#1812-To M. Oswald Losan in Leipzig

To M. Oswald Losan Leipzig on both forms in the Sacrament.
If the conscience is confident that both forms in the Sacrament is the institution of Christ it does not lie in the arbitrary choice of men to alter according to their preference and open to their freedom: if it is not the order to use both forms, then it is better to refrain entirely (from the Sacrament) than against conscience and the institution of Christ make an alteration of that form delivered by God and to use only one form. If one refrains entirely that can be done without sin because it is not practiced so by us but forcibly robbed from us who are to administer it. Here also the third question may be answered: that Augustine says concerning the spiritual nourishment: Believing, thus you have partaken because the pastor is not permitted to rob one of the bodily eathing in a tyrannical way or to push it with force. There is, of necessity, no other choice than the spiitual eating.
Secondly, one must guard against receiving the Sacrament privately or secretly because of many disadvantages and dangers and also because of the institution of Christ who wills the Sacrament to be a public confession in that He says: "Do this in remembrance of me ", that is, for preaching and proclamation as Paul (1 Cor.11:26) calls it. Rightly one might refrain altogether therefore.
Thirdly, if several are communing elsewhere under both forms they are obligated if they are questioned afterward to confess; although it is not necessary(?), that if you are refused in your home parish that you receive it in another parish where you are not a member but rather it is satisfactory to suffer the tyranny in your own parish and to be silent or, once in awhile, to travel elsewhere until you are questioned about your belief. Anno 1531. Martin Luther,D.