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…

These and such like proceed only from the will of man: the constellations ⟨image 42⟩of stars are neither signs nor causes of them. Some will say, Non imponere necessitatem, sed inclinare Stellas, that is. That stars do not constrain, but only incline the minds of men: a most wicked saying, although most commonly spoken of, and defended. For the inclining of the will of man is only the work of God, as the holy Scriptures do teach us. The hart of man (saith Solomon) purposeth his ways, ¹but the Lord directeth his steps. ²O Lord (saith Jeremiah the Prophet) that the way of man, is not in himself, neither is it in man to walk and direct his steppes. He speaketh this, because that Nebuchadnezzar purposed to have made war against the Moabites and Ammonites, but hearing of Zedekias rebellion, he turned his power to go against Jerusalem, therefore the Prophet saith, that whereas he had otherwise purposed, yet this was the Lords inclination and direction. Again in the Proverbs,³ we read this: That the hart of the king is in the hands of the ⟨image 42⟩Lord, as the Rivers of water he directeth it whether he will. It will be said, that although God properly and immediately inclineth the will of man: yet also some small inclination must be given unto the Stars, and that immediately. For

These and such like proceede onely from the will of man: the constellations ⟨image 42⟩of starres are neither signes nor causes of them. Some will say, Non imponere necessitatem, sed inclinare Stellas, that is. That starres doe not constraine, but onely incline the myndes of men: a most wicked saying, although most commonly spoken of, and defended. For ye inclinyng of the wil of man is onely the work of God, as the holy Scriptures doe teache vs. The hart of man (sayth Salomon) purposeth his wayes, ¹