A06491:255
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.
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.