A06491:283
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 of the Church, or members of the Church, are ye no more. But in that holy Church of God, do ye execte this your new of falling Church, the whorehouse of the devil and innumerable whore domes and Idolatries or Novelties, whereby ye seduce, the Christened and redeemed souls with you. And devour them through hells mouth in the bottomless pit of hell, with innumerable flocks. To the horrible pitifulness and disquietness of heart, of all them that with spiritual eyes see and ⟨image 71⟩know the same.
But of the Churche, or membres of the Churche, are ye no more. But in that holy Churche of God, do ye execte this youre newe of fallinge Churche, the whorehouse of the deuill and innumerable whore domes and Idolatryes or Newelties, whereby ye seduce, the Christened and redemed soules with you. And deuoure them through helles mouthe in the botomles pytte of hell, with innumerable flockes. To the harrible pitiefulnes and disquietnes of harte, of all them that with spirituall eyes see and ⟨image 71⟩knowe the same.
But it is God, that through his won derfull almighty power, by you among so many abominations, & devilish whoredoms yet saveth the young babes, through baptism and some old folks, but very few that in their end have turned again to Christ, of which sort I have known a great number myself. So that for all this: The right old Church with her Baptism, and Gods word doth still remain among you. And your God the devil through so many new Idolatries with all your devilish whoredom was never able to destroy it clean.
But it is God, that through his wō derfull allmightie power, by you amonge so many abhominatiōs, & deuelyshe whoredomes yet saueth the yōge babes, through baptisme and some old folkes, but very few that in theyr ende haue turned agayne to Christe, of whiche sorte I haue knowen a greate nombre myselfe. So that for all this: The righte olde Churche with her Baptisme, and Gods worde dothe still remayne amonge you. And youre God the deuil through so many newe Idolatries with all youre deuelysshe whoredome was neuer able to destroy it cleane.