A06491:354
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.
Which faith, but if every man will keep whole and inviolate, without doubt he shall eternally perish. This truly is the right Catholic Faith, that we worship one God in trinity, and the trinity in unity. Neither confounding the persons, neither separating the substance. The person of the Father is one. The person of the Son another. The person of the holy Ghost another. But of the Father of the Son, ⟨image 94⟩and of the holy Ghost, there is one divinity, equal glory coeternal majesty. Such as is the Father, such is the Son, such is the holy Ghost. The Father is uncreate, the son uncreate, the holy Ghost is uncreate. The Father is immeasurable, the Son immeasurable the holy Ghost immeasurable. The Father is everlasting, the Son everlasting, the holy Ghost everlasting. And not withstanding, there be not three everlasting, but one everlasting. Even as there be not three uncreate, nor three unmeasurable, but one uncreate and one unmeasurable. In like manner is the Father almighty the Son almighty, and the holy Ghost almighty. And yet be they not three almighties, but one God almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, the holy Ghost is God. And yet be there not three Gods but one God.
Whiche faythe, but yf euery man will kepe whole and inuiolate, withoute doubte he shall eternally perysshe. This truely is the righte Catholyke Faythe, that we worshippe one God in trinite, and the trinite in vnitie. Neyther confondinge the persons, neyther seperatinge the substaunce. The person of the Father is one. The persone of the Sonne another. The persone of the holy Ghooste another. But of the Father of the Sonne, ⟨image 94⟩and of the holy Ghoost, ther is one diuinite, equall glorye coeternall maiestie. Suche as is the Father, suche is the Sonne, suche is the holy Ghoost. The Father is vncreate, the sonne vncreate, the holy Ghost is vncreate. The Father is immeasurable, the Sonne immeasurable the holy Ghoost immeasurable. The Father is euerlasting, the Sonne euerlasting, the holy Ghoost euerlastinge. And not withstāding, there be not thre euerlasting, but one euerlasting. Euen as there be not thre vncreate, nor thre vnmeasurable, but one vncreat and one vnmeasurable. In lyke maner is the Father almightie the Sonne almightie, and the holy Ghoost almightie. And yet be they not thre almighties, but one God almightie. So the Father is God, the Sonne is God, the holy Ghoost is God. And yet be there not thre Goddes but one God.