按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mercy。
Then go forward into the Second Table of the Commandments； and
see how disobedient you have been and still are toward father and
mother and all in authority； how you sin against your neighbor
with anger； hatred and evil words； how you are tempted to
unchastity； covetousness and injustice in word and deed against
your neighbor； and you will doubtless find that you are full of
all need and misery； and have reason enough to weep even drops
of blood； if you could。
X。 But I know well that many are so foolish as not to want to ask
for such things； unless they first be conscious that they are
pure； and believe that God hears no one who is a sinner。 All this
is the work of those false preachers； who teach men to begin； not
with faith and trust in God's favor； but with their own works。
Look you； wretched man！ if you have broken a leg； or the peril
of death overtakes you； you call upon God； this Saint and that；
and do not wait until your leg is healed； or the danger is past：
you are not so foolish as to think that God hears no one whose
leg is broken； or who is in bodily danger。 Nay； you believe that
God shall hear most of all when you are in the greatest need and
fear。 Why； then； are you so foolish here； where there is
immeasurably greater need and eternal hurt； and do not want to
ask for faith； hope； love； humility； obedience； chastity；
gentleness； peace； righteousness； unless you are already free of
all your unbelief； doubt； pride； disobedience； unchastity； anger；
covetousness and unrighteousness。 Although the more you find
yourself lacking in these things； the more and more diligently
you ought to pray or cry。
So blind are we： with our bodily sickness and need we run to God；
with the soul's sickness we run from Him； and are unwilling to
come back before we are well； exactly as if there could be one
God who could help the body； and another God who could help the
soul； or as if we would help ourselves in spiritual need；
although it really is greater than the bodily need。 Such plan and
counsel is of the devil。
Not so； my good man！ If you wish to be cured of sin； you must not
withdraw from God； but run to Him； and pray with much more
confidence than if a bodily need had overtaken you。 God is not
hostile to sinners； but only to unbelievers； that is； to such as
do not recognize and lament their sin； nor seek help against it
from God； but in their own presumption wish first to purify
themselves； are unwilling to be in need of His grace； and will
not suffer Him to be a God Who gives to everyone and takes
nothing in return。
XI。 All this has been said of prayer for personal needs； and of
prayer in general。 But the prayer which really belongs to this
Commandment and is called a work of the Holy Day； is far better
and greater； and is to be made for all Christendom； for all the
need of all men； of foe and friend； especially for those who
belong to the parish or bishopric。
Thus St。 Paul commanded his disciple Timothy： exhort thee； that
thou see to it； that prayers and intercessions be made for all
men； for kings； and for all that are in authority； that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty。 For
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour。〃 For
this reason Jeremiah； chapter xxix； commanded the people of
Israel to pray for the city and land of Babylon； because in the
peace thereof they should have peace。 And Baruch i： 〃Pray for the
life of the king of Babylon and for the life of his son； that we
may live in peace under their rule。〃
This common prayer is precious and the most powerful； and it is
for its sake that we come together。 For this reason also the
Church is called a House of Prayer； because in it we are as a
congregation with one accord to consider our need and the needs
of all men； present them before God； and call upon Him for mercy。
But this must be done with heart…felt emotion and sincerity； so
that we feel in our hearts the need of all men； and that we pray
with true sympathy for them； in true faith and confidence。 Where
such prayers are not made in the mass； it were better to omit the
mass。 For what sense is there in our coming together into a House
of Prayer； which coming together shows that we should make common
prayer and petition for the entire congregation； if we scatter
these prayers； and so distribute them that everyone prays only
for himself； and no one has regard for the other； nor concerns
himself for another's need？ How can that prayer be of help； good；
acceptable and a common prayer； or a work of the Holy Day and of
the assembled congregation； which they make who make their own
petty prayers； one for this； the other for that； and have nothing
but self…seeking； selfish prayers； which God hates？
XII。 A suggestion of this common prayer has been retained from
ancient practice； when at the end of the sermon the Confession
of Sins is said and prayer is made on the pulpit for all
Christendom。 But this should not be the end of the matter； as is
now the custom and fashion； it should be an exhortation to pray
throughout the entire mass for such need as the preacher makes
us feel； and in order that we may pray worthily； he first exhorts
us because of our sin； and thereby makes us humble。 This should
be done as briefly as possible； that then the entire congregation
may confess their own sin and pray for every one with earnestness
and faith。
Oh； if God granted that any congregation at all heard mass and
prayed in this way； so that a common earnest heart…cry of the
entire people would rise up to God； what immeasurable virtue and
help would result from such a prayer！ What more terrible thing
could happen to all the evil spirits？ What greater work could be
done on earth； whereby so many pious souls would be preserved；
so many sinners converted？
For； indeed； the Christian Church on earth has no greater power
or work than such common prayer against everything that may
oppose it。 This the evil spirit knows well； and therefore he does
all that he can to prevent such prayer。 Gleefully he lets us go
on building churches； endowing many monastic houses； making
music； reading； singing； observing many masses； and multiplying
ceremonies beyond all measure。 This does not grieve him； nay； he
helps us do it； that we may consider such things the very best；
and think that thereby we have done our whole duty。 But in that
meanwhile this common； effectual and fruitful prayer perishes and
its omission is unnoticed because of such display； in this he has
what he seeks。 For when prayer languishes； no one will take
anything from him； and no one will withstand him。 But if he
noticed that we wished to practise this prayer； even if it were
under a straw roof or in a pig…sty； he would indeed not endure
it； but would fear such a pig…sty far more than all the high； big
and beautiful churches； towers and bells in existence； if such