A. Description of Prayer
1. Prayer as an indication of true faith
Knox opens his treatise by emphasizing the necessity of “the right invocation of God’s name, otherwise called perfect prayer.”[1] If a man is not acquainted with this perfect prayer his being a Christian is in question, since prayer “is the very branch which springs forth of true faith.”[2] Prayer is an inherent fruit of saving faith. If one does not continually pray, he may not have been born again. As Knox argues, if any man does not pray, even if he is “endued with whatsoever other virtues, yet, in the presence of God, is he reputed for no Christian at all.”[3] “It is a manifest sign, that such as are always negligent in prayer do understand nothing of perfect faith; for if the fire be without heat, or the burning lamp without light, then true faith may be without fervent prayer.”[4]
Knox sees a close connection between ‘true faith’ and ‘perfect prayer.’ While perfect prayer emanates from true faith, true faith naturally produces perfect prayer. In this way, prayer becomes an indication of true faith.
2. Prayer as “an earnest and familiar talking with God”
Knox simply defines prayer as “an earnest and familiar talking with God, to whom we declare our miseries, whose support and help we implore and desire in our adversities, and whom we laud and praise for our benefits received.”[5] As such, prayer “contains the exposition of our dolours [sorrows], the desire of God’s defence, and the praising of his magnificent name.”[6]
Since prayer is conversing with God, we must realize who God is—that this God we are speaking to is the “omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth, and of all the contents thereof; whom a thousand thousand angels assist and serve, giving obedience to his eternal majesty.”[7] This realization, according to Knox, should provoke us to do prayer “most reverently,” and to assiduously flee from things that “offend his godly presence,” and to ask for things “which may be pleasant and acceptable in God’s presence,” and “which may be most to his glory, and to the comfort of our conscience.”[8] Otherwise, states Knox: “all our prayers are in vain.”[9] God does not hear sinners—those who “do glory and continue in iniquity. So that of necessity, true repentance must needs be had, and go before perfect, or sincere invocation of God’s name.”[10]
