A06491:338
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.
Therefore must ye Papists fight out this Article of Obedience, with God him self, and not with us, and make us certain and sure before, that we (as ye do) may give unto the Emperor that which is Goddes. Or else we will not do it. But take your slandering & lying, for great joy where with ye bear us witness, and knowledge that we take not from God that which is his, and give it to the Emperor, and so ye help us with your pestiferous lies, to boast this trueth that we live not in your accursed obedience.
Therfore must ye Papistes fyghte oute this Article of Obedience, with God hym selfe, and not with vs, and make vs certeyn and sure before, that we (as ye do) maye geue vnto themperour that which is Goddes. Or elles we will not do it. But take youre sklaundrynge & lyenge, for great ioye where with ye beare vs witnes, and knowledge that we take not frō God that which is his, and geue it to themperour, and so ye helpe vs with youre pestiferous lyes, to boaste this trueth that we lyue not in youre accursed obedience.
For God hath commanded the Emperor ye all his angels and creatures, that they shall teach none other word ⟨image 90⟩in his kingdom, that is in his church as S. Paul Gal. i. shuteth a terrible thunderbolt, saying if an Angel from heaven teach you any other thing, than that ye have received, hold him accursed.1 Now have we above recited retain of the innumerable novelties of other doctrine (that is, as S. Paul doth here call it, Anathema, accursing damnation, malediction) wherewith your Popish new whore, and devils church is filled. Therefore can not the Emperor nor any other creature compel us to such accursed obedience, yea he ought to keep him self with us from it, if he will not with S. Pauls thunderbolt, be accursed and stricken into the pit of hell.
For God hath cōmaūded thēperour ye all his augels and creatures, that they shall teache none other worde