John Tauler · 26 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 80.

If now man hath been warned by God, so that it is given to him to know that the image is false, he then turneth away and perceiveth what is best and cleaveth to it. And thus when the man stands in perfection, so that he taketh all to be good that God willeth to have from him, then the evil one cometh again and works up pride in him, and makes the man think that all other men err and go astray, and that he alone liveth to the truth and understands it. If now man should resist this and overcome the evil one, and perceive what he is in himself, and that he is capable of nothing good without God, then he giveth to God the honour, and maketh himself poor, or empty of all truth.