A06491:473
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.
Secondarily I do thank the heavenly father for this his grace & benefit, that with this commandment he taketh in his tuition, protection & defence, my husband, son, servant wife, daughter, maid, & commandeth so earnestly and straitly, that they shall not be defiled, for he giveth me safe conduit, He doth also execute it, and leaveth it not unpunished, although he should do it him self, no man escapeth him, he must either pay it here, or else at the last receive ⟨image 117⟩his reward for such pleasures in hell fire. For he will have chastity, and will not suffer adultery, even as we see daily in all impenitent and riotous people, that at the last they are overtaken by the wrath of GOD and shamefully destroyed, or else it were not possible to any man to keep his wife, child or family one hour in honesty and cleanliness, for the unclean spirit, for they would use mere dogs feasts, and bestial a conversation, even as it cometh to pass when God in his displeasure withdraweth his hand, and letteth all things go at large.
Secondarely I do thanke the heauenly father for this his grace & benefyte, that with this commaundement he taketh in hys tuition, protection & defence, my husbande, sonne, seruaunt wyfe, daughter, mayde, & cōmaundeth so earnestly and strayghtly, that they shal not be defyled, for he geueth me safe conduyt, He doth also execute it, and leaueth it not vnpunysshed, although he shoulde do it hym selfe, noman escapeth hym, he muste eyther paye it here, or elles at the laste receyue ⟨image 117⟩hys rewarde for suche pleasures in hell fyre. For he wyl haue chastite, and wyll not suffre adulterye, euen as we se dayly in al impenitent and ryotous people, that at the last they are ouertakē by the wrath of GOD and shamefully destroyed, or elles it were not possyble to any man to kepe hys wyfe, chyld or familie one houre in honestye and clenlynes, for the vncleane spirite, for they woulde vse mere dogges feastes, and bestyal a cō uersacion, euen as it commeth to passe whan God in his displeasure withdraweth hys hande, and letteth all thynges go at large.