A06491:104
The chief and principal articles of the Christen faith to hold against the Pope,…The chiefe and pryncypall articles of the Christen faythe to holde againste the Pope,…
The chief and principal articles of the Christen faith to hold against the Pope, and all papists, and the gates of hell, with other three very profitable and necessary books the names or titles, whereof are contain in the leaf next following. Made by Doctor Marten Luther. To the reader. In this book shall you find Christian reader the right probation of the right old catholic Church, and of the new false Church, whereby either of them is to be known. Read and judge.The chiefe and pryncypall articles of the Christen faythe to holde againste the Pope, and al papistes, and the gates of hell, with other thre very profitable and necessary bokes the names or tyttels, whereof are conteyne in the leafe next followynge. Made by Doctor Marten Luther. To the reader. In thys boke shal you fynde Christian reader the ryght probation of the righte olde catholyke Churche, and of the newe false Churche, whereby eyther of them is to be knowen. Reade and iudge.
printed by S. Mierdman for Gwalter Lynne, 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This office keepeth the new Testament and teacheth the same also, as S. Paul Rom. i. doth, saying: The wrath of God appeareth from heaven, against all men.1 Item iii. All men are debtors before God. And no man is righteous before him.2 And Christ Joh. xvi. The holy ghost shall rebuke the world of Sin.3 This is even the thou derbolt of god, wherewith he striketh down all in one heap, both the open sinners, and the false saints, & suffereth none to have right, but driveth them all together into fear & desperation. This is the hammer (as Jeremiah saith)4 my word is a hammer that breaketh hard stones. 5This is not activa contritio, a made repentance. But passiva contritio, the right repentance of the heart, the suffering and feeling of death.
Thys offyce kepeth the newe Testament and teacheth the same also, as S. Paule Rom. i. doth, saynge: The wrath of God apereth from heauen, agaynst al men.1 Item iii. All men are debters before God. And no man is ryghteous before hym.2 And Christe Ioh. xvi. The holy gost shal rebuke the world of Synne.3 This is euē the thō derbolt of god, wherewith he striketh downe al in one heape, bothe the open synners, and the false saynctes, & suffereth none to haue right, but dryueth them all together into feare & desperation. Thys is the hammer (as Ieremy sayth)