Chapter IV.

That it is just as great a sin to want to be heard in prayer because of one's own piety, as it is to neglect prayer entirely because of past sins.

In the fourth week, before you begin to say your Our Father original: "Vater Unser," the Lord's Prayer, always repeat what you have heard previously as follows:

Oh Lord, I know now through Your grace that You see and hear everything before I pray, and also that You urge, entice, and admonish us to prayer, and promise certain fulfillment. I also know that You love everyone equally and are no respecter of persons original: "kein Anseher der Person," meaning God does not show favoritism based on social standing or perceived merit. But now such hindrances in prayer come before me that I think: "Yes, You are indeed a lover of all people and no respecter of persons; but I have been unworthy and a great sinner. If only I were as holy and pious as Abraham, David, Paul, and Peter, then I would surely be heard in my prayer." Therefore, to drive away such hindrances on the right and on the left referring to the two extremes of spiritual failure: pride in one's own goodness (the right) and despair over one's sins (the left), speak with David from the 130th Psalm on one side:

With You, nothing counts but grace and favor to forgive sin; our deeds are in vain, even in the best of lives This is a translation of a stanza from Martin Luther's hymn "Aus tiefer Not," a paraphrase of Psalm 130. Lord, do not enter into judgment