A06491:123
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.
Yet could not all this help for all that. For the pope notwithstanding that he taught the people to trust and to put their confidence in such Pardons, yet doth he himself make it unsure again. For he setteth in his Bulls, that whosoever wy• be partaker of the Pardon or golden year, must be contrite and shriven, & also give money. Now have we heard above, that such contrition and confession, by them is unsure and hypocrisy. In like manner also did no man know, what soul was in Purgatory, And although there had ben any, yet know no man, which of them had repented and confessed a right. And so did he take the dear money, and comforted them in the mean season with his ⟨image 28⟩authority and Pardons, and yet sent them again to their usury works.
Yet coulde not al thys helpe for all that. For the pope notwithstandynge that he taught the people to trust and to put theyr confidence in suche Pardons, yet doth he hymselfe make it vnsure agayn. For he setteth in hys Bulles, that whosoeuer wy• be partaker of the Pardon or golden yere, must be contrite and shryuen, & also geue money. Nowe haue we hearde aboue, that suche contrition and confessyon, by them is vnsure and hipocrisy. In lyke maner also dyd noman knowe, what soule was in Purgatorye, And although there hadde ben any, yet knowe no man, whiche of them had repented and confessed a ryght. And so dyd he take the deare money, and comforted them in the meane season with his ⟨image 28⟩authorite and Pardons, and yet sent them agayne to theyr vsure workes.
1Now if there ware any, that did not think them selves guilty of such actual since, in thought, word or deed. Even as I and such other frekes and priests in cloisters and minsters would be, which with fasting, watching, praying, saying of mass, hard raiment and couches &c, defended our selves against evil thoughts, and would be holy with earnest and by force or violence, and yet the Original evil wherein we be borne, sometime in sleep did (as also S. Augustine and Jerome with other knowledge and confess) according to his kind: yet did every man hold of other, that some were so holy, as we taught, that they were without sin and full of good works. Insomuch that we thereupon, did part and sell unto other of our good works, and the overplus, more than was necessary unto us, for to obtain salvation. This is true, & there are seals writings & examples enough in hand.