The worldly wisest

Alas! What can they teach, and not mislead,

Ignorant of themselves, of God much more,

And how the world began, and how man fell,

Degraded by himself, on grace depending?

Much of the soul they talk, but all awry;

And in themselves seek virtue; and to themselves

All glory arrogate, to God give none;

Rather accuse him under usual names,

Fortune and fate, as one regardless quite

Of mortal things….

John Milton (1608-74), Paradise Regained.