AN EPISTLE â—ENT TO DIVERS â—â—pistles in England prouing 〈◊〉 Pope to bee the Beast in the 〈◊〉 3. of the Reuelations and to be the man exalted in the Temple of God as God Thess 2.2 Whereby the true Church of God and the good profession of the Gospell is knowen from the euill â—â—â—y hereby haue beene conuerted of late by F.K. 〈…〉 â—â—â—igence to make thy election sure 〈◊〉 1. 〈…〉 â—n eternall life whereunto thou are called 〈◊〉 6. â—RINTED AT LONDON by Henry Marsh 158â— TO THE MOST Reuerend father in God Iohn bishop of London long health and felicity in Iesus Christ BEing stirred vp most Reuerende father in God with the sweete exhortation of Paul who sayth in spirituall thinges I would not haue you ignoraunt but couet spirituall giftes and most chiefely for to prophesie which doth edefie exhort and coÌ„fort I thought it good seeing the church of God tossed with stormes through the depenes of Sathan who roreth like a deuouring Lion and worketh the spirit of error in mens harts soweth tares among the wheat of the Lord to laboure in the vineyard of spirituall vnderstanding by the goodnes of the vnspotted Lambe who openeth the booke with the seuen seales wherein the whole state of his Church is reuealed in what case it shall stand from his assention till his comming in glory Touching which Reuelations with all the misteries of the Scripture I hauing written a booke at large called the golden closet and Key that vnlocketh heauenly misteryes and another called the glorious garland of mans glorification thought it good in the meane time hauing sent this epistle and others to diuers Papists in England touching whom a good worke by the grace of God is wrought to dedicate this same vnder your protection hopyng that as it hath done good to others by writing so by Print it may doe much more if it shall please you of your good fauoure and Heauenly giftes wherewith you are knowen to bee fruitfull among men to the glory of God and consolation of Soules and to the reward of your Heauenly calling in Iesus Christ to accept it Thus I doe coÌ„mend your Lorship in my daily prayers to the keeping of the Almighty Your Lordships most humble to commauÌ„d Francis Kett. An exposition who is the Beast in the 13. of the Reuel Iesus speede vs leade vs and feede vs. c. MY desired to the truth of the Gospell When I considered how great a wishe Paul doth insinuate towarde hym selfe as to bee Anathemy touching his body in respect to winne his brethren I am or else I ought to bee so much thereby stirred vp vpon the tendernes of loue as to offer some porcion to you and others of that good gift and tallent which the Lord hath gieuen me If by the grace of God it may please you to accept it sincerely and meekely that by that meanes the spirite of adoption standing at the doore of your heart may enter into your inward man and worke more redely that sweete motion in you as not to harden your heart when thaâ— you heare the voice of Gods holy truth I write not to molest your conscience anâ— minde but to walke with you in the way of persuasion trusting by the powred Gods word which is sharper then a twâ— edged sword Heb. 4. and parteth the bone from the marrow the spirit from the souleâ— to persuade you by the intercession oâ— hym beyng a true mediator for euer who sitteth in heauen on the right hanâ— of the Father before whom we must appeare in Iudgement to make an accompâ— at the great and feareful day of the Lord that you will be so much contented bâ— the will of God as to deliberate with beter aduisement touching that sentence of S. Paul Philip. 2. who sayth worke out thy saluation with feare and trembling And also touching the senteÌ„ce of Peter Pet. 2. which sayth Vse all diligence to make thy election sure Wherein we are sufficiently counselled how much it standeth euery man in haÌ„d to looke to the sauing health of his soule which is so sweete and preciouse considering that there is a way to saluation and a way to perdition Timoth. 2.2 Therefore we ought deepely to consider of that sentence of Paul which sayth that if a man striue for a maistry hee is not crowned except hee striue lawefully For which cause I am moued in the tender kindnes which my soule beareth toward all soules to desire you in the springling of Christ his bloud that you will looke so carefully into your selfe as that you may bee sure by grace so to striue and ron as that you may win the crowne of eternall life Cor. 1.10 For S. Paul willeth vs to bee most vigilant when hee sayth you that seeme to stand take heede you fall not So that let not presumption or stifnes stop your eares from the truth and cary you away to vnknown ceremonies but first proceede with sincerity of heaâ—e and pure praiers offred vp to god intreating him to geeue you his wisedome according to S. Iames. Iames. 1. If any maÌ„ lacke wisedome let him aske it of God and he geueth it ask in fayth wauer not c. And with this order in heart examine your selfe for God knoweth the secrete motions of all mens heartes and then ponder what I write to you and I am persuaded in my fayth that you shall presently feele the spirite of adoption to moue your spirite and to leade you into all truth alwayes prouidyng in the examining of your owne conscience agaynst the flesh the world and the deuill which striue agaynst man to holde hym backe in the dungeon of darkenes by contrary resistance of minde through the spirite of error which is busy in all mens thoughtes Whereupon it standeth you and all vs the more in hand to looke to the foundation of our Saluation Cor. 1.3 lest that wee buyld vpon a straunge foundation or else doe buyld timber and strawe vpon the foundation which the Apostles â—aue layde and so vndiscretly ron with Nadab and Abihu Leu. 10. bringing straunge fire â—efore the Lord and so be in daunger of â—he Lordes consuming fire Wherefore â—et me persuade with you to vse no other â—yne then the golden rodde of the Gospell to measure your religion with all â—est that you leaning to much to traditions doe decline from the measure of the Gospell when as God sayd streightly to Moses Heb. 8. buildyng the tabernacle see that thou doest all thinges according to the pattern which was geuen thee And therfore Christian wisedome doth moue vs in the feare of the Lord to follow the very patern of the Gospell if wee minde to walke as children of the day professing the good and true profession In consideration whereof I hope that you will accept this my wryting as a sweete motion with examining the deepenes thereof to your consolation in a confirmed verity of a better profession then
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
fortitude of reasons by Godes grace as that I hope I shall â—e yours and you shall bee myne and â—e shall be both one in Christ A dehortation ANd now whereas Danâ— prophesing of th' extreâ— abhomination saith thâ— the time shall come thâ— the great Prince Michâ—â—â— which standeth on the peoples side shâ—â— arise vp for there shall come a time trouble such as neuer was since there â—â—gan to be people vnto the same tyrâ—â—â— Which Christ doth also affirme in 24. of Mathew saying that then thâ—â— shall be great tribulation such as was from the beginning of the World to 〈◊〉 time that except those dayes should 〈◊〉 shortened there should no fleshe beeâ—ued but for the chosen sake those daâ—â— shall be shortened Touching the whâ—â— Christ declareth the occasion and reaâ—â— of such tempestuous dayes of daungeâ— that there shall be such false Christes 〈◊〉 false prophets that shall doe such mâ—â—â—cles and wonders that if it were possâ— the very elect should be deceiued So 〈◊〉 it appeareth plainly that before the end of the world shall great stormes of troubles vniuersaly happeÌ„ answering rightly to the 6. of the Reuelation that when â—he two Prophets or witnesses of God haue ended their testimony which is the preaching of his glad tidinges of his testamentes throughout all the world according to the 24. of Mathew that then the time is come that the Beast in the 13 of the Reuelations shall arise to heale his wound by making warre against the gospellers for by that great meanes of tribulation spoken by Daniel and by our Sauiour Christ shall his wound which he hath receiued by the preachers of the Gospell be healed vp agayne and that through the meanes of that two horned Beast like a lambe whom Sathan will and shal raise vp at this his last loosing before the end of the World to doe such magiâ—all miracles that if it were possible the â—lect should be deceiued For then commeth it that Daniel sayth hee shall be grimmer then all his fellowes c. Foâ— then is the time come that he shall moâ—â— highly exalt hym selfe in the Temple 〈◊〉 God as God according to the Thess â— and 2. whom the Lord shall destroy wiâ—â— his owne appearauÌ„ce when he commeâ—â— in the Cloudes and this aunswere to thâ— 13. of the Reuelations that there shall bâ— an Image made vnto the Beast by tâ—â— meanes of that two horned Beast like lambe that is the great false Prophet that shall make fire come downe froâ— Heauen in the sight of the Beast and tâ—â— people and then shall the dayes bee daungerous and cruell that whosoeueâ— riche or poore high or low that doe 〈◊〉 take the marke of the Beast can not bâ— suffred to liue By which meanes it is â—uident that if the Lord should not shâ—â— ten such dayes of tyrany and darkenâ—â—â— it would goe hard with all flesh in thâ— they shal be inforced either to hold wâ—â—â— the Beast or else to die for the Gospeâ— So that then is that performed of Danâ—â—â— that many shall bee purified clensed and tried but the wicked shall not regard it Daniel 12. and then happy are they that shall fight the good fight and so put on the shield of fayth as to waite vntill a thousand thirty and fife dayes for the Lord will geue them Eagles winges to flie into the wildernes there to be fed with his holy word as Elias was And now when this tribulation shall begin shall three foule spirittes like frogges come out of the mouth of the Beast Reu. 1â— the Dragon and false Prophet being error enuy and hipocresie Reu. 16. Whereby that flowing Euphrates of the preaching of Christes Gospell shall bee dried vp by the cruell hurly burly of Gog and Magog Reu. 20. being the two last heads of Esdras Eagle receiued to the end whoÌ„ SathaÌ„ shall raise vp to compasse the holy â—entes of the Saincts and then is that â—ast abhomination of desolation come to passe spoken of by Daniel the Prophet â—nd this is it that Paul sayth in the last â—ayes shall bee perillous times men that shall resist the truth as Iannes and Iambres withstoode Moses and therefore shall preuaile no longer Math. 10. whereby it is euident that Iacob shal bee turned into Esau in that the fathers shall then deliueâ— their sonnes to death the brother thâ— brother and the children arise against fathers and mothers and put them to death For then is it that the truth shall be laid in pryson equity growne aside righteousnes stand farre off conscience falleâ— downe in the myre pitty shutte out and loue frosen to dead Whereupon it standeth euery man in hand to watch and pray that hee may holdout to the enâ— when hee shall bee crowned with the crowne of life for the Angell sayth thaâ— who so euer take the marke of the Beaâ—â— and commit spirituall fornication wiâ— that Whoore of Babilon being Rome 〈◊〉 succession of the fourth Monarchi shâ—â—â— be punished with fire and brimston Aâ—â— therefore seing it is told vs before in tâ—â— 21. of the Reuelations that the Beast gainst the end of the world shall haue his wouÌ„d healed Reu. 13. and that his seate being darkened shall be established againe by the two horned Beast and false prophet Antechrist as in the 13. of the Reuelations and that hee shall ouercome the true professors of Gods word and reioyse ouer them as in the 16. of the Reuelations and that theÌ„ in the great security after this reioysing of the victory got ouer the two witnesses of God the Lord shall come euen as a thiefe in the night when they shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodayne destruction as traueling vpon a woman with childe and they shal not escape Therfore we ought to be carefull to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling considering what teÌ„pestes doe hang ouer vs. And now consider what a lamentable expectation this is to looke for change of Religion and what a woeful wrechednes it is to beleue in the Popes traditions who is that Beast that ere the end of the World shall worke such tyrany and tribulation against the Gospell as that the people shall bee by this meanes Math. 24. in such perplexity that they can not tell which way to turne them Wherfore to comprehend in short that which I minde to discourse vnto you at length by worde of mouth I exhort you to renounce clearely the Pope and all his traditions and laboure to make your election sure by holding the fayth of the Gospel euen vnto death that your Soules may goe vnto them that are vnder the golden aulter Reu. 6. who suffred before for the testimony of the truth Hold fast for the time is at hand Yours in the same profession of the Gospell euen till Christ come in his glory to cloth vs with our heauenly mansion F. K. Iune 3. 1585. The righteous shal bee had in euerlasting remembraunce hee will
not bee afrayd for any euill tidinges for his heart standeth fast and beleeueth in the Lord. Psal 112. The coppy of an Epistle sent to English pilgrems and papists 1584. By F. K. I Am moued by the royall law of God which is to loue our neighbour as our selus and to doe good to our enemies to write to intreate you my desired to the truth â—f the Gospell to heare and reade the wordes â—f exhortation vnder your duety in the feare â—f God and reuerence to his Gospell hoping â—hat the sweete motion and tendernes of your â—ules health will moue you hereuÌ„to Wherin â—â—rst I beseech you to measure the breadth â—â—â—ength and deapth of your inward man and â—he path of your saluation by the ballaunce of â—he pure Scriptures and not by traditions â—â—d decrees seing that the Scriptures are aâ—â—e to make you wise to saluation Tim. 2.3 through â—ith in Christ Iesus Therefore seing that â—â—w is the accepted time yea now be the dayes 〈◊〉 health in which Christ Reu. 3. according to Iohn â—â—th set the doore of his Gospell open it is high time that you wake out of sleepe and enter with the bridegrome while the doore is opâ—â— lest you fall into strong delusion and stumâ—â—â— at noone day and looke for light when 〈◊〉 darknes For which cause say clearly amâ—â—â— your selfes Vp let vs go to our deare countâ—â— of England and walke in the light of 〈◊〉 Lord and become true citizens with all faâ—â—â—full alleigance to her beloued Maiesty 〈◊〉 so vndoubtedly and sincerely hath linked 〈◊〉 scepter to the scepter of Iuda For if thou dâ— desire Ezechias to raigne ouer EnglaÌ„d 〈◊〉 diligently walked in the law of the Lord 2. Cron. 29. â—â—â—ged his Realme of Idolatry set vp againe 〈◊〉 true worship of God and exhorted all his suâ—iects to follow the lawe of the Lord God tâ— behold blessed ELIZABETH the â—noynted of the Lord abounding in all 〈◊〉 giftes of vertue gouerning her Realme â—â—cording to the purity of Gods word and treâ—â—â— And if thou desirest Iosias that most goâ—â— King 2. Cron. 34. which walked so purely in the waye◠〈◊〉 the Lord that he declined neither on the 〈◊〉 hand nor on the right who when the book 〈◊〉 the lawe was deliuered vnto hym did not onâ—y cause the booke to bee red before hym but â—e hym selfe red it and all Idolatyr destroyed restored the true religion to his Kingdome Or if thou wouldest haue Iosophat that walked in the commaundements of the Lord 2. Cron. 27. and â—oued Gods word so intirely that he sent his Princes Leuites and Priestes to teach in all partes of Iuda which had the bookes of Gods lawe with them and went about in all the Ciâ—â—es of Iuda and taught the people then consider in the dexterity of conscieÌ„ce our worthy gouernesse Queene ELIZABETH how that her Maiesty is not inferior to any of them in amplifying the glory of God and spreading abroade of his word For whereas Esdras red the lawe of the Lord plainely and distinctly to the people and they gaue very earnest and diligent attendance to the hearing of it so our imperiall Princesse 2. Esâ—l 8. and vertuous Queene hath caused the word of God to bee plainely red and preached through all her Realme by many a faithfull Esdras that euery man may plainely heare it and reade it them selfes to their soules consolation Whâ—â— is it then that you seeke for beyond the Seaâ— Hath not God promised that his Gospell shâ—â—â— be preached to all nations and to euery peopâ—â— in their proper Landes Math. 24. What then hast thâ—â— to doe being an Israelite to walke againe 〈◊〉 the streates of Egypt or to wander in thâ— way to Assiria Behould sayth the Lord whâ— hast thou now to doe in the streate of Aegypâ— to drinke foule water Ieremy 2. or what makest thou 〈◊〉 the way to Assiria to drinke water of tâ—â— floud Thy owne wickednes shall reproue theâ— and thy turning away condemne thee Aâ—â— so ye English pilgrems what make yee in tâ— streates of Rome or in the way to Italy 〈◊〉 feare that your owne thoughts condemne yâ—â— and your turning away will bring you to heâ—uy destruction vnlesse yee repent O therâ—fore come away and turne to the treuth aâ—â— be not thereof ashamed for the Lord knoâ—eth your secret thoughts with whom you mâ—â—â— not dissemble and halt betweene two opiâ—â—ons but bee faithfull vnto your Soueraigâ— Queene and let King Dauid be your exaÌ„pâ—â— who would by no meanes lay blouddy handes vpon King Saule his enemy being the Lords anoynted Wherefore yee English Romaines examine your selues try out the deapth of your conscience remember the dreadfull day of Iudgement and be no longer deceyued for loe how wreched your state is to flie the light of the Gospell to seperate your selues from your alleigaÌ„ce to hope for a day by mischiefe Esay 30. Know yee not that it is a woe to forsake the counsell of God to seeke and sticke to the counsell of men and knowe yee not that the Lord sayth woe bee those shrinken children which take a web in hand but not after my will Then see what web is this of youres to trust in pardons indulgences to commit supplications to Saintes to hope to be reskewed out of the paynes of fayned purgatory by a masse to buylde true godlines vpon outward ceremonyes and solemnities and to hold the word of God in an vnknowne language Ephes 5. knowe yee not that Paule sayth that whatsoeuer is manifest is light how can you then hold in true conscience that such kindâ— of religion is the light when as they are not manifest by the scriptuâ—es Wherefore Paule exhorteth you not to walke in the vanitye of minde Ephes 4 blynded in vnderstanding and Christ counselleth thee to buy of hâ—m pure gold Reu. 3. and to anoynt thine eyes with eye salue that thou mayst see How then can the Latyne Seruice be to thee an eye-salue to see the truth of Goddes worde when as thow canst neyther reade it nor vnderstand it Is it not an vncertayne sounde to an ignorant eare which can cary no truth of edifying when it is propounded vnto vs that all thinges should be done to edifye Then no doubt but that it is Gods holy will that the scriptures should be in our mother language as a pretious eye-saluâ— in our house that we may be established 〈◊〉 Gods holy truth and not be deceaued Harkeâ— therfore deare Countrymen and be carefully aduised and learne to be wise to that which is good and innocent to that is euill and fauour not the preceptes ordinaunces of meâ— more then the institutions of God For sayth Paule he that studieth to please men is no the seruaunt of God Galath 1. and the Gospel sayth he which I preach I receaued it not of men Therefore take heede how yee looke after the traditions of men and follow superstitions seing the word of your