A06491:311
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.
Here is it not necessary, yea not good, to ask forgiveness of since, as though he had taught untruly, For it is Gods word, & not my word which God may or can not forgive me, but must confirm it, laud it, crown it, & say: Thou hast taught the truth, for I have spoken by thee, and the word is mine. Whosoever can not boast this of his preaching, let him cease from preaching, for he lieth undoubtedly and blasphemeth God.
Here is it not necessary, yea not good, to aske forgeuenes of synnes, as though he had taught vntrewely, For it is Gods word, & not my worde which God may or can not forgeue me, but must cōfirme it, laude it, croun it, & saye: Thou hast taught the truth, for I haue spokē by the, and the word is myne. Whosoeuer can not boaste thys of hys preachyng, let hym ceasse from preachyng, for he lyeth vndoubtedly and blasphemeth God.
If the word should be sin or untrue where after should or could then the life be directed? there should surely the one blind lead the other, & fall both in the pit, if the leadline or square rule should be false, what should ⟨image 80⟩or could the master then frame thereafter? There should the one crooked make the other, without end or measure. Even so here also, can the life well be sin and unrighteous, yea alas it is to unrighteous, but the doctrine must be live right and sure without all sin. 1Therefore must in the church, nothing but only the sure, pure, and only word of God be preached. If the same fail, then is it no more the church, but the schoolhouse of the devil. Like as an honest woman (as the Prophets use such illusions evermore) ought to hear no more, but her husbands word within the house and to be dwarde, for if she hear any other mans word, which pertaineth not to her husbands bed, then is she surely a harlot.
Yf the word should be syn or vntrew where after should or could thē the lyfe be directed? there should surely the one blynd leade the other, & fal bothe in the pitte, yf the leadlyne or square rule shoulde be false, what shoulde