John Tauler · 117 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. · 104.

If such a man really committeth a sin from forgetfulness, and perceiveth it, he suffereth pain again more than another who were to commit a venial sin: for this reason, because he who hath tasted sweetness is more disgusted at bitterness than he who hath not yet tasted the former. So is it also with the men who love God; all things are bitter to them on account of the great sweetness of the Holy Ghost; what to another man is joyful is to such a man painful; nothing is dearer to him than to love God in the most perfect manner. Moreover, all is bitter to a good man; but this bitterness leadeth to purity and greater love, and God inflicts on many good men that they falter, in order to be brought to greater purity, and to love Him the more earnestly. Paul saith, “Where sin abounds there doth grace abound.” Paul also saith, “All turneth to good to them that love God.” For whoso loveth another giveth him the best. God loveth them who love Him, therefore giveth He to them always the best. If now such a man fall into a sin, this doth not come to pass through what is best, as though sin were a good, but it showeth to man his weakness, and bringeth him to humility; nor is this because sin enlighteneth man to self-knowledge; it is the cause that what is hidden should be made known. The light enlighteneth the darkness of sins, and thus then man attaineth unto the knowledge of his weakness, submits himself humbly to God, and to men for the sake of God. In this humility he standeth secure against falling, which would have brought him scathe. This is occasioned by the love of the Holy Ghost; through this all his defects are shown to man, it boweth him down before God, and guardeth him from sins. Thus, then, must man suffer and endure all if he wisheth to attain unto a God-seeing, poor life.