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another； and on the other hand； that He would preserve us from all
sorts of calamity to body and livelihood； as lightning； hail； fire；
flood； poison； pestilence； cattle…plague； war and bloodshed； famine；
destructive beasts； wicked men； etc。 All this it is well to impress
upon the simple； namely； that these things come from God； and must be
prayed for by us。
But this petition is especially directed also against our chief enemy；
the devil。 For all his thought and desire is to deprive us of all that
we have from God； or to hinder it； and he is not satisfied to obstruct
and destroy spiritual government in leading souls astray by his lies
and bringing them under his power； but he also prevents and hinders the
stability of all government and honorable； peaceable relations on
earth。
There he causes so much contention； murder； sedition； and war also
lightning and hail to destroy grain and cattle； to poison the air； etc。
In short； he is sorry that any one has a morsel of bread from God and
eats it in peace； and if it were in his power； and our prayer （next to
God） did not prevent him； we would not keep a straw in the field； a
farthing in the house； yea； not even our life for an hour； especially
those who have the Word of God and would like to be Christians。
Behold； thus God wishes to indicate to us how He cares for us in all
our need； and faithfully provides also for our temporal support。 and
although He abundantly grants and preserves these things even to the
wicked and knaves； yet He wishes that we pray for them； in order that
we may recognize that we receive them from His hand； and may feel His
paternal goodness toward us therein。 For when He withdraws His hand；
nothing can prosper nor be maintained in the end； as； indeed； we daily
see and experience。 How much trouble there is now in the world only on
account of bad coin； yea； on account of daily oppression and raising of
prices in common trade； bargaining and labor on the part of those who
wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread！ This
we must suffer indeed； but let them take care that they do not lose the
common intercession； and beware lest this petition in the Lord's Prayer
be against them。
The Fifth Petition。
And forgive us our trespasses； as we forgive those who trespass
against us。
This part now relates to our poor miserable life； which； although we
have and believe the Word of God； and do and submit to His will； and
are supported by His gifts and blessings is nevertheless not without
sin。 For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the
world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience；
anger； revenge； etc。 Besides； we have Satan at our back； who sets upon
us on every side； and fights （as we have heard） against all the
foregoing petitions； so that it is not possible always to stand firm in
such a persistent conflict。
Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and to pray：
Dear Father； forgive us our trespasses。 Not as though He did not
forgive sin without and even before our prayer （for He has given us the
Gospel； in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought
about it）。 But this is to the intent that we may recognize and accept
such forgiveness。 For since the flesh in which we daily live is of such
a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God； and is ever active in
evil lusts and devices； so that we sin daily in word and deed； by
commission and omission by which the conscience is thrown into unrest；
so that it is afraid of the wrath and displeasure of God； and thus
loses the comfort and confidence derived from the Gospel； therefore it
is ceaselessly necessary that we run hither and obtain consolation to
comfort the conscience again。
But this should serve God's purpose of breaking our pride and keeping
us humble。 For in case any one should boast of his godliness and
despise others； God has reserved this prerogative to Himself； that the
person is to consider himself and place this prayer before his eyes；
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