Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther Part 12

Of the Power of Prayer.

G.o.d always giveth more than we pray for; when we truly pray for a piece of bread, so giveth G.o.d a whole acre of land. When my wife, said Luther, was sick, I prayed to G.o.d that she might live, so he not only granted that request, but also therewith he hath given us a goodly farm at Zolfdorf, and hath 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 driveth on his servants continually; they are diligent, and take great pains in their false worshipping, but we, indeed, are ice cold therein, 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 a.s.sembly into the church, and directed his prayer, with deep sighs, to G.o.d in the manner following: "O Lord, behold our prayers for thy promise sake; we have prayed, and our hearts have sighed, but the covetousness of the rich farmers doth hinder and hem in thy blessing; for seeing that through thy gospel they are unbridled, they think it free for them to live and do what they please; they now fear neither death nor h.e.l.l, 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 seemeth, thou, O G.o.d, wilt now visit us, together with them, with the rod; yet, nevertheless, thou hast still means whereby to maintain those that are thine, although thou sufferest no rain to fall among the unG.o.dly."

After he had said thus, he lifted up his eyes towards heaven, and said, "Lord G.o.d, thou hast through the mouth of thy servant David said, 'The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him faithfully; he doth the will of those that fear him, and heareth their prayers, and helpeth them in their distress.' How is it, Lord, that thou givest no rain, seeing we have cried and prayed so long unto thee? 'Thy will be done,' O Lord! we know that although thou givest not rain, yet, notwithstanding, thou wilt 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, wilt not be pleased to hear and give us rain, then the unG.o.dly will say, Christ thy only Son is a liar. For he saith, '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 thy Son the lie. I know, O Lord, that we do cry unto thee from our hearts, with yearning and sighing, why then dost thou not hear us?" Now, even the same day, and within the s.p.a.ce 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 thereby 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, insomuch 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 Sat.u.r.days 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 oftentimes to omit also my Sat.u.r.day'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 a.s.sembly, by Philip Melancthon, after the reading of it, he said, What Philip Melancthon writeth hath hands and feet, hath 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 G.o.d, and will be Crito in the play. I will pray that G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d give His grace thereunto! Let us watch and pray, for Satan sleepeth not.

Of Temporal Peace.

Worldly and outward peace is one of the highest gifts of G.o.d; but we abuse it too much; every one liveth after his own will and pleasure, against G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 thereof, wherein 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, G.o.d himself sendeth 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 G.o.d, as Daniel saith. 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 a.s.s laden with money may do anything, as Cornelius Tacitus writeth 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 G.o.d and all the angels must hear the same. O, our Lord G.o.d hath 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 G.o.d!

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 G.o.d, and said, "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" As if G.o.d should say, "What an alarum, a shrieking, and a loud crying dost thou make, that the whole heavens must ring therewith!" etc. But, alas! said Luther, we read such examples as dead letters; human reason is not able to search this pa.s.sage out. The way through the Red Sea is full as broad, and wider far (if not further than Wittenberg lieth 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 therein; for six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, would require a good time to pa.s.s through, although they went one hundred and fifty in rank and file.

G.o.d's hearing Prayer.

It is impossible that G.o.d should not hear the prayers which with faith are made in Christ, although G.o.d giveth not according to the measure, manner, and time which we dictate unto him; he will not be tied. In such sort dealt G.o.d with the mother of St. Austin. She prayed to G.o.d 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 thereunto. 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 G.o.d came thereto, he came to purpose, and made of him such an Austin, that he became a great light to the Church. St. James saith, "Pray one for another, for the prayer of the righteous availeth much," etc. Prayer, said Luther, is a powerful thing; for G.o.d hath bound and tied himself thereunto.

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 therein saw that he was too weak (by man's help) to defend the city against so mighty a king; wherefore 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 mult.i.tude 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 G.o.d divert the wicked enterprises of the Papists against us, if we would diligently pray.

That a True Christian Prayeth 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 saith, "Because of the deep sighing of the poor, I will up, saith the Lord," etc. In like manner a true Christian always carrieth the cross, though he feeleth it not always.

Of the Strength of the Lord's Prayer.

The Lord's Prayer, said Luther, bindeth the People together, and knitteth them one to another, insomuch that one prayeth for another, and together one with another; and it is so strong and powerful that it even driveth away the fear of death.

OF THE CONFESSION AND CONSTANCY OF THE DOCTRINE.

The word and article of justification (how we are justified and saved before G.o.d) expelleth and overcometh all sorrow, all perplexities, misfortunes, and adversities; and without this article there is neither help nor advice.

We read in the histories of the Church, said Luther, that Julian the Emperor forced his servants and soldiers to deny Christ; but when many of them refused to do the same, he caused them to be executed with the sword, and they went joyfully to their deaths. Among them was a proper youth, for whom earnest intercession was made, that he might be the first to die. But Julian commanded to release him, in order to try whether he would remain constant or no. Now, when he kneeled down and offered his neck to the block, the executioner was charged not to strike, but to let him rise again. Then the youth stood up, and said, "Ah, sweet Jesu! am I not worthy to suffer for thy sake?" These were words of a great faith, which overcometh the fear of death.

When governors and rulers are enemies to G.o.d's Word, then our duty is to depart, to sell and forsake all we have, to fly from one place to another, as Christ commandeth. We must make and prepare no uproars nor tumults by reason of the Gospel, but we must suffer all things.

What Christ Requireth of us.

Christ requireth nothing more of us, than that we should confess him, and speak freely and undauntedly of him. But here thou wilt say, "Yea, if I do so, then I shall be struck on the lips." Christ answereth thereunto, and saith, "Call upon me in the time of trouble, so I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me." And "He shall call upon me, and I will hear him, yea, I am with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and bring him to honour," etc.

There is no lighter nor more easy work on earth than the upright and true service of G.o.d, to do what G.o.d commandeth in his Word; we should only believe and speak, but then certain it is that we shall suffer and be humbled with persecutions; but Christ hath promised to be with us, and to help us.

That every Christian is Bound to Confess Christ.

Every Christian, especially those in offices, should always be ready (when need requireth) boldly to stand up and confess his Saviour Christ, to maintain his faith and always be armed against the world, the sectaries, the devil, and what else he were able to produce.

But no man will do this, except he be so sure of his doctrine and religion, that, although I myself should play the fool, and should recant and deny this my doctrine and religion, which G.o.d forbid, he notwithstanding would not yield, but say, if Luther, or an angel from heaven, should teach otherwise, "Let him be accursed."