A06491:77
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.
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 ⟨image 18⟩same. O what a wild and dissolute thing should that be.
Notwitstondinge all the premisses coulde not helpe the Christianite, and there shoulde ryse many more sectes than before. For seynge mē sholde not be bounde to obey suche a heade by the commandemēt of God, But of mannes good will, it shoulde very lightely and sone be despised, & at the last not be estemed as a membre. And also it must not allwayes be at rome or in any other place. But whersoeuer, and in what Churche, God had geuen suche a man as shoulde be mete for the ⟨image 18⟩same. O what a wylde and dissolute thinge shoulde that be.
Therefore can the Church be never better governed and maintained. Than that we all live under one head Christ. And that the Bishops like in office (although they be unlike in gifts) earnestly agree and hold together, in unity of doctrine, Faith, Sacraments, Prayers, and works of love. According to the writing of S. Jerome. That the Priests of Alexandria together & in commune did govern the Churches, As the Apostles did also. And after them all Bishops in the whole Christianity, until the time that the Pope did exalt his head above all.
Therfore can the Churche be neuer better gouerned and mayntayned. Than that we all lyue vnder one heade Christe. And that the Bysshoppes lyke in office (although they be vnlyke in gyftes) earnestly agree and holde together, in vnitie of doctrine, Faythe, Sacramētes, Prayers, and workes of loue. According to the writtinge of S. Ierome. That the Priestes of Alexandria together & in cōmune did gouerne the Churches, As the Apostles did also. And after them all Bysshoppes in the whole Christianite, vntill the tyme that the Pope did exalte his heade aboue all.