John Tauler · 23 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 77.

First, he adviseth sins. That is, if a man finds himself inclined to bodily pleasure, he presenteth to his mind the sin with great sweetness and voluptuousness, so that the man thinketh that great delight and joy lie in the sin. And the body is inclined to luxury, and if the spirit inclineth to the body and the body to luxury, the man cometh to his fall and falleth into mortal sin; but if the spirit turneth from the body and the body remaineth in its inclination, and yet the spirit will not concede it to do any deadly sin, then the evil spirit counselleth the man to great venial sins, and thus he falleth into daily venial sins. But if it come to pass that the spirit of a man turneth from the body and the body wisheth to follow the spirit and do no sin, either mortal or venial, then the evil spirit attacketh the man in his belief; and thus it must happen that a man should have fighting and spiritual combat.