The last will and last confession of martin Luther's faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…The last wil and last confession of martyn luthers faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…

Name: The last will and last confession of martin Luther's faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…
Author: Martin Luther

The last will and last confession of martin Luther's faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal articles of religion which are in controversy, which he will defend & may[n]teine until his death, against the pope and the gates of hell draw[n] forth by him at the request of the princes of germany which have reformed their [sic] churches after the gospel, to be offered up at the next general council in all their names & now published before that all the world may have an evident testimony of his faith if it shall fortune him to dye before there be any such cou[n]cel, tra[n]slated out of latin beware of the pope & of his false prophets and bishops for they will come in sheep's clothing and in angels faces but yet inwardly they are ravening wolves [sic].The last wil and last confession of martyn luthers faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal articles of religion which are in controuersy, which he wil defend & mai[n]teine vntil his death, agaynst the pope and the gates of hell drawe[n] furth by him at the request of the princes of germany which haue reformed theier [sic] churches after the gospel, to be offred vp at the next general councel in all their names & now published before that all the world may haue an euydent testimony of his faith if it shal fortune him to dye before there be any such cou[n]cel, tra[n]slated out of latyn beware of the pope & of his false prophetes and bissopes for thei wil come in shepys clothing and in angels facys but yet inwardly thei are ravening wolnys [sic].

Martin Luther 1483–1546Wesel : D. van der Straten?, 1543

[64] p. · 16k words · STC 16984 · ESTC S104350

Title page typeset from the transcription.

The third part of the articles. › Of confession or absolutionThe third part of the articles. › Of confessyon or absolucyon

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.

[ Earlier:110–123 of 131

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Of confession or absolution

Of confessyon or absolucyon

:111img 29

For as much as absolution / or the pour of the keys institute or ordained in the gospel by christ doth bring great comfort to weak consciences against sin / it ought not to be utterly banished out of the church for .ij. causes specially. First for comforting of feeble / fera•ul & weak consciences. Secondarily that wild & reckless youth might be examined / exercised & instruct in the doctrine & knowledge of christ. But as for the numbering up of sins ought to be in every mans liberty to number & tell only such as he will him self without any manner of compulsion. For as long as we remain in this flesh / we shall not lye at all if every one of us say thus: I am a wretched and a miserable creature full of sins & as .S. Paul saith / Roma vij. I feel another law in my flesh & members rebelling against the law of my mind &c. And for as much as private absolution cometh from the pour of the keys / it ought not to be contemned but to be much regarded as all other offices pertaining to the christen church ought to be. And in such things as pertain to the outward word / it must be constantly holden & believed that god giveth his spirit or grace to no man except the outward word either come between or else goo before. This must be believed / less we •all in to the errors of thorite of god by a certain inward inspiration without the word also before they ever they hard of the word: and fret ⟨image 29⟩after ward up on this persuasion they will take up on them to judge / interpret / wrest & writhe the scripture at their own pleasure / as one Monetarius did / & I fear there be many at this time that do likewise / which would be quick & earnest judges between the spirit & the letter / & yet they know not what to say nor what to teach. & the papistry is even nothing else than drowned in this heresy & possessed with this spirit: for the pope boasteth himself to have all manner of laws in his own bosom & even under his girdle / & that what so ever he with his church doth judge / determine & command that must needs be of the holy ghost / & just or lawful / although it be clean contrary to the scripture or to the outward word.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

The last will and last confession of martin Luther's faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…The last wil and last confession of martyn luthers faith co[n]cerming [sic] the [principal…

Of confession or absolution

Of confessyon or absolucyon

Of Excommunication

Of Excōmunicacyon

Of giving of orders & of the calling of ministers

Of geuīg of ordres & of the callīg of ministers

Of the marriage of priests

Of the mariage of pristes

Of the church.

How we are justified & saved before god & of good works

How we are iustified & saued before god & of good wockes

The author

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Of confession or absolution

Of confessyon or absolucyon

Of Excommunication

Of Excōmunicacyon

Of giving of orders & of the calling of ministers

Of geuīg of ordres & of the callīg of ministers

Of the marriage of priests

Of the mariage of pristes

Of the church.

How we are justified & saved before god & of good works

How we are iustified & saued before god & of good wockes

The author

Transcription key