44. Divine love and wisdom are substance and form in and of themselves, and are therefore wholly "itself" and unique. I have just given evidence that divine love and wisdom is substance and form, and I have also said that the divine reality and its manifestation is reality and manifestation in and of itself. We cannot say that it is reality and manifestation derived from itself, because that would involve a beginning, a beginning from something else that had within it some intrinsic reality and manifestation; while true reality and its manifestation in and of itself exists from eternity. Then too, true reality and manifestation in and of itself is uncreated; and nothing that has been created can exist except from something uncreated. What is created is also finite; and what is finite can arise only from what is infinite.

358. PART FIVE

The Lord created and formed in mankind two recipient vessels and abodes for Himself, called will and intellect, the will for His Divine love, and the intellect for His Divine wisdom. We have discussed the Divine love and Divine wisdom of God the Creator, who is the Lord from eternity. We have discussed as well the creation of the universe. Now we must say something about the creation of mankind.

We read that man was created in the image of God, according to His likeness (Genesis 1:26). By the image of God there is meant His Divine wisdom, and by the likeness of God His Divine love. For wisdom is nothing else than the image of love, since love presents itself to be seen and recognized in wisdom; and because it is seen and recognized in wisdom, wisdom is an image of it. Love is moreover the essence of life, and wisdom the expression of life springing from it.

A likeness and image of God is clearly apparent in angels, for love shines from within in their faces, and wisdom in their beauty, beauty being the outward expression of their love. I have seen it and recognized it.