An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…

Spare me your patience, and give me leave a little to deal with these wizards. Tell me, thou that doest measure and behold the compass of heaven, and markest the coniunoions, and oppositions, and aspects of the stars: and by that wisdom canst foretell the things that shall be done hereafter: where learnest thou this skill? how comest thou by this deep knowledge? Paul was taken up into the third heaven, & heard words which cannot be spoken, which ⟨p. 183⟩are not lawful for man to utter: yet he knew not this secret, nor might not know it. What art thou then? art thou greater than the Apostle of Christ? hast thou been taken up into some place higher than the third heaven? hast thou heard such words, as are not lawful to utter? if it be so, why doest thou utter them? wilt thou take that upon thee which the holy Apostle dareth not? art thou of Gods privy counsel? the angels and archangels know not hereof: and shall we think that thou knowest it? Art thou wiser than an Angel? Consider thy self, thou art a miserable man, thy breath fadeth as the smoke. Thou art nothing but dust and ashes: thou canst not attain to the knowledge hereof.

Spare me your patience, and giue me leaue a little to deale with these wisards. Tell mee, thou that doest measure and beholde the compasse of heauen, and markest the coniunoions, and oppositions, and aspects of the starres: and by that wisedome canst foretel the things that shalbe done hereafter: where learnest thou this skil? how commest thou by this déepe knowledge? Paul was taken vp into the third héauē, & heard words which cannot be spoken, which ⟨p. 183⟩are not lawful for man to vtter: yet he knew not this secret, nor might not know it. What art thou then? art thou greater than the Apostle of Christ? hast thou béene taken vp into some place higher than the third heauen? hast thou heard such words, as are not lawfull to vtter? if it be so, why doest thou vtter them? wilt thou take that vpon thée which the holie Apostle dareth not? arte thou of Gods priuie counsel? the angels and archangels know not hereof: and shal we thinke that thou knowest it? Art thou wiser than an Angel? Consider thy selfe, thou art a miserable man, thy breath fadeth as the smoake. Thou art nothing but dust and ashes: thou canst not attaine to the knowledge hereof.