A06521:493
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…
Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seek after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glory which is in Christ Jesus, to the comfort and salvation of their souls. Englished by VV.G.Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and preachings for the necessary instruction and edification of such, as hunger and seeke after the perfect knowledge and inestimable glorie which is in Christ Iesu, to the comfort and saluation of their soules. Englished by VV.G.
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier, 1578
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now we must here see how our prayer must be framed, and what is the true manner of praying. The Apostle setteth down four things, prayer, supplication, giving of thinks, and requests or petitions.1 Prayer is those words or speech, wherein as sometimes some thing is desired, so also other things are declared, as is the Lords Prayer and the Psalms.2 Supplication is, when the petition is urged or made more earnest by some thing, as when one prayeth for his father, or for some other thing which is dear and excellent unto him, as when we pray unto God by his mercy, by his son, by his promise, by his name, &c. As Solomon Psal. 132: Lord remember David, and all his trouble. And Paul Rom. 12: I beseech you by the mercies of God. And 2. Cor. 10: I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,3 &c. A petition or request is, when we name that which is desired, and for which prayer and supplication is made, as in the Lords Prayer, all that composition of words is called prayer, but those seven things for which we pray, as, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, &c. are petitions. According to that saying Matth. 7: Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For whosoever asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Giving of thanks is when the benefits of God are rehearsed,4 whereby faith in God is strengthened, and stirred up so much more confidently to look for that which is desired, & for which we do pray. Wherefore prayer urgeth or earnestly asketh by supplication, but is strengthened and made sweet & acceptable by giving of thanks, and so by this strength and sweetness it prevaileth, and obtaineth, what soever it asketh. This manner of prayer we read to have bin used in the Church, and among the holy fathers of the old Testament, which were wont always in their prayers to ask with supplication and giving of thanks. The same also we see in the Lords Prayer, which beginneth with giving of thanks and with praise, when as even in the beginning thereof we confess God a father, unto whom the godly mind hath access by his fatherly love and by the love of his son, unto which