[637] “Werke,” Weim. ed., 34, 2, p. 21. Certain prayers spoken by Luther at critical moments, which appear in Protestant biographies, more particularly the older ones, are purely legendary. So, for instance, his solemn prayer at Worms: “O God, my God, stand by me against all the wit and wisdom of the world,” etc. (Uckert, “Luthers Leben,” 2, Gotha, 1817, p. 6, and also in Walch’s edition of Luther’s Works, 10, p. 1720). From Melanchthon’s time (ibid., 21, Nachl. 354) and that of such enthusiastic pupils of Luther as Spangenberg, it became the custom to extol Luther as a man of prayer. Spangenberg even declares that “no one can deny” that Luther during his lifetime “checked and prevented God’s chastisements, wars and desolation” by means of his “Christian prayers, so full of faith.” See Preface to his “Lutherus Theander,” No. 18. A certain Protestant theological periodical assured its readers quite recently, that “Luther spent three hours of his working day in prayer”; it is true that people pray even in the Roman Church, but amid much “superficiality and desecration.”
[638] Lauterbach, “Tagebuch,” p. 73 f. (Khummer).
[639] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 11², p. 245, in the Sermon for Easter Monday, 1525.
[640] Ibid., p. 243 f.
[641] Ibid., p. 244.
[642] “Werke,” Weim. ed., 4, p. 658.
[643] Cordatus, “Tagebuch,” p. 207.
[644] “Werke,” Weim. ed., 1, p. 630 f.; “Opp. lat. var.,” 1, p. 378 seq. in Concl., 3 seq. (of 1518). Passages in which he advocates contrition will, however, be quoted below. Cp. vol. i., p. 293.
[645] Lauterbach, “Tagebuch,” pp. 33, 51.
[646] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 61, p. 435 (“Tischreden”).