A06491:219
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.
1But for all abominations do I hold the mass which is preached and sold for an oblation or sacrifice, and good work, whereupon now all minsters and cloisters do stand, but God willing shall shortly be laid. For although I have ben a great shameful, abominable sinner, and have spent, and lost my youth also damnably, yet are these my greatest since, that I have ben such a holy freer, & with so many masses by the space of xv. ⟨image 51⟩years have so abominably offended, martyred and plagued my dear Lord. But thanks and praise be given unto his inestimable goodness, for ever, that he hath brought me out of such abomination, and yet daily preserveth me, (although I am very unthankful) and strengthened me in faith.
1But for al abhominatiōs do I hold the masse whiche is preached and sold for an oblation or sacrifyce, and good worke, wherevpon now all mynsters and cloysters do stande, but God willynge shal shortly be layde. For although I haue ben a great shameful, abhominable synner, and haue spente, and loste my youthe also damnably, yet are these my greatest synnes, that I haue ben suche a holy freer, & with so many masses by the space of xv. ⟨image 51⟩yeres haue so abhominably offended, martyred and plaged my deare Lord. But thankes and prayse be geuen vnto hys inestimable goodnes, for euer, that he hath brought me oute of suche abhomination, and yet dayly preserueth me, (althoughe I am very vnthankeful) and strengthened me in fayth.
- 1MassMasse
1Wherefore I have persuaded, and yet do persuade, to leave and forsake the minsters, and cloisters with their vows & to give themselves abroad in the right order of Christ, to the intent that men may escape from such abomination of masses, and blasphemous holiness, as chastise, poverty, obedience, whereby men intend to be saved, for as godly as it was in the primitive church, to keep virgins, so abominable is it now that men thereby deny the help & grace of christ, For we can live well enough virgins, widows, and chaste, without such blasphemous abomination.