John Tauler · 119 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. · 106.

To this end man must turn himself away from all outward exercise, and exercise himself inwardly; for all outward exercise goeth over to en azures, all inward to God. Whoso therefore wisheth to find God must enter into himself, and seek Him within. Whoso seeketh God without may indeed find Him with creatures, but in this lieth not true blessedness; but if he seeketh God in himself, he findeth Him apart from all creatures, in His pure, simple essence, and in this lieth true blessedness. St. Austin saith: “Lord, when I knew Thee first, I knew that Thou art a good that hath entered into all creatures; and I gave myself up to the service of all created things, in order to find Thee in them, but so long as the seeking lasted my heart was alway in unrest. But, when I knew Thee better, I knew that Thou art a good that is without all creatures; I took myself apart from them, in order to find Thee alone outside all creatures. Then was my heart quiet; for it is disquieted save if it rest in Thee, for Thou hast created us solely for Thyself.”