A06491:325
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.
For this can a child of seven years old, yea a nyged foul, tell and reckon upon his fingers (how be it, that the gross Popish ass, with his dā nable confederates, can understand nothing) That the laudable old, Emperors, Princes, Lords, and good people, doubtless, have not ben of that ⟨image 84⟩mind, & will to give their Goods, to that intent, that therewith should nothing but devils harlots, an Idolatry, be instituted, decked, & honoured Much less, that they there with should bring up and maintain, Soulmurtherers, church robbers, & Gods thieves, But the dear churches and schools, that is the holy word of God, the office of preaching, & other service of the church, Theologians, Curates, preachers, besides that also poor folks, widows, the comfortless & sick to maintain, to the praise & honour of god. 1For they are not called the goods of harlots, murderers, blasphemous of god H. M. nor goods of the devil, but the goods of the church, which even now, not only of the spiritual devils whores in the popish den of murderers, in most abominable wise, by Simony and all manner of blasphemy be bought, sold, stolen, robbed, and consumed, but also of the corporal whores & knaves, in most unshamest wise be consumed and expended, much worse then was done at Sodoma ⟨image 85⟩and Gomorra. In so much that they give not one halfpenny towards the maintenance of a poor Priest, Scholar or poor man, for they be not worthy also for to do such a small good deed, But in stead thereof, as the foolish Epicureans, they do mock and laugh to scorn, both God him self, and the word of his Church. Yea this is the goodly holy church, which yet dare boast them selves holy, Count the churches goods for their own, and demand restitution, but he shall not tarry long that shall give the right restitution, unto such desperate, self willed scorners, and tyrannous murderers.
For thys can a chyld of seuen yeares olde, yea a nyged foull, tel and reken vpō hys fyngers (howe be it, that the grosse Popysshe asse, with hys dā nable confederates, kan vnderstande nothyng) That the laudable olde, Emperours, Prynces, Lordes, and good people, doubteles, haue not bē of that ⟨image 84⟩