A06491:76
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 I put case, that the pope would grant, that he, not Jure divino, or by the commandment of God, were superior: but to the intent that thereby the unity of the Christianity, against sects & heresies, so much the better might be entertained, & that therefore must be a head, whereby all the rest might take hold, and that such a head ⟨image 18⟩ought to be chosen of men, and stood, in mans power and authority, the same head, to change, and to degrade as the Counsel of Constance kept and used even the same trade, with the Popes, for they deposed three, and elected the fourth. I put case now, (I say) that the Pope, and the see of Rome, would grant and accept such things, which nevertheless is impossible. For he must suffer his whole dignity, state & governance to be turned and changed with all his laws and Books, Summa, he can not do it.
And I put case, that the pope woulde graunte, that he, not Iure diuino, or by the cōmaūdement of God, were superiour: but to the intēt that thereby the vnitie of the Christianite, againste sectes & heresyes, so much the better myght be entertayned, & that therfore must be a head, whereby all the reste myght take hold, and that such a head ⟨image 18⟩ought to be chosen of men, and stode, in mānes power and authorite, the same heade, to chaunge, and to degrate as the Counsayll of Constaunce kept and vsed euen the same trade, with the Popes, for they deposed thre, and elected the fourthe. I put case now, (I saye) that the Pope, and the see of Rome, woulde graunte and accepte suche thinges, which neuertheles is impossible. For he must suffre his whole dignitie, state & gouernaunce to be turned and chaunged with all his lawes and Bokes, Summa, he kan not do it.
Notwithstanding all the premisses could not help the Christianity, and there should rise many more sects than before. For seeing men should not be bound to obey such a head by the commandment of God, But of mans good will, it should very lightly and soon be despised, & at the last not be esteemed as a member. And also it must not always be at rome or in any other place. But wheresoever, and in what Church, God had given such a man as should be mete for the