A06491:271
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.
Therefore is the popish church so full of lies, devils Idolatry, hell, murder, and of all mischief that it swarmeth. And it is here time to hear the voice of the Angel. Apo. xviij. Come away from Babylon my people, that ye be not partakers in her since, that ye receive not of her plagues, for her since are gone up to heaven &c.1
Therfore is the popysshe church so ful of lyes, deuyls Idolatrye, hel, murther, and of all mischief that it swarmeth. And it is here tyme to heare the voyce of the Angel. Apo. xviij. Come away from Babylon my people, that ye be not partakers in her synnes, that ye receaue not of her plages, for her synnes are gone vp to heauen &c.1
- 1Apocal. xviij.
1In times past, where as the painters painted the later judgement: 2they feigned hell a great dragons head with a very wide mouth, wherein in the midst of the flame stood the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, mom kes, Emperor, Kings, Princes, & all manner of men and women, but no young children. I could not devise of a trueth how the Popish church ⟨image 67⟩might or could be more goodly, compendiously and playnelyer painted or described, for doubtless she is the devouring of hell, where unto she abideth the Pope himself, and devoureth all the world in the bottomless pit of hell, through the devils mouth, that is through her devilish preaching & teaching. Surely it hath not ben invented of a foolish fellow, belike out of Isaiah. v, where as he saith,3 hell gapeth & openeth her mouth marvellous wide, that their pride and boasting both her rich men & wealth with such as rejoice therein, may descend into it. But if it did chance to be made so unadvisedly or unwarily, truly then is it an Image very well happened, to set out to the simple man the popish church, to the intent that he may be ware of it, and flee from it, which hath devoured all, save the young christened children, whereof we shall entreat more here after.