Complete Luther Library

That the enjoyment of both species in the Lord's Supper obligates in conscience.

Volume 10 from the one-column St. Louis Edition English DOCX texts, reformatted for mobile reading on Last Christian Ministries.

Source text used with permission from Back to Luther.

Volume 10

That the enjoyment of both species in the Lord's Supper obligates in conscience.

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To Martin Lodinger. Aug. 27, 1532.

To the honorable and wise Martin Lodinger of Gastein, my good friend, peace in Christ.

My dear friend! There is no counsel against violence. Since you now know that it is right to receive the sacrament whole and not half, you may not receive it half with a good conscience; it is better to abstain from it completely and meanwhile command yourself with faith and desire to the whole sacrament.

Sacrament, which means spiritual reception. But if you ever want to receive it completely in the flesh, and your authorities do not want it, you must leave the country and seek elsewhere, as Christ says: "Flee to another city, where they persecute you in one"; otherwise there is no other counsel here. Command you hereby into the grace of Christ, Amen. At Wittenberg, Tuesday after St. Bartholomew, 1532.

Doct. Mart. Luther.

2222 2 56, s.; 5S, 278. VI. main st. - B. Of the Sacrament of the Altar esp. W. X, 2734-2736. 2223