John Tauler · 60 of 121

Secondly, of the work and knowledge of grace. · 114.

Secondly, the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” should be also thus understood. Where there is perfect poverty of spirit there is also poverty of body. The highest contains in itself the lower, and what the highest doeth the lower must also do. Now, if the spirit, which is the highest, is poor, then the body, which is the lower, must also be poor. Just as the servant must do what his lord biddeth, so also the body must do what the soul willeth, and not the soul what the body wishes. Therefore it was not necessary for Christ to say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit and in body,” as poverty of spirit includes poverty of body, for where there is true poverty in the mind, there must also be poverty of body. Thus poverty of spirit consisteth with perfection, which belongeth to a poor life. And whoso accepteth poverty of spirit in another sense than that spoken of here, hath it only as far as is necessary for salvation; but for the perfection of which Christ speaketh you must have poverty both of spirit and of body, and otherwise it cannot be.