CHAPTER VI

OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The second coming of Christ our Bridegroom takes
place every day within good men ; often and many
times, with new graces and gifts, in all those who
make themselves ready for it, each according to his
power. We would not speak here of a man's first
conversion, nor of the first grace which was given to
him when he turned from sin to the virtues. But
we would speak of an increase of new gifts and new
virtues from day to daj', and of the present coming
of Christ our Bridegroom which takes place daily
within our souls.
Now we must consider the wli}' and the wherefore,
the way and the working of this coming. Its where-
fore is fourfold : God's mercy and our destitution,
God's generosity and our desire. These four things
cause the growth of virtue and of nobleness.
B



1 8 John of Ruysbroeck

Now understand this : when the sun sends its
beams and its radiance into a deep valley between
two high mountains, and, standing in the zenith, can
yet shine upon the bottom and ground of the valley,
then three things happen : the valley becomes full
of light by reflection from the mountains, and it
receives more heat, and becomes more fruitful, than
the plain and level country. And so likewise, when
a good man takes his stand upon his own littleness,
in the most lowly part of himself, and confesses and
knows that he has nothing, and is nothing, and can
nothing, of himself, neither stand still nor go on,
and when he sees how often he fails in virtues and
good works : then he confesses his poverty and his
helplessness, then he makes a valley of humility.
