and I have but three hundred guilders pension per annum; yet God
giveth sufficient and blesseth it.

There is in Austria a monastery which in former time was very rich,
and remained rich so long as it willingly gave to the poor; but when
it ceased in giving, then it became poor, and is so to this day. It
fell out that, not long since, a poor man came thither and desired
alms, which was denied. The poor man demanded the cause why they
refused to give for God's sake. The porter belonging to the
monastery answered and said, "We are become poor;" whereupon the
poor man said, "The cause of your poverty is this: ye have had in
this monastery two brethren; the one ye have thrust out, and the
other is gone secretly away of himself. For after the one brother,
'Give' (Date), was put out and cashiered, so hath the other brother,
'So shall be given' (Dabitur), also lost himself."

And indeed the world is bound to help the neighbour three manner of
ways-with giving, lending, and selling. But no man giveth, but
robbeth, scrapeth, and draweth all to himself; would willingly take
and steal, but give nothing; neither will any man lend but upon
usury. No man selleth but he over-reacheth his neigbbour, therefore
Dabitur is gone, and our Lord God will bless no more so richly.
Beloved, said Luther, he that intendeth to have anything, the same
must also give; a liberal hand was never in want nor empty.


That giving must be done with a free Heart, without expecting a
Requital.

In an evening, Luther, walking abroad to take the air, gave alms to