“We, by our prayers, cannot stir up God and put him in mind of his duty.  We do not pray to show he is negligent and careless of our affairs.  We do not view God as being hard and merciless or try to allure him by our prayers in order to change his mind.  We know indeed that he is ready, of his own will, to give good things, especially to those who repent and humble themselves under the mighty had of God – those who by faith do seek, knock, and ask.  Therefore, we do pour out our prayers before God, not because we doubt his good will, but rather that in faith we may pray with true repentance.  He has promised forgiveness of sins to those who repent.  He will lessen his judgments and bestow his blessings.  He will give grace to the humble.  When we call upon God and think upon his promises, we bring with us and likewise exercise true faith.  We do this because the Lord had promised all good things to him who knocks and asks.”

Chemnitz’s “Introduction” to his A Substantial and Godly Expostion of the Payer Commonly Called the Lord’s Prayer, published in English in 1598 by John Legate, University of Cambridge.  “The Lord’s Prayer”, in Chemnitz’s Works, volume 5.  St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2007.  Translated by Georg Williams. Pages 13-14.

Image: Miniature of Reinald II kneeling in prayer. Book of Hours, Use of Sarum.  Yates Thompson 13, The British Library.