John Tauler · 47 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 101.

Secondly, the same willing and not willing maketh a friend. As Aristotle saith, “True friends have the same willing and not willing.” Therefore whoso wisheth to be the friend of God must will what He willeth, and hate what God hateth. But what doth God will? God willeth that man should be holy. As St. Paul saith, “God’s will is our sanctification” (1 Thess. iv. 3). Man must also will this. What, then, is holiness? To be holy is to be free of the earthly; therefore he who wisheth to be holy must be emptied of all earthly things. This is the will of God, and man must also will this, if he will be a true friend (of God).