Thus, when some one reminded him that he might, at least, lay up a little property for his family, he replied, “That I shall not do; for otherwise they will not trust to God or their own exertions, but to their money.” Thus he presented all his manuscripts to the printers, who were at that time also booksellers, and when they offered him 400 guilders annually for the privilege of printing and selling his books, he rejected the offer, and said, “I will not sell the grace of God. I have enough.” Only occasionally he asked for a copy of his books as a present to a friend. He charged no fee for his lectures. “It was my intention,” said he, “after I was married, to lecture for pay. But as God anticipated me, I have all my life sold no copy of my books, nor read lectures for money. And if it please God, I will carry this honor to the grave with me.” When the Elector, John the Constant, in 1529, designed to honor him with a share in a productive silver mine at Schneeberg as a compliment for his translation of the Bible, he replied, “It much better becomes me to pay the amount of my share with a _pater noster_, that the ores may continue productive and the product may be well applied.” This he confirmed soon after, (Sept. 8, 1530,) with these words, “I have never taken a penny for my translation, and never asked it.” And at another place he says, “If I did not feel such a painful concern _for his sake who died for me_, the whole world could not give me money enough to write a book or translate any portion of the Bible. _I am not willing to be rewarded by the world for my labor; the world is too poor for that!_” Melanchthon promised him 1000 guilders compensation if he would finish the translation of Æsop, begun in 1530, and dedicate it to some great personage; but Luther desired to labor exclusively for the diffusion of the Gospel, and write theological works, for which he would receive no pay. Another friend made him a present of 200 guilders, which he generously divided among poor students. When, in 1529, Bugenhagen brought him a gift of 100 guilders from a rich gentleman, he gave Melanchthon the half of it. As early as 1520, he received a bequest of 150 guilders from Dr. Heinrich Becke of Naumburg, and in 1521, a person named Marcus Schart presented him with 50 guilders, which he divided with his prior, Breisger. When the Elector, John the Steadfast, in 1542, ordered a tax to be levied to raise money to carry on the war against the Turks, and exempted Luther’s property, the latter would not consent to it, but for the sake of the example had property to the amount of 610 guilders assessed.[13] Many other similar instances of his remarkable disinterestedness, which, however, were not always worthy of imitation, might be mentioned. He was liberal and benevolent as even few rich men are, and hence it is that his children received no large inheritance from him. Thus on one occasion a very poor man applied to him for help. He had no money at