A06491:281
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.
Item, They were escaped from the filthiness of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and of the saviour Jesus Christ. And are yet tangled again therein and overcome. And so is the later end worse with them then the beginning. It were better for them, not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment, that was given unto them. It is happened unto them according to the true Proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again. The sow that was washed in her swimming is turned again to her wallowing in the mire.
Item, They were escaped from the fylthines of the worlde, through the knowlege of the Lorde and of the sauyor Iesu Christ. And are yet tangled agayne therin and ouercome. And so is the later ende worse with them then the beginnynge. It were better for them, not to haue knowen the waye of rightuousnes, then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holy commaundement, that was geuen vnto them. It is happened vnto them according to the true Prouerbe. The dogge is turned to his owne vomet agayne. The sowe that was wasshed in her swymmynge is turned agayne to her wallowinge in the myre.
This are ye, and so have I ben also. There have ye your new, of falling & run away church plain enough described, and clear enough set out ⟨image 71⟩before your eyes. For we knowledge not only. That ye with us are come out of the right Church, and have swymmed with us in baptism and are washed through the Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as S. Peter here sayeth. But say also that ye are in the Church, and also abide therein. Yea verily, that ye therein sit and rule as saint Paul prophecieth.1 That the cursed Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God (and not in a horse stable) &c.
This are ye, and so haue I ben also. There haue ye youre newe, of fallinge & runne awaye church playne ynough described, and cleare ynough set oute ⟨image 71⟩