To comprise it briefly,this petition includes everything that belongs to our entire life in the world,because on that account alone do we need daily bread.Now for our life it is not only necessary that our body have food and covering and other necessaries,but also that we spend our days in peace and quiet among the people with whom we live and have intercourse in daily business and conversation and all sorts of doings,in short,whatever pertains both to the domestic and to the neighborly or civil relation and government.For where these two things are hindered [intercepted and disturbed]that they do not prosper as they ought,the necessaries of life also are impeded,so that ultimately life cannot be maintained.And there is,indeed,the greatest need to pray for temporal authority and government,as that by which most of all God preserves to us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life.For though we have received of God all good things in abundance we are not able to retain any of them or use them in security and happiness,if He did not give us a permanent and peaceful government.For where there are dissension,strife,and war,there the daily bread is already taken away,or at least checked.
Therefore it would be very proper to place in the coat-of-arms of every pious prince a loaf of bread instead of a lion,or a wreath of rue,or to stamp it upon the coin,to remind both them and their subjects that by their office we have protection and peace,and that without them we could not eat and retain our daily bread.Therefore they are also worthy of all honor,that we give to them for their office what we ought and can,as to those through whom we enjoy in peace and quietness what we have,because otherwise we would not keep a farthing;and that,in addition,we also pray for them that through them God may bestow on us the more blessing and good.
Let this be a very brief explanation and sketch,showing how far this petition extends through all conditions on earth.Of this any one might indeed make a long prayer,and with many words enumerate all the things that are included therein,as that we pray God to give us food and drink,clothing,house,and home,and health of body;also that He cause the grain and fruits of the field to grow and mature well;furthermore,that He help us at home towards good housekeeping,that He give and preserve to us a godly wife,children,and servants,that He cause our work,trade,or whatever we are engaged in to prosper and succeed,favor us with faithful neighbors and good friends,etc.
Likewise,that He give to emperors,kings,and all estates,and especially to the rulers of our country and to all counselors,magistrates,and officers,wisdom,strength,and success that they may govern well and vanquish the Turks and all enemies;to subjects and the common people,obedience,peace,and harmony in their life with one another,and on the other hand,that He would preserve us from all sorts of calamity to body and livelihood,as lightning,hail,fire,flood,poison,pestilence,cattle-plague,war and bloodshed,famine,destructive beasts,wicked men,etc.All this it is well to impress upon the simple,namely,that these things come from God,and must be prayed for by us.
But this petition is especially directed also against our chief enemy,the devil.For all his thought and desire is to deprive us of all that we have from God,or to hinder it;and he is not satisfied to obstruct and destroy spiritual government in leading souls astray by his lies and bringing them under his power,but he also prevents and hinders the stability of all government and honorable,peaceable relations on earth.
There he causes so much contention,murder,sedition,and war also lightning and hail to destroy grain and cattle,to poison the air,etc.
In short,he is sorry that any one has a morsel of bread from God and eats it in peace;and if it were in his power,and our prayer (next to God)did not prevent him,we would not keep a straw in the field,a farthing in the house,yea,not even our life for an hour,especially those who have the Word of God and would like to be Christians.
Behold,thus God wishes to indicate to us how He cares for us in all our need,and faithfully provides also for our temporal support.and although He abundantly grants and preserves these things even to the wicked and knaves,yet He wishes that we pray for them,in order that we may recognize that we receive them from His hand,and may feel His paternal goodness toward us therein.For when He withdraws His hand,nothing can prosper nor be maintained in the end,as,indeed,we daily see and experience.How much trouble there is now in the world only on account of bad coin,yea,on account of daily oppression and raising of prices in common trade,bargaining and labor on the part of those who wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread!This we must suffer indeed;but let them take care that they do not lose the common intercession,and beware lest this petition in the Lord's Prayer be against them.
The Fifth Petition.
And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.
This part now relates to our poor miserable life,which,although we have and believe the Word of God,and do and submit to His will,and are supported by His gifts and blessings is nevertheless not without sin.For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience,anger,revenge,etc.Besides,we have Satan at our back,who sets upon us on every side,and fights (as we have heard)against all the foregoing petitions,so that it is not possible always to stand firm in such a persistent conflict.
