with the 142nd Psalm, as well as a number of comforting sayings attached.
To an unknown person. 1529.
1. first, that this person ever not stand on his own and not judge himself according to his feelings about himself, but grasp and cling to the words that are spoken to him in the name of God.
The first step is to put all the thoughts and feelings of the heart on the same ones.
2) Secondly, she should not think that she is the only one who has such a challenge to blessedness.
1734 L. 54.116th; 64.29t. III. Main st.- 0. Of the Father-Our esp. 6. petition. W. X, 2030-2034. 1735
but many more, as St. Peter, 1 Ep. 1, 6, writes, suffer the same from time to time in the world; how often David cries and laments in the Psalter, Ps. 31, 23: "God, I am rejected from your sight"; item, Ps. 28, 1: "I am like those who go to hell." It is not a rare challenge among the pious. It is painful; that is also right etc.
Thirdly, that she by no means desires to be delivered from it without reservation of divine will; but cheerfully or ever firmly say to him, "Thy will and not mine be done, dear Father, shall I ever drink the cup," Luc. 22:42.
Fourth, there is no stronger remedy in this than to start some conversation, as David, Ps. 18:4, said, "I will praise and call upon the Lord, and I shall be delivered" from all that troubles me. For the evil spirit of melancholy cannot be chased away with sorrow and lamentation and fear, but with the praise of God, which makes the heart glad.
Fifth, she should thank God with diligence that she is worthy of such a visitation, of which so many thousands of people remain deprived. Nor would it be good or useful for man to know what great good lies beneath the challenge. Some have wanted to know this and have done them great harm. Therefore one should willingly bear God's hand in this and in all suffering. There is no need; indeed, it is the very best sign of divine grace and love for man. And in such a case, one may pray, read or sing the 142nd Psalm, which is especially appropriate here.
The 142nd Psalm.
I cry out to the Lord with my voice, I plead with the Lord with my voice.
I pour out my speech before him and show my distress before him.
When my spirit is in anguish, you take care of me (i.e. you take care of how I am or should be). They lay ropes for me on the way where I go up. (This is what the devil does through evil thoughts, so that man does not know where he is going, so that he is prevented from doing or being. But one should command such things to God, who knows well how it should go).
Look to the right, and see, there nobody wants to know me (that is, on the same side the soul thinks, it does not belong there, where the blessed ones are, nobody knows it; so it wants to flee and would like to get rid of the suffering: but it cannot, as follows). I cannot escape (that is, there is no escape nor escape, I have to stay here in fear) and no one takes care of my soul. (So she thinks, so she also feels; but therefore one should not let go and not follow such thinking and feeling).
To you I cry out, dear Lord (because nothing else will comfort, nor can help), and say: You are my confidence, my part in the land of the living (that is: Everything tells me, I shall die and perish; then I fight back and say: No, I want to live, therefore I turn to you).
Take heed to my complaint, for I am greatly afflicted; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too mighty for me.
Lead my soul out of the dungeon (that is, out of the distress and anguish in which I am imprisoned), that I may give thanks to your name; the righteous will gather to me (to give thanks with me and over me, as over the lost sheep, Luc. 25:5, 6), because you do me good (that is, show comfort for disaster, help for wickedness, amen).
Sixth, it is necessary not to doubt the promise of the true and faithful God. For this very reason he promised to hear, and even commanded to ask, so that one may know and have firm faith that it will be heard. As Christ says, Matth. 21, 22. and Marc. 11, 24.: "Truly I say to you, whatever you ask, believe that you will receive it, and it will surely be done"; item, Luc. 11, 9. 10.: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For where is there among you a son who asks his father for bread, and he offers him a stone for it? etc. If ye then, being evil, can give good things to your children, how much more shall the heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him?
(7) That the same person may know Christ rightly, that through Him alone all our sins are paid for and God's grace is given to us, so that he does not deal with God through himself without this mediator.
8 If, after such a remedy, the challenge begins to become more severe, do not try anything.
Do something else, but stay with the above advice. For this great temptation is a good sign that it will soon come to an end, and that the devil is very near to being overcome, only that he is trying his hardest. For even Pharaoh never persecuted the children of Israel more fiercely than at the end, Genesis 14:4. In addition, it is also seen in physical weakness, when the medicine works and helps the person, that it makes him sickest of all beforehand. Therefore, this person should hope and have good comfort.
Proverbs from the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the 1st book of Moses.
God the Lord commanded the man, saying, "You shall eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Gen. 2, 16. 17.)
And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat of, and pleasant to look upon, that it was a goodly tree, because it made wise: and she took of the fruit, and did eat, and gave it also unto her husband, and he did eat etc. (Gen. 3, 6.)
God the Lord called Adam and said to him, "Where are you? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid; for I am naked, therefore I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou art naked? Hast thou not eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat thereof? And Adam said, The woman whom thou hast set before me gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Then God the Lord said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? The woman said, The serpent so deceived me that I ate etc. Then said God the Lord, I will put enmity between thee and the woman; and
between thy seed and their seed; the same shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Gen. 3, 9. ff.)
As through one man sin came into the world, and death through sin, and so death has come through to all men, because they are all sinners etc. As by one man's sin came condemnation upon all men; so also by one man's sin came righteousness etc., Rom. 5, 12.
Proverbs from the 2nd, 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th chapters of Zachariah.
Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls before the great multitude of men and cattle that shall be therein; and I will be, saith the Lord, a fiery wall round about, and will be in it, and will shew myself glorious in it etc. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye. (Zach. 2, 4. 5. 8.)
Daughter of Zion, rejoice greatly, and daughter of Jerusalem, exult; behold, your king comes to you, a righteous man and a helper, poor, riding on an ass etc. (Cap. 9, 9.)
Thus says the Lord my God: Beware of sheep for slaughter, for their masters slaughter them and think it no sin, sell them and say: Praise be to the Lord, I am now rich. (Cap. 11, 4. 5.)
On the house of David and on the citizens of Jerusalem I will pour out the spirit of grace and prayer etc. (Cap. 12, 10.)
Sword, arise upon my shepherd, and upon the man that is next unto me, saith the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the flock will be scattered; then I will turn my hand to the little ones etc. (Cap. 13, 7.)