A06491:323
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.
If they be not the Church, but the devils harlot, which continued not in Christ. So is it groundely and mightily concluded, That they ought not to possess the church Goods. Much less to move this strife (wherewith hitherto they trouble and disease Emperor & king) that they should be put in again by us, & the goods restored again unto them. For that is even as much, as if the devils should desire ⟨image 83⟩of the Angels, that they might be set again in heaven, notwithstanding, that they know & confess, that they did not continue Gods angels but became God's enemies, which belong to hell fire. Or that I speak of men, It is even as much, as if a these or murderer would demand restitution of such money and goods as he had stolen and robbed, which being taken from him, were laid under judgement, or were restored again to the right owners, if not, then would he threaten to become a H. M.
Yf they be not the Church, but the deuyls harlot, which continued not in Christ. So is it groundely and myghtely concluded, That they oughte not to possesse the churche Goodes. Muche lesse to moue thys stryfe (wherewith hitherto they trouble and disease Emperour & kyng) that thei should be put in agayne by vs, & the goodes restored agayn vnto thē. For that is euē as muche, as yf the deuyls should desyre ⟨image 83⟩of the Aungels, that they mighte be set agayne in heauen, notwithstandyng, that they knowe & confesse, that they dyd not continue Gods aungels but became Goddes enemyes, whiche belōg to hel fyre. Or that I speake of men, It is euē as much, as yf a thefe or murtherer would demaunde restitution of suche money and goodes as he had stolen and robbed, whiche beynge taken frō hym, were layed vnder iudgement, or were restored agayn to the ryghte owners, yf not, then would he threaten to become a H. M.
But for so much as in earth in this matter is no judge, for they are become partial and because the chief judges have made themselves, is their judgement of no valour, according to all laws, and even so little allowable, as the judgement of us, which are the contrary part, is accepted of them, therefore must we let it pass, & abide the right judge, But if there were a judge in this matter in earth, should this judgement find it self, That they (of the one party) not only have