John Tauler · 112 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. · 99.

Thirdly, man is guarded from venial sins when his will is entirely united to the divine will, and when the reason heareth always God’s will in all things, and liveth according to it. By this giving up of one’s own will man is capable of receiving all divine gifts; he is strengthened thereby to be able to resist everything that is not God. God only dowereth His will in us, and what is not His will is also not able to receive any gift. If the will of God liveth entirely in him, and if he have entirely given up his own will, he is able to receive all gifts; what he asketh God will he also receive. If he asketh that God may shield him from all sins against His holiest will, this taketh place, but if he still fall into a fault, this happens according to the will of God, not, however, as if the will of God consented to faults, but God inflicteth it on him, that man may learn to know his weakness, and may be put down in true humility, through which alone he can keep his footing against every fall. It is very hurtful if a man findeth his will without God’s will, and holdeth himself to be somebody with much complacency. That this complacency may be killed out, and man come to the knowledge of his own weakness, God suffereth even a good man to fall, that he may be guarded from a greater fall. If now man is entirely dead to his own will, God becometh his life; not he liveth any more, but God liveth in him, and guardeth him from deadly falls.