Tidbits from Montaigne 22

God's justice and His power are inseparable; it is in vain if we invoke His power in an unjust cause. 

We are to have our souls pure and clean, at that moment at least wherein we pray to Him, and purified from all vicious passions; otherwise we ourselves present Him the rods with which to chastise us; instead of repairing anything we have done amiss, we double the wickedness and the offense when we offer to Him, to whom we are to sue for pardon, an affection full of irreverence and hatred. 

Which makes me not very apt to applaud those whom I observe to be so frequent on their knees, if the actions nearest to the prayer do not give me some evidence of amendment and reformation.

—Michel de Montaigne, Essays 1.56