¶ BY JOHN RUUSBROEC, priest and canon of the observance of Blessed Augustine: the first book of the Spiritual Espousals. On the adornment of the moral and active life.

¶ Three things necessary for the vision of the active life. Chapter 1.

A decorative historiated initial 'C' featuring a stag standing in a wooded landscape, framed by a border of foliage.

Christ, therefore—the power and wisdom of God original: "dei virtus et sapientia," a common title for Christ based on 1 Corinthians 1:24., the true light illuminating every person coming into this world—has, from the beginning of the human condition, inspired this adverb of pointing, "behold," original: "ecce" into human hearts for a rational vision of Himself, calling forth the creature capable of receiving Him. Therefore, a spiritual vision is necessary for us, lest we be punished with eternal blindness. For the existence of this vision, just as for bodily vision, three things are proved to be necessary.

For the perfection of bodily vision, first, light is required, illuminating the medium of vision—that is, the air. Second, the will of the viewer is required, allowing the visible image to be impressed upon their eyes. Third, the purity of the eyes is required, so that the images of material things can be impressed upon them intentionally or spiritually In medieval philosophy, "spiritually" here means the "image" or "form" of an object enters the eye without the physical matter of the object itself.. For if any of these are removed, bodily vision is removed.

In this way, for the supernatural vision through which a person is justified The Latin "iustificatur ipsius" is likely a printer's error for "iustificatur ipse" (the person is justified) or "iustificatur anima" (the soul is justified)., and from which the active life begins, three things are necessary: namely, the pouring in of the light of grace, the free turning of the will toward God—which is otherwise called the movement of free will toward God—and a pure cleansing of the conscience, which is otherwise called the movement of free will against sin.

Now, the grace of God is twofold: namely, grace freely given original: "gratia gratis data." This refers to a gift from God that does not necessarily make the receiver holy, but helps lead them or others toward salvation. or prevenient grace, and grace that makes one pleasing original: "gratia gratum faciens." Also known as sanctifying grace, which transforms the soul and makes it right with God.. Prevenient grace is offered to everyone in common, even to Jews and Gentiles. Since the Spirit of God fills the whole world, the sound of prevenient grace has gone out into all the earth... The text breaks off here at the end of the page; the full word is "prevenientis."