthen us, and help us to live and do according to it. To Him be praise and thanksgiving with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

VII. part. Preface on. Matth. 5, 6 u. 7, § 11.

5 Oh, help, God, that my life may be rightly ordered. I am not so pure without sin, but I have begun to walk in the right way, even though I am still shabby and scabby, and there is much sin and infirmity in me. V. Part. XV Pr. on Ps. 26, § 26.

May God grant us all to live as we teach and to put words into practice. There are many of us who say, "Lord, Lord," and praise the teaching, but do not follow it.

X. Theil. 1. main part, 4. command, Faithful admonition, to all Christians etc., § 34.

To divine government.

We thank you, Almighty God, for this inexhaustible grace and love towards us from the bottom of our hearts, and we ask you that we may truly be built up in this way, so that we may also please you as a merry little garden, and that all people may enjoy our fruits and be awakened and invited to the fear of God through us. Amen.

VI. part. Ausl. Amos 9; § 25.

Thanksgiving for Christ's grace.

Oh, merciful God, how kind and blessed you are as a father, who acts so fatherly and warmly with us poor, damned sinners, throwing your only Son, Jesus Christ, your highest and best good, into the jaws of death, the devil etc. and causing him to descend into the depths, so that he may ascend again and capture the prison that imprisoned us all.

V. Part. Serm. on Ps. 68, 19, § 28.

I thank you, O eternal, merciful God and Father, that you have given your dear, united Son to us poor sinners, who took on human nature, suffered, was crucified and died for us, and rose again from death, ascended to heaven and captured our prison that imprisoned us, so that we may be your dear children and his brothers and fellow heirs of all his eternal, heavenly goods. Give grace and your Holy Spirit to sustain us in this faith to our end. Amen.

Ibid, § 35.

Against the bet.

Come thy kingdom; and beside it be desired, and cursed, and destroyed, and brought to nought, the world, and all things that are contrary thereto, and will not cease from raging and defying the dear Christ, and his blood, and his death.

Part VII. Pr. on Luc. 21, 25-33, § 25.

To preserve Lei the good.

1. therefore may God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who began the work in us, complete it, that we may continue in his word and gospel, which we have heard, accepted and believed, to the end of our days.

Part VII. Pr. on Joh. 5, 39. 40. 43., § 1.

2 Dear Father, protect us from all false doctrine, that we may abide in your holy Word and pure, truthful gospel, so that we too may be sanctified and not fall away from it or fall into false, seeming doctrines.

Holiness; for it is otherwise lost where you do not receive it. For the devil is too mischievous, and the pretense and vexation of false doctrine is too great, that it is not possible for us to overcome it with all our prudence and strength, and even the elect scarcely escape being led astray. Part VIII. Ex. John 17, §134.

O Lord, you have given us your Son; keep such your gift in us. We often fall in works, often in thoughts; these destroy such joy for us. Therefore, O dear Lord, remain our gracious, kind God, whether we sin or are tardy and ungrateful; so that you may be joyful and sweet to us, that is, that we may be preserved in the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit.

V. Part. Ausl. des 90. Ps., § 214.

b. In all kinds of circumstances.

Luther's prayer for Prince John when he was ill.

Dear Lord God, hear our prayer according to your promise; let us not throw the keys at your feet; for if we become angry with you at the end and do not give you your honor and interest, where will you stay? Oh, dear Lord, we are yours, do it as you will, but give us patience.

Luther's Prayer for Prince John Frederick.

May Christ, our Lord, graciously strengthen and preserve in E. Ch. F. G. strengthen, increase and preserve the gifts, reason and wisdom he has begun, and protect him from all false tricks and wiles of the enemy and his followers, for the salvation of all the world and in honor of his holy name and gospel. This we all wish and ask from the bottom of our hearts. Amen.

Part VI. Ausl. Daniel's, Zuschrift, § 8.

About the last day and Christ's future for judgment.

Help, dear Lord God, that the joyful day of your holy future may soon come, that we may be delivered from the evil world, the devil's kingdom, and be freed from the terrible plague that we must suffer from within and without, both from evil people and our own conscience. Keep choking the old Adam and sack, so that we will get another body, which is not so full of sins and inclined to all evil and fornication, as the present one is; but which, redeemed from all misfortune, bodily and spiritual, will be similar to your transfigured body, dear Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may finally come to our glorious redemption.

XXII. part. Chapter 15, § 43.

Help, dear Lord, that the blessed day of your glorious future may come soon, that we may be delivered from the evil world, the devil's kingdom, and be freed from the terrible plague we must suffer from within and without, both from evil people and from our own conscience. Keep choking the old sack, so that we may one day get another body, which is not so full of sin and inclined to all evil and disobedience as it is now, which may no longer be sick, suffer persecution and die; but which, redeemed from all misfortune bodily and spiritually, may become similar to your transfigured body, dear Lord Jesus Christ, and so we may finally come to our glorious redemption, amen.

XII. Part. 2nd Pr. on the 4th Sunday after Trinity, §18.

O Lord God, look upon our groaning and crying and hasten to bring the blessed day when our hope shall be fulfilled. For this very reason you have also called us to pray in the Lord's Prayer: Your kingdom come. Therefore give us also grace, and help us to do it, and besides to believe steadfastly, that we may at last come to such glory; for our faith is not to gain money or goods in this life by it, but that we may come to another life; for we are not baptized into this present life, neither do we hear the gospel because of it, but it

everything goes to that eternal life. May God grant that the same joyful and blessed day of our salvation and glory may soon come, and we may experience all these things as we now hear and believe in the Word, amen.

Ibid. § 20.

O dear God, come once; I always wait early in the day for spring, when day and night are the same and will become a very clear, bright dawn. But these are my thoughts and I will preach about them: Soon out of the dawn shall come a black and thick cloud, and there shall be three flashes of lightning; and after that shall come a stroke, and shall smite all things in a heap, heaven and earth, in a moment. But praise be to God, who has taught us to sigh for the day and to desire it.

XXII. part. Chapter 51, § 1.

You, O Lord Jesus Christ, have promised the day to deliver us from all evil, so let it come this very hour, when it should be, and put an end to the misery.

VII. part. Pr. on Luc. 21, 25-33, § 14.

O God, we are sorry that your name and gospel are so desecrated and suffer, that Christians are persecuted and murdered, that right doctrine is suppressed, and that the devil's wickedness prevails, and that all the dear dead saints lie there in the earth, forgotten and turned to dust and powder: yet show your glory to yourself and to your Christianity, avenge your name and their blood, and bring them forth again to their glory.

Ibid. § 30.

Sigh when the last day dawns.

So now welcome me, my dear Lord Christ, and come, as I have often prayed and desired all my life, that your kingdom should come to me.

Part XIII. 2nd Pr. on 2nd Adv., § 24.

Rich people's necessary thanksgiving.

I have great money and goods, but I did not acquire them, but God, my Lord, has given them to me by grace through my work; for I would have had to work long hours if the Lord had not given them to me. IV. Part. Excerpt of the 15 songs in the high chorus. Chorus;

Ps. 127, § 128.

Prayer of a peasant man.

Now consult God-now give grain and fruit, dear Lord; our plowing and planting will not give it to us, it is your gift.

V. Part. Ausl. d. 147. ps., § 11.

6. feast prayers and sinkers.

God protect us and give us His grace, so that we may be the group who gladly accept Christ and sing: Hosanna! God is praised that we have this King and that we are Christians and are called so; and that we know why and from where we are called so, namely from this King Christ, that we are baptized in His name and washed in His blood. Now let us sing Hosanna and ask God to keep us in it.

Part XIII. 1st Pr. on Adv. 1, § 17.

On New Year's Day.

May God, our dear eternal Father, who has so abundantly enlightened us through His dear Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen us with complete faith through His Holy Spirit and give us strength, so that we may faithfully and diligently follow such light and praise and glorify Him with all the Gentiles, both with teaching and life; to whom be thanksgiving and glory for all His unspeakable grace and gifts for ever and ever. Amen.

V. Part. Ausl. d. 117. Ps., § 106.

At Candlemas.

May our dear God and Father grant us, for the sake of Jesus Christ His Son, through

His Holy Spirit, His grace, that we may sing after dear Simeon and also go in peace. Amen.

XIII. part. Pr. on Purification of the Virgin Mary, § 20.

Easter.

May God grant us His Holy Spirit through Christ, that we may take comfort in such a resurrection, and in such faith, confidence and hope increase from day to day and finally be saved. Amen.

XIII. part. 2nd Pr. at Easter, § 25.

Pentecost.

May the same merciful Father grant us grace to love Christ and abide by His word' and to keep it through His Holy Spirit, and thus be saved forever. Amen. .

Part XIII. 1st Pr. on Pentecost, § 24.

On Michaelmas or Feast of Angels.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank and praise you that I, a poor man, even if I had a hundred thousand, could not resist one devil; and yet I resist them through the help of your holy angels. So also: I, who have not one drop of wisdom, and the cunning, wicked enemy, who has a whole sea full, yet he shall not know nor be able to harm me. My unreasonableness and weakness nevertheless disgrace his great reason and power. For this, my merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I alone have to thank you etc. For this is the glory of our Lord God, that He proves His glory, wisdom and power in shame, foolishness and weakness. He alone shall have the glory of being a mighty, wise and gracious GOtt. This happens when God helps us through His dear angels to beat the devil. May God help us all, amen.

In this part, p. 1035, § 29.

All prayers should be concluded with a strong Amen.

Dear God, I know that my prayer, spoken in the name and faith of Christ, your dear Son, is pleasing to you and certainly heard.

XII. Part. XXIII Pr. on the 10th p. n. Trin., § 21.