A06491:252
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.
Thirdly. The ho•e sacrament (if it else as than be a sacrament) not in the remembrance of Christ, of him openly to preach, and to give him thanks for his passion. But to sell it unto the ⟨image 61⟩other for a Priest offer, and proper deserving of a wicked person, and to make the souls in purgatory partakers thereof, and to alter it most abominably and blasphemously for all temporal necessities, even as a heathen service of Idols yea as a shameful juggling, Whereby ye have stilled & defaced, the remembrance of Christ (for the which Christ did institute it)
Thyrdly. The ho•e sacrament (yf it elles as than be a sacramēt) not in the remēbraunce of Christe, of hym openly to preache, and to geue hym thankes for his passion. But to selle it vnto the ⟨image 61⟩other for a Priest offer, and propre deseruinge of a wicked person, and to make the soules in purgatory partakers thereof, and to alter it moost abhominably and blasphemously for all temporall necessities, euen as a heathē seruice of Idolles yea as a shamefull iuglynge, Vvhereby ye haue stilled & defaced, the remembraunce of Christe (for the whiche Christ did institute it)
And notwithstanding that ye were else, so pure a church, as the Apostles church, & yet much purer. Nevertheless doth this only abominable, horrible piece which by the counsel of the devil ye have invented of new, make you a new of falling heretical church, yea an earthy whore of the devil, & a school of hell. For this part is so abominable, groundless & evil, that in this life, no tongue can express, nor no heart comprehend it, until the later day appear.
And notwithstādinge that ye were elles, so pure a church, as the Apostles church, & yet much purer. Neuertheles doth this onely abhominable, horrible pece whiche by the counsayll of the deuil ye haue inuēted of new, make you a new of falling hereticall church, yea an earthy whoor of the deuil, & a scoole of hell. For this parte is so abhominable, groundeles & euill, that in this lyfe, no tonge can expresse, nor no harte cōprehende it, vntil the later daye appeare.
Read, gather and heap all the mischief together. Whatsoever the devil with you all against us can imagine & lye a thousand times as much intre to it, yet for all that will it not be a ⟨image 62⟩small chip in comparison of this great beam•, where on not one, but doubtless all the devils, with all the Craftyest knaves, in six hundred years have builded. This is one of the right points: 1Which Christ calleth an abomination to the holy place. Wherefore not only we should & must flee from you, as from the great wrath of God. But also heaven & earth trembleth, & abhorreth such a den of thieves, for this piece doth not only cause no church to remain. But also maketh thereof the foulest doug•hill of the devil, that is in earth.
Reade, gather and heape all the mischief to gether. Vvhatsoeuer the deuil with you all agaynst vs cā imagine & lye a thousande tymes as muche intre to it, yet for all that will it not be a ⟨image 62⟩smal chippe in cōparyson of this great beam•, where on not one, but douteles all the deuills, with all the Craftyest k•aues, in sixe hundreth yeres haue buylded. This is one of the right poyntes: 1Vvhiche Christ calleth an abhominatiō to the holy place. Vvherfor not onely we should & must flee frō you, as frō the great wrath of God. But also heauē & earth trēbleth, & abhorret such a denne of theues, for this pece doth not onely cause no church to remayn. But also maketh thereof the foulest doug•hill of the deuil, that is in earth.
The Turk, Tatterues and Jews be nothing like, so evil a den of murderers, as the Popish church is in this one point. For they only deny Christ, & turn their back towards him. But these take him here before the, spit at him, scorn him, blaspheme slander, defame & martyr him, & play a more horrible passion with him then was done unto him corporally by the Jews. He go your ways now boast your selves the holy church from the which we be fallen. The devil abide ⟨image 62⟩with you in such a church, & all such as hold w•h you in that trade, God save us from it, even as he hath graciously plucked us away from it, wherefore be laud and praise unto him for ever.
The Turke, Tatterues and Iewes be nothing lyke, so euill a dēne of murtherers, as the Popyshe churche is in this one point. For they onely denye Christ, & tourne their backe towardes hym. But these take hym here before the, spitte at hym, scorne hym, blaspheme slaunder, defame & marter hym, & playe a more horrible passiō with hym then was done vnto hym corporaly by the Iewes. He go your wayes nowe boaste your selues the holy church frō the which we be fallē. The deuil abyde ⟨image 62⟩with you in such a church, & all suche as hold w•h you in that trade, God saue vs frō it, euen as he hath graciousely pluckte vs away from it, wherfore be laude and prayse vnto hym for euer.
Seventhly, who hath commanded you to make this neweltie? That ye have made new keys and wrought two false warthes, wherewith ye do not forgive sin, nor yet withhold it, as the old keys do with us, And in the universal old church. But ye do institute of new sin, and murder, whereas else be none in your run away, and murtherysshe church, whereby with importable and innumerable laws, ye entangle and bind the Christen consciences, ye threaten and kill, for eating, drinking, clothing places, days, and such like outward things, which Christ hath given free. Colloss. ij. and the old Church hath kept without any sin or fear.1 Besides this, ye put down Kings and Princes, as though ye were God your selves. Howe is here falling away, or new church? The ⟨image 63⟩devil abide with you in this blasphemous, murtheryshe, sinful, and dā nable peace we be come again to the old church, lauded & praised be god.
Seuently, who hath commaunded you to make this neweltie? That ye haue made new keyes and wrought two false warthes, wherewith ye do not forgeue synne, nor yet withhold it, as the olde keyes do with vs, And in the vniuersal olde churche. But ye do institute of newe synne, and murther, whereas elles be none in your runne awaye, and murtherysshe church, whereby with importable and innumerable lawes, ye entangle and bynde the Christen consciences, ye treathen and kyll, for eatynge, drynkyng, clothyng places, dayes, and such lyke outwarde thynges, whiche Christe hath geuen free. Colloss. ij. and the olde Churche hath kepte without any synne or feare.1 Besydes thys, ye put downe Kynges and Prynces, as though ye were God youre selues. Howe is here fallynge awaye, or newe churche? The ⟨image 63⟩deuyll abyde with you in thys blasphemous, murtheryshe, synful, and dā nable peace we be come agayne to the olde church, lauded & praysed be god.
Eighthly, who hath commanded you, over and above the manner of the old Church, and contrary to the commandment of christ, to preach other wise than he hath commanded? Matth. xxviij. Go & teach them to observe what soever I commandeth you.1 He saith not whatsoever seemeth to you right & good Johā. xiiij. The holy ghost shall teach you all things, & bring to your remembrance, whatsoever I have told you.2
Eyghtly, who hath commaunded you, ouer and aboue the maner of the olde Churche, and contrary to the cō maundemēt of christ, to preache other wyse thā he hath cōmaunded? Matth. xxviij. Go & teache thē to obserue what soeuer I cōmaūdeth you.1 He sayth not whatsoeuer semeth to you right & good Iohā. xiiij. The holy goost shall teache you al thynges, & bring to your remē braūce, whatsoeuer I haue tolde you.2
1But ye have filled all churches and schools so full of your dregs & dung that is mans doctrine & lies, and arrayed all places so foul with your vomit & filthiness, that (as Isaiah sayeth) no more room is left, and yet ye will be called the church.
1But ye haue filled al churches and schooles so ful of your dregges & dōg that is mannes doctrine & lyes, and arayed al places so foul with your vomite & filthynes, that (as Esay sayeth) no more roume is lefte, and yet ye will be called the churche.
1And this point is besides the private mass, also one of the worst abominations, whose hurt & plague can not be grounded nor expressed, whereby ye have edified a new church for the ⟨image 63⟩devil, & have served him with the same, In so much that it is nothing but soul murder, and the very Molech, devourer of children, which suffereth not (as yonder Molech did) the souls of the children to be saved, although they were burned corporally, but contrariwise suffereth the body to live a short space, but the soul burneth perpetually.2 I can not for trembling recite much of the calamity of the innumerable false Idolatrous murtherysshe doctrine in Popery, this is, our new goodly Church.
1And this point is besydes the priuate masse, also one of the worste abhominations, whose hurt & plage cā not be grounded nor expressed, whereby ye haue edifyed a newe church for the ⟨image 63⟩deuyl, & haue serued hym with the same, In so much that it is nothyng but soule murther, and the very Molech, deuourer of chyldren, whiche suffreth not (as yonder Molech did) the soules of the chyldren to be saued, although they were burned corporally, but contrarywyse suffereth the bodye to lyue a short space, but the soul burneth perpetually.2 I can not for tremblynge recyte muche of the calamitie of the innumerable false Idolatrous murtherysshe doctryne in Poperye, thys is, our newe goodly Churche.
1Ninthly, who hath commanded you this froward new fang lednes in the Church, which is a spiritual kingdom, that ye set up a bodily head, naming him the most holyest: for as much as there can be none other, but a spiritual h•ade, which is Christ? This is the thy•e abomination most damnable, in your most holy, yea most hellish •we church. For the old church knoweth nothing there of, for she •bydeth by her head, even as we out she knoweth that it is the ⟨image 64⟩devils own creation, and should come, even for since sake, according as she hath declared it .ij. Thessal. ii. The man of sin, and child of perdition shall set himself in the temple of God, and show him self as God.2 Even so hath Daniel said also, that he should despise the old church and the God of his fathers, and set up another new God, & new church (that may help him to stablish his new God).3
1Nynthly, who hath cōmaunded you thys froward newe fang lednes in the Churche, which is a spirituall kyngedome, that ye set vp a bodely heade, namynge hym the moost holyest: for as muche as there can be none other, but a spiritual h•ade, which is Christ? Thys is the thy•e abhominatiō most damnable, in youre moste holye, yea mooste hellysh •we church. For the olde churche knoweth nothyng there of, for she •bydeth by her head, euen as we out she knoweth that it is the ⟨image 64⟩deuils owne creation, and shoulde come, euen for synnes sake, accordynge as she hathe declared it .ij. Thessal. ii. The man of synne, and chylde of perdicion shall sette hymselfe in the tempell of God, and shewe hym selfe as God.
Who hath now the new offallynge Church, have it the old, & we, which do abide by the right old head, and abhor the new devilish head: Or have they it, That worship the new devilish head, kiss his feet, and recey•e blessing of his two fingers, that exalt his doctrine above the word of God, and honour not the old right he•de with one knelling, yea also not o•es remember him, and his blessing, uhich he hath purchased for us with •ys hole body and blood?
Vvho hath nowe the newe offallynge Churche, haue it the olde, & we, whiche do abyde by the ryght old heade, and abhorre the newe deuelysshe heade: Or haue they it, That worshippe the newe deuelysshe heade, kysse hys fete, and recey•e blessyng of hys two fyngers, that exalte hys doctrine aboue the worde of God, and honoure not the old ryght he•de with one knelyng, yea also not o•es remēbre hym, and hys blessynge, vhich he hath purchased for vs with •ys hole body and bloude?
But this desolation is so •homynable ⟨image 64⟩and horrible, 1that to speak of it a little, helpeth nothing, And yet no Angels long is able to declare it sufficiently. That thing which God's own mouth nameth abomination, must needs be a greater abomination, than all tongues can express.
But thys desolation is so •homynable ⟨image 64⟩and horryble, 1that to speake of it a littel, helpeth nothynge, And yet no Angels longe is able to declare it sufficiently. That thynge which Goddes owne monthe nameth abhomination, must nedes be a greater abhomination, than all tonges can expresse.
1Tenthly, who hath commanded you to set up this new Idolatryer? That ye do institute worshipping of saints, Canonise saints, ordain fastings and holy days, to honour them, even as though they were gods themselves, that men do put their trust and confidence in their merits, more then in Christ himself, and in his blood and merits, whom you have set forth and declared unto us, as a judge, whom we must pacify & obtain grace of him, by his mother, and by the intercession and merits of all saints, with our holy service.
1Tenthly, who hathe commaunded you to sette vp thys newe Idolatryer? That ye do institute worshippyng of saynctes, Canonyse saynctes, ordeyne fastynges and holy dayes, to honoure them, euen as though they were goddes themselues, that men do put theyr trust and confidence in their merites, more then in Christ hymselfe, and in hys bloude and merites, whome you haue set forth and declared vnto vs, as a iudge, whome we must pacifye & obteyne grace of hym, by hys mother, and by the intercession and merites of all saynctes, with our holy seruice.
1In so much that your church in this article is become nothing else, then the churches of the heathen, which worshipped, Jupiter, Juno, Venus, Diatra, and other dead persons, ⟨image 65⟩And like as the Romans in their city of Rome did edificate a Pantheon, Even so have ye also builded a Pantheon, that is a church of all the devils. This shall ye not find in the writings of the Apostles, nor in the young Churches after them, which in times past also would not suffer the Images of fancies, so that much blood was shed for it, I omit that they should worship & pray to the saints, which only is dew to god,
1In so muche that youre churche in thys article is become nothynge elles, then the churches of the heathen, whiche worshypped, Iupiter, Iuno, Venus, Diatra, and other dead persons, ⟨image 65⟩And lyke as the Romayns in theyr citie of Rome dyd edificate a Pantheon, Euen so haue ye also buylded a Pantheon, that is a churche of al the deuyls. Thys shal ye not fynde in the writtynges of the Apostles, nor in the yonge Churches after them, which in tymes past also would not suffer the Images of fayncies, so that muche bloude was shed for it, I omitte that they shoulde worshyppe & pray to the saynctes, which onely is dew to god,
1Eleventhly, who hath commanded you to make his new joy. That ye condemn and slander matrimony, and judge it unclean & uncomely, for God's service, have ye that of the Apostles or of the primitive old church? Yes truly, for S. Paul saith .i. tim. iiij That ye should come under hypocrisy and depart and steppe a side from the faith, & old church, as a very harlot of the devil, which should receive such doctrine of the devil, and preach against matrimony, and yet live your selves in dissembling chastity, that is in all manner of uncleanliness.2
1Eleuently, who hathe cōmaunded you to make hys newe ioye. That ye condemne and sclaunder matrimony, and iudge it vncleane & vncomely, for goddes seruice, haue ye that of the Apostles or of the primatiue old church? Yes truely, for S. Paul saith .i. tim. iiij That ye should come vnder hypocrisye and departe and steppe a syde frō the faith, & old church, as a very harlot of the deuyl, whiche shoulde receyue suche doctryne of the deuyl, and preache agaynst matrimony, and yet lyue youre selues in dissemblyng chastite, that is in al maner of vnclenlynes.2
This neweltie sewe with her noble fruits, that the ground will bear you no longer. And God with his judgement hath begun to press into it, & to hallow this new holy church even into hell fire, And will not be entreated to the contrary. This know we, Thanked be God.
Thys neweltie sewe with her noble frutes, that the grounde wyl beare you no longer. And God with hys iudgement hath begōne to preasse into it, & to hallowe thys newe holy church euen into hel fyre, And wil not be intreated to the contrary. Thys knowe we, Thanked be God.
1Twelfthly, who hath commanded you to make this newness? That ye rule and war with the worldly sword and use the same for the most part, for to shed innocent blood? Have ye seen ye sharp eyed flitter mice, that the Apostles or old church subdued the world with the sword, or augmented the church by battle? whence come ye then I pray you, that boast your selves successors of the old church, & call us the new wavering Church, which notwithstanding hold with the old church, and came of the same But ye came of that run away the devils harlot your new murtherysh and lying Church.
1Twelftly, who hath commaunded you to make this newnes? That ye rule and warre with the worldly sweard and vse the same for the mooste parte, for to shede innocent bloude? Haue ye sene ye sharp eyed flitter myse, that the Apostles or old churche subdued the worlde with the sworde, or augmēted the churche by battayl? whence come ye then I praye you, that boaste your selues successours of the old church, & cal vs the newe waueryng Churche, which notwithstandyng holde with the olde churche, and came of the same But ye came of that runne away the deuyls harlott your new murtherysh and lyenge Church.
