Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
From this it follows that one who prays aright never doubts that
his prayer is surely acceptable and heard, although the very
thing for which he prays be not given him. For we are to lay our
need "before God in prayer, but not prescribe to Him a measure,
number, time or place; but if He wills to give it to us better or
in another way than we think, we are to leave it to Him; for
frequently we do not know what we pray, as St. Paul says, Romans
viii [Rom. 8:26]; and God works and gives above all that we
understand, as he says, Ephesians iii [Eph. 3:20], so that there
be no doubt that the prayer is acceptable and heard, and we yet
leave to God the time, place, measure and limit; He will surely
do what is right. They are the true worshipers, who worship God
in spirit and in truth. [John 4:24] For they who believe not that
they will be heard, sin upon the left hand against this
Commandment, and go far astray with their unbelief. But they who
set a limit for Him, sin upon the other side, and come too close
with their tempting of God. So He has forbidden both, that we
should err from His Commandment neither to the left nor to the
right [Deut 6:16, 28:14], that is, neither with unbelief nor with
tempting, but with simple faith remain on the straight road,
trusting Him, and yet setting Him no bounds.
[Sidenote: Weak Faith no Reason for not Praying]
VI. Thus we see that this Commandment, like the Second, is to be
nothing else than a doing and keeping of the First Commandment,
that is, of faith, trust, confidence, hope and love to God, so
that in all the Commandments the First may be the captain, and
faith the chief work and the life of all other works, without
which, as was said, they cannot be good.
But if you say: "What if I cannot believe that my prayer is heard
and accepted?" I answer: For this very reason faith, prayer and
all other good works are commanded, that you shall know what you
can and what you cannot do. And when you find that you cannot so
believe and do, then you are humbly to confess it to God, and so
begin with a weak spark of faith and daily strengthen it more and
more by exercising it in all your living and doing. For as
touching infirmity of faith (that is, of the First and highest
Commandment), there is no one on earth who does not have his good
share of it. For even the holy Apostles in the Gospel, and
especially St. Peter, were weak in faith, so that they also
prayed Christ and said: "Lord, increase our faith" [Luke 17:5];
and He very frequently rebukes them because they have so little
faith [Matt. 14:30].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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