A06491:296
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.
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.
The holy Christen Churche. (I talke nowe with oure owne fellowes. For with the Popyshe asses. Clutters and stones, is no vnderstandinge) seynge nor hearing, is not a reede nor Counter. No, she wauereth not, nor geueth backe, as the deuills harlott the Popyshe church, which lyke an aduou tresse, thynketh that she ought not to cleaue vnto her wedded husbāde. But that she may lawfully swarue, geue backe, & admitte, euen as the whoremō ger will haue it. But she is (sayeth S. Paul)1 a pyller & ground of the trueth. She standeth sure (sayth he) & is a sure ⟨image 75⟩grounde. And not a false or deceyuable grounde. But a grounde of trueth which neither lyeth nor deceyueth, neither gothe aboute with any lyes. But whatsoeuer wauereth or doubteth, the same can not be truth.
- 1i. Ti. iij.
And whereto were a Church of God profitable and necessary in the world, if she would waver, and be unstable of her words? Or institute every day some new knack, & now give this, and now take away that, yea where unto were such a God profitable, that would teach us so to waiver and to doubt?