To the Right Worshipful Sir William Armin, Knight
SIR, many and excellent benefits has the Lord in mercy vouchsafed to us these eight and forty by-past years together: of which this is not the least, if not the greatest, that he has dispelled the dusky clouds of Popish darkness as palpable as that of Egypt, and has caused the sunlight of the Gospel to shine clearly in all our coasts. He shows his word unto us, as he did unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments, as he did sometimes to Israel. He has given us his prophets and ambassadors, which do serve like that cloud and pillar of fire to direct us in our pilgrimage through the wilderness of this wicked world into celestial Canaan. He has thrust forth many faithful and industrious laborers into his vineyard to prune and to dress the vines of our souls, that we may bring forth the grapes of piety and the clusters of justice; (unless we will needs be like to the cypress, which, as Pliny says, can endure no husbanding, but makes that her malady, which is a medicine to other trees). Amongst whom the author of this learned treatise did show himself with the foremost; carrying always with him a light of learning, and a lamp of godly living. And, qualis vita, finis ita; as he was a lamp while he lived, so like a lamp, alijs inseruiens seipsum consumpsit. His whole life was labor, [reconstructed: scribenda dicens et legenda scribens]. One whereof was this present discourse and platform concerning the true understanding and using of the Scriptures, written in his younger years: which I am bold to present and dedicate to your worship in this plight you see; partly because it is a thesaurus and store-house of excellent precepts, (as Domitius Piso says that books should be such) having in it [in non-Latin alphabet], sufficient furniture to further perfection in that sacred science: and partly to demonstrate my gratitude, and devoted affection to you, who have always been a constant patron (etiam minitante Fortuna) to my nearest and dearest friends.
Thus I take my humble leave, desiring your kind acceptance, and so commend your worship with your whole progeny to the protection of the Lord. London, January 1, 1606.
Your worship's in all duty, Thomas Tuke.
