John Tauler · 43 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 97.

Some one might here say, “A man truly poor in spirit is raised above all creatures in God, whether they be angels, or whatever creatures they may be. If now a man be raised above them, he is then also raised above their images; how can he then abide by the images of the angel or of another creature?” To this I make answer, that the elevation of a poor man is to be taken according to the highest forces of the soul, according to the likeness of God, which is stamped upon the soul. Thereby is the poor man raised above all creatures and their images, whatever the creatures may be. But according to his lowest powers, man must have images, to the end that he may order things according to measure. These images must be angelic, in order that he be able to accomplish all things orderly. When it is said that man must be emptied of all images, this is to be understood according to the highest power of his spirit; but this cannot be in the lowest powers of the soul; these must have either good or bad images. And if a man wisheth to practise his work in images, after the likeness of the angelic, that is, in entire abandonment, the work is then perfect and ordered as the best. But if man accomplishes the work so that he is truly emptied of all personality in all works, he must also be free from this image, whether it be angelic or natural, and must leave God alone to work without any images. God worketh not in images, but in essence, therefore He also must be free from nil images.