John of Ruysbroeck
excerpts
from
THE ADORNMENT
OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE
translated by
Evelyn Underhill
BOOK I THE ACTIVE LIFE
CHAPTER XIX
OF
GENEROSITY
FROM this compassion [Chapter
XVIII] springs generosity; for none can be generous in a supernatural way,
with faithfulness and goodwill towards all, save him who has a pitiful
heart—though a man may often show generosity to a particular person without
charity and without supernatural generosity.
Generosity is a liberal flowing
forth of the heart which has been touched by charity and pity. When a man
considers with compassion the sufferings and the sorrows of Christ,
therefrom springs generosity; which makes him offer to Christ, for His pains
and for His love, praise and thanks, worship and adoration, with a joyful
and humble surrender of body and soul, in time and in eternity. If a man
considers himself with compassion, and has pity on himself, and thinks upon
the good which God has done to him, and his own failings: then he must pour
himself forth into the generosity of God, taking refuge in His faithfulness
and His mercy, turning to Him with trust and with a perfect and free
intention to serve Him for evermore. And the generous man who sees the
errors and disorders of others, and their unrighteousness, beseeches and
prays God, with ardent faith, that He will let His Divine gifts flow forth,
that He will show His generosity to all men, and they may know Him and turn
to the Truth. The generous man also marks with compassion the bodily needs
of all men, and he serves, and he gives, and he lends, and he consoles
everyone, according to the needs of each, in so far as he is able, with
prudent discretion.
Because of this generosity men
are wont to practise the seven works of mercy; the rich do them by their
alms and because of their riches, the poor by their good-will and by their
hearty desire to do as the rich if they could. And thus the virtue of
generosity is made perfect.
By generosity of heart all other
virtues are increased, and all the powers of the soul are adorned; for the
generous man is always blithe in spirit and untroubled of heart, and he
flows forth with desire, and in his works of virtue, to all men in common.
Whosoever is generous, and loves not earthly goods, how poor soever he be,
he is like God: for all that he has in himself, and all that he feels, flow
forth and are given away. And in this way he has cast out the fourth mortal
sin, which is covetousness or Avarice. Of all such Christ says: BLESSED ARE
THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY in that day when they shall hear
these words: COME, YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR
YOU—because of your mercy,—FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.