A06491:476
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.
The seventh Commandment. Thou shalt not steal.
The seuenth Commaundement. Thou shalt not steale.
First do I learn here, that I shall not take my neighbours goods, nor have them against his will, neither privily nor apearily, that I shall not be untrue nor false, in occupying, serving or labouring, whereby I might get my goods thievishly, but shall live & earn my living in the sweat of my brows, and eat mine own bread with all trueth.1 Item, that I should help, that my neighbours goods ⟨image 119⟩through the above named points be not taken away from him. I do learn also, that God by this commandment doth, assure and defend me my goods, of Fatherly care, & great earnest, for so much as he commandeth, that nothing shall be stolen from me. And if it be not obeyed, he hath ordained a punishment for it, and hath committed the gallows, & cord to master John, or if he can not, than doth he punish him self, that at the last they must become beggars. According to the common proverb, he that loveth to steal in his youth goeth a begging in his age. Item, wrongfully gotten goods do not prosper. And evil gotten, evil spent.
Fyrste do I learne here, that I shall not take my neighbours goodes, nor haue them against his wil, neither preuely nor apearily, that I shall not be vntrue nor false, in occupyenge, seruinge or labouringe, whereby I might gette my goodes theuysshely, but shall lyue & earne my lyuinge in the sweate of my browes, and eate myne owne bread with al trueth.1 Itē, that I should helpe, that my neyghbours goodes ⟨image 119⟩through the aboue named poynctes be not taken awaye from hym. I do learne also, that God by this cōmaundement doth, assure and defende me my goodes, of Fatherly care, & greate earnest, for so muche as he commaundeth, that nothinge shalbe stolen from me. And yf it be not obeyed, he hath ordeyned a punysshement for it, and hath committed the gallowes, & corde to maister Iohn, or yf he can not, than doth he punysshe hym selfe, that at the last they must become beggers. Accordinge to the common prouerbe, he that loueth to steale in his youth goeth a begginge in his age. Item, wrongfully gotten goodes do not prospere. And euill gotten, euill spent.