A Godly treatise declaring the benefits, fruits, and great commodities of prayer and also the true use thereof.

For that man doeth pray always, either by himself, or else by his alms and charitable deeds, which supplieth all the want that appeareth in his own prayer. In this wise then, may the words of Christ aforesaid, be understanded [sic], wherein he teacheth us always to continue in prayer, which is as much to say, always to live and do well, which doeth some time happen to men, yea when they be sleeping. For as oft as we do sleep or wake, walk or sit still, eat or drink, be vexed or be in quiet, or what else soever we do or suffer, if all these doing be with a true faith referred to the honour and glory of God, no doubt they appertain to the increase of a good and perfect life…. And surely, if God be moved with our words and speaking, to be gracious unto us, he will be much more stirred to the same, by our good works and well doing, forasmuch as works do now supply the place of words.

— by John Fisher (1560)

St. John Fisher (1469–1535) was an English theologian, scholar, bishop, cardinal, and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church. Along with Thomas More, with whom he shares a feast day (June 22), he is considered the premier example of fortitude during the English revolt against the Catholic Church. Refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as supreme head of the Catholic Church in England, he was executed the same year as More. Serving as counselor to Henry VIII’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, and the Bishop of Rochester (England), Fisher was a main defender of the faith against the spread of Lutheranism, enlisted by both Henry VIII (prior to his own rejection of the faith) and Cardinal Wolsey to write against Luther’s views.