John Knox — A Treatise on Prayer

Without our Mediator, Forespeaker and Peacemaker, we enter not into prayer; for the incalling of such as pray without Jesus Christ is not only vain, but also they are odious and abominable before God.

In our God there is strength to resist and confound multitudes, if we unfeignedly depend upon Him; and of this we have had experience heretofore.

He who, when necessity constrains, desires not support and help of God, does provoke his wrath no less than such as make false gods or openly deny God.

Nothing is more odious before God than hypocrisy and dissimulation: that is, when men do ask of God things whereof they have no need, or that they believe to obtain by others than by God alone.

So that of necessity, true repentance must needs be had, and go before perfect prayer, or sincere invocation of God's name.

For nothing more offends God, than when we ask doubting whether he will grant our petitions; for in so doing, we doubt if God be true, if he be mighty and good.