A06491:295
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.
What should men now handle with such people, yea with such dull and gross asses, which suppose, that God's word is a reed which is ⟨image 74⟩moved with every blast of wind hither and thither, whereof they have the rule. Or (as they do rather think) that it is a counter, which after their damnable frowardness must signify according as they caste or lay it upon the rule. Even so prettily do they understand, what the church is, yea even therewith show they abundantly, that they despise God and his word highly and moreover set them selves above God and can not be his Church.
What shoulde men nowe handle with suche people, yea with suche dull and grosse asses, whiche suppose, that Goddes worde is a reede whiche is ⟨image 74⟩moued with euery blaste of wynde hither and thither, whereof they haue the rule. Or (as they do rather thinke) that it is a counter, whiche after their damnable frowardnes muste signifie accordinge as they caste or laye it vpō the rule. Euen so pretely do they vnderstande, what the church is, yea euen therewith shew they aboundātly, that they despise God and his word highly and moreouer sette them selues aboue God and can not be his Church.
The holy Christen Church. (I talk now with our own fellows. For with the Popish asses. Clutters and stones, is no understanding) seeing nor hearing, is not a reed nor Counter. No, she wavereth not, nor giveth back, as the devils harlot the Popish church, which like an aduou tress, thinketh that she ought not to cleave unto her wedded husband. But that she may lawfully swerve, give back, & admit, even as the whoremonger will have it. But she is (sayeth S. Paul)1 a pillar & ground of the trueth. She standeth sure (saith he) & is a sure ⟨image 75⟩ground. And not a false or deceivable ground. But a ground of trueth which neither lieth nor deceiveth, neither goeth about with any lies. But whatsoever wavereth or doubteth, the same can not be truth.