A06491:48
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.
Fifthly, for as much now as the mass is, or can be none other (as the Canon and all Books say) but a work of men (also of a lewd person) whereby one will reconcile him self and other with him to God, obtain and deserve grace and remission of since (for so is she kept, when she is kept most holyest, what should she do else?) Then ought and must she be condemned and rejected, for this is directly against the chief article, which sayeth, that not a wicked or good mass servant, but the lamb of god, and son of god beareth our since.
Fyftely, for as muche nowe as the masse is, or can be none other (as the Canon and al Bokes saye) but a worke of menne (also of a leawde person) whereby one wyll reconcyle hym self and other with hym to God, obteyne and deserue grace and remissiō of synnes (for so is she kepte, whan she is kepte most holyest, what shoulde she do elles?) Then ought and must she be condemned and reiected, for thys is directly agaynst the chief article, whiche sayeth, that not a wicked or good masse seruaunt, but the lambe of god, and sonne of god beareth our synnes.
And if for a good intent, one would pretend to husel or communicate him self, that is not right, for if he will communicate a right, so hath he it most surest & best in the Sacrament, ministered after the institution of Christ. But to communicate him self is a mans ⟨image 11⟩1fantasy, unsure, and not necessary, and also forbidden. Neither doth he know, what he doth, whilst he without the word of God, followeth mens imaginations and inventions.
And yf for a good intent, one would pretende to husel or communicate him selfe, that is not right, for yf he wil cō municate a right, so hath he it most surest & best in the Sacramēt, ministred after the institution of Christe. But to communicate hym selfe is a mannes ⟨image 11⟩1