To the Learned and Religious Gentleman Henry Laurence, Esquire

Worthy Sir, although your own native worth might justly draw from us a greater testimony of observance, than the putting of this little Treatise into your hand. Yet we have been rather hereto induced, by the consideration of such adornments of wisdom, learning, and piety in you, as had express relation to the author, and may be the fruit and issues of his labors in your younger years. It is true indeed that the goodness of the soil adds much to the greatness of the crop. But it is as true, that the industry and wisdom of the husbandman adds also much to the goodness of the soil. Yet neither of these without a gracious influence from heaven bring forth a harvest.

It has pleased God, there should be extant various monuments whereby the author's eminent abilities do yet survive in the hearts and esteem of men. Yet none express him more to the life, than the piety and virtue of those that grew up under him — he lives if they stand fast in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:8). Among whom as you had a greater intimacy, of all the nearest, not of a pupil but of a bosom-friend, and continual companion; and therein a longer time: so have you answered it, as then in love and respect to him, so since in a proportional and happy improvement of what you did receive. And therefore as we conceived, it would be a derogation injurious to your candid and ingenious disposition, to think you unwilling to be put in mind of him, by whose religious care you were so often put in mind of God, and of yourself. So also an unworthy and ungrateful disrespect, to have omitted inscription of your name; especially by us, who long have been and are

Your loving and obliged Friends. Thomas Goodwin Thomas Ball.