A06491:253
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 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