Message to Mr. Feodor Ivanovich Karpov

Rejoice! I read your message, Mr. Theodore Ivanovich, and was surprised at your disagreement in the words that you expressed in a bad way and indecent to your piety and reason, and to the opinion that I had about you. Do not be embarrassed, I ask you, by such a preface to this message, which is composed unusually, for harmful ailments require stronger medicines. I was surprised at you because you had the opportunity to thoroughly understand the truth from those indisputable proofs set forth by holy men, which are contained in my message to you. You not only could not understand it, but you also rebel with great enthusiasm against the understanding of the Church, armed with evidence relating to something else and said in a completely different sense. We have offered you many of the most famous Christian teachers, who, so to speak, have laid bare before you and clearly exposed the deception of the teaching of those who observe the movement of the stars, and far reject this teaching from the sacred fence of the Church, so that you should have fully learned the truth from their holy words, which we have cited. But you, I don’t know where, bring up unusual and paternal statutes, completely unacceptable Lacedaemonian cunning, that is, belonging to people who were famous for all kinds of wickedness, you bring the kings Alexander and some other nameless one who reigned in Constantinople. Based on these proofs of yours, you recognize the false teaching of astrologerism as necessary for Christians and very necessary. You also bring on Wednesday the lives of holy men who had many experiences of heavenly visions. You should first think about the fact that these holy fathers first studied this teaching with great zeal and labor, then later they were not too lazy to expose its falsity and eradicate the harm that completely stemmed from it. Not only Cosmas (Indicoplos) and Gregory of Acragantium, but also Basil (the Great), and both Gregory (Nasianzus and Nissias), and Chrysostom and, in general, all those who shone with wisdom and holiness, in their youth practiced external learning, until they had yet reached the highest wisdom, with which one can unite with God and be worthy of the vision of God - so far, so say, they remained under the mountain with the nine other disciples, as not yet able to accommodate the most perfect visions, and as requiring more milk, and not solid food, as Paul told the Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:2). When they reached the perfect age, to which Paul also came, he rejected everything childish, then they also despised not only astrology, as false, separating from God and attracting to the elements of this world and filling the mind with countless wrong thoughts, but also other unnecessary sciences that cannot edify to piety; Having recognized their wickedness and deceit, they completely rushed to the prophetic and apostolic sources and drank themselves of their streams. Let the great theologist Gregory, on whom you apparently rely heavily, but could not comprehend his mind, assure you of the justice of what has been said. If you had fully understood him, you would have long ago cast aside your arrogance and become at one with us for the truth. Listen carefully to what he says in the sixth word, where he gives an answer regarding his silence - in what mind he chose it for the time being. "I wanted to become forever dead to this life and spend my life hidden in Christ, to be some great merchant, and with everything that I have, to acquire a pearl of great price, and for constant and heavenly things to give current and attractive, which is the greatest and most profitable purchase for those who have the mind. But besides this acquisition, I am ready to cede this (current and attractive) to those who desire thrones (high positions), but to be a youth and a disciple all my life, until I wash away the bitter ones with sweet words.” What do you think, Mr. Theodore, about the above words of Saint Gregory? What kind of mortification is he talking about, and how does he want to be killed: sensual, or rational, or both? And what kind of life, hidden in Christ, does the saint wish to lead: the one that you are talking about, and which consists in the beautiful decoration of the stars and luminaries, in the kindness of the sky, in the combination of planets and signs of the zodiac, in their wonderful arrangement and distance, or that which, through the fulfillment of saving commandments and conception in the womb, as Isaiah says, the fear of the Lord, brings about the purification of the mind? What is it - current and attractive - that he gives for the abiding and heavenly? Are these some kind of sensual possessions, or some kind of rational and verbal acquisitions? Tell me if you can! That he speaks here not about possessions and not about sensory acquisitions, but about the many and varied scientific knowledge that he collected while still a youth - he himself explains this, saying that throughout his life he wants to be a youth and a student, until he washes away the bitter ones with sweet words. Sweet words are those that the prophets and apostles proclaimed by the Holy Spirit and left in their books; the bitter ones are those that the Greeks left in their writings as venerable and great, but in which great wickedness and abomination are hidden. External sciences are good and necessary for human life, but most of them are harmful and hide destruction, which if we wanted to list in detail, we would be forced to write a whole book: there is so much lies and impurity in them! And Saint Gregory well called them “bad,” that is, bitter for a reasonable taste, as distracting far from the true sweetness of those who carelessly practice them. These words of mine are confirmed by his interpreter, Nikita Serbian, saying this: “for now, he says, I will wash away the Hellenic teachings with tears and spiritual words and dogmas.” Therefore, he preferred the life of Moses and Elijah and John, which, by doing the commandments of the Lord and seeing the mysteries hidden in God’s sacred books, unites with God and makes the zealots of this vision friends of God, rather than contemplating the wondrous paths of the sun and moon, and the brightness of the stars, heavenly beauty, the movement and distance of the planets and the zodiac, as you claim, enjoying the stories about visible creatures and being immensely amazed at them kindness and correct movement. By this you give reason to think that it was not Theodore who composed the epistle, but some other follower of external rejected wisdom, who, hiding behind the name of Theodore, composed and spread such mockery and such abomination against the truth. Having honored the false false wisdom with praise, he could not resist calling it the art of art, philosophizing and daring to write in spite of the blessed John Chrysostom and Augustine, of whom the first calls star-gazing knowledge untruth and confusion, saying that it is studied in vain and foolishly by everyone; Blessed Augustine says that it is acquired with the help of Satan and, through secret communication with the devil, prophesies about the future, guessing about events. Whoever he was, who contradicted these blessed men, not only could not resist calling this science the art of art, but also came up with something even more wicked and destructive for his soul. Those praises with which the wise Solomon mysteriously extols the truth, divine and universal wisdom, he sacrilegiously attributed to the false science of the stars. What kind of communication is there between light and darkness? That wisdom that Solomon sought “to bring for himself a bride, the mystery-maker is God’s cunning, and the finder of His deeds. Her works are the essence of virtue: she teaches chastity and reason, truth and courage, and nothing more is needed in life than that” (Wis. Sol. 8:2, 4, 7). We learned about the astrologer’s deceptive wisdom, such as it is, from the blessed men Basil, John and Augustine, who claim that it is false, serves as confusion for everyone and has the devil as an assistant. What chastity, what purity or truth and courage can the science of astronomy teach, which overthrows all divine laws, contrasting the divine law with the power and law of the stars - and attributes what depends on will and autocracy - virtues and vices - to changes in the stellar course. What else comes out of this but that the all-good God is the author and creator of evil? After all, the stars are his creations. If this is so, then how can the above-mentioned virtues be achieved by the course of the stars, when all people are dependent on the power of the stars, and everything good and evil happens by force, and not by choice? And if I knew that you would not be burdened by the multitude of what I say, then I would tell you everything in detail regarding the praise of the divinely inspired wisdom praised by Solomon - I would explain that it has nothing in common with the false wisdom that you praise in vain, which not only the champions of Christ’s Church, whom you attack, rightly condemn, but even the foremost external philosopher Plato drives it far away from the general the laws of philosophical citizenship, as you yourself know well, although you voluntarily abhor the truth. You say that none of those who reigned in antiquity and who were famous for their military prowess did anything commendable without star-gazing foreknowledge and response. On this basis, you determine that this science is necessary, since it preserves and strengthens in human society that which is most honest for it, that is, the kingdom. But in this case, the one who told you this turns out to be a liar, no matter who he is. I will even ignore the Lacedaemonians and Persians and the actions of Alexander, as not confirming his evidence, but will offer the actions of Scipio Africanus, who is held in high esteem by them, as the one best known to him, about whom he is written in the “Acts of Scipio.” When Anivac the Carthaginian, whom they call Annibal in Roman, conquered Italy, won a famous victory over the Romans at Cannae, and the affairs of the Romans came into great straits, then where is it written about him (Scipio) that he, inspired by an astrological prediction, came to Africa with a small army, leaving Annibal somewhere near Rome, and there, bravely fighting against warriors, did not stop until he destroyed the fatherland of Annibal-Carthage, and took the inhabitants prisoner. Didn’t he do all this with the courageous mind of his soul, taking advantage of the convenient time for this - Hannibal’s presence in Italy? What about Julius Caesar, whether it was due to astrological predictions and observation of the times that he showed the greatest courage and boldness against the Gauls, or due to his spiritual valor, military skill and nobility of character? Moreover, those who reigned in Rome, who, as you say, all adhered equally to astrology, did not all possess courage, military skill and courage of character; but these soothsayers were let into Rome by the weakest of characters, who bestowed honor upon them. The most valiant and noblest in soul and mind drove them out not only from Rome, but also from Italy in general, as sorcerers who, under the pretext of predicting the future of the kings, emptied the royal treasures, whom Claudius Caesar drove far from Rome and from Italy in general, as deceivers and corrupters, and not philosophers. Philosophy is a very sacred thing and, without a little, truly divine, for it diligently teaches about God, about His truth and about His all-encompassing incomprehensible providence, although it does not comprehend everything, as not being involved in the divine inspiration that was inherent in the divine prophets, but it praises chastity and wisdom and meekness, and legislates all other beautifications of morals, and establishes the best citizenship and, generally speaking, introduces every virtue and everything good into the entire universe. For this reason, one of the ancients said: “A philosopher is more beneficial to me in this life than a good king.” We should always live together with such people, as with those who introduce truth and piety, and from them we should borrow the best and that which helps us towards piety. But enough of that. So, you should understand the truth from the example that I gave you in my first message; for it did not bring any benefit, but on the contrary, astrology destroyed Louis, the ruler of Milan, whom Ambrose advised not to philosophize so much regarding the successes and establishment of kings, as if it were impossible for them to be prosperous without astrology. And since this example could not enlighten you, at least learn the truth from our pious and ever-memorable Russian great princes. And in order not to prolong the word, I will not talk about others, but will only mention the Grand Duke Dimitri Donskoy, who destroyed the numerous army of the godless Mamai. By what means of star divination did he destroy the godless? Was it not by divine jealousy that he was inspired and, protecting himself with the shield of faith, fought with the tormentor and defeated him? Which of those who reigned among us after our baptism required astrologers against the godless Tatars? Why do you so clearly and indecently advocate against the truth? Why do you mix something that shouldn’t interfere? For pious kings there must be one most necessary astrology, this is the Orthodox faith in the Holy Life-Giving Trinity, and a godly life built on this solid foundation, affirmed on all sides by the wisdom of Christ, unfeigned truth, spiritual courage and the chastity of a pure life - like some most beautiful house, supported by four unshakable pillars. Whoever adheres to this God-loving cunning with all his soul will never make a mistake in anything, for he has within himself “Strong in War” to overcome. Just as, on the contrary, those who despise this God-loving life and overthrow all devoted piety will not succeed in anything, even if Seth and Enoch himself, who first invented your astrology, had with them. Where is it written in the “Acts of Alexander,” which were recorded by wise men worthy of Alexander’s courage and his intelligence, that he, through Aristotelian astrology, performed his glorious brave deeds for thirteen years? Or where is Aristotle himself seen to act according to astrology? Why do you lie so obviously about those valiant and wondrous men? About Themistocles, this most famous leader, who destroyed the countless army of Xerxes on sea and on land with skillful military actions and quick thinking, where is it written in Thucydides that he should use stargazing fortune-telling against the Persians? Tell us where it is, and if you have it, give us written evidence, and then we will agree with you. And how do you say that those who reigned among us Greeks resorted to astrologers during military operations, then if you, in front of everyone, turn out to be deceiving and frightening us, like little children, then what answer will remain for you? In what way, tell me, did the great Tsar Constantine destroy the cruel rule of Maxentine - either with astrological advice and legends, as you want, or armed with a cross of stars that appeared to him in the sky with the inscription: “Constantine, hereby conquer”? Maxentius, who was zealously devoted to fortune-telling, sorcery and astrological deception, kept himself within the Roman walls, and, as history says, Constantine was very afraid of him because of his sorcery. But, even being constrained by this fear, he did not resort to astrology, as you think, but sought help from God, who created heaven and earth; That’s why he was strengthened by the (star) scripture, which inspired him to fight. Have we convinced you with this evidence, or do you still need stronger medicine against your delusions? But we will do this for you, for the sake of love. For the good must overcome the evil, according to the word of the divine preacher. You should, O friends, speak from the holy scriptures, and not present explanations from your mind. For everything that comes from light is light, and he who adheres to it is directed to the infallible path. If, in your opinion, our kings needed the advice of astrologers and did nothing without their instructions and advice, then how did the same kings, by civil laws, determine not to explicitly teach mathematics? For the royal law speaks about this in these words: let geometry be taught openly, but mathematics is condemned as a forbidden thing. Listen, you deaf, look, you blind! Mathematics, he says, is condemned as a forbidden thing. The kings condemn her and drive her away from their citizenship, but you claim that she is necessary for the kings, and do not be ashamed, speaking so clearly against the truth. If you want to know who the followers of mathematics are, then listen to Matthew (Vlastar), the interpreter of the sacred rules, who clearly tells you this: “The followers of mathematics are those who think that the heavenly bodies have dominion over all creation, and that our affairs depend on their movement; astrologers are those who, with the assistance of demons, through the stars, guess and believe them as if they were gods.” Have you understood from these few words what iniquity those who study mathematics learn? Hear the rest of Matthew’s words, and be healed in your mind, and stop reproaching us as those who forbid you to learn this. We do not forbid learning, but we advise not to jump over abysses and not to heed teachings beyond those established by the holy rules, that is, not to philosophize that the deeds of our will are accomplished by the planets and through the action of the zodiac, and that they direct our life towards virtue or vice, towards prosperity or misfortune. And do not call some days and hours good, and others evil and those that need to beware. All these are blasphemies leveled at our Creator, whose deeds were all “very good” (Gen. 1:31) and were worthy of His blessing, as Divine Scripture testifies. Do not try to find out the future either by the voice or by the flight of birds: all these are Satan’s tricks and are cursed by the holy fathers, disobedience to whose teaching is a clear falling away from eternal life, for it is said: “Be swept away from you, Me is swept away” (Luke 10:16). This word is terrible, Mr. Theodore, and those who have the mind of Christ should remember it with the greatest care. But although the heavenly bodies serve, according to the words of Blessed John of Damascus, as harbingers of winds and rains, and partly of wars, one should not be afraid of them, as if they were guilty of this, and abandon necessary matters, for they are not always true, but for the most part they sin. But one should adhere to what has been said, that “all things work out for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28) and, placing one’s trust in the invincible power of Christ, do one’s necessary deeds with God’s help. Blessed is the house, said Solomon, that does not heed observances, that is, that does not observe the days and hours and does not pay attention to the voices and flights of birds. And those who are guided by such signs were anathematized by the holy fathers. Regarding mathematical books - how many there are and what they are, the same Matvey speaks about it this way: there are four so-called mathematical books: arithmetic, musicology, geometry and astronomy. It is not the rule that is forbidden to read these books, but rather to use them incorrectly and to believe that our circumstances depend on the movement of celestial bodies, and to try to recognize something in the future as something that will certainly happen due to such and such the movement of the stars. This is what Saint Matthew says; As a rule, he mentions the 36th Council of Laodicea. Since Constantine the Great asked a certain astrologer named Walenta about the fate of the city he created, you conclude from this that astrological science is necessary for kings. To this we answer that, firstly, the astrologer’s prediction turned out to be false and incorrect, for he predicted the city’s existence only for 606 years; the city exists, if we count only the time of dominion of pious kings in it - 1108 years; if we add to this the time after its occupation by the Ishmaelites, it will turn out to be 1214 years. This exposes the falsity of this trick. And if this was the case in those times when the sciences and teachings of external Hellenic wisdom flourished most, which reached their highest degree, then in modern times, when the form of this teaching, as well as other Hellenic sciences, completely extinguished and reached, so to speak, their last gasp, being weakened by the power of the incarnate God the Word, it will even more so turn out to be false. And this, as well as many other things, was also predicted by the prophets: “I will destroy,” he says, “the wisdom of the wise, and I will hide the understanding of the wise” (Is. 29:14). Paul cries out more clearly, saying: “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the questioner of this age? Has not God put on the wisdom of this world?” (1 Cor. 1:20). If this knowledge is exposed as false, and God shows it to be madness, as the Apostle says, then it means that it has already become unnecessary for pious kings in order to know the future through this, for it turned out to be false and madness with God. Secondly, we affirm that there is no urgent need for external pious kings to follow the customs of the ancient Roman kings. For many of the Hellenic customs, together with the kings, received the right of citizenship from the pious, since the kings from the beginning could not immediately abandon everything. And this is clearly proven by the fact that the Great Theodosius for a long time begged the members of the synclite to accept faith in Christ and leave the worship of the Hellenic gods, but was unable to convince them. Then he asked them a second time that, since they did not want to accept faith in Christ, they would at least agree to cancel those expenses that were established according to Hellenic custom for festivals and sacrifices, because with this expense, he said, the royal treasury was burdened, while large funds were required to maintain the army. But even in this, the members of the synclite did not listen to him. You see how a destructive custom still persisted among the confidants of pious kings. Therefore, it is not surprising if, due to ancient custom, for some reason there were astrologers with them. But this did not continue under the next kings, when the kingdom itself reached the perfect age and mind about Christ, when all the ancient deceptions were rejected and the pious kings established a law according to which it was forbidden to teach the people a part of mathematics called astrology, which sets out the doctrine of fortune telling at birth, as prohibited by the holy fathers. Consequently, this proof of yours, like everything else, turns out to be empty. You see that the pious teaching of the Church is protected from everywhere by prophets, apostles, teachers, the history of the Church, written both by external and by our (historians), sacred rules and royal laws. Why, despising the assembly of so many and such great sacred men, do we listen to one, two or three sorcerers, as if they were apostles, and, following their teaching, we blaspheme God, exposing Him as the creator of evil. For, according to you, we are forcibly drawn into unnatural vices by the influence of the stars, since the signs of the zodiac and planet at our birth determine our future affairs. Listen to those who say that you can find out the future through the stars, and be horrified! The disembodied angels, being of a rational nature, are abundantly illuminated and always enjoy divine enlightenments, and they know nothing more about the future except what the Holy Spirit reveals to them. How can the stars, being soulless by nature, unreasonable and deaf, have any power of foreknowledge, determine the lot for our lives and forcefully draw us towards virtue or vice? Truly deaf and completely unreasonable are both those who preach and those who accept this teaching! Woe to our great blindness! But why are you referring to Gideon and David here? But you did not explain what was commanded to them. Or will you say about them that through star divination, the flight and singing of birds and other similar pagan wickednesses, they received those famous and wonderful victories against foreigners? What was the result of the tributary saying that when prophecy fails, then people will be scattered? Or do you think that star divination is of course here? And if you think so, then what was truly said to you has been fulfilled: “having no knowledge of understanding, they walk in darkness” (Ps. 81:5), “being wise and foolish” (Rom. 1:22). For even for a blind man, as the parable says, the evidence is obvious. And since you mentioned Gideon and David, then show where in Scripture it is written about them, so that they ever and to any extent listened to the fortune telling of the stars or the flights of birds and voices. Was it not through an angel that Gideon received notification and, inspired by it, destroyed a large horde of foreigners, having only three hundred soldiers with him? Or do you consider the angel who appeared to him to be some kind of astrologer? Also, David, was it not always through asking the modern high priests, whom he ordered to take the ephed, that is, to put on priestly clothing, and ask God whether he would command him to strike at a foreigner, and then he armed himself against them and always won, and not to astrologers or to ventriloquists, that is, to demons carried in the womb and giving answers, as the accursed Saul did, who through this He destroyed both his life and his kingdom. But Gideon and David always resorted to God and His saints, and therefore (David) says in the psalm: “In God we will create strength: and He will humble those who afflict us” (Ps. 59:14). Listen with attention: about Bose, he says, power should be created, and not according to the stars, or according to the flights and voices of birds, as you misunderstand. What was David’s strength about God? Listen to how he briefly outlines this to you in the seventh psalm, in which, asking God for help to get rid of all those who persecute him, he prays to the Lord to remember his kindness, saying: “Lord, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hand, if I will reward those who repay evil” (Ps. 7: 4-6 ) and other things contained there. He who has his hands clean from all murder and resentment, from covetousness and the theft of another’s property, which is meant by the words “if there is iniquity in my hand,” and keeps his heart pure from rage, envy and rancor, he is preserved by God from above: he “does not” fall away from his enemies “drained, his soul” is not persecuted by enemies, “his life” is not trampled “into” the earth and his glory will not be lost. turned to dust (ibid.). For such a person, everything goes well, and he does not need to tell fortunes of the stars, or to observe the singing and flight of birds, which the accursed Saul was forced to do, who himself and his entire family perished. The righteous Hezekiah did not act this way, but with tears and contrition of heart he resorted to the One who was able to save him from grief when he saw a large army of the adversary around the walls of the city. We should imitate such people, and not the Lacedaemonians and Roman kings, Alexander and the Persians, people who lived in wickedness. We should also try to be wise in the divine scripture, according to the tradition of the holy apostles and universal teachers, and not, for the sake of shame before foreigners, as you say, seek training in harmful sciences. Since my words are confirmed in everything, I will offer you another most reliable proof from the travels and preaching of the divine Apostle Peter, described by his follower, and then by the successor to his throne in Rome, the Hieromartyr Clement. The proof is the following: Faustus, the father of Clement, as a Hellenic and experienced in astrology, convinced Peter and proved to him that there is no Divine Providence, but that everything in life depends on birth (under a certain planet) and on fate, which the Romans call “fortune.” When Faustus confirmed his wisdom with many proofs, Peter said to him: “If everything depends on birth, and you have made sure that this is really so, then you are advising me in a way that is inconsistent with your beliefs. For if, contrary to the law of birth, it is not possible to accept any kind of wisdom, then why are you laboring in vain, advising me of something that is impossible to happen? If the law inscribed at birth must be fulfilled, then do not labor in vain, admonishing me not to honor the Lord of the stars, who, if something does not want to be, it is impossible for it to be, since what is always subject to the owner must necessarily obey him. I and my family from my forefathers accepted the commandment to honor God and not to believe in birth, that is, astrological fortune-telling. Therefore, I did not take your advice, especially since I am inexperienced in astrology. And as I understand it, I’ll tell you: I affirm that everything is controlled by Divine Providence, and everyone will receive either a reward or punishment according to their deeds. The proof that birth means nothing is the following: if anyone among those present is missing an eye, or has a damaged arm, or has a lame leg, or has some other bodily defect that doctors cannot heal, I will pray to God and give him healing. If this is so, then do not those who blaspheme Him sin against God, the Creator of all? Faustus responded: “Is it blasphemy to say that everyone is subject to the law of birth?” Peter replied: “Indeed, so. For if all human sins and wickedness and impurity arise from the influence of the stars, as you assert, and the fact that the stars act this way is arranged by God, so that they are the perpetrators of all evils, then it is obvious that everything that is done relates to Him, as He who gave the stars the power to subject everyone to the law of birth.” To this Favst said: “Indeed, so.” What could be clearer and more convincing than this evidence, O wise Theodore? The Supreme Apostle said that those who claim that all our circumstances depend on birth are blaspheming God. (Dependence on a famous star) is what we Greeks call “birth”; The (ancient) Hellenes call this “imarmenia,” while the Latins call it “fatum” and “fortune.” This is called birth because, according to astrological rhetoric, the stars determine the lot of human life. Let us retreat from such wickedness if we wish to be those who praise, and not blaspheme, the good Lord, and do not allow ourselves to be deceived by flattering words and empty dreams. With this advice, I do not forbid you to study the verbal sciences that adorn the man of God, just as you unfairly slander me throughout your entire epistle. Where is it that I would command you anything like this, Mr. Theodore, or would I ever turn you away from the study of medicine, or from any other philosophical knowledge? But even from the contemplation of the heavenly bodies and from the knowledge of their movement and interaction, from which the changes of the four seasons of the year occur and months, times and years are made up for us, and I will not take you away from this, for this is necessary to determine the meaning of a certain time. This is not what I am turning you away from, not this at all! - but from teachings that are unnecessary and prohibited by sacred rules, as they distract the thoughts of the faithful from faith and from trust in God, and attribute everything to the stars and force them to wait for help and strengthening from there. Listen to what the Holy Scripture says: “If the God of Israel is good with a right heart” (Ps. 73:1). Take care to acquire uprightness of heart, and then you will have God as your companion in everything and correcting the works of your hands. For “to those who love God,” it is said, “all things will work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). Then you will acquire righteousness of heart when you say with the Psalmist: “For Thy works are great, O Lord: with wisdom Thou hast done all things” (Ps. 103:24). There is nothing obstinate or depraved in them, for “thou hast created all things with wisdom.” Everything created in wisdom is very good and full of Your goodness; truth is united with wisdom, and with them the inseparable cohabitant is goodness. Having created man with Your incomprehensible wisdom in Your image and likeness, that is, autocratic and ruler, ruling over everything on earth, You adorned him with righteousness and goodness and, out of Your love for mankind, offered him saving commandments, upon observance of which you promised him eternal life and the kingdom of heaven. But how will You be recognized as wise, or good, or righteous, if You subordinated the one created in Your image to the influence of the stars and their violence, as the mockery of the lying stargazers want? How, being a righteous Giver of Rewards, do You, at will, choose good or evil, or accept or send away, and make the good worthy of eternal life, and deprive the evil of this life, when both of them, against their will, are drawn either to the right or to the left by the violence of the stars? Why did You subject to the violent influence of the stars the one whom you created to receive the kingdom of heaven? Or because this earthly body is not enough for him to prevent him from leading a virtuous life, which he is often deprived of, being forcibly overcome by carnal lusts? And for this reason You bound him with even stronger violence, as if You envied him for receiving eternal benefits. And if we admit it this way, then where is Your wisdom and truth, Master? But do not allow me to philosophize like that, or to take anything like that into my mind about Your ineffable love for mankind and Your goodness, Master! We will never allow You to be the creator of evil days and hours, for You alone are good and the author of all good. We are evil and ungrateful to You, the humane God and Master, and because of foolishness, we surround ourselves with countless misfortunes. We ourselves are the cause of both well-being and misfortune. If you see such understandings in your mind, then you will truly be righteous in heart and the God of Israel will be good to you. If you unjustly sort out the days and hours, and consider some to be evil and others to be good, and you subordinate to the influence of the stars the dignity of autocracy given to you by God, then know for sure that, in the words of the Gospel, “what you think you have will be taken away” from you (Luke 8:18). We have learned from experience that only he retains pure faith in God who does not accept any such teaching at all. Many unfortunates completely drowned, having plunged completely into this godlessness. Oh, how many people you will find in Italian schools and in France who suffer from this disease, who, out of fear, so as not to be subjected to the punishments prescribed by the pope, and against their will, are forced to hide this lawlessness within themselves. We, being disposed towards you with spiritual love, wrote this, having collected evidence from the divinely inspired scriptures, and both in our first epistle and now we testify to this, and did not write this to show the abundance of some of our wisdom, or to distract you with such messages from the study of verbal sciences. We are a long way from such madness. But, having learned from many years of experience the inaccuracy of the science of the movement of stars, we considered it unfair to remain silent about this, but we invite those who wish to accept what was said about the evil contained in it. But you, I don’t know what happened to you, showed dislike for our messages, and you were not too lazy to falsely slander us, as if we were trying to divert you from studying useful sciences, and with great violence and madness you accuse us of your entire message, in which you command us to more diligently understand the sayings of the saints you quote. But if you said something useful and pleasing to the saints, then we would indeed be very grateful to you and would not refuse to learn from you. Now, you misunderstand what the saints said well and distort it according to your own wisdom, hoping in this way to justify yourself in your error. When you see the shame of such abuse of yours, then you will cry, but perhaps to no avail. I am clean of your blood, because I did what depended on me, and after that let no one bother me. Hello in the Lord and know the truth! You might be interested in: