Chapter 8 — Of Prayer

What Power Prayer hath

No human creature can believe, said Luther, how powerful prayer is, and what is it able to effect, but only those that have learned it by experience.

It is a great matter when in extreme need, as then one can take hold on prayer. I know, as often as I have earnestly prayed, that I have been richly heard, and have obtained more than I prayed for; indeed, God sometimes deferred, but notwithstanding he came.

Ecclesiasticus said, "The prayer of a good and godly Christian availes more to health, than the physician's physic."

O how great and upright and godly Christian's prayer is! how powerful with God; that a poor human creature should speak with God's high majesty in heaven, and not be affrighted, but, on the contrary, knows that God smiles upon him for Christ's sake, his dearly beloved Son. The heart and conscience, in this act of praying, must not fly and recoil backwards by reason of our sins and unworthiness, and must not stand in doubt, nor be scared away. We must not do, said Luther, as the Bavarian did, who with great devotion called upon St. Leonard, an idol, set up in a church in Bavaria, behind which idol stood one who answered the Bavarian and said, "Fie on you, Bavarian"; and in that sort often was repulsed, and could not be heard: at last, the Bavarian went away, and said, "Fie on you, Leonard."

But when we pray, we must not let it come to, fie upon you; but must certainly hold, conclude, and believe, that we are already heard in that for which we pray with faith in Christ. Therefore the ancients finely described prayer, namely, that it is, Ascensus mentis ad Deum, a climbing up of the heart unto God, that is, liftes itself up, cries and sighes to God: neither I myself, said Luther, nor any other that I know, have rightly understood the definition of this Ascensus. Indeed, we have boasted and talked much of the climbing up of the heart; but we failed in Syntaxi, we could not bring to it the word Deum; no, we flew from God, we were afraid to draw near unto him, and to pray through Christ, in whom the strength of prayer wholly consistes; we always prayed in Popedom conditionaliter, conditionally, and therefore uncertainly.

But let us pray in heart, and also with our lips; for prayer, by our loving God, supportes the world; otherwise, without prayer, it would stand in a far more lamentable state.

Of the Power of Prayer, and of the Lord's Prayer

Our Saviour Christ, said Luther, most excellently, and with very few words, comprehended, in the Lord's Prayer, all things both needful and necessary; but without trouble, trials, and vexations, prayer cannot rightly be made. Therefore God said, "Call on me in the time of trouble," etc., without trouble it is only a cold prattling, and goes not from the heart; the common saying is "Need teaches to pray." And although the Papists say that God well understands all the words of those that pray, yet St. Bernard is far of another opinion, where he saith, "God heares not the words of one that prayes, unless he that prayes heares them first himself." The Pope is a mere tormentor of the conscience. The assembly of his greased and religious crew in praying was altogether like the croaking of frogs, which edified nothing at all. It was mere sophistry, and deceiving, fruitless, and unprofitable.

Prayer is a strong wall, and a fort of the church; it is a godly Christian's weapon, which no man knows nor findes, but only he who hath the spirit of grace and of prayer.

The three first petitions in our Lord's prayer do comprehend such great and celestial things, that no heart is able to search them out. The fourth petition containes the whole policy and economy, or the temporal and house-government, and all things necessary for this life. The fifth prayer strives and fightes against our own evil consciences, against original and actual sins, which trouble the same, etc. Truly they were penned by wisdom itself; none but God could have done the like.

We cannot pray without faith in Christ the Mediator. The Turks, the Jews, and the ungodly may rehearse and speak the words of prayer after one, but they cannot pray. And although the Apostles were taught this prayer by Christ, and prayed often, yet they prayed not as they should have prayed: for Christ said, "Hitherto ye have not prayed in my name;" whereas, doubtless, they had prayed much, and spoken the words. But when the Holy Ghost came, then they prayed aright in the name of Christ. If praying and reading of prayer be but only a bare work, as the Papists hold it to be, then the righteousness of the law is nothing worth. The upright prayer of a godly Christian is a strong hedge, as God himself saith, "And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none," etc. Therefore, said Luther, when others do blaspheme, let us pray. David said, "He does the will of them that fear Him, and heares their prayers."

That we must daily go on in Praying

I, said Luther, have every day enough to do to pray. And when I lay me down to rest, I pray the Lord's Prayer, and afterwards take hold on two or three sentences out of the Bible, and so betake myself to sleep, then I am well satisfied.

That Preachers ought to join their Prayers together

Dr. Aepinus, Superintendent of Hambrough, coming to Wittemberg to speak with Luther, who, after his dispatch, and at his taking leave, said, I commend myself and our church at Hambrough to your prayers. Luther answered him, and said, Loving Aepine, the cause is not ours, but God's: let us join our prayers together, as then the cause will be holpen. I will pray against the Pope and the Turk as long as I live: and I like it well that you take such course at Hambrough, earnestly to pray against Mahomet and the Pope.

Of the Power of Prayer

God always gives more than we pray for; when we truly pray for a piece of bread, so gives God a whole acre of land. When my wife, said Luther, was sick, I prayed to God that she might live, so he not only granted that request, but also with it he has given us a goodly farm at Zolfdorf, and has blessed us with a fruitful year. At that time my wife said unto me, Sir! how is it, that in Popedom they pray so often with great vehemence, but we are very cold and careless in praying? I answered her, the devil drives on his servants continually; they are diligent, and take great pains in their false worshipping, but we, indeed, are ice cold in it, and negligent.

Of Luther's Prayer for a gracious Rain

In the year 1532, throughout all Germany was a great drought, the corn in the fields in a lamentable way began to wither. On the ninth of June the same year, Luther called together the whole assembly into the church, and directed his prayer, with deep sighs, to God in the manner following: "O Lord, behold our prayers for your promise sake; we have prayed, and our hearts have sighed, but the covetousness of the rich farmers does hinder and hem in your blessing; for seeing that through your gospel they are unbridled, they think it free for them to live and do what they please; they now fear neither death nor hell, but say, 'I believe, therefore I shall be saved;' they become haughty spiteful Mammonists, and accursed covetous cut-throats, that suck out land and people. Moreover, also, the usurers among the gentry in every place deal wickedly, insomuch, as it seemes, thou, O God, will now visit us, together with them, with the rod; yet, nevertheless, you have still means whereby to maintain those that are yours, although you sufferest no rain to fall among the ungodly."

After he had said thus, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and said, "Lord God, you have through the mouth of your servant David said, 'The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him faithfully; he does the will of those that fear him, and heares their prayers, and helpes them in their distress.' How is it, Lord, that you givest no rain, seeing we have cried and prayed so long unto thee? 'Your will be done,' O Lord! we know that although you givest not rain, yet, notwithstanding, you will give us something better, a still, a quiet, and a peaceable life. Now we pray, O Lord, from the bottom of our hearts. If thou, O Lord, will not be pleased to hear and give us rain, then the ungodly will say, Christ your only Son is a liar. For he said, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye pray the Father in my name, the same he will give unto you,' etc. Insomuch that they will give your Son the lie. I know, O Lord, that we do cry unto you from our hearts, with yearning and sighing, why then do you not hear us?" Now, even the same day, and within the space of half an hour after the people went from church, it began to rain so sweet and mildly, which continued for a whole fortnight, so that the grounds by it were changed and refreshed in a most miraculous manner. This happened June 9, 1532.

Of Papistical Prayer

The praying in Popedom, is a mere tormenting of the consciences, it is only a prating and tongue threshing, no praying, but a work of obedience. From thence proceeded a confused sea-full of Horas Canonicas, the howling and babbling in cells and monasteries, where they read and sang the psalms and collects without all spiritual devotion, so much so that they neither understood the words, sentences, nor the meaning.

In what manner, and how I tormented myself, said Luther, with those Horis Canonicis before the Gospel came, which, by reason of many businesses I often intermitted, I am not able to express. On the Saturdays I used to lock myself up in my cell, and accomplish what the whole week I had neglected. But at last I was troubled with so many affairs, that I was fain often to omit also my Saturday's devotions. At length, when I saw that Amsdorff and others derided such manner of devotion, then I quite left it off.

It was a great torment, from which we are now delivered by the Gospel. Although, said Luther, I had done no more but only freed people from that torment, yet they might well give me thanks for it. Innumerable laws and works were taught and imposed upon people without the spirit, as in the book, Rationale Divinorum, many abominable things are written.

To Pray for Peace

Luther receiving a letter written unto him, from the Imperial Assembly, by Philip Melancthon, after the reading of it, he said, What Philip Melancthon writes has hands and feet, has authority and gravity, it is of weight, contained in a few words, as always I have found by his letters. But, I perceive, we must have wars; for the Papists would willingly go on, but they want a good stomach, neither may we endure the case to stand upon these terms. Let it therefore proceed in nomine Domini; I will commit all things to God, and will be Crito in the play. I will pray that God would convert our adversaries. We have a good cause on our side. Who would not fight and venture body and blood, pro Sacris, for the Holidom, which is God's Word? And, besides, the temporal laws and statutes of policy do also concur and agree with our proceedings; for we always have desired and called for peace, but our Princes are provoked and drawn to defend themselves and their subjects, and of necessity must resist their power; our adversaries will not suffer us to live in peace. This letter, said Luther, was written ten days since; by this time it is concluded what shall be done. The everlasting merciful God give His grace to it! Let us watch and pray, for Satan sleepes not.

Of Temporal Peace

Worldly and outward peace is one of the highest gifts of God; but we abuse it too much; every one lives after his own will and pleasure, against God and the Magistrate. Oh, how soundly will our gentry and farmers, in Germany, pay for this before one hundred and fifty years come to an end, as already they have done in Hungary and in Austria; but afterwards God will restore them again, and beat down Popedom. Let us not cease to pray.

Of Unity and Concord

Through concord small things and wealth do increase, as the Heathen said; but dissension is dangerous and hurtful, especially in schools, in professions, high arts, and in the professors of it, in which the one ought to reach the hand to the other—should kiss and embrace each other. But when we bite and devour one another, then let us take heed lest we be swallowed up together. Therefore let us pray and strive; for the word of faith, and the prayers of the just, are the most powerful weapons; moreover, God himself sendes his holy angels round about them that fear him. We ought valiantly to fight, for we are under a Lord of Hosts, and a Prince of War; therefore with one hand we must build, and in the other hand take the sword—that is, we must both teach and resist.

It is now time to watch, for we are the mark they shoot at; our adversaries intend to make a confederacy with the Turk; they aim at us, we must venture it; for Antichrist will war and get the victory against the saints of God, as Daniel said. We, said Luther, stand outwardly in the greatest danger, by reason of treachery and treason; the Papists endeavour with money to grease and corrupt our captains and officers. An ass laden with money may do anything, as Cornelius Tacitus writes of us Germans; we have taught them to take money; there is neither fidelity nor truth on earth.

Of the Power of Prayer

The prayer of the heart, said Luther, and the sighs of the poor and oppressed, do make such an alarum and cry in heaven, that God and all the angels must hear the same. O, our Lord God has a sharp listening ear.

Of the Sighing of the Heart

When Moses, with the children of Israel, came to the Red Sea, then he cried with trembling and quaking, yet he opened not his mouth, neither was his voice heard on earth by the people: doubtless, said Luther, he cried and sighed in his heart, and said, "Ah, Lord God! what course shall I now take? Which way shall I now turn myself? How am I come to this strait? No help nor counsel can save us: before us is the sea; behind us are our enemies the Egyptians; on both sides high and huge mountains; I am the cause that all this people shall now be destroyed," etc. Then answered God, and said, "Wherefore criest you unto me?" As if God should say, "What an alarum, a shrieking, and a loud crying do you make, that the whole heavens must ring with it!" etc. But, alas! said Luther, we read such examples as dead letters; human reason is not able to search this passage out. The way through the Red Sea is full as broad, and wider far (if not further) than Wittenberg lies from Coburg, that is thirty Dutch miles, 120 English at least: doubtless the people were constrained in the night season to rest, to bait and eat in it; for six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, would require a good time to pass through, although they went one hundred and fifty in rank and file.

God's hearing Prayer

It is impossible that God should not hear the prayers which with faith are made in Christ, although God gives not according to the measure, manner, and time which we dictate unto him; he will not be tied. In such sort dealt God with the mother of St. Austin. She prayed to God that her son Austin might be converted, but, as yet, it would not be; then she ran to the learned, entreating them to persuade and advise him to it. At last, she propounded unto him a marriage with a Christian virgin, that thereby he might be drawn back, and brought to the Christian faith; but all would not do as yet. But when our Lord God came to it, he came to purpose, and made of him such an Austin, that he became a great light to the Church. St. James said, "Pray one for another, for the prayer of the righteous availes much," etc. Prayer, said Luther, is a powerful thing; for God has bound and tied himself to it. Christ taught the Lord's Prayer according to the manner of the Jews—that is, he directed it only to the Father; whereas they that pray in the same manner, are heard for the Son's sake. This was done because Christ would not be praised before his death.

Of the Power of Prayer

As the King of Persia, said Luther, laid siege to the city Nasili, the bishop that was in it saw that he was too weak (by man's help) to defend the city against so mighty a king; therefore he went upon the wall, lifted up his hands to Heaven, and prayed, in the sight of his enemies. Whereupon immediately the eyes of the horses in the whole army in such sort were pestered with an innumerable multitude of flies stinging them, that with their riders they ran away, and so raised the siege, whereby the city was preserved. In such a manner could God divert the wicked enterprises of the Papists against us, if we would diligently pray.

That a True Christian Prayes Always

The prayers of upright Christians are without ceasing; though they pray not always with their mouth, yet their hearts do pray continually, sleeping and waking; for the sigh of a true Christian is a prayer. As the Psalm said, "Because of the deep sighing of the poor, I will up, saith the Lord," etc. In like manner a true Christian always carries the cross, though he feeles it not always.

Of the Strength of the Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, said Luther, bindes the People together, and knittes them one to another, so much so that one prayes for another, and together one with another; and it is so strong and powerful that it even drives away the fear of death.