Of the ten commandments in general.
Short form to consider the ten commandments, faith and Our Father.*)
Grace and peace to all my dear lords and brothers in Christ! Among other harmful doctrines and books, so that Christians are deceived and defrauded, and countless misbeliefs have arisen, I do not consider the prayer books to be the least, in which so many miseries of confession and telling of sins, so unchristian foolishness in the prayers to God and His saints are driven into the simple, and yet they are puffed up with indulgences and red titles, in addition to delicious names written on them: one is called Hortulus animae (i.e. little garden of the soul), the other Paradisus animae (i.e. paradise of the soul), and so on. One is called Hortulus animae (little garden of the soul), the other Paradisus animae (paradise of the soul), and so on; so that they would be worthy of a strong good reformation, or would be completely destroyed. Which judgment I also pass on the Passional or Legend books, in which the devil has also thrown in many additions.
But since I do not have the time, and such reformation alone is too much for me, I will leave it at this admonition for now, until God gives time and grace, and in the meantime hold up this simple Christian form and mirror for recognizing sins and praying, according to the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer.
And I am certain that a Christian man has prayed superfluously if he prays the Lord's Prayer correctly, as often as he likes and in whatever way he likes. For a good prayer does not depend on many words, as Christ says in Matthew 6, but on many and often heartfelt sighs to God, which should be without ceasing.
Please, let everyone get rid of the Brigittine prayers and all others that are painted with indulgence or promise, and get used to this common, simple, Christian prayer again, which is of the kind, the more and longer it is practiced, the sweeter and funnier it becomes. To this end, may the Master of such prayer, our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who is eternal, help us, amen.
Preface.
This has not happened without a special order of God, that the common Christian man, who is not able to read the Scriptures, is commanded to learn and know the Ten Commandments, the faith and the Lord's Prayer. In these three pieces, everything that is written in the Scriptures and may always be preached, as well as everything that is necessary for a Christian to know.
*) This short form is already in Part III, but as there only a part of it, it appears here in its completeness.
The text is thorough and superfluous. And written with such brevity and ease that no one can complain or excuse himself that it is too much or too difficult to remember what he needs for salvation. For three things are necessary for a man to know, that he may be saved.
First, that he may know what to do and what not to do. Second, when he sees that he cannot do or leave it by his own strength, that he may know where to take it, seek it, and find it, that he may do and leave it. Third, that he may know how to seek and get it. As for a sick person, the first thing he needs to know is what his illness is, what he may or may not do or leave. Then it is necessary that he knows where the medicine is that will help him, so that he may do and not do what a healthy person does. Third, he must seek out his desire and bring it or have it brought to him.
Thus the commandments teach man to recognize his sickness, that he sees and feels what he can do and not do, let and not let, and recognizes himself a sinner and evil man.
Then faith holds out to him and teaches him where to find the medicine, the grace, that helps him to become devout, to keep the commandments; and shows him God and His mercy, shown and offered in Christ.
Third, the Lord's Prayer teaches him how to desire it, how to get it, and how to bring it to Himself, namely, with proper, humble, comforting prayer; then it will be given to him, and thus he will be blessed through the fulfillment of God's commandments. These are the three things in all of Scripture.
Therefore, we begin to teach the commandments first and recognize our sin and wickedness, that is, spiritual sickness, by which we neither do nor refrain from doing as we ought.
[The first panel.]
The first and right tablet of Moses comprehends the first three commandments, in which man is taught what he should and owes to God, that is, how he should behave toward God.
I. The first commandment teaches how a man should conduct himself inwardly toward God in his heart, that is, what he should always remember, keep and respect about Him, namely, that he should do everything good toward Him as toward a father and a good friend, in all faithfulness, belief and love, with fear at all times, so that he does not offend Him as a child does his father.
For this teaches nature, that there is one God who gives all good things and helps in all evil, as the idols of the heathen indicate; and thus it reads:
"You shall not have other gods."
II. The other commandment teaches how man is to conduct himself toward God outwardly in words before men, or inwardly before himself, namely, that he honor God's name. For no one may show God either before himself or before men according to the divine nature, but by his name. And thus reads:
"You shall not uselessly take the name of your God."
The third commandment teaches how man is to conduct himself outwardly toward God in works, that is, in worship, and reads thus:
"Thou shalt hallow the holiday."
So these three commandments teach man how he should act with God in thoughts, words, works, that is, in his whole life.
[The other tablet of Moses.]
The other and left tablet of Moses contains the seven following commandments, in which man is taught what he owes to people and his neighbor to leave and to do.
IV. The first teaches how to behave toward all authorities who sit in God's stead. Therefore, before other commandments, it follows the first three, which concern God Himself, as father and mother, lords and wives (spiritual and secular) etc., and reads thus:
"You shall honor your father and mother."
V. The other teaches how to behave toward one's own person for the sake of one's equal or neighbor, so as not to offend it, but to promote and help it where it needs it, and reads thus:
"Thou shalt not kill."
The third teaches how to treat one's neighbor's highest good according to one's own person, that is, one's spouse, child or friend. That one does not disgrace them, but keeps them in honor, as far as it is possible for everyone, and reads thus:
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
VII The fourth teaches how to behave toward one's neighbor's temporal good, not to take it away or hinder it, but to promote it, and reads thus:
"Thou shalt not steal."
VIII. The fifth teaches how to behave against one's neighbor's temporal honor and good gossip, so that one does not weaken it, but rather protects and preserves it, and reads thus:
"Thou shalt not speak false witness against thy neighbor."
Thus it is forbidden to harm in all the goods of one's neighbor, and commanded to pity him.
If we now look at the natural law, we find how reasonable and equal all these commandments are. For nothing is commanded here to be kept against God and neighbor that anyone would not have kept if he were God, in God's and his neighbor's stead.
IX. and X. The last two commandments teach how evil nature is and how pure we should be from all lusts of the flesh and goods. But there remains war and work while we live here. They are thus:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house."
"You shall not covet his wife, servant, maid, cattle, or what is his."
Short resolution of the ten commandments,
as Christ himself speaks, Matth. 7, 12..:
"Whatever you want men to do to you, do the same to them. This is the whole law and all the prophets." For no one wants to suffer ingratitude for his good deeds, or to leave his name to another. No one wants to show hope against him. No one wants to suffer disobedience, wrath, unchastity of his consecration, robbery of his goods, lies, deceit, after-talk; but to find love and friendship, thanksgiving and help, truth and faithfulness from his neighbor. All these things are commanded by the Ten Commandments.
The transgression of the ten commandments.
Against the first.
Who in his repulsiveness seeks sorcery, black art, devil's confederate.
Who uses letters, signs, herbs, words, blessings and the like.
Whoever practices wishing, treasure conjuring, crystal seeing, coat driving, milk stealing.
He who directs his work and life according to chosen days, celestial signs and the diviner's conceit.
He who blesses and invokes himself, his cattle, house, children and all kinds of property against wolves, iron, fire, water, damage, with several prayers.
He who ascribes his misfortune and repulsiveness to the devil or evil men and does not receive with love and praise all evil and good from God alone and carry it home to Him again with thanksgiving and willing serenity.
Whoever tempts God and enters into unnecessary danger of body or soul.
He who is hopeful in his piety, understanding, or other spiritual gifts.
He who honors God and the saints, forgetting the distress of the soul, only for the sake of temporal benefit.
He who does not trust in God at all times and does not have confidence in God's mercy in all his works.
Who doubts faith or God's grace.
He who does not prevent others from unbelieving and doubting, and does not help them to believe and trust in God's grace as much as he is able.
And that is where all unbelief, despair, and disbelief belong.
Against the second.
He who easily swears without need or out of habit.
He who swears a false oath or breaks his vow.
He who vows or swears to do evil. .
He who curses with God's name.
He who speaks foolish fables about God and recklessly perverts the words of Scripture.
He who does not call on God's name in his adversity, and does not pray in love and sorrow, in happiness and adversity.
He who seeks glory and honor and name from his piety, wisdom etc.
Whoever calls on God's name falsely, or gives false doctrine, as the heretics and all trustworthy saints.
He who does not praise God's name in all things that come before him.
He who does not defend others who dishonor God's name, use it falsely, and work evil through it.
And therefore belongs the vain honor, glory and spiritual hope.
Against the third.
Those who devour, drink, gamble, dance, idle, unchaste.
He who practices laziness, oversleeping God's office, neglecting, walking, chattering uselessly.
He who works and acts without special need.
He who does not pray, does not consider the suffering of Christ, does not repent of his sin and desire mercy, so only celebrates outwardly with clothes, food, offerings.
*) [He who does not hear or teach God's word.
He who does not pray and serve God spiritually.
He who does not let all his works be God's word.
*) What is included in [ ] is not in the original.
He who is not patient and breaks his will and kills].
He who does not stand calmly in all his works and sufferings, so that God may do with him as he wills.
He who does not help others to do all these things and refuses to do them. And here sloth belongs to the service of God.
[Here belong all hopeful, stubborn, unruly minds.]
Against the fourth.
Who is ashamed of armuth, infirmity, contempt of his parents.
Who does not provide them with their necessities of food and clothing.
Rather, whoever curses them, strikes them, talks back to them, hates them, and disobeys them.
Who does not think highly of them from the heart, for the sake of God's command.
He who does not honor them, even though they do wrong and violence.
Those who do not keep the commandments of the Christian Church with fasting, feasting etc.
He who dishonors the priesthood, insinuates and insults.
He who does not honor his lords and authorities, is faithful and obedient, whether they are good or evil. In this are all heretics, apostates, apostates, exiles, hardened etc.
He that helpeth not this commandment, and resisteth the transgressors thereof. And here belong all hopefulness, [rebellion, unfaithfulness] and disobedience.
Against the fifth.
He who is angry with his neighbor.
Whoever says to him Racha, these are all kinds of signs of anger and hatred.
Whoever says to him, Fatue, you fool, these are all kinds of shameful words, curses, blasphemies, slander, judging, judging, mocking language etc.
He who reproves his neighbor's sin or infirmity and does not cover and excuse it.
He who does not forgive his enemies, does not pray for them, is not kind, does not do good.
And in this are all the sins of anger and hatred: as killing, war, robbing, burning, quarreling, struggling, mourning one's neighbor's happiness, rejoicing in his misfortune.
He who does not practice the works of mercy even against his enemies.
Who hustles or hangs people together.
He who makes dissension between others
He who does not reconcile those who disagree.
He who does not resist or forestall wrath and dissension where he can.
Against the sixth.
He who weakens virgins, commits adultery, commits incest and such unchastity.
Those who use unnatural ways or persons, which are silent sins.
Whoever stimulates or arouses evil desire with shameful words, songs, histories, pictures.
He who irritates and defiles himself with seeing, grasping, consenting, thinking.
Who does not avoid the cause: as eating, drinking, idleness, laziness, sleeping and female or male companionship.
Whoever incites others to unchastity with superfluous jewelry, gestures etc.
Whoever allows house, space, time, help to do such sin.
He who does not help preserve another's chastity with counsel and action.
Against the seventh.
Those who practice thievery and robbery, avarice and usury.
Whoever uses weights and measures wrongly, or spends evil goods for good ones.
Who takes unjust hereditary property and interest.
He who withholds deserved reward and denies guilt.
The one who does not lend or borrow to his poor neighbor without any extra charge.
All who are stingy and hurry to become rich.
And how else foreign good is kept or brought to itself.
He who does not prevent harm to others.
He who does not warn the other from harm.
He who prevents his neighbor's advantage.
He who has his neighbor's gainest vexation.
Against the eighth.
Who conceals and suppresses the truth in court.
Who lies and deceives harmfully.
Item, all harmful flatterers, ear-blowers and two-faced people.
He who misinterprets and disparages his neighbor's goods, life, works and words.
He who gives way to the same evil tongues helps and does not resist.
He who does not need his tongue to excuse his neighbor's name.
He who does not punishes the afterreder.
Who does not say everything good of everyone and conceals everything bad.
He who conceals the truth or does not uphold it.
Against the last two.
The two last commandments do not belong in confession, but are set as the goal and the measure, where we are to come, and work towards it daily through repentance with the help and grace of God. For the evil inclination does not die thoroughly until the flesh becomes powder and is created anew.
The five senses are included in the fifth and sixth commandments.
The six works of mercy in the fifth and seventh.
The seven deadly sins, pride in the first and others; unchastity in the sixth; anger and hatred in the fifth; gluttony in the sixth; sloth in the third and probably in all.
The strange sins are in all the commandments; for with hotness, counsel, and help against all the commandments may be sinned against.
The calling (i.e. crying out to heaven) and silent sins are against the fifth and sixth and seventh commandments.
In all these works one sees nothing else, but one's own love, which seeks its own, takes from God what is his and from men what is theirs, and does not give either God or men anything of what it has, is and is able to do. That Augustine says: The beginning of all sin is the own love of oneself.
From all this it follows that the commandments command nothing but love and forbid love, and that nothing fulfills the commandments but love, nor transgresses anything but love. Therefore St. Paul says that love is the fulfillment of all the commandments, just as evil love is the transgression of all the commandments.
The fulfillment of the same.
Of the first.
Fear God and love in the right faith, and always trust firmly in all works, standing completely, purely, calmly in all things, whether they be evil or good.
Here belong all that is written in all Scripture about faith, hope and the love of God, all of which is recently included in this commandment.
The other.
Praise, honor, dedication and invocation of God's name, and completely destroy his own name and honor, so that God alone may be praised, who alone is and works all things.
Here belongs all that is taught of God's praise, honor, thanksgiving, name, joy in the Scriptures.
The third.
To prepare oneself for God and to seek mercy is done by praying, hearing the Mass and the Gospel, and considering Christ's suffering, and thus spiritually going to the Sacrament. [For this commandment requires a spiritually poor soul, who offers her own, not His, before God, that He may be her God and receive in her His work and name according to the first two commandments.
Here belongs all that is commanded of worship, hearing preaching, and good works, casting the body under the Spirit, that all our works are God's and not ours.
Of the fourth.
Willing obedience, humility, submission to all authority for the sake of God's good pleasure, as the apostle St. Peter says, without all barking, complaining and grumbling.
Here belongs everything that is written about obedience, humility, submission, reverence.
Of the fifth.
Patience, gentleness, goodness, peace, unity, mercy, and above all, a sweet, kind heart, without all hatred,
Anger, bitterness against any person, even the enemies.
Here belong all the teachings of patience, meekness, peace, unity etc.
The sixth.
Chastity, discipline, modesty in works, words, gestures and thoughts. Also moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping and everything that is conducive to chastity.
Here belong all the teachings of chastity, fasting, sobriety, temperance, prayer, vigilance, work, and with what chastity is maintained.
Of the seventh.
Poverty of spirit, gentleness, willingness to lend and give one's goods, living without all avarice and covetousness.
This includes all teachings about avarice, unjust goods, usury, cunning, fraud, harm, and the hindrance of one's neighbor to temporal goods.
The eighth.
A peaceful, wholesome tongue that harms no one and pampers everyone, that reconciles those who disagree, that excuses and defends those who are reviled; that is, truth and simplicity in words.
Here belong all the teachings of silence and speech, which concerns the neighbor's honor, right, cause and blessedness.
The last two.
That is, perfect chastity and contempt of temporal lust and goods thoroughly accomplished in that life alone.
In all these works, nothing else is seen, but foreign, general, that is, God's and neighbor's love, which does not seek what is yours, but what is God's and neighbor's, and freely surrenders to everyone's own, service and will.
So you see that in the ten commandments all the teachings that are necessary for human life are included in a very orderly and recent way; which if he wants to keep, he has to do good works every hour, so that he does not have to choose other works, run here and there and do that, where nothing is commanded.
All this is clearly indicated by the fact that nothing is taught in these commandments about what man should do or leave for himself, or what he should desire from others, but what he should do and leave for others, for God and for men, so that we must understand that the fulfillment lies in love toward others and not toward ourselves. For man already does, lets, and seeks too much for himself, so that it is not necessary to teach, but to defend.
Therefore he lives best who does not live for himself, and he lives worst who lives for himself. For thus teach the ten commandments. From this it is seen how few men live well, indeed, how few men can live well. Therefore, when we know this, we must learn how to live well and fulfill the commandments.
Kuye form to consider the faith.
Jesus.
The faith is divided into three main parts, according to which the three persons of the holy divine Trinity are enumerated therein: the first is to be appropriated to the Father, the second to the Son, the third to the Holy Spirit. For this is the highest article of faith, in which the others all hang.
Here it is to be noted that faith is believed in two ways: first, by God, that is, when I believe that what is said of God is true. Just as when I believe that it is true what is said about the Turk, the devil, hell; this belief is more a science or remark than a belief.
On the other hand, faith is believed in God, that is, when I not only believe that what is said of God is true, but put my trust in Him, go and awaken myself to act with Him, and believe without all doubt that He will be and do to me as He is said to be. In which way I do not believe the Turk or man, how highly one praises his praise. For I easily believe that a man is pious, therefore I dare not trust in him.
Such faith, which dares to trust in God, as it is said of Him, it is in life
or dying, he alone makes a Christian man and obtains from God everything he wants. He may not have an evil, false heart; for this is a living faith, and it is commanded in the first commandment, which says, "I am thy God, thou shalt have no other gods."
Therefore the little word "in" is almost well put and to be observed with diligence, that we do not say: I believe God the Father or of the Father, but in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit; and faith is to be given to no one but God alone. Therefore the deity of JESUS Christ and of the Holy Spirit is confessed, that we believe in HIM as in the Father. And as it is the same faith in all three persons, so also the three persons are One God.
The first part of faith.
"I believe in God the Father, Almighty Creator of heaven and earth."
That is, I renounce the evil spirit, all idolatry, sorcery and misbelief.
I do not put my trust in any man on earth, not even in myself, nor in my power, art, goods, piety, or what I may have.
I do not put my trust in any creature, be it in heaven or on earth.
I awake and place my trust solely in the mere invisible, incomprehensible, only God, who created heaven and earth and is alone over all creatures; again, I am not astonished at all the wickedness of the devil and his company; for my God is over them all.
I nevertheless believe in God whether I would be abandoned or persecuted by all people.
I believe, nevertheless, whether I am poor, unintelligent, unlearned, despised, or lacking in anything.
I nevertheless believe whether I am a sinner. For this faith of mine shall and must be above all that is and is not, above sin and virtue, and above all things, that it may abide in God pure and clean, as the first commandment enjoins me.
162 E. 22,16-19. First main part. Of the ten commandments in general. W. X. 199-202. 163
Nor do I desire any sign from him to try him.
I constantly trust in him, how long he will go on, and do not set him any goal, time, measure or way, but leave it all to his divine will in a free sincere faith.
If he is almighty, what can I lack that he will not give me and do for me?
If he is the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Lord of all things, who will take or harm me? Yes, how will not all things do me good and serve me, if he grants me good, to whom they are all obedient and subject?
Because he is God, he is able and knows how to do it with me in the best way. Because he is a father, he also wants to do it and does it with great pleasure.
Because I do not doubt this and put my trust in him, I am certainly his child, servant and heir forever, and it will happen to me as I believe.
The second part.
"And in JESUS Christ, His only Son, our Lord."
That is, I believe not only that Jesus Christ is truly, uniquely the Son of God, born in an eternal divine nature and being, from eternity everlasting; but also that all things are subject to him from the Father. And also after mankind is set up mine and all things one Lord, which he created with the Father according to the Godhead.
I believe that no one can believe in the Father or come to the Father by art, works, reason, or anything else that can be named in heaven or on earth, but only in and through Jesus Christ, His only Son, that is, by faith in His name and Lordship.
"Who is conceived of the Holy Ghost."
I firmly believe that he is too well conceived for me by the Holy Spirit, without any human or carnal work, without any fleshly father or man's seed, that he may purify my and all who believe in him, sinful, carnal, unclean, damnable conception.
and made spiritual by the gracious will of His and the Almighty Father.
"Born of the Virgin Mary."
I believe that he was born to me of the pure Virgin Mary without any harm to her bodily and spiritual virginity, so that, according to the order of fatherly mercy, he may redeem, make harmless and purify my sinful and damned birth and that of all his faithful.
"Suffered under Pontio Pilato."
I believe that he bore his suffering and cross for my sin and that of all believers, and thereby blessed all suffering and cross, and made it not only harmless but also salvific and highly meritorious.
"Crucified, Died and Buried."
I believe that he died and was buried to completely kill and bury my sin and all his believers. To this end, he strangled bodily death and made it completely harmless, useful and salvific.
"Down to Hell."
I believe that he descended to hell to subdue and imprison the devil and all his violence, cunning and wickedness to me and his believers, so that the devil cannot harm me, and delivered me from the torment of hell, making the same harmless and meritorious.
"Risen from the dead the third day."
I believe that he rose from the dead on the third day to give me and all his faithful a new life, and that he raised them up with him in grace and spirit, never to sin again, but to serve him alone in all graces and virtues [and thus to fulfill the commandments of God].
"Ascended to heaven, seated at the right hand of God etc."
I believe that he ascended into heaven and received from the Father authority and glory over all angels and creatures, and so sits at the right hand of God, that is, he is a king and lord over all God's goods in heaven, hell and earth. The-
so that he can help me and all believers in all our troubles against all our adversaries and enemies.
"From then on he will come to judge the living and the dead."
I believe that he will come again from heaven on the last day to judge the living, who will then be found out, and the dead, who have died in the meantime. And all men, all angels and devils, must come before his judgment seat and see him bodily, to deliver me and all his faithful from bodily death and all infirmities, and to punish forever our enemies and adversaries, and to deliver us from their power forever.
The third part.
"I believe in the Holy Spirit."
That is, I believe not only that the Holy Spirit is a true God with the Father and the Son, but also that in and to the Father through Christ and His life, suffering, death and all that is said of Him, no one can come or obtain anything of the same without the work of the Holy Spirit, by which the Father and the Son stir, awaken, call, draw me and all His own, make them alive, holy and spiritual through and in Christ, and thus bring them to the Father. For this is he, that the Father by Christ and in Christ might work and quicken all things.
"A Holy Christian Church."
I believe that on earth, as far as the world is, there is no more than one holy, universal, Christian church, which is nothing else than the congregation or assembly of the saints, the devout believing people on earth, which is gathered, maintained and governed by the same Holy Spirit and is daily increased in the sacraments and Word of God.
I believe that no one can be saved who is not found in this church, united with it in one faith, word, sacrament, hope and love; and no Jew, pagan, heretic or sinner can be saved with it unless he is reconciled to it, united with it and conformed to it in all things.
"The congregation of the saints."
I believe that in this community or Christianity all things are common, and that every man's goods are his own, and that no man's goods are his own. Therefore, all the prayers and good works of the whole community must come to my aid, help and strengthen me and every believer at all times in life and death. And so "each one bears the other's burden," as St. Paul teaches the Galatians, Cap. 6, 2.
"Forgiveness of sins."
I believe that there is forgiveness of sins in the same congregation and nowhere else, that outside of it nothing helps, however much and great the good works may be, for the forgiveness of sins. But within it nothing hurts, however much, great and often sins may be committed, for the forgiveness of sins, which remains where and how long the same some church remains. Which Christ gives the keys, saying, Matt. 18:13: "[What ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven] What ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The same to the individual Peter, in place and meaning of the individual united church, Matth. 16, 19.: "What you will untie" etc.
"Resurrection of the flesh."
I believe that there is a resurrection of the dead to come, in which by the same Holy Spirit all flesh, that is, all men according to the body or flesh, both pious and wicked, will be raised again, so that the same flesh that died, was buried, decayed, and perished in various ways, will come back and live.
"And an eternal life."
I believe that after the resurrection there will be eternal life for the saints and eternal death for sinners. And do not doubt that the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, with and in the Holy Spirit, will make all these things happen to me; that is, amen, that is, it is faithfully and certainly true.
166 E. 22,21-23. First main part. Of the ten commandments in general. W. X, 204-207. 167
Short form, like praying the Lord's Prayer.
Preface and preparation to ask the seven petitions of God.
"Our Father, who art in heaven."
Opinion.
O Almighty God, because by Your causeless mercy You have not only permitted us, but also commanded and taught us through Your only dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that through His merit and means we should esteem and call You a Father, if You would be a strict judge of us sinners according to all justice, who have done so much and so grievously against Your divine, most excellent will and have provoked You to anger.
By the same mercy, give us a comforting confidence of your fatherly love in our hearts, and let us feel the sweetest taste and sweetness of childlike security, so that we can joyfully call you a father, love you and call upon you in all our troubles. Protect us that we may remain your children and not be guilty of making a terrible judge out of you, dearest Father, and of making enemies of ourselves out of children.
You also want us to call You not only "Father" but also "our Father" in common, and thus pray for all of us together. Therefore, give us a great brotherly love, so that we may all recognize and respect each other as true brothers and sisters, and pray to you as one, our dear Father, for all and everyone, as one child does for another toward his father.
Let no one among us seek his own, or forget the other before thee; but, having put away all hatred, envy, and strife, let us love one another as the true, pious children of God, and so say with one accord, not "my Father," but "our Father."
Also because you are not a father in the flesh who is on earth, but you who are in heaven are a spiritual father who does not die and is uncertain, or cannot help himself
as the earthly and fleshly father; that thou mayest show us how exceedingly thou art a better father, and teach temporal fatherhood, fatherland, friends, goods, flesh and blood to despise before thee.
So grant us, O Father, that we may also be your heavenly children, teach us to be aware of the souls and the heavenly inheritance alone, so that the temporal fatherland and earthly inheritance do not deceive us, encompass us, hinder us and make us completely earthly children, so that we may say with right true reason: O heavenly Father ours, and we are truly your heavenly children.
The first request.
"Hallowed be thy name."
Opinion is:
O almighty God, dear heavenly Father, your holy name is unfortunately profaned, blasphemed and reviled in so many ways in this wretched valley of misery, it is appropriated to many things, since your honor is not on, it is also misused in many ways and for sins, so that even the shameful life may well be called a disgrace and dishonor to your holy name.
Therefore, grant us your divine grace to beware of all that is not for the glory and labors of your holy name. Help that all sorcery and false blessings be stopped. Help that all conjuration of the devil or creatures by thy name cease. Help to root out all unbelief and superstition. Help that all heresies, false teachings, which present themselves in the appearance of your name, are destroyed. Help that all false appearances of truth, piety, holiness deceive no one.
Help that no one swear, lie or deceive by your name. Protect us from all false comforts invented under your name. Keep us from all spiritual hope and the vain glory of temporal fame or name. Help us to call upon your holy name in all our troubles and afflictions. Help us not to forget your name in the anguish of our conscience and at our last death. Help us, that in all our goods, words
and works praise and honor you alone; do not give us a name from it or seek it, but to you alone, of whom all things are alone. Keep us from the shameful vice of ingratitude.
Help that from our good works and lives all others may be provoked, not to praise us, but to praise you in us and to honor your name. Help us that from our evil works or infirmities no one may be provoked to dishonor your name or to slacken your praise. Keep us from desiring anything, either temporal or eternal, that is not honor and praise to your name; and if we ask such things, do not hear our foolishness. Help that our lives may be such that we may be found to be true children of God, that your fatherly name may not be called upon us in vain or falsely, amen.
And in the prayer belong all psalms and prayers, praising God inside, honoring, singing, giving thanks, and the whole Hallelujah.
The second request.
"Come thy kingdom."
Opinion.
This miserable life is a realm of all sin and wickedness, in which the evil spirit is a lord, a beginning and main scandal to all wickedness and sin.
But your kingdom is a kingdom of all grace and virtue, in which one Lord is Christ Jesus, your dear Son, the head and beginning of all grace and virtue.
Therefore, help and grace us, dear Father. Give us, above all things, a right steadfast faith in Christ, an undaunted hope in your mercy against all the stupidity of our sinful conscience, a fervent sweet love for you and all people. Protect us from unbelief and despair and final envy.
Help us from the unseemly lust of unchastity and give us a love for virginity and all chastity. Help us from discord, war, and strife, and grant us the virtue of your kingdom, peace, unity, and tranquility. Help us so that there will be no anger or other bitterness in us.
Let us not be overtaken by your kingdom, but let simple sweetness and brotherly faithfulness and all kinds of friendship, gentleness and meekness reign in us through your grace. Help that there be no disorderly gloom and melancholy in us, but let joy and gladness come to us in your grace and mercy.
And finally, that all sin may be turned away from us, and that we, full of your grace, of all virtue and good works, may become your kingdom, that all our hearts, minds and spirits may serve you with all our strength, inwardly and outwardly, according to your commandments and will, and let ourselves be ruled by you alone, not following you or the flesh, the world or the devil.
Help that such a kingdom of yours, begun in us, may increase and grow daily, that we may not be overtaken by cunning wickedness, by slothfulness in the service of God, lest we fall back again; but give us an earnest purpose and ability, not only to be lifted up in godliness, but rather to continue and accomplish it boldly, as the prophet says, Ps. 13:4, 5: "Enlighten mine eyes, lest I fall asleep," or become slothful in the good life begun, "and so the enemy become mighty again."
Help us to remain steadfast, so that your future kingdom will conclude and complete the kingdom you have begun. Help us out of this sinful, dangerous life; help us desire that life and become enemies of it. Help us not to fear death, but to desire it. Turn away from us the love and attachment of this life, so that your kingdom may be accomplished in us in all things.
And in this petition belong all psalms, verses and prayers, as one asks for grace and virtue from God.
The third request.
"Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth."
Opinion.
Our will, considered against your will, is never good, but always evil; your will, considered against your will, is never good, but always evil; your will, considered against your will, is never good, but always evil.
But the will is always the best, to love and desire supremely. Therefore, have mercy on us, O dear Father, and do not let anything happen according to our will. Give and teach us to be patient thoroughly when our will is broken or hindered. Help us, if someone speaks, conceals, does or lets something that is contrary to our will, that we do not become angry and wicked because of it, do not curse, do not complain, do not cry out, do not judge, do not condemn, do not contradict etc. Help us to give way humbly to our adversaries and hinderers of our will and to let ours go; to praise them, to bless them, to do them good, as to those who accomplish your divine best will against our will.
Give us grace that we may willingly endure all sickness, poverty, humiliation, suffering and adversity and recognize that it is your divine will to crucify our will. Help us to suffer injustice gladly, and protect us from vengeance. Let us not pay evil with evil, drive out violence with violence, but in such thy will, which inflicts the same upon us, let us be pleased, praise thee, and give thanks unto thee. Let us not be ascribed to the devil or evil men when something happens to us against our will, but only to your divine will, which arranges everything for our will's hindrance and for more blessedness in your kingdom.
Help us that we may die willingly and cheerfully, and gladly receive death in thy will, that we may not disobey thee with impatience or despondency. Help that all our limbs, eyes, tongues, hearts, hands, and feet may not be left to their desires nor will, but may be caught, staked (put in stocks), and broken in thy will. Protect us from all evil, unruly, stubborn, stiff-necked, obstinate and self-will.
Give us a right obedience, a perfect, living serenity in all things, spiritual, worldly, temporal and eternal. Protect us from the cruel vice of backbiting, slandering, after-talking, free judging, condemning, promising other people. O, the great misfortune and the heavy plague
Turn away such a tongue from us, but teach us that when we see or hear something criminal and displeasing to us from others, that we conceal it, cover it up, lament it to you alone and surrender it to your will, and thus cordially forgive all our debtors and have compassion on them.
Teach us to know that no one may harm us, but harm him a thousand times more before your eyes, so that we may be moved more to mercy on him than to anger, more to lament him than to avenge him. Help us not to rejoice when things go badly for those who have not done our will, or who have done us harm, or who are otherwise displeased in their lives, nor to grieve when things go well for them.
And in this petition belong all psalms, verses and prayers, as one prays against sin and enemies within.
The fourth request.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
Opinion.
The bread is our Lord Jesus Christ, who feeds and comforts the soul. Therefore, O heavenly Father, give grace that Christ's life, word, works and sufferings may be preached, known and preserved to us and to all the world. Help us to have his word and works in all our lives as a powerful example and mirror of all virtues. Help that in suffering and adversity we may be strengthened and comforted by and in his suffering and cross. Help that we may overcome our death through his death in firm faith and thus boldly follow the dear forerunner into that life.
Give grace that all preachers may preach your word and Christ to all the world in a useful and blessed way; help that all who hear your word preach may learn to recognize Christ and honestly improve themselves by it. Thou wilt also graciously drive out of the holy church all strange preaching and teaching, since Christ is not learned.' Have mercy on all
Bishops, priests, clergy and all authorities, that they, enlightened by your grace, teach and guide us rightly with words and good examples. Protect all the weak believers, so that they do not get angry because of the evil example of the authorities.
Protect us from heretical and apostate teachers, that we may remain one in daily bread, in daily teaching and in the word of Christ. Teach us by your grace to consider Christ's suffering rightly, to grasp it heartily, and to form it blessedly into our lives. Let us not be deprived of the holy, true body of Christ at our last end. Help that all priests act and use the reverend Sacrament worthily and blessedly, for the betterment of all Christianity. Help that we and all Christians may blessedly receive the holy Sacrament in its time with grace.
[Give us blessed peace and unity in all lands. Protect us from war and strife and all discord, so that we may use our daily bread and bodily nourishment with quiet peace in praise of you. Give all kings, princes, lords and rulers good sense and faithful will to govern their subjects blessedly and peacefully. Protect all subjects from rebellion and all disobedience.
Teach us by your Spirit divine stewardship, children and servants Christian government for your service, praise and glory. Protect our children and servants from sin and shame, from danger and harm to body and soul. Protect the fruits of the field and all livestock from storms, poison, wild animals and all harm etc.
Thou wilt graciously comfort and remit all captives, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the miserable widows, the orphans, the sick and the afflicted] And Summa Summarum, give us our daily bread, that Christ may abide in us, and we in him, forever, and bear worthily the name that we are called Christians by him.
In this petition belong all prayers or psalms, where one prays for the authorities, especially against false teachers, for the Jews, heretics and all erroneous people, also for all afflicted and desolate [poor, meager], suffering people.
The fifth request.
"And cancel our debt as we cancel our debtors."
Opinion.
This request has an appendix and a condition, that we first forgive our debtors; when this is done, we may then say: Forgive us our debt. And this is asked above in the third petition, that God's will be done; who wills that all things should be patiently suffered, and that evil should not be given for evil, nor vengeance sought, but good should be given for evil, as our Father does in heaven, Matt. 5:45, "Who maketh his sun to rise on the upright and on the wicked, and sendeth rain on them that give him thanks and give him no thanks." Therefore we pray, O Father, comfort our consciences, both now and at our last end, which is terrified and will be terrified by our sins and by your judgment. Give your peace to our hearts, that we may await your judgment with joy. "Enter not with us into the fierceness of thy judgment, for there shall no man be found justified," Ps. 145:2. Teach us, dear Father, not to rely or take comfort in our good works or merits, but to dare and surrender to thy causeless mercy alone, purely and firmly. In the same way, let us not despair for the sake of our sinful lives, but let us esteem your mercy higher, broader, stronger than all our lives.
Help all people who are in mortal distress and in the anguish of such despair, and especially the N. or the N., forgive them and all of us our trespasses, comfort them and receive them into grace.
Give us your goodness for our wickedness, as you have commanded us to do. Silence the cruel adulterer, accuser, and magnifier of our sin, the evil spirit, now and at our end, and in all the anguish of knowledge, while we also refrain from adulterating and magnifying the sin of men. Judge us not according to the accusations of the devil and of our wretched conscience, and hear not the voice of our enemies, who accuse us before thee day and night, as though they were
we do not want to hear the after-talkers and accusers of others.
Take from us the heavy burden of all sin and conscience, that we may live and die, suffer all things and do all things with a light and joyful heart in full confidence of your mercy.
And in this petition belong all the psalms and prayers that invoke the mercy of God for sin.
The sixth request.
"And lead us not into temptations." The opinion is:
We have three temptations or temptations: the flesh, the world, the devil. Therefore we pray: Dear Father, give us grace that we may compel the lust of the flesh. Help us to resist its superfluous eating and drinking, sleeping, lounging, idleness. Help us to make it serviceable and capable of good works through fasting, moderate food, clothing, storage, watchkeeping, and work. Help us to put on the cross and kill his evil inclination to unchastity and all his lusts and desires with Christ, so that we do not grant or follow any of his temptations. Help us, if we see a beautiful man, image or other creature, that this may not be a temptation, but a cause for us to love chastity and to praise you in your creatures. Help us, if we hear something sweet, if we feel something lovely, so that we do not seek pleasure in it, but rather your praise and honor.
Protect us from the great vice of avarice and covetousness of the riches of this world. Protect us that we do not seek the honor and power of this world or consent to this inclination. Protect us that the world's infidelities, false appearances and attractions do not move us to follow them. Keep us from being drawn to impatience, revenge, anger, or other vices by the evil and vileness of the world. Help us to renounce the world's lies, deceit, promises, unfaithfulness, and all its good and evil, as we said in baptism, and to stand firm in it and increase daily.
Protect us from the devil's ingratiation, lest we give into hope and our own pleasure and other contempt for the sake of wealth, nobility, power, art, stature, or any other of your goods. Keep us from falling into hatred and envy for any cause. Protect us that we do not follow the temptation of faith, of despair, now and at our last end.
Let it be your command, Heavenly Father, to all who struggle and labor against these great manifold temptations. Strengthen those who are still standing; help up those who have fallen and are lying low. And give us all your grace, that in such a miserable, uncertain life, surrounded by so many enemies without ceasing, we may fight steadfastly with a chivalrous, firm faith and attain the eternal crown.
The seventh request.
"But deliver us from the evil."
Opinion.
This petition prays for all evil of chastisement and punishment, as the Holy Church does in the litanies: Deliver us, O Father, from your eternal wrath and hellish chastisement. Deliver us from your severe judgment in death and on the last day. Deliver us from swift and sudden death. Protect us from water and fire, from lightning and hail. Protect us from hunger and sorrowful times. Protect us from war and bloodshed. Protect us from your great plagues, from pestilence, French and other serious diseases. Protect us from all the ills and distresses of the body; so that in all these may be the glory of thy name, the increase of thy kingdom, and the divine will, amen.
"Amen."
Help God that we may obtain all these petitions without doubt, and let us not doubt that you have and will hear us in this, that it may be yes and not no or doubt. So we cheerfully say Amen, that is true and certain, Amen.
Several interpretations of the ten commandments at all can be found in:
Part III, Book 2 of Moses, Chapters 19 and 20.
III. part, Luther's first exl. of the ten commandments.
III. part, 5. B. Mos., 6.-30. cap., as well as in the
Ausl. über etliche Cap. des 5. B. Mos., 4.-8. Cap.
See also in this part in the third main section first petition, under the title: "Of the fruits of the Spirit: Simple way to pray for a good friend etc."