in the quality or quantity of our food. Therefore we must earnestly pray God against it, who has made us by nature frail, and liable to. this necessity of restoring our strength by food, in saying,
Give us this day our daily bread.
O merciful God! vouchsafe to give us our necessary food, and so to rule us, that we may not change into a matter of pleasure the requirements of necessity, and not use for luxury what thy bountiful hand has bestowed upon us for the support of nature; but that we may restrain our carnal appetites by the law of God and of right reason. Vouchsafe also to give us the bread of heavenly wisdom, that, by tasting how sweet the Lord is, we may loathe the allurements of the palate, and turn with disgust from all bodily pleasures, which, in comparison of the sweetness of his taste, are but as husks of swine.
But while the appetite is being bridled, the malice of the devil often contrives for us occasions for anger and impatience, that, by yielding to the sin of hatred, we may be robbed of the fruit of abstinence, and even in our very fasts become odious to God, like the people of whom Isaias speaks, who fasted for debates and strife.
Against this malignant head of the Beast he hurls his weapon with a powerful hand who prays from his heart,
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
For there is not a day on which we have no need to ask of God forgiveness of our sins; for in many things we all offend, and if God shall mark iniquities, who shall endure it? But this we can only obtain by not being angry with those who sin against us, and forgiving them from our hearts. Then indeed we can say with open confidence, Forgive us, as we forgive.
This connection of the one clause with the other may well strike us with fear and anxiety. For what if thou forgive not thy debtors, or if thou forgive not fully and sincerely, or if outwardly only and deceitfully, and in the meantime cherishest anger in thy heart, and meditatest revenge? Then, undoubtedly, thou invokest God, not for thee, but against thee, and Wilt have him not for thy father, but for thy judge; and wilt hear, Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant; for thou desirest to be forgiven only as thou forgivest.
Let us, then, become more
