>>18138072
From the large Cathechism of Martin Luther:
The Fifth Petition.
85] And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
86] This part now relates to our poor miserable life, which, although we have and believe the
Word of God, and do and submit to His will, and are supported by His gifts and blessings, is nevertheless not without sin. For we still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the world among men who do us much harm and give us cause for impatience, anger, revenge, etc.
87] Besides, we have Satan at our back, who sets upon us on every side, and fights (as we have heard) against all the foregoing petitions, so that it is not possible always to stand firm in such a persistent conflict.
88] Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and to pray: Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses. Not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer (for He has given us the Gospel, in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever
thought about it). But this is to the intent that we may recognize and accept such forgiveness.
89] For since the flesh in which we daily live is of such a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God, and is ever active in evil lusts and devices, so that we sin daily in word and deed, by commission and omission, by which the conscience is thrown into unrest, so that it is afraid of the wrath and displeasure of God, and thus loses the comfort and confidence
derived from the Gospel; therefore it is ceaselessly necessary that we run hither and obtain consolation to comfort the conscience again
