Four great liars, striving who shall win the silver whetstone Also, a resolution to…Foure great lyers, striuing who shall win the siluer whetstone Also, a resolution to…

This thy dealing is like unto the folly of that man, who having a costly clock in his bosom, never extolleth or thinketh on the wit and invention of the clockmaker, but is continually in admiration of the spring or watch of the clock, by whose means all the wheels have their swifter or flower, their backward or forward motions, and by which the whole clock keepeth his course. Wherefore me thinketh that in a Christian common wealth, those only books should be published for thine use, which might beat into thine head, and make thee every hour and moment to think on the providence of God: which being once settled in thy mind, the consideration of the means, which ⟨image 17⟩GOD useth, will follow it of self. Contrariwise, to tell thee the means which GOD doeth use, to thunder out the aspects and constellations of Stars, and seldom to mention of his providence, maketh thee to fear, and admire, and love the means, quite forgetting the work of God in the means. This fault was very rife amongest the Israelites, who came yearly unto Astrologers and wise men: Wherefore that which is spoken by Jeremiah unto them, is also spoken unto thee. Here ye the word of the Lord, ¹that he speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not afraid for the signs of heaven, though the heathen be afraid of such: In like sort, God forbiddeth his people of England to give credit, or fear the constellations & conjunctions of stars and Planets which have no power of themselves, but are governed by him, & their secret motions and influences are not known to man & therefore there can be no certain judgement thereof. If ⟨image 18⟩thou wilt not hear & follow this which I say, see what will ensue. Thou seest that the greatest matters which these Diviners and Prognosticators foretell, fall out flat otherwise then they say, to to their perpetual shame, Truly I am persuaded, that it is the judgement of God upon them (although they cannot see it) who maketh them, when they think they are most wise, to be most fools. For so the Lord used the wise men and Astrologers of Chaldea, as he speaketh by his Prophet Isaiah.

This thy dealyng is like vnto the follie of that man, who hauyng a costly clocke in his bosome, neuer extolleth or thinketh on the wit and inuention of the clockemaker, but is continually in admiration of the spring or watch of the clocke, by whose meanes all the wheeles haue their swifter or flower, their backeward or forward motiōs, and by which the whole clocke keepeth his course. Wherefore me thincketh that in a Christian common wealth, those onely bookes should bee published for thine vse, which might beate into thine head, and make thee euery houre and momēt to thincke on the prouidence of God: which being once settled in thy minde, the consideration of the meanes, which