A06491:340
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.
God hath committed unto the Emperor enough, more than he is able to execute namely, the kingdom of the earth, that is body and Goods, there hath his office an end. If he above that, layeth hand on the kingdom of God, then doth he rob God of his own, which is called, Sacrelegium, Sacrilege, or God's theft. Or as ⟨image 90⟩S. Paul Phil ij. doth name it.1 Rapinā divinitatis. If a man be like unto God which he can not be the same, must he intend to rob it. For it can not be given unto him, here to is an only heir alone, he hath not robbed it, nor willed to rob it (as the devil in heaven and Adam did in Paradise). But it is given unto him from the father everlastingly and borne unto him by nature.
God hath committed vnto themperour ynough, more than he is able to execute namely, the kyngedome of the earthe, that is body and Goodes, ther hath his office an ende. Yf he aboue that, layeth hande on the kyngdome of God, then dothe he robbe God of his owne, whiche is called, Sacrelegium, Sacrilege, or Goddes thefte. Or as ⟨image 90⟩S. Paul Phil ij. doth name it.1 Rapinā diuinitatis. Yf a mā be lyke vnto God whiche he can not be the same, must he intēde to robbe it. For it can not be geuen vnto hym, here to is an onely heyr alone, he hath not robbed it, nor willed to robbe it (as the deuill in heauen and Adā did in Paradys). But it is geuen vnto hym frō the father euerlastingly and borne vnto hym by nature.
- 1Phil. ij.
They that now do entice the good Emperor Charles to this, or do such thing under his Seal, be even as holy Creatures as the Serpent in Paradise. The Emperor should continue under God. And attend to the office unto him appointed (as well as all Creatures) For God will here, that is in the church speak alone, and suffer none other.