A06491:446
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.
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 ⟨image 107⟩at all, neither doth he any good. Howe much more will prayer have the heart alone, hole, and only, if else it be a good prayer.
Lyke as a good diligente barber must haue his mynde and eyes very sharpely fixed, and attendaunt vpon the rasoure and vpon the heares and forgette not, where he is in shauinge or cuttynge. For yf he shoulde be full of wordes and bablinges, or thinke and loke some other waye he myghte cutte awaye a mannes mouthe and nose, yea also his throte. So hole will euery thinge haue a man, yf it shall be done as it oughte to be done, with all his wittes and membres, as men vse to saye. Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus. He that thynketh many maner of wayes, thynketh nothinge ⟨image 107⟩at all, neither dothe he any good. Howe muche more will prayer haue the harte alone, hole, and onely, yf elles it be a good prayer.
This is briefly spoken of the Pater noster or prayer, as I am wont to pray my self. For even yet at this day I suck on the Pater noster, as a Child, eat and drink as an old man, and can not be satisfied of it, and it is also to me the best prayer, even above the Psalter (whom not withstanding I love not a little). Truly, it appeareth that the right master hath ordained and taught it. And it is pity, and great pity, that such a prayer of such a Master, should be so babbled and blabbered, without all devotion in all the world. Many men pray peradventure every year certain thousandes of Pater noster. And though they should pray so a thousand years, yet have they not tasted nor prayed one letter or tittle thereof. Summa, the Pater noster is the greatest martyr (as well