A06491:208
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.
1After this, I believe, that there is one holy Catholic Church upon earth, that is the fellowship and number, or congregation of all Christians, through out the whole world the only Spouse of Christ, and his mystical body, whereof also he is the only head, and that the Bishops ⟨image 48⟩or curates are not heads, nor Lords nor bridegrooms of the same, but ministers, friends, and as that word, Bishop signifieth, Overseers, surveyors, and Purveyors.
1After this, I beleue, that there is one holy Catholike Churche vpon earth, that is the felloweshippe and nomber, or congregation of all Christians, through oute the whole worlde the onely Spouse of Christe, and his misticall body, whereof also he is the onely heade, and that the Bisshoppes ⟨image 48⟩or curates are not heades, nor Lordes nor brydegromes of the same, but ministers, frendes, and as that worde, Bysshop sygnifyeth, Ouerseers, surueyours, and Purueyers.
- 1One holy Catholic ChurchOne holy Catholike Church
1And the same Christianity is not only under the Romish Church, or Pope, but dispersed throughout the whole world, as the Prophets have showed,2 that the Gospel of Christ should come in all the world. Psal. ij. Psalm. xix. So that under the Pope, Turks, Perses, Tatters, and every where the Christianity is dispersed bodily. But congregated spiritually in one Gospel and faith, under one head which is Christ. For the Papacy is undoubtedly, the right kingdom of Antichrist, or the right tyranny against Christ, which sitteth in the temple of God, and ruleth with traditions of men, as Christ. Matth. xxiiij. and Paul .ij. Thessa. ij. do declare,