A06491:445
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.
And although they do not all come out with it so rudely mingling their busyness with their prayers by mouth as the above named priest, did yet do they so in their thoughts, casting the hundred among the thousand, and when it is out, they know not what they have done, or how they are come to the end, they begin at Laudate, and by and by their minds run at rovers, so that I think, that no ingling can come before any man, which ⟨image 107⟩should move him more to laugh, than if he might see the thoughts, which a cold, undevout heart, choppeth together in prayer. But now I see well enough thanks be to God, that it is not well prayed, if a man forget what he hath said For a right prayer thinketh on all the words and thoughts from the beginning, unto the end of the prayer.
And although they do not all come out with it so rudely myng lynge their busynes with theirprayers by mouthe as the aboue named priest, did yet do they so in their thoughtes, castynge the hundreth amonge the thousande, and whan it is oute, they knowe not what they haue done, or howe they are come to the ende, they beginne at Laudate, and by and by theyr myndes run at rouers, so that I thynke, that no ingling can come before any man, which ⟨image 107⟩shoulde moue him more to laugh, than yf he might se the thoughtes, which a colde, vndeuoute harte, choppeth together in prayer. But nowe I see well ynough thankes be to God, that it is not wel prayed, yf a mā forgette what he hath sayde For a right prayer thinketh on all the wordes and thoughtes from the beginnynge, vnto the ende of the prayer.
Like as a good diligent barber must have his mind and eyes very sharply fixed, and attendant upon the razor and upon the hairs and forget not, where he is in shaving or cutting. For if he should be full of words and babblings, or think and look some other way he might cut away a mans mouth and nose, yea also his throat. So hole will every thing have a man, if it shall be done as it ought to be done, with all his wits and members, as men use to say. Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus. He that thinketh many manner of ways, thinketh nothing