John Tauler · 40 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 94.

But how doth it come to pass that natural images are often like unto angelic images; for a man thus frequently taketh a natural to be an angelic image? The likeness is in the forms; they have both a like form in a spiritual way; they are, however, very unlike in their aim. Natural images are directed to nature, and such images hath nature since the fall of Adam; but the image of the angel is directed away from nature to God, and we have this image from Christ. Before Christ every one was thoughtful about his own selfhood (Ego), and every one wished only to possess, no one wished to be poor, all strained after riches. But when Christ came, He brought the angelic image with Himself, which we had lost since the fall of Adam. This is the true poverty, both outwardly and inwardly, in which the angelic image lieth, which Christ hath brought with Him. No one, therefore, is free from this natural image which we have from Adam, except a truly poor man, who is free both outwardly and inwardly from all temporal things, and who followeth the image of Christ by a genuine poor life. He hath the image of the angel, for he standeth in true denial of himself and of all things, therefore is he like unto the angels and not to Adam. Whosoever abideth with external accidents, he is like unto Adam, but whoso entereth with self-complacency only into himself, he is like unto Lucifer. For Lucifer sinned spiritually but Adam only bodily, therefore also his fall was greater than that of Adam. In like manner the fall of him, who refers all only to himself (his Ego), is greater than his, who cleaveth outwardly to accidents. But the men who are empty, outwardly and inwardly, are like unto Christ according to the angelic image, which Christ hath brought to us from heaven. When nature is blamed, this is because of its likeness with Adam and Lucifer, but when it is praised, this is because of its likeness with the angelic. Therefore nature itself is quite noble, and such a nature is quite adapted to a truly poor man. Thus is the distinction between natural and angelic images to be understood. Natural images are directed to the delight of nature, but the angelic lead from the delight of nature to God and virtue.