A06491:327
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.
ij. So have ye for your part, altogether, in the convocation at Augsburg desired the Emperor, to handle with the Romish Bishop, that he would send no more Pardons in Douchelande, seeing it is despised. 1Here do ye confess your selves, that your Pardon is a despised thing, that is, an abuse, and Idolatry, for if ye did count it right and good, as a pure God's service, ye could not with good conscience despise it, & desire to have it abolished. There witnesseth ⟨image 86⟩your conscience by your own word, That your church be an Idols house and unpure, which hath served, and yet doth serve the devil, and not God, with false vile and beggarly Pardons.
ij. So haue ye for your part, altogether, in the conuocation at Auspurgh desyred the Emperour, to handle with the Romyshe Bysshoppe, that he woulde sende no more Pardons in Douchelande, seynge it is despysed. 1Here do ye confesse your selues, that youre Pardon is a despysed thynge, that is, an abuse, and Idolatrye, for yf ye dyd counte it ryght and good, as a pure Goddes seruyce, ye coulde not with good cōscience despise it, & despre to haue it abolished. There witnesseth ⟨image 86⟩your conscience by your owne worde, That youre church be an Idols house and vnpure, whiche hath serued, and yet doth serue the deuil, and not God, with false vyle and beggerlye Pardons.
- 1Pardon
iij. Thirdly, did even there the Cardinal of Meant say, what will we much dispute, They have one Article, which we know, and can not deny, but that it is right, namely Matrimony, and yet we can not accept the-same. And though he of Mentz should never say it, yet are ye your selves more so overcome in it, that many of you, which will be the best, such things openly confess. Now tell me: Thinkest thou that it is a small devils whore, that hath kept, instituted taught, honoured, and maintained, such a terrible Article, that is Idolatry in her Church, that men should count Gods creation, work, ordinance, and blessing, damnable, accursed, and the greatest sin. What evil more abominable could the devil