A06491:80
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.
But the Pope will not suffer to believe, but saith, men ought to obey him, and so doing, they should be saved. Howe be it, This will we not do, but rather dye therefore in the name of god. This cometh all thereby, that he Jure divino would be called the superior over the Christen Church. Therefore hath he made him self equal with Christ, & hath set him self above Christ, as the head. After that a Lord of the Church, and last of all hath suffered him self to be boasted Lord of all the world, and even a GOD in earth. In so much, that he presumed also to command the Angels in heaven.
But the Pope wyl not suffer to beleue, but sayth, mē ought to obey him, and so doynge, they shoulde be saued. Howe be it, Thys wyl we not do, but rather dye therfore in the name of god. Thys cometh al thereby, that he Iure diuino would be called the superiour ouer the Christen Church. Therfore hath he made him self equal with Christ, & hath set him self aboue Christe, as the head. After that a Lorde of the Churche, and laste of all hath suffred hym selfe to be boasted Lorde of all the worlde, and euen a GOD in earth. In so much, that he presumed also to cōmaunde the Angels in heauē.
1And when a distinction is made between the Papistical doctrine, & the holy scripture, or an equal comparison it appeareth evidently, that the popish doctrine, even where as it is best, is ⟨image 19⟩taken out of the civil and Heathen laws, and teacheth worldly busyness and judgements, 2as his decrees declare. After that doth she teach ceremonies of Churches, raiment, meats, Persons, and of such children games, visors, and fowls babels innumerable. But in all these not one word of Christ, faith, and God's commandments.
1And whan a distinction is made betwene the Papisticall doctryne, & the holy scripture, or an egal comparyson it apereth euidently, that the popyshe doctryne, euen where as it is beste, is