Luther answers the question whether the clergyman has to communicate and exhorts him to patience.
Letters from the year 1541. no. 2809. 2810. 2811.
Manuscript in Aurifaber, vol. III, p. 394 and in Cod. Goth. 4 From the Wernsdorf Collection at Wittenberg in Schütze, Vol. I, p. 154 and in De Wette, Vol. V, p. 379.
Your excellent man, Mr. Hieronymus Weller, Doctor of Theology, servant of Christ at Freiberg, his exceedingly dear brother in your Lord.
Grace and peace! Concerning the question put to me, my dear Jerome, this is my opinion: in this matter one must follow clearly what is fair and good, that the preachers are free not to 1) communicate if they do not feel inclined; again, so that they do not make a law out of this freedom, they should sometimes communicate in order not to give the church any trouble. Thus, since both are done, there will be no offense on either side, in that the latter cannot demand that they communicate, and the latter cannot claim that freedom is a cloak of security and contempt. So much about public communion. For I know nothing of the private communion of your church. But I believe that this is understood in such a way that he who performs a public service in the so-called mass should certainly communicate with it. For I have understood your question about the co-administering deacons.
About your circumstances (statu) I grieve with you that a success is so difficult. But this is the way of Satan, who hinders everything badly, and in all things, until he is trampled under the feet of the Son of God. Therefore, we need patience, so that by doing the will of God, we may receive the promise in return. Hereby commanded to God. Fare well in the Lord. Monday after the Visitation [of Mary] [July 4] 1541.
Your Martin Luther.
No. 2810.