Every operation in the universe progresses from its aim through its cause to its effect. These three are essentially indivisible, although it may seem possible to have a concept of them divided. Yet in this the aim is nothing without a view of the effect aimed at, nor are either of these anything unless there is a cause to support, look ahead to and form a link between them.

[2] Every person has a progress of this kind imprinted on him both in general and in every detail; this is exactly like will, intellect and action. In this case every aim is a matter of willing, every cause is a matter of understanding, and every effect is a matter of acting. Likewise every aim is a matter of love, every efficient cause a matter of wisdom, and every effect resulting from it is a matter of purpose. The reason is that the will is a receiver of love, the intellect of wisdom, and action of purpose. So since a person's operations in general and in detail progress from the will through the intellect into action, so too do they progress from love through wisdom to purpose. Wisdom however here means everything relating to judgment and thought. It is obvious that all three make one in the effect. They also make one notionally before the effect is realised, as can be grasped from the fact that nothing but the resolution intervenes. For in the mind the aim starts from the will, and produces a cause in the intellect, and sets an intention before itself; and an intention is like an act before it is realised. That is why a wise man, and also the Lord, treats an intention as an act.

[3] Can any rational being fail to see, or acknowledge on hearing, that those three come from some prime cause, and that this cause is that love, wisdom and purpose continually emanate from the Lord, the Creator and Preserver of the universe, and that these three do so as one? Tell me, if you can, where else would they come from?