John Tauler · 85 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. · 72.

Nothing bringeth man nearer to God than Buffering, and indeed for this reason, because suffering rooteth out all that is hateful and ungrateful to God in man, and thus man must remain free from all hatred and must love God. Therefore Christ saith through David: “I am with him in tribulation; I will deliver him, and glorify him; I will give him a long life, and show him My salvation.” “I am with him in suffering “meaneth that you have always God present in suffering. Nay, God cometh with suffering to man, and cannot come better to him; man is thus freed from all that is not God; he adhereth to God only, and God enlighteneth him with the light of His glory, and filleth him with everlasting blessedness, which is Himself. His suffering is like a wine-press in which grapes are pressed in wine making. If the grape is pressed, what is in it floweth from it; if it is sweet, sweet wine floweth forth, if sour, sour wine. So is it also if man is pressed by suffering, what is in him floweth from him. If he is a virtuous man, when he is seized by suffering, only divine sweetness issueth from him, which was hidden in him; it becometh manifest, so that he giveth good noble wine to drink to all men, and he can say, “Come all to me, ye that thirst, ye shall all be filled and satisfied with my own wine.” With this sweetness he now presseth into all things, he maketh them all good, and also receiveth the best. He disturbeth no man, and no man can trouble him; thus hath he then much likeness with God, if he remaineth quite immovable in his mind. Christ said also, “Blessed are they that are persecuted for justice’ sake, for they shall be called the children of God; blessed are ye when men hate you and persecute you; rejoice and be exceeding glad, for your reward shall be great in heaven.” “Blessed,” He saith, “are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake,” and this is because persecution, hatred, and contempt bring salvation to man, and whoso doth not suffer this findeth also not happiness. No man can bless himself; if he is to be blessed, he must be holpen to this; this help rather than his works saveth him. Therefore also Jesus said, “Rejoice in the days of adversity, for your reward is great in heaven,” that is, such a reward will be given to man as he could not have merited by his works. Therefore let no man be sorrowful in suffering, for it taketh away all sorrow, and procureth all peace. Good people are the most cheerful, because they have most sufferings, and the pressing winepress causeth the hidden joy to overflow. That is indeed a noble life, when man alway rejoiceth and is never thoroughly sorrowful.