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A04809
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An epistle [s]ent to divers [pa]pistes in England prouing [th]e Pope to bee the beast in the [1]3 of the Reuelations, and to be the man exalted in the temple of God, as God, Thess. 2.2 ... / by F.K.
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Kett, Francis, d. 1589.
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1585
(1585)
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STC 14944.5; ESTC S2164
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14,613
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51
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as yet you holde And now to proceede the grounde of the matter Whereas oâ— heauenly Sauiour and high Melchâ—â—dech being ascended vp to heauen 〈◊〉 vpon his aboundaÌ„t loue shew vnto Ioâ—â— how much he did tender his church 〈◊〉 beloued congregation when as by mistery of reuelation he did signifie hoâ— and by whome his church and temâ—â—â— should be from time to time euen to 〈◊〉 worldes end afflicted and troden down It is then that we consider how all thing are written for our learning accordiâ—â— to Saint Paule and that eyther by histâ—ry precept doctrine figure parableâ— mystery So that we ought to be carefâ—â—â— wise and vigilant in vnderstanding 〈◊〉 reuelations Reu. 1. For Saint Iohn sayth thâ— happy is he that keepeth the wordes this profecie For which cause I coâ—â— now to the marke to shew by euideâ—â— scripture by the holy will of God 〈◊〉 is that great Beast in the 13. of the Reuelâ—tion Reu. 13. and who is that sinfull man that â—â—â—teth in the temple of God as God according to the Thess Epist 2. Cap. 2. Thesâ— 2.2 and which Citty is the whoare of Babilon with whome the nations of the earth haue committed spirituall fornication Reu. 18. according to the 18. of the Reuelation To the confirmation whereof that the truth may bee truly extracted I wyshe that all mens hearts were opened Fyrst by prayer and then to coÌ„sider the deepenes of these reasons which ensue Of the which first and principally I thus declare and proue by introduction The Turk that the Turke is not that Beast nor sinfull maÌ„ for the Turke hath beene an enemy from his first vprising manifested to all Christians whereby it appeareth playnely that hee is not the sinfull man exalted in the Temple of God For S. Paul sayth that the sinfull man must bee opened at this time Thess 2. â— who coÌ„meth by the delusion of Sathan But the Turke hath bene alwayes an open aduersary therfore can not bee sayd to be opened For what soeuer is manifest can not be sayâ— to be opened but he which is a close priuy secret coulored aduersary is sayâ— to be opened so that the Turke is not thâ— sinfull man and Beast named in the 13 of the Reuel but hee is the very imitateâ— of Antiochus who did alwayes shew hym selfe an open tyrant to the Israelites Presbiter Iohn Next to this Presbiter Iohn of the South of Affrica can no way bee sayâ— to bee the Beast in the 13. of the Reuelation or exalted man in the Temple foâ— as he doth dwel beyond the middle Seaâ— so he hath little or no conference in religion with other kingdomes but is knowen to meddle little with Europe or Asiâ— and besides the state of his Kingdome 〈◊〉 such that neither Asia Europe nor East India do much acquainte them selues 〈◊〉 the doinges of Presbiter Iohn who haâ—â— no such seate nor no such Citty with whom the Nations of the Earth haâ—â— committed spirituall fornication according to the 18. of the ReuelatioÌ„ Also thaâ— Beast and sinfull man or Whoore of Babilon Great Cham. can not bee applyed to great Cham and his Cittyes in the North East of India for hee was neuer knowne to passe beyoÌ„d his Mountaines neither any way that the succession of the Monarchy of Babilon did discend into his CouÌ„trey or Presbiter Iohns Countrey of the South and therefore neither of them can bee any way accounted the Beast in the 13. Reu. 13. of the Reuelation and sinfull man exalted in the Temple of God as God Thess 2.2 or any of their Cittyes to be the Whoore of Babilon in the 18. of the Reuelation Next Reu. 18. it can not bee the Emperours Emperour for they were also open persecutors of the truth and therfore being manifest aduersaries could not be said according to S. Paul to bee opened Thess 2.2 Neither is it the high King of Persia or any temporall King of the Earth For Christ to discide this whole controuersy and to make the truth hereof to bee knowne to his congregation doth manifest to Iohn by Reuelation that hee is a Starre fallen to the Earth that hath the Keyes of the bottomles pit according to the .9 Reu. 9. of the Reuelation and that he burneth like a blasing lampe and not like a pure candell to bee sette vpon a Candelsticke Reu. 8. according to the .8 of the Reuelation c. Whereby it being euideÌ„t by all the places of the Scriptures that a Starre doth represent a prelate and spirituall pastoure of the Church as in Daniel 12. and Reuelations 1. And this being apparent that there is no Prelate in the World that doth so much exalt hym selfe as the Pope doth therefore by true consequence I affirme the Pope to be this Beast in the .13 of the Reuelations Thess 2.2 the sinfull man in the Thessa and his seate and Citty the whoore of Babilon in the .18 of the Reuelations with whom all nations haue committed spirituall fornication Thess 2.2 And now that the mistery of the Reuelations and the prophesie of Paul doe agree with the beginning proceeding opening and darkening of the Popes auctority and his seat and also that his Citty by succession and inheritaunce triumphant is the onely heyre of the first Babilon inioying the fourth Monarchy whereupon the beginning proceeding opening and darkening of the seat of the Pope Reu. 16. aunswering to the pouring out of the vialles and to the measuring of the Temple by Iohn with his golden rodde Reu. 11. doe euidently to any spirituall minde shew it selfe to bee a case most playne that the Pope is the foresayd Beast and further to proceede effectually to proue this matter that you may bee rooted in the truth you shall vnderstand Reu. 6. that first after the ascention of Christ into Heauen that then his Church proceeded pure his word sincerely preached by his Apostles and so proceeded vnder the coloure of a white Horse Reu. 6. according to the opening of the first seale After their time it proceeded in the coloure of a red Horse representing bloudy persecutions as in the Emperours dayes as in the second seale opeÌ„ning And after the diuision of time it proceeded in the coloure of a blacke Horse being contrary to the first white Horse which was pure religion for then did arise the ceremonies of the Romise Church and the exaltation of the Pope and his seate Whereupon his vprising being in the fiue hundred yeare after Christ is aunswering rightly to the thirâ— seale opening of the blacke Horse c. And to the mistery of Iohn measuring the Temple Reu. 11. where he is commaunded to caâ—â— out the quire or outward court which by computation commeth to foure hundred cubites which represent yeares meaning thereby that whereas the Gentyles and vnbeleeuing Emperours haue persecuted the Church openly for fowâ— hundred yeares after Christ that hâ—â— should not measure that
because it manifest but measure the Temple and the Aulter and them that worshippâ— therein meaning that secrete treading downe of the Temple and truth of Gods word that as the measure of the Temple and Aulter doth contayne a thousand two hundred and threescore Cubites which represent yeares that so long shall the Pope being the foresayd Beast and sinfull man euidently shewed and proued tread downe the verity of Gods truth which number of yeares doth pricke fast to his ende And therefore seing that the introduction of the seates of Kingdomes the euent of the cause and the mistery of the Reuelations doth shew the Pope to bee that Beast in the .13 Thess 2.2 Reu. 11. of the Reuelations and doth shew his seate to bee of great antiquity and his continuance to bee till Christ come in the Cloudes it is then an heauy and wretched bragge to boast of his antiquity or to cleaue to his traditions For the Reuelations doe shewe clearely that hee Reu. 16. and his began with a noisome botch proceeded Viall 1 with bloud and heate of fire and Viall 2 enuy and hath nowe his feare darkened Viall 3 Viall 4 Viall 5 by the fift Viall and shall when tyâ—â— Viall 6 cometh of the sixt Viall shew with wâ—â— spirite they are sanctified in that thâ— vncleane spirites like frogges shall pâ—â—ceede out of the mouth of the Beast Reu. 16. 〈◊〉 Dragon and false Prophet to gather 〈◊〉 Kinges of the Earth to battayle agayâ—â—â— the great day of the lord which is smoâ—â— fire and brimstone euen the spirite error enuy and hypocresy and accâ—â—ding Viall 7 to the seaueÌ„th Viall their end shâ—â—â— be with fire hailstone and brimstone that the brag of their antiquity the â—â—ginning Reu. 14. proceeding and ending is vâ—lamentable For the Angell sayth tâ—â— whosoeuer take the marke of the Beaâ—â— and will not come away froÌ„ that whoâ—â— of Babilon shall bee punished with fâ—â— and brimstone And therefore I grauâ— you that hee hath continued a thousand yeare and odde and shall continue to 〈◊〉 end of the World Reu. 11. according as the mâ—stery of the Reuelations doth playne declare and I graunt you that hee shall the end of the World haue the vpper hand of the witnesses of the truth and I graunt you that the Pope is wounded according to the 13. of the Reuelation at this age and that his wound shall bee healed agayne but howe euen by this last loosing of Sathan who shall in the end of the World bring forth that two horned Beast like a Lambe being that great false Prophete that shall doe such Miracles that if it were possible the elect should bee deceyued but alas to theyr great woo For S. Paul sayth Reu. 13. because they beleued not the truth but had pleasure in lyes and vnrighteousnesse therefore God hath gieuen them ouer that they might bee dampned because they receyued not the truth Thess 2.2 And that sinfull man that so exalteth hym self in the TeÌ„ple of God as God shal be destroied euen with the very appearauÌ„ce of God Wherfore I am to beseech you and all of your profession to way deepely this that I do write in short which in an other worke I haue comprehended at large for it is the very truth of Gods word and his Reuelations Wherein if occasion seruâ— vpon your partes to haue mee in conference I doubt not but that you will yelâ— to the spirit of God which will worke it you an effectuall worke of grace touching which I pray God that so it may bee And now touching the supremacy consider that you deceyue not your selues for her Maiesty is an Anoynte Prince Cron. 2. and hath the Scepter of Iuda iâ— her hand as well in euery respect as kinâ— Dauid Salomon Asa Ezekiah and Ioâ—ah For did not Salamon a temperol kinâ— build the Tempell Did not Iosiah anâ— the rest of the good Kinges correct anâ— order that in their Realme that was tâ— the glory of God and abolish that whicâ— was to the contrary The very like powâ—â— doth her maiesty take vpon her as hâ— maiesty may lawfully and truely Anâ— therefore take heede of that coloured â—â—â—sure of the Popes presumptuous authority for it is not of God but of the Dragon Thus praying that your heartes may bee opened vnto all truth I commend you to Mount Sion there to search with prayer that you may make your election sure and become to professe a good profession Fare you well and Christ feede you leade you and speede you I am yours to doe you good in the behalfe of the Gospell as to my selfe Francis Kett. D. A coppy of a letter sent from a gentleman and his brethren lately conuerted AS the light is pleasaunt vnto hym that hath 〈◊〉 cleare sight but offensiue to them that are purrâ— blinde so it may beâ— thought betweene professors of religion which haue the cleare sight oâ— which be purre blinde before the pleasaunt light of Gods truth VVherein a partly with your writing so much moâ—â— by your conference I haue my spiriâ—â— reuiued to a greater confidence toward your Religion then heretoforâ— I haue had And therefore these are 〈◊〉 request you that you will send mee my brother a coppy of your golden closet that vnlocketh heauenly misterieâ— and that I may haue your company 〈◊〉 Trinity weeke to bee at my house to conferre both in Diuinity and also in causes of sicknes for I am much troubled with the Hipocondriacal passion And as you haue done mee good so I will be yours or in no part myne owne euen till death seperate vs from this VVorld and conioyne vs agayne with Christ in glory Dij A coppy of an aunswere to the foresaid letter by the Author I Reioyse in that you haue graunted in writing as otherwise by consent in conference to be so carefull in making your election sure as not to condemne nor to contemne the spirituall giftes which God hath geuen me and the writinges admonitions and instructions which I haue sent you For whereas you did not conceiue the mistery of the Reuelations touching the antiquity of the Romish Churche and the Beast in the 13. of the Reuelations so you did litle regard the differeÌ„ce of the priesthod of Melchisedech Heb. 7. which is euerlasting according to endles life The want of the deepe vnderstanding thereof did hold you in error and doth cause multitudes to ron still after beggerly ceremonies and Romish traditions And besides the want of vnderstanding the misteries of the Reuelations and of Daniel hath with-holden many in bonâ—age of papisme whereas the truth her of being liuely described as I trust haue performed it through the grace of God will strengthen you in a grouÌ„ded fayth to renounce the Pope and is traditions Thus intending to satisfie you with word of mouth at â—he day of your expectation I will declare to you the deepenes of all the Reuelations in such ample manner and with such