A06491:160
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.
Of anointing, consecrating, or calling.
Of anoyntynge, consecratynge, or callynge.
If the Bishops would be right and true Bishops, and earnestly take upon them the ministration of the Church and the Gospel, it might be granted and permitted, for love and unities sake, but not of ⟨image 37⟩necessity, that they should ordain & confirm us, and our preachers, but yet all disguising and fantastical of ungodliness, and bragging set a part.
Yf the Bysshoppes woulde be ryght and true Bysshoppes, and earnestly take vpon them the ministratiō of the Churche and the Gospell, it myghte be graunted and permitted, for loue and vnities sake, but not of ⟨image 37⟩necessite, that they shoulde ordeyne & confirme vs, and oure preachers, but yet al disguysyng and fantasticall of vngodlynes, and bragging set a part.
But now that they are not right Bishops, neither also will be: but worldly Lords and Princes, which neither preach, nor teach, nor baptise, nor communicate, nor yet will exercise any manner of work or office of the church, yea rather which defame, vex, persecute, and condemn such offices, and the setters forth thereof, so may not yet the church for their sakes be destitute of ministers.