code: @GwtIncompatible("incompatible method")
      public static void isAssignableFrom(final Class<?> superType, final Class<?> type, final String message, final Object... values) {
          // TODO when breaking BC, consider returning type
          if (!superType.isAssignableFrom(type)) {
              throw new IllegalArgumentException(StringUtils.simpleFormat(message, values));
          }
      }
docs: Validates that the argument can be converted to the specified class, if not throws an exception.
  
  <p>This method is useful when validating if there will be no casting errors.</p>
  
  <pre>Validate.isAssignableFrom(SuperClass.class, object.getClass());</pre>
  
  <p>The message of the exception is &quot;The validated object can not be converted to the&quot;
  followed by the name of the class and &quot;class&quot;</p>
  
  @param superType  the class the class must be validated against, not null
  @param type  the class to check, not null
  @param message  the {@link String#format(String, Object...)} exception message if invalid, not null
  @param values  the optional values for the formatted exception message, null array not recommended
  @throws IllegalArgumentException if argument can not be converted to the specified class
  @see #isAssignableFrom(Class, Class)