John Tauler · 55 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 109.

Secondly, the giving away of temporal things is useful, as Christ Himself hath taught it with the words, “Give alms, and behold all things are pure to you” (Luke xi. 41). A man may have made himself impure in manifold ways by the use of temporal things. If, now, he wish to purify himself from them, this must take place by his denying himself temporal things. Through the lack of temporal things the wounds are healed which man hath inflicted on himself by the possession of them; as a teacher saith, “I know nothing more useful to heal the wounds of the sinner than that the man should give alms out of love.” It is also a commandment that a man should help another in his necessity, wherefore Jesus also said, “All that ye wish that others should do to you, that do ye to another, that the old and new covenant may be fulfilled” (Matt. vii. 12).