A06521:497
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.
But perhaps some man will demand, how our petitions be showed or become manifest unto God, seeing that they be not only known unto him before we pray, but he also doth send us that, which we ask? Whereunto I answer: the Apostle adjoined this, that he might teach, of what sort true prayer ought to be,1 to wit, assured and having confidence and trust in God, which passeth not away into the wind, neither is made at adventure, as their prayer is, which pray, and have no regard, whether God heareth or not, yea rather believe that he doth not hear, which undoubtedly is not to pray or to ask of God, but to tempt and mock God. For if any man did desire money of me, whom I certainly knew, not to persuade himself that he should receive it, I could not suffer such an asker, of whom I might assure my self to be mocked: how much more is God offended at our much crying out and babbling, when we do continually ⟨p. 271⟩babble much & cry out, & do not think at all whether he heareth us. Learn therefore here,2 that they petitions must be showed unto God, that is, that thou must so ask, that thou doubt not, that they petitions be known and accepted of God, and believe certainly, that thou shalt obtain what soever thou doest ask, with which faith if thou be endued, it shall so come unto thee in deed. For as we believe, so it cometh unto us. Wherefore, as the smoke carieth the savour upward from the censer: so faith carieth the petitions of the believers into the sight of God, whereby we assuredly believe, that our petitions shall come unto God, and that we shall undoubtedly obtain those things that we ask. Paul by these words [be showed] did undoubtedly mean that, which is eftsoons in the Psalms: God hath heard my petition, Give ear Lord unto my prayer, and such like. Hereof Christ speaketh Matth, 21, and Mar. 11. Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, if ye believe, ye shall receive it. And James saith chap. 1: Ask in faith and waver not, for he that wavereth shall receive nothing of the Lord. Who may not now hereof perceive, that that much babbling and crying out, which is made commonly through the world in monasteries, is a mocking and deluding of God?