John Tauler · 76 of 121

The third way of a poor, perfect life, when you contemplate God internally, is, that a man do not fly from what may kill him in spiritual things. · 63.

It may now be asked if man with his virtues cannot in any way give an occasion of falling to his fellow-man. I say, where there is a true virtue, which is perfectly worked by divine love, this is no cause of falling; and whatever judgment falleth upon it is nothing else than a revelation of truth and justice. But the good work that taketh place out of fear or natural causes and natural likeness and an unprepared ground is an impure work; the greater the impurity the greater is the cause of falling to fellow-men; and whoso overthroweth his fellow-man with such works is guilty of his fall; these good works must often be left for the purpose of helping a fellow-man. Because these good works, through an improper intention, are changed into bad works, so that they are no longer good, but they are bad, and therefore they must be left; but good works that take place from right divine love are altogether pure, nor are they a cause of stumbling to our fellowmen, and therefore they are not to be left.