John Tauler · 113 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. · 100.

Fourthly, a man is guarded from venial sins when he always employeth the proper measure in all things; whoso always observeth the proper measure in his words and works will not fail. For faults and sins come from this, that you take too much or too little, and through too much or too little arise faults. He who doeth that which he ought to do, and omitteth what he ought to omit, to him God is alway present, and God is always in the midst. Of this also the Gospel speaketh: “Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples.” Jesus, that is salvation, stood in the midst of His disciples, that is the disciples reconciled by grace, received their salvation from the midst of the Godhead. Whoso were to have such order, that he would always take the medium or the right measure in all his words and works, would always find God. Yet it is said, we must draw near to God with mediation? This drawing nigh to and finding God is twofold. One lieth in the creature and in its works, here God is found in mediation, for God is in the midst of all creatures, and whosoever cometh there with his works findeth God. The other finding is that of God only, apart from all creatures in His simple being. But he only findeth God thus, who is the man freed from all creatures and their works. But if man busieth himself with creatures and their works, in creation, he must keep measure in the midst, and arriveth thus at God through God. He must observe this, if he wisheth to be freed from defects and to find God outside all things.