Wittenberg.To Martin Bucer,Preacher in Strassburg - Martin Luther

WITTENBERG. TO MARTIN BUCER, PREACHER IN STRASSBURG Concerning the Lord’s Supper.

January 22, 1531.

Grace and peace in Christ! We read your confession of faith, and highly approve of it, and thank God that we are so far at least agreed that the body and blood are really in the Lord’s Supper, and given as food to the soul. But why maintain that Zwingli and OEcolampadius are of the same opinion?

If we say that Christ’s body is really offered as food to the soul, and that it is no contradiction to assert He is as much offered to a Christless soul, although it cannot at once perceive it, even as the sunlight illuminates the eyes of the blind as well as of those who see, I wonder you should be loath to admit that we outwardly put the body into the mouths of the godless as well as of the pious. For admitting that all are allowed to partake of it, then it cannot be denied that the body is present in several places at once. If this opinion does not yet prevail among you, then the negotiations must be stopped,

awaiting further enlightenment from God. I cannot recede from this position, and if you do not feel that this idea lies in Christ’s words, then how can there be an enduring union between us unless I am

willing to sow the seeds of still greater dissensions in our congregations, thus causing a split which will prevent any unanimity. Therefore, I beseech you, let us not ratify such a false agreement, which will cause all manner of offences, but leave the matter to God, and seek meantime to maintain this understanding that both parties admit that the body of Christ is really present in the sacrament, and partaken of inwardly by believers. For were we to do more than this, your people who partake of the sacrament with us, and ours who do so with you, would necessarily receive it in opposition to what they believe, thus betraying the faith of those who do not know of the compact, or be guilty of open sacrilege towards them who are aware of it, and whether this would be to edification or Christ-like you know yourself. So let us be satisfied with this empty union, rather than a closer one, which would end in a more tragic separation, and produce all kinds of disturbance. Would that I could convince you of what I told you in Coburg, that I desire greatly to heal this rupture, even should it cost three lives, for unanimity is necessary for us, and our dissensions have injured the gospel, so that I believe all the gates of hell, the papacy, and the Turk, along with the world and the flesh, could not do us so much

harm if we were only of one mind. Were it possible, how gladly would I give my hand towards this end! I expected great things from the Coburg discussions, but my hopes have not yet been fulfilled. May the Lord Jesus enlighten and draw us together through a real union! I pray for this. I commit you to God. MARTIN LUTHER . WITTENBERG. (Schutze.)