By MARTIN LUTHER.
I know not how strong others may be in spirit, but I confess that I cannot be as holy as some profess to be; for whenever I do not bear in mind the word of God, I feel no Christ, no Spirit and joy. But, if I meditate on any portion of Holy Writ, it shines and burns in my heart, so that I obtain good courage and another mind. The cause is this: we all discover that our minds and thoughts are so unsteady that, though we desire to pray earnestly, or meditate on God without His Word, our thoughts scatter in a thousand forms ere we are aware of it. Let any one try how long he can rest on one idea he proposed himself, or take one hour, and avow that he will tell me all his thoughts. I am sure he will be ashamed before himself, and afraid to say what ideas have passed through his head, lest he should be taken for a mad dog, and be chained. This is my case, though engaged in serious thoughts.
But I must explain myself by an example.
Bernard once complained to a friend that he found it very difficult to pray aright, and could not even pronounce the Lord’s Prayer once without a host of strange thoughts. His friend was astonished, and gave it as his opinion that he could fix his thoughts on his prayer without any difficulty. Bernard offered him a fine horse, on condition he should commence forthwith. The friend commenced, “Our Father,” etc.; but before he had finished the first petition, it occurred to him, if he should gain the horse, whether he would also receive saddle and bridle. In short, he was so entangled in his own thoughts, that he had to quit, and give up the prize. This I state in order to show how necessary it is to keep guard over our hearts, that they may not become distracted, but may cleave to the letter as a guide. On the other side, beware also against the danger of falling into formality, but let the heart commence; then lips, words, and external position will naturally follow.