John Tauler · 111 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. · 98.

Further, the second way to be preserved from venial sins is, that the lower powers be always subordinate to the higher powers; this keepeth man in his original justice, as Adam was. He fell by the lower powers turning away from the higher. This happeneth still to-day. When man turneth to sensuality without hearkening to the higher powers he falleth. But if he exerciseth an external work, while he listeneth to his reason, he doth not fall, nor doth his work bear the name of sinful. Though it is brought about by the senses, yet the reason hath more part in it than the senses. Therefore it is called a reasonable work, and is a virtue. Let him who doth not wish to fall look with every work, whether internal or external, to his higher reason, then his work becometh a virtue, and is more divine than human. Man’s works are sensual when blindly brought about without the reason. Through these man falleth, and these man ought not to have. Therefore is it also said: “It is right that a man be free of all work, namely, of sensual works, which are sinful.” Such works are man’s proper own, but virtuous works are called God’s works. God is alone the source of all good, therefore whatever good must be worked must spring from Him and end in Him. If the senses stand under the highest powers, and thus stand under God, they can obtain divine power to resist all defects.