Grace and peace in the LOrd! It is true, my dear Justus, what you hear that, at least, Bucer has begun to have the same opinion as we about the LOrd's Supper (Abendmahl), if the letters which he made to me and Philip are not deceptive which I could not easily believe. For the rest if the others do the same is yet uncertain: Bucer labors and works toward that there and has accomplished so much that all agree that the Body of the LOrd is truly present in the Abendmahl and is offered also in bodily presence. However, the others say that He is only offered to a believing and godly soul for nourishment; Bucer, however, agree that He is also offered to the hand of the godless and received with the mouth. His letters clearly state this.
Regarding the letters of yours and that of my uncle I cannot answer. I am flooded with letters from everywhere. I am only one alone and each individual thinks that his matters alone are which the idle Luther should take care of. Thus the messengers cannot wait for all the letters and have no compensation and also have other things to do so they expect that the letters of yours should be ready for them so they can immediately be delivered.
You may say to Georg, to Thomas and to my uncle: in time I will answer and cooperate with them."I will not" as one each and every project quickly and at the same time "deliver". Be it well you and pray for me. 1531. Martin Luther.
NOTES: Luther's uncle is Ziegler, brother of ML's mother. Georg is Georg Thomas pastor in Eisenach; Thomas is Thomas Neuenhagen, also pastor there.
No date on this but since ML has evidently received Bucer's letter of February 9 the date of beginning of Febraury by Seidemann is too early.
Eisenach, you may remember, will later be the birthplace of J.S. Bach as well as having been ML's early stomping ground with Wartburg on the hill outside.
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