TWO RECEPTACLES AND DWELLINGS OF HIS OWN, CALLED WILL AND UNDERSTANDING, HAVE BEEN CREATED AND FORMED BY THE LORD IN MAN; THE WILL FOR HIS DIVINE LOVE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING FOR HIS DIVINE WISDOM

The Divine Love and Wisdom of God the Creator, Who is the Lord from eternity, and the creation of the universe, have been treated of, something shall now be said of the creation of man. We read that man was created in the image of God after His likeness (Gen. I 26). By "the image of God" is there meant the Divine Wisdom, and by "the likeness of God" the Divine Love; for wisdom is nothing else than an image of love, since love shows itself in order to be seen and recognized in wisdom; and because it is there seen and recognized, wisdom is its image. Moreover love is the Esse of life, and Wisdom is the Existere of life therefrom. The likeness and image of God appear clearly in angels, for love from within shines forth in their faces, and wisdom in their beauty; and beauty is the form of their love. I have seen and perceived it.