A06491:194
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.
Furthermore, I do reject and condemn also, as mere devilish sects & errors, all orders, rules, cloisters, minsters, and all what soever of men, besides and without the scripture, is invented and instituted, stablished with vows & plightynges, notwithstanding that many great Saints have lived therein, and as the elects of God, at this time thereby have ben seduced, and yet at the last by the faith in Jesus Christ were delivered, & escaped. For seeing such orders, inpusters & sects, to that intent have lived, and are kept, that by such ways & works men will and may be saved, and escape from sin and death. So is it an open abominable blasphemy, and denying of the only help and grace ⟨image 44⟩of •ure only Saviour and Mediator Jesus Christ.1 For there is none other name given unto us, whereby we may be saved, but only this, which is called Jesus Christ. And it is impossible, that there should be more Saviours, ways, or means to be saved, than through the only righteousness, which is our saviour Jesus Christ, which is given us freely and set forth of God, as our only mercy seat. Rom. iij.2
Furthermore, I do reiecte and condemne also, as mere deuelysh sectes & errours, al orders, rewels, cloysters, mynsters, and al what soeuer of men, besydes and without the scripture, is inuented and instituted, stablysshed with vowes & plightynges, notwithstondyng that many great Saynctes haue lyued therein, and as the electes of God, at thys tyme thereby haue bē seduced, and yet at the last by the faith in Iesu Christ were delyuered, & escaped. For seyng such orders, inpusters & sectes, to that intent haue lyued, and are kepte, that by suche wayes & workes men wil and maye be saued, and escape from synne and death. So is it an open abhominable blaspemy, and denyeng of the onely helpe and grace ⟨image 44⟩of •ure onely Sauyour and Mediatour Iesus Christe.1 For there is none other name geuen vnto vs, whereby we maye be saued, but onely thys, whiche is called Iesus Christe. And it is impossyble, that there shoulde be more Sauyours, wayes, or meanes to be saued, than through the onely righteousnes, whiche is oure sauyour Iesus Christe, whiche is geuen vs freely and setforth of God, as oure onelye mercy seate. Rom. iij.