A06491:275
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.
But this say we, that ye do not abide by it, and become the run away, departing whorish church, (as the Prophets use to call it) which ⟨image 68⟩abideth not in the Church, whereof she is borne and nourished, ye run out of the same Church, and from the right husband or bridegroom (as Hoseas saith of the people of Israel) to the devil Baal, Molech, Astaroth, understand ye not this. I will tell it you.
But thys saye we, that ye do not abyde by it, and become the runne awaye, departynge hourysh churche, (as the Prophetes vse to cal it) which ⟨image 68⟩abydeth not in the Churche, whereof she is borne and nourysshed, ye runne oute of the same Churche, and from the ryght husbande or bridegrome (as Hoseas sayth of the people of Israel) to the deuyll Baall, Molech, Astaroth, vnderstande ye not thys. I wyll tell it you.
1Ye are all undoubtedly baptised in the right baptism of the old church as we specially in childhood, and whatsoever so baptised, liveth and dyeth, until in the seventh or eight year, before it have understanding of the whorish Church, of the Romish Bishop, that is surely saved, whereof we doubt nothing, but wha• it cometh to age, and heareth your lying preachings, of your devilish novelties, believeth and followeth the same, Than becometh it a devilish harlot with you, and falleth away from his baptism and bridegroom (as hath chanced unto me with other) buildeth and trusteth upon his own works, even as ye hooremongera, in your whorehouses and devils ⟨image 69⟩Churches preach, notwithstanding that it was baptised, to trust & build only upon his only dear bridegroom, and •ure Lord Jesus Christ, which hath given him selves for us.