John Tauler · 27 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 81.

And with poverty he cometh to the ground and foundation of humility, and then the evil spirit can do him no harm, for he cannot come to him on the ground of humility, and therefore he cannot injure him. For true humility is a firm fastness which no one can capture; men attack it indeed and seek to storm it, but it is not to be taken. So also is it with true humility; in it man cannot be overcome. The evil spirit attacks him indeed in many ways, but he cannot injure the man of true humility. But if man stands on any other ground than true humility and detachment and poverty then the evil spirit can injure him, and can cast down his house, for the foundations are not laid deep enough. But true humility hath deep foundations, on which stands firm all that is built upon them; and without humility every building must fall. Then whoso wisheth to conquer the evil spirit let him place himself on the ground of humility, where no one can do him any harm. But now true poverty is true humility, and therefore you can do no harm to a poor man. He may be helped indeed, but he cannot be injured. For all things further him to God, yea, the evil spirit himself is even of use and no injury to him, as St. Paul saith, that he wrestled with him and tempted him grievously, and the temptation placed him in true humility, as he himself said, “Strength is made perfect in weakness.”