第 24 节
作者:津夏      更新:2021-02-21 13:30      字数:9322
  and he will find that he is no better than others; and that in the
  presence of God all must lower their plumes; and be glad that they can
  attain forgiveness。 And let no one think that as long as we live here
  he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness。 In
  short; if God does not forgive without ceasing; we are lost。
  It is therefore the intent of this petition that God would not regard
  our sins and hold up to us what we daily deserve; but would deal
  graciously with us; and forgive; as He has promised; and thus grant us
  a joyful and confident conscience to stand before Him in prayer。 For
  where the heart is not in right relation towards God; nor can take such
  confidence; it will nevermore venture to pray。 But such a confident and
  joyful heart can spring from nothing else than the 'certain' knowledge
  of the forgiveness of sin。
  But there is here attached a necessary; yet consolatory addition: As we
  forgive。 He has promised that we shall be sure that everything is
  forgiven and pardoned; yet in the manner that we also forgive our
  neighbor。 For just as we daily sin much against God and yet He forgives
  everything through grace; so we; too; must ever forgive our neighbor
  who does us injury; violence; and wrong; shows malice toward us; etc。
  If; therefore you do not forgive; then do not think that God forgives
  you; but if you forgive; you have this consolation and assurance; that
  you are forgiven in heaven; not on account of your forgiving;  for
  God forgives freely and without condition; out of pure grace; because
  He has so promised; as the Gospel teaches;  but in order that He may
  set this up for our confirmation and assurance for a sign alongside of
  the promise which accords with this prayer; Luke 6; 37: Forgive; and ye
  shall be forgiven。 Therefore Christ also repeats it soon after the
  Lord's Prayer; and says; Matt。 6;14: For if ye forgive men their
  trespasses; your heavenly Father will also forgive you; etc。
  This sign is therefore attached to this petition; that; when we pray;
  we remember the promise and reflect thus: Dear Father; for this reason
  I come and pray Thee to forgive me; not that I can make satisfaction;
  or can merit anything by my works; but because Thou hast promised and
  attached the seal thereto that I should be as sure as though I had
  absolution pronounced by Thyself。 For as much as Baptism and the Lord's
  Supper appointed as external signs; effect; so much also this sign can
  effect to confirm our consciences and cause them to rejoice。 And it is
  especially given for this purpose; that we might use and practice it
  every hour; as a thing that we have with us at all times。
  The Sixth Petition。
  And lead us not into temptation。
  We have now heard enough what toil and labor is required to retain all
  that for which we pray; and to persevere therein; which; however; is
  not achieved without infirmities and stumbling。 Besides; although we
  have received forgiveness and a good conscience and are entirely
  acquitted; yet is our life of such a nature that one stands to…day and
  to…morrow falls。 Therefore; even though we be godly now and stand
  before God with a good conscience; we must pray again that He would not
  suffer us to relapse and yield to trials and temptations。
  Temptation; however; or (as our Saxons in olden times used to call it)
  Bekoerunge; is of three kinds; namely; of the flesh; of the world and
  of the devil。 For in the flesh we dwell and carry the old Adam about
  our neck; who exerts himself and incites us daily to inchastity;
  laziness; gluttony and drunkenness; avarice and deception; to defraud
  our neighbor and to overcharge him; and; in short; to all manner of
  evil lusts which cleave to us by nature; and to which we are incited by
  the society; example and what we hear and see of other people; which
  often wound and inflame even an innocent heart。
  Next comes the world; which offends us in word and deed; and impels us
  to anger and impatience。 In short; there is nothing but hatred and
  envy; enmity; violence and wrong; unfaithfulness; vengeance; cursing;
  raillery slander; pride and haughtiness; with superfluous finery;
  honor; fame; and power; where no one is willing to be the least; but
  every one desires to sit at the head and to be seen before all。
  Then comes the devil; inciting and provoking in all directions; but
  especially agitating matters that concern the conscience and spiritual
  affairs; namely; to induce us to despise and disregard both the Word
  and works of God to tear us away from faith; hope; and love and bring
  us into misbelief; false security; and obduracy; or; on the other hand;
  to despair; denial of God; blasphemy; and innumerable other shocking
  things。 These are indeed snares and nets; yea; real fiery darts which
  are shot most venomously into the heart; not by flesh and blood; but by
  the devil。
  Great and grievous; indeed; are these dangers and temptations which
  every Christian must bear; even though each one were alone by himself;
  so that every hour that we are in this vile life where we are attacked
  on all sides; chased and hunted down; we are moved to cry out and to
  pray that God would not suffer us to become weary and faint and to
  relapse into sin; shame; and unbelief。 For otherwise it is impossible
  to overcome even the least temptation。
  This; then; is leading us not into temptation; to wit; when He gives us
  power and strength to resist; the temptation; however; not being taken
  away or removed。 For while we live in the flesh and have the devil
  about us; no one can escape temptation and allurements; and it cannot
  be otherwise than that we must endure trials; yea; be engulfed in them;
  but we pray for this; that we may not fall and be drowned in them。
  To feel temptation is therefore a far different thing from consenting
  or yielding to it。 We must all feel it; although not all in the same
  manner; but some in a greater degree and more severely than others; as;
  the young suffer especially from the flesh; afterwards; they that
  attain to middle life and old age; from the world; but others who are
  occupied with spiritual matters; that is; strong Christians; from the
  devil。 But such feeling; as long as it is against our will and we would
  rather be rid of it; can harm no one。 For if we did not feel it; it
  could not be called a temptation。 But to consent thereto is when we
  give it the reins and do not resist or pray against it。
  Therefore we Christians must be armed and daily expect to be
  incessantly attacked; in order that no one may go on in security and
  heedlessly; as though the devil were far from us; but at all times
  expect and parry his blows。 For though I am now chaste; patient; kind;
  and in firm faith; the devil will this very hour send such an arrow
  into my heart that I can scarcely stand。 For he is an enemy that never
  desists nor becomes tired; so that when one temptation ceases; there
  always arise others and fresh ones。
  Accordingly; there is no help or comfort except to run hither and to
  take hold of the Lord's Prayer; and thus speak to God from the heart:
  Dear Father; Thou hast bidden me pray; let me not relapse because of
  temptations。 Then you will see that they must desist; and finally
  acknowledge themselves conquered。 Else if you venture to help yourself
  by your own thoughts and counsel; you will only make the matter worse
  and give the devil more space。 For he has a serpent's head; which if it
  gain an opening into which he can slip; the whole body will follow
  without check。 But prayer can prevent him and drive him back。
  The Seventh and Last Petition。
  But deliver us from evil。 Amen。 In the Greek text this petition reads
  thus: Deliver or preserve us from the Evil One; or the Malicious One;
  and it looks as if He were speaking of the devil; as though He would
  comprehend everything in one so that the entire substance of all our
  prayer is directed against our chief enemy。 For it is he who hinders
  among us everything that we pray for: the name or honor of God; God's
  kingdom and will; our daily bread; a cheerful good conscience; etc。
  Therefore we finally sum it all up and say: Dear Father pray; help that
  we be rid of all these calamities。 But there is nevertheless also
  included whatever evil may happen to us under the devil's kingdom
  poverty; shame; death; and; in short; all the agonizing misery and
  heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth。
  For since the devil is not only a liar; but also a murderer; he
  constantly seeks our life; and wreaks his anger whenever he can afflict
  our bodies with misfortune and harm。 Hence it comes that he often
  breaks men's necks or drives them to insanity; drowns some; and incites
  many to commit suicide; and to many other terrible calamities。
  Therefore there is nothing for us to do upon earth but to pray against
  this arch enemy without ceasing。 For unless God preserved us; we would
  not be safe from him even for an hour。
  Hence you see again how God wishes us to pray to Him also for all the
  things which affect our bodily interests; so that we seek and expect
  help nowhere else except in Him。 But this matter He has put last; for
  if we are to be preserved and deliv