A06491:9
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.
Preface of D. Marten Luther.
These Articles have I compiled, & for our part delivered up. Which also are received of ours and uniformly confessed, and concluded.
THese Articles haue I compyled, & for oure parte delyuered vp. Which also are receyued of oures and vnyformely confessed, and concluded.
That they should (if the Pope with his adherents, would ones be so hardy, without lying and dissimulation, with earnest and trueth, to keep an unfeigned free counsel, according to his duty) be openly delivered up, and the confession of our faith declared. But for as much as the Romish court so terribly feareth a general Counsel, and so shamefully abhorreth the light, that also they, which be of his own side, are put to despair, as though he would never abide a free Counsel, much less keep it himself. Whereon, as reason requireth, ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 3⟩[…] ⟨image 4⟩they take occasion to be offended, & moved to no small encumbrance thereover. As they that there by perceive right well, that the Pope would rather see, the hole Christianity caste away, and all souls damned, than he would suffer him self, or his, to be reformed, and a measure to be set unto his Tyranny.
That they shoulde (yf the Pope with hys adherentes, woulde ones be so hardy, withoute lyeng and dissimulation, with earneste and trueth, to kepe an vnfayned free counsayll, accordyng to hys duetye) be openly delyuered vp, and the confession of our faith declared. But for as much as the Romyshe courte so terribly feareth a generall Counsayll, and so shamefully abhorreth the light, that also thei, whithe be of hys own syde, are put to dispayre, as though he woulde neuer abyde a free Counsayll, moche lesse kepe it hymself. Whereon, as reason requyreth,