A06491:314
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.
Now behold my dear friend, what a wonderful thing is it, that we so surely teach God's word, & yet be so weak and for great humility so fearful, that we do not gladly boast our selves, That we be the church, witnesses, ministers, and preachers of God, and that God speaketh through us &c. Notwithstanding that we be the same undoubtedly, for so much as we surely have and teach his word. This lowliness and fearfulness cometh ⟨image 81⟩thereby, that we do earnestly believe, Gods word to be such a glorious and excellent thing, that we knowledge our selves to unworthy, that through us such a great thing should be spoken and done, which live yet in flesh and blood.
Nowe beholde my deare frende, what a wonderful thyng is it, that we so surely teache Goddes worde, & yet be so weake and for great humilite so fearful, that we do not gladly boaste oure selues, That we be the churche, witnesses, ministers, and preachers of God, and that God speaketh through vs &c. Notwithstandyng that we be the same vndoubtedly, for so muche as we surely haue and teache hys word. Thys lowelynes and fearfulnes cometh ⟨image 81⟩thereby, that we do earnestly beleue, Gods worde to be suche a glorious and excellent thyng, that we knowelege oure selues to vnworthy, that throughe vs suche a greate thynge shoulde be spoken and done, which lyue yet in flesshe and bloude.
1But our adversaries, devil, Papists, sects, and all the world, they be bold and unshamefast, and dare foolishly proclaim, for great holiness, here is God, we are Gods church Ministers, Prophets, and Apostles, like as all false Prophets have done always. But lowliness and fear in God's word hath always ben the right token of true holy church, boldness & presumptuousness in mans imagination hath ben the right token of the devil, as it may also plainly be perceived in the papistical decrees.