John Tauler · 44 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 98.

Lastly, the fourth spirit that speaketh in man is .the Divine Spirit, and its speech is nothing else than a real revelation of divine truth. By it man is raised out of sensuality above all images and forces, and attaineth unto the divine essence. Now, the spirit knoweth its nobility, and its nobility is now compassed around with the godlike. By this entrance the spirit is united with the Divine Spirit, as St. Paul saith, “Whoso cleaveth to God becometh one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. vi. 17). But this cleaving is nothing else than that the spirit goeth out of itself, out of time, and entereth into a pure nothingness. And that which is and forms his being is the divine, likeness, which abideth in man and can never be destroyed. This likeness God taketh and uniteth it with Himself, and thus the spirit of man becometh one spirit with God according to the divine likeness. Man’s spirit is also one spirit with God, when he worketh and bringeth forth all in essence that God worketh. But what doth God work and beget? God hath begotten all things out of love, and because God begat them were they also good. Thus also the spirit ought to work all things from pure love, and what it thus produceth is also good and is the work of God. In the divine love all things are good, as St. Augustine saith, “Have divine charity, and do all things.”