To Wolfgang Brauer, pastor at Jessen. December 30, 1536.
Grace and peace in Christ. Worthy, dear Reverend! In response to the question that your good friend in Linz, Sigmund Hangreuter, has submitted to you in writing and has requested to be sent to me, this is my answer: that you wish to inform your good lord and friend that he is not obligated to communicate in such a manner, He is not obliged to communicate himself and his household, nor is he obliged to do so, because he has neither a calling nor a command to do so, and without this, where the tyrannical church servants, who are obliged to do so, do not want to give it to him or his family, he can nevertheless be saved in his faith by the Word; It will also cause great annoyance to administer the sacrament now and then in the houses, and yet the length will not end well, and vain divisions and sects will arise, as the people are now strange and the devil nonsensical.
For the first Christians in Actorum (Acts of the Apostles) did not use the sacrament thus especially in houses, but came together; and whether they had done so
But now such an example is no longer acceptable, as now it is not acceptable that we let all goods be common, as they were then, because the gospel is now publicly spread with the sacraments. But that a householder teaches his own the word of God is right and should be so; for God has commanded that we should teach and train our children and household, and the word is commanded to every one; but the sacrament is a manifest confession and should have manifest ministers, because it is written that Christ says it should be done in remembrance of Him, that is, as St. Paul says, to proclaim the gospel. Paul says, to proclaim or preach the death of the Lord until he comes; and there also says, to come together and severely punish those who especially use the Lord's Supper for themselves; yet it is not forbidden, but commanded to every man to teach especially his house the word of God, and himself also, and yet no man baptize himself etc. For it is quite another thing to have a public office in the church and to have a
2226 SS, 91st; 83,118th VI. main st. - B. On the Sacrament of the Altar esp. W. X, 2739-2741. 2227
The father of the house over his servants, so they are not to be mixed or separated. Since there is no need or profession here, nothing should be done here out of devotion without God's certain command, for nothing good will come of it.
Such may you, my dear Mr. Pfarr Herr, give as an answer for my sake Hereby commanded by God. Amen. On St. Da vidstag. Anno 1536.
Mart. Luther.