John Tauler · 54 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 108.

First, man is created for time and for eternity. But time and eternity cannot be united or made one. Whoso, therefore, wisheth to possess eternity must put aside time and all temporals. Therefore it is needful that the man who holdeth many temporal things, so part with them to others for the sake of God, in order that he may not immerse himself in them, for were this the case, he would go away from the eternal; it is only by going out and away from temporal things there is an entrance into the eternal. You ought to be free also from temporal things, because very many accidents adhere to them. Therefore he who wisheth to be free from all faulty adherence must be freed from the love of temporal things. The man who is too much laden with the temporal can never arrive at true peace of heart. Time itself is fluctuating, therefore he cannot obtain peace who has an influence from time and temporal things. Further, man must be free from temporals, as the temporal hindereth man in the knowledge of the truth, and the fire of divine love is extinguished, as St. Austin saith, “These things we ought to value freely as a poison, which killeth not only the reason of man, but his soul, if he practises them and gives himself up to them.” Another teacher saith, “Just as impossible as to kindle fire in water is it for the heart of man to be enkindled with divine love in bodily delights.”