A06491:126
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.
1Here cometh the fiery Angel S. John, the right Preacher of penance, and striketh with a thunder bolt together in one heap, saying: Repent. Now think they, we have repented all ready. These do think, we have no need of repentance.2 But John saith, Repent both, for ye are false repenters, than are these false saints, and have both need of remission of since, for as much as ye both do not yet know, what the right sin is, I omit that ye should repent it or eschew it. There is none good of you, ye are full of unbelief, blindness, and ⟨image 29⟩ignorance of God, and his will. For there is he manifestly of whose plentifulness all we must receive grace for grace, and no man without him can be righteous before God.3 Therefore if ye will repent, repent truly. For your penance is in vain. And ye Hypocrites that have no need of repentance, ye progeny of vipers, who hath certified you that ye should escape from the wrath of God to come?
1Here cometh the fyery Angell S. Iohn, the ryght Preacher of penaunce, and stryketh with a thonder bolthe together in one heape, sayng: Repent. Nowe thincke they, we haue repented al ready. These do thynke, we haue no nede of repentaunce.2 But Iohn sayth, Repente bothe, for ye are false repenters, than are these false saynetes, and haue bothe nede of remissyon of synnes, for as muche as ye bothe do not yet knowe, what the ryght synne is, I omitte that ye shoulde repente it or eschewe it. There is none good of you, ye are ful of vnbelefe, blyndenes, and ⟨image 29⟩ignoraunce of God, and hys wyl. For there is he manifestly of whose plentifulnes all we must receyue grace for grace, and no man without hym can be righteous before God.3 Therfore yf ye wyl repente, repente truely. For your penaunce is in vayne. And ye Hypocrytes that haue no nede of repentaunce, ye progenye of vypers, who hath certified you that ye should escape frō the wrath of God to come?