A06491:328
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.
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 ⟨image 86⟩God's enemy him self institute, if he would institute any thing against God?
iij. Thyrdly, dyd euen there the Cardinal of Ment• say, what wyl we muche dispute, They haue one Article, whiche we knowe, and can not denye, but that it is ryghte, namely Matrimony, and yet we can not accept the-same. And though he of Mētz should neuer saye it, yet are ye youre selues more so ouercome in it, that many of you, which wyl be the beste, such thinges openly confesse. Nowe tel me: Thinkest thou that it is a smal deuyls whore, that hathe kepte, instituted taught, honoured, and maynteyned, suche a terryble Article, that is Idolatrye in her Churche, that men shoulde counte Gods creatiō, work, ordinaunce, and blessynge, damnable, accursed, and the greatest synne. What euyll more abhominable coulde the deuyll ⟨image 86⟩Goddes enemy hym selfe institute, yf he woulde institute any thing agaynst God?
Howe could your Church be holy by such abomination, yea, though ye altogether had lived chaste virgins, and yet had served such Idols. For God did forbid it you, as a doctrine of the devil .i. Timo. iiij.1