The kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may come also to

us.

How can that be done?

Answer.

When our Heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy word, and live a godly life here in time, and hereafter in eternity.

The Third Petition.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

What does that mean? Answer.

God's good and gracious will is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done also by us.

How can that be done? Answer.

When God brings to naught every evil counsel and will which would hinder us from hallowing the name of God, and prevent His kingdom from coming to us (such as the will of the devil, of the world, and of our own flesh); but makes us strong and steadfast in His word and faith even unto the end,-this is His gracious and good will.

The Fourth Petition.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does that mean?

Answer.

God gives indeed without our prayer even to the wicked also their daily bread; but we pray in this petition that He will cause us to understand what is our daily bread, and to receive it with thankfulness.

What is, then, our daily bread? Answer.

All that pertains to the nourishment and needs of the body, as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, land, cattle, money, property, pious husband or wife, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, a good government, good seasons, peace, health, education, honour, good friends, faithful neighbours, and the like.

The Fifth Petition.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven will not look upon our sins, nor on account of them deny our requests; for we are not worthy of anything for which we pray, and have

not merited it; but that He would grant us everything through grace, for we daily sin very much, and deserve nothing but punishment. We will, therefore, also on our part, heartily forgive and willingly do good to those who sin against us.

The Sixth Petition.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does that mean? Answer.

God indeed tempts no one, but we pray in this petition that God will guard and preserve us, so that the devil, the world, and our own flesh, may not deceive us, nor lead us into errour, despair, and other great and shameful sins; and that even if we may be thus tempted, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory.

The Seventh Petition.

But deliver us from evil.

What does that mean? Answer.

We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven will deliver us from all kinds of evil-of body or soul, of property or character-and, at last, when our time comes, will grant us a happy end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to himself in heaven.

Amen.

What does that mean? Answer.

That I should be sure that such petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He has Himself commanded us thus to pray, and promised that He will hear us. Amen. Amen: that means yes, yes, so be it.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM, As it should be clearly and simply explained to every household by the head of the family.

I. What is baptism? Answer.

Baptism is not simply water, but it is the water comprehended in God's command, and connected with God's word.

What is that word of God? Answer.

It is that which our Lord Christ speaks in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. II. What does baptism give, or of what use is it? Answer

It worketh forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe it, as the word and promise of God declare.

What are such words and promises of God? Answer.

Those which our Lord Christ speaks in the last chapter of Mark: He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

III. How can water do such great things? Answer.

It is not water, indeed, that does it, but the word of God which is with and in the water, and faith, which trusts in the word of God in the water. For without the word of God, the water is nothing but water, and no baptism; but with the word of God it is a baptism-that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, 3d chapter: By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is certainly true.

IV. What does such baptizing with water signify? Answer.

It signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and perish with all sins and evil desires; and that the new man should daily come forth again and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is it so written? Answer.

St. Paul in the 6th chapter of Romans says: We are buried with Christ by baptism into death; that like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

THE OFFICE OF THE KEYS,

As it should be clearly and simply explained to every household by the head of the family.

What is the office of the keys? Answer.

The office of the keys is the special church power which Christ has given to His Church on earth, to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to retain the sins of unrepentant sinners until they repent.

Where is that written? Answer.

The holy Evangelist John writes thus in the 20th chapter: The Lord Jesus breathed on his disciples, and saith unto them,

Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

What do you believe these words mean? Answer.

I believe that those who are called to be Servants of Christ deal with us by His divine command; and especially when they exclude open and unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation, and absolve those who regret their sins and desire to amend, that it as efficacious and certain even in heaven, as if our Lord Jesus Christ himself dealt with us.

How the Unlearned should be taught to Confess. (MATT. XVIII. JOHN XX.)

What is confession? Answer.

Confession comprehends two parts: one, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution or forgiveness from the confessor, as from God himself, and doubt not, but firmly believe that our sins are forgiven before God in heaven by means of it.

Which sins should we confess?

Before God we should accuse ourselves of all sins, even of those which we do not ourselves perceive; as we do in the Lord's Prayer. But to the confessor we should confess those sins only which we know and feel in our hearts.

What are these? Answer.

Here consider your condition, according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father or mother, a son or daughter, a master or mistress, a man-servant or maid-servant, whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, lazy, passionate, immodest, spiteful. Whether you have injured any one by words or deeds. Whether you have stolen, neglected, or wasted anything, or done any harm.

Show me a short way to confess. Answer.

Speak thus to the confessor: Worthy and dear Sir, I beseech you to hear my confession, and absolve me for God's sake.

Say:

I, poor sinner, confess to God that I am guilty of every sin; in particular I confess to you that I am a man-servant, maid-servant, &c. But, alas! I serve my master unfaithfully, for I have not always done what they told me; I have moved them to anger and to cursing, have neglected my duty, and let things go to waste; I have also been immodest in words and deeds, have quarrelled with my equals, have grumbled and

.

sworn at my wife, &c. For all this I am sorry and ask forgiveness. I will do so no more.

A master or mistress should say thus: In particular I confess to you, that I have not brought up my child and household to the glory of God. I have cursed; have given a bad example with improper words and actions; have injured my neighbours; have slandered, overcharged, given spurious goods and short measure; and so on with anything he has done contrary to the commands of God, and what is proper to his position.

If, however, the conscience of any one of you is not troubled with such or greater sins, do not worry, or hunt up, or invent other sins, and thereby make a martyrdom out of confession; but mention one or two you know of. Thus: In particular I confess that I have once sworn, once used improper language, once neglected some duty, &c. And then stop. But if you should know of no sin (which, however, is hardly possible), then mention none in particular, but receive absolution after the general confession which you make to God before the confessor. Then shall the father confessor say:

God be merciful unto thee and strengthen thy faith.

Dost thou believe that my forgiveness is the forgiveness of God? Answer.

Yes, dear Sir.

Then let him say: As thou believest, so be it unto thee. And I, by command of my Lord Jesus Christ, forgive thee thy sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.

Those, however, who are much troubled in conscience, or who are in distress or temptation, a father confessor will know how to comfort with passages from the Bible, and stir up to faith. This is only a general method of confession for the unlearned.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR,

As it should be clearly and simply explained to every household by the head of the family.

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

Answer.

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, given unto us Christians to eat and to drink, as it was instituted by Christ himself.

Where is it so written? Answer.

The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus :