John Tauler · 100 of 121

The third way of a poor, perfect life, when you contemplate God internally, is, that a man do not fly from what may kill him in spiritual things. · 87

The light of faith is above all understanding; a man requireth no reason with faith, for he is raised above it. Men without understanding believe truly; God giveth them therefore the same reward as to the awakened. Is it, therefore, not necessary to understand to believe because faith is simple? Understanding is twofold; one is required for faith, the other is faith itself. The first is that a man should understand the articles of faith and the teachings of Christ. Whosoever knoweth the teaching and liveth according to it, in him the fruit of the doctrine is revealed by which he will be known, because the tree is known by its fruit; if the man cometh to understanding, then he at once beginneth to believe, and it is certain that the faith is true. But the men who have not lived according to the doctrines of our Lord, also do not know the fruits of His teachings, and they also therefore do not know whether they believe rightly or wrongly. They believe only from hearsay, therefore their faith is not complete, and they can easily err. As now their faith is incomplete, so also is their love. The second understanding which perfect men have is united with faith (is one); when a man acteth on the doctrines of Christ in life, bringing all things into one, and this one into unity of knowledge in the light of faith, that is God, and where faith springs from faith, he penetrates into the hidden darkness of the pure divinity. His understanding consisteth then in suffering, but his faith is working with God. But this faith in God worketh on the understanding with burning love, this love feeleth it, and this feeling is its understanding; what is beyond it is true faith. Then the man is a true Christian, but not before. Who then, therefore, is not led forward by the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and by all virtue, until he without any distinction is brought to this oneness, he cannot have real faith; his faith is of course manifold, but it is not true; therefore also his love, which springs from it, is not right