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government； for by calling upon it and praying the name of God is
honored and profitably employed。 This you must note above all things；
that thereby you may silence and repel such thoughts as would keep and
deter us from prayer。 For just as it would be idle for a son to say to
his father； 〃Of what advantage is my obedience？ I will go and do what
I can； it is all the same〃； but there stands the commandment； Thou
shalt and must do it； so also here it is not left to my will to do it
or leave it undone； but prayer shall and must be offered at the risk of
God's wrath and displeasure。
This is therefore to be understood and noted before everything else； in
order that thereby we may silence and repel the thoughts which would
keep and deter us from praying； as though it were not of much
consequence if we do not pray； or as though it were commanded those who
are holier and in better favor with God than we； as； indeed； the human
heart is by nature so despondent that it always flees from God and
imagines that He does not wish or desire our prayer； because we are
sinners and have merited nothing but wrath。 Against such thoughts （I
say） we should regard this commandment and turn to God； that we may not
by such disobedience excite His anger still more。 For by this
commandment He gives us plainly to understand that He will not cast us
from Him nor chase us away； although we are sinners； but rather draw
us to Himself； so that we might humble ourselves before Him； bewail
this misery and plight of ours； and pray for grace and help。 Therefore
we read in the Scriptures that He is angry also with those who were
smitten for their sin； because they did not return to Him and by their
prayers assuage His wrath and seek His grace。
Now； from the fact that it is so solemnly commanded to pray； you are to
conclude and think； that no one should by any means despise his prayer；
but rather set great store by it； and always seek an illustration from
the other commandments。 A child should by no means despise his
obedience to father and mother； but should always think： This work is a
work of obedience； and what I do I do with no other intention than that
I may walk in the obedience and commandment of God； on which I can
settle and stand firm； and esteem it a great thing； not on account of
my worthiness； but on account of the commandment。 So here also； what
and for what we pray we should regard as demanded by God and done in
obedience to Him； and should reflect thus： On my account it would
amount to nothing； but it shall avail； for the reason that God has
commanded it。 Therefore everybody； no matter what he has to say in
prayer； should always come before God in obedience to this commandment。
We pray； therefore； and exhort every one most diligently to take this
to heart and by no means to despise our prayer。 For hitherto it has
been taught thus in the devil's name that no one regarded these things；
and men supposed it to be sufficient to have done the work； whether God
would hear it or not。 But that is staking prayer on a risk； and
murmuring it at a venture； and therefore it is a lost prayer。 For we
allow such thoughts as these to lead us astray and deter us： I am not
holy or worthy enough； if I were as godly and holy as St。 Peter or St。
Paul； then I would pray。 But put such thoughts far away； for just the
same commandment which applied to St。 Paul applies also to me； and the
Second Commandment is given as much on my account as on his account； so
that he can boast of no better or holier commandment。
Therefore you should say： My prayer is as precious； holy； and pleasing
to God as that of St。 Paul or of the most holy saints。 This is the
reason： For I will gladly grant that he is holier in his person； but
not on account of the commandment； since God does not regard prayer on
account of the person； but on account of His word and obedience
thereto。 For on the commandment on which all the saints rest their
prayer I； too； rest mine。 Moreover I pray for the same thing for which
they all pray and ever have prayed； besides； I have just as great a
need of it as those great saints； yea； even a greater one than they。
Let this be the first and most important point； that all our prayers
must be based and rest upon obedience to God； irrespective of our
person； whether we be sinners or saints； worthy or unworthy。 And we
must know that God will not have it treated as a jest； but be angry；
and punish all who do not pray； as surely as He punishes all other
disobedience； next； that He will not suffer our prayers to be in vain
or lost。 For if He did not intend to answer your prayer； He would not
bid you pray and add such a severe commandment to it。
In the second place； we should be the more urged and incited to pray
because God has also added a promise； and declared that it shall surely
be done to us as we pray； as He says Ps。 50； 15： Call upon Me in the
day of trouble： I will deliver thee。 And Christ in the Gospel of St。
Matthew； 7； 7： Ask； and it shall be given you。 For every one that
asketh receiveth。 Such promises ought certainly to encourage and kindle
our hearts to pray with pleasure and delight； since He testifies with
His ＇own＇ word that our prayer is heartily pleasing to Him； moreover；
that it shall assuredly be heard and granted； in order that we may not
despise it or think lightly of it； and pray at a venture。
This you can hold up to Him and say： Here I come； dear Father； and
pray； not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness； but at Thy
commandment and promise； which cannot fail or deceive me。 Whoever；
therefore； does not believe this promise must know again that he
excites God to anger as a person who most highly dishonors Him and
reproaches Him with falsehood。
Besides this； we should be incited and drawn to prayer because in
addition to this commandment and promise God anticipates us； and
Himself arranges the words and form of prayer for us； and places them
upon our lips as to how and what we should pray； that we may see how
heartily He pities us in our distress； and may never doubt that such
prayer is pleasing to Him and shall certainly be answered； which ＇the
Lord's Prayer＇ is a great advantage indeed over all other prayers that
we might compose ourselves。 For in them the conscience would ever be in
doubt and say： I have prayed； but who knows how it pleases Him； or
whether I have hit upon the right proportions and form？ Hence there is
no nobler prayer to be found upon earth than the Lord's Prayer which we
daily pray because it has this excellent testimony； that God loves to
hear it； which we ought not to surrender for all the riches of the
world。
And it has been prescribed also for this reason that we should see and
consider the distress which ought to urge and compel us to pray without
ceasing。 For whoever would pray must have something to present； state；
and name which he desires； if not； it cannot be called a prayer。
Therefore we have rightly rejected the prayers of monks and priests；
who howl and growl day and night like fiends； but none of them think of
praying for a hair's breadth of anything。 And if we would assemble all
the chur