A06491:184
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.
And if any man after my decease should say, if Luther were a live now, he would teach and take this or that article otherwise, for he hath not scanned & examined it sufficiently &c. To this I answer now as then, and than as now, That I by the grace of God, have most diligently and most earnestly remembered, and poū dered all these Articles, and have examined searched and often retracted ⟨image 41⟩them again and again throughout the scripture, and will so surely & steadfastly fight for them, as I have all ready foughten for the Sacrament of the altar,
And yf any man after my deceasse shoulde saye, yf Luther were a lyue nowe, he woulde teache and take this or that article otherwyse, for he hath not scanded & examyned it sufficiently &c. To thys I answer nowe as then, and than as nowe, That I by the grace of God, haue moost diligently and moost earnestly remembred, and poū dered al these Articles, and haue examyned searched and often retracted ⟨image 41⟩them agayne and agayne throughout the scripture, and wil so surely & stedfastely fighte for them, as I haue all ready foughten for the Sacramente of the aulter,
I am not now drunken, nor unadvised, I know right well what I say: And also feel right well, what charge it is unto me against the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the last judgement. Therefore let no man make a guest or a trifling matter of it, For it is earnest unto me. For I know Satan, by Gods grace, a great part, Seeing he can pervert and tangle the word of God, and scripture, what would he not do with mine, or with other mens words?
I am not now dronken, nor vnaduised, I knowe right well what I saye: And also feele ryghtwel, what charge it is vnto me agaynst the commynge of oure Lorde Iesus Christ to the last iudgement. Therfore let no mā make a geste or a trifelynge matter of it, For it is earnest vnto me. For I knowe Satan, by Gods grace, a greate parte, Seyng he can peruerte and tangle the worde of God, and scripture, what woulde he not do with myne, or with other mennes wordes?