A06491:324
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.
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 ⟨image 84⟩no lawful cause to demand restitution. But were worthy to be expelled out of the world, and to be served, as the King John served the Baalites, and as King Josie did serve the priests at Samaria, and Bethel.1 For they are (as above is declared) before God according to the judgment of holy Scripture, the right den of murderers, and the devils harlot whereout followeth, that they, the Goods of the Church, that is, of the poor Christianity (as robbers of archechurches, and God's thieves) have pulled unto them, and unjustly keep them in possession, wherefore yet to their hindrance they follow, both in body and honour, temporal and eternal destruction.
But for so muche as in earthe in thys matter is no iudge, for they are become parcyal and because the chief iudges haue made themselues, is their iudgement of no valoure, accordynge to al lawes, and euen so littell alowable, as the iudgement of vs, which are the contrary part, is accepted of them, therfore must we let it passe, & abyde the ryght iudge, But yf there were a iudge in thys matter in earth, shoulde thys iudgement fynde it selfe, That they (of the one partie) not only haue ⟨image 84⟩no lawfull cause to demaunde restitution. But were worthy to be expelled out of the worlde, and to be serued, as the Kynge I•hn serued the Baalites, and as Kynge Iosi• dyd serue the priestes at Samaria, and Bethel.1 For thei are (as aboue is declared) before God accordynge to the iugement of holye Scripture, the ryghte denne of murtherers, and the deuyls harlot whereout followeth, that they, the Goodes of the Churche, that is, of the poore Christianite (as robbers of archechurches, and Goddes theues) haue pulled vnto them, and vniustly kepe them in possessyon, wherfore yet to theyr hynderaunce they follow, bothe in body and honoure, temporall and eternal destruction.