John Tauler · 82 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. · 69.

But no one is worthy of suffering except he who suffereth in the highest degree of divine love; he who hath not this is also not worthy. God letteth sinners suffer little upon earth; on the other hand, good men must suffer much, and if- any one is wise, he accepteth suffering more joyfully than if he received all the riches of the earth; for temporal good robbeth man of everlasting happiness if he tarries in it with joy. But temporal good giveth him suffering if he suffereth from love; he is also a fool who leaveth the good and chooseth the evil. Yet many fools are found on earth who desire and seek temporal good, but flee sufferings, therefore they are the wisest before the world and the most foolish before God. If God were to give sufferings to worldly-minded men, but temporal good to good men, He would act like one who were to kill his friend but would keep his foes alive, and give them, moreover, what they desired. Nothing bringeth more life into the soul than suffering. It rooteth out all that bringeth death to the soul, and when the deathly is thus removed, nothing more remaineth than life. Thus the most severe suffering begetteth the greatest joy, as joy springeth from suffering.