A06511:88
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…
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].
Wesel : D. van der Straten?, 1543
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.
It was impossible that ever the papists should teach & preach truly of penance / seeing they understood not •inne truly. For / as is before said / they have no right judgement or knowledge of original sin / but they teach that the natural strength of man hath ever remained perfect / pure & uncorrupt / that mans reason can teach rightly. And that his will can perfectly obey this right reason / and again that god doth surely give his grace and mercy when a man ⟨image 21⟩doth only so much as he is able to do by his own free will. Wherefore it must needs follow that they did penance & repent only for actual sins. for the corrupt affections of the hart / as lust and concupiscence are no sins with them but they repute those only for sins / which be outward & actual works springing of their free will. And of this penance they have made. 3. parts / Contrition / Confession & Satisfaction with this comfort & promise annexed thereunto that if a man should do true penance / confess himself per•g•y and make true satisfaction / than •hu•d he merit & deserve remission of his sins and make a perfect satisfaction before god for all his sins. Thus in their penance they taught men to trust in their own works. And hereupon sprang up that which they use to blow out in the pulpits as oft as they make mention of the common confession to the people saying O lord god keep & preserve my life until I have done penance for my sins and amended my life. Here is never a word of christ nor of faith but every man believeth to wipe a way and dispatch his sins before god through his own works. And for this purpose have many made them selves priests and monks that they might so resist and withstand sin.
It was impossible that euer the papistes shuld teach & preach truly of penance / seīg thei vnderstode not •inne truly. For / as is before sayd / thei haue no right iudgement or knoulege of original sinne / but thei teach that the natural strength of man hath euer remayned perfight / pure & vncorrupt / that mans reason cā teach rightly. And that his wil can perfihhtly obey this right reason / ād again that god doth surely gyue his grace and mercy whan a man ⟨image 21⟩