or not;
whether it is possible that his prayer is acceptable, and other such
strange thoughts. For the evil spirit knows well how powerful one man's
truly believing prayer is, and how it hurts him, and how it benefits
all men. Therefore he does not willingly let it happen.

When so tempted, a man must indeed be wise, and not doubt that he and
his prayer are, indeed, unworthy before such infinite Majesty; in no
wise dare he trust his worthiness, or because of his unworthiness grow
faint; but he must heed God's command and cast this up to Him, and hold
it before the devil, and say: "Because of my worthiness I do nothing,
because of my unworthiness I cease from nothing. I pray and work only
because God of His pure mercy has promised to hear and to be gracious
to all unworthy men, and not only promised it, but He has also most
sternly, on pain of His everlasting displeasure and wrath, commanded us
to pray, to trust and to receive. If it has not been too much for that
high Majesty so solemnly and highly to obligate His unworthy worms to
pray, to trust, and to receive from Him, how shall it be too much for
me to take such command upon myself with all joy, however worthy or
unworthy I may be?" Thus we must drive out the devil's suggestion with
God's command. Thus will he cease, and in no other way whatever.

IX. But what are the things which we must bring before Almighty God in
prayer and lamentation, to exercise faith thereby? Answer: First, every
man's own besetting need and trouble, of which David says, Psalm xxxii:
"Thou art my refuge in all trouble which compasseth me about; Thou art
my comfort, to preserve me from all evil which surrounds me." Likewise,
Psalm cxlii: "I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto
the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before
Him; I showed before Him my trouble." In the mass a Christian shall
keep in mind the short-comings or excesses he feels, and pour out all
these freely before God with weeping and groaning, as woefully as he
can, as to his faithful Father, who is ready to help him. And if you
do not know or recognise your need, or have no trouble, then you shall
know that you are in the worst possible plight. For this is the
greatest trouble, that you find yourself so hardened, hard-hearted and
insensible that no trouble moves you.

There is no better mirror in which to see your need than simply the Ten
Commandments, in which you will find what you