of man is the cause of the life of the body, so the world is
in the condition of the body, and man is in the condition of the spirit.
If there were no man, the perfections of the spirit would not appear, and
the light of the mind would not be resplendent in this world. This world
would be like a body without a soul.

This world is also in the condition of a fruit-tree, and man is like the
fruit; without fruit the tree would be useless.

Moreover, these members, these elements, this composition, which are found
in the organism of man, are an attraction and magnet for the spirit; it is
certain that the spirit will appear in it. So, a mirror which is clear
will certainly attract the rays of the sun. It will become luminous, and
wonderful images will appear in it. That is to say, when these existing
elements are gathered together according to the natural order, and with
perfect strength, they become a magnet for the spirit, and the spirit will
become manifest in them with all its perfections.

Under these conditions it cannot be said "what is the necessity for the
rays of the sun to descend upon the mirror?"--for the connection which
exists between the reality of things, whether they be spiritual or
material, requires that when the mirror is clear and faces the sun, the
light of the sun must become apparent in it. In the same way, when the
elements are arranged and combined in the most glorious system,
organization and manner, the human spirit will appear and be manifest in
them. This is the decree of the Powerful, the Wise.

MAN'S RELATION TO GOD

The connection between God and the creatures is that of the creator to the
creation; it is like the connection between the sun and the dark bodies of
contingent beings, and is the connection between the maker and the things
that he has made. The sun in its own essence is independent of the bodies
which it lights; for its light is in itself, and is free and independent
of the terrestrial globe; so the earth is under the influence of the sun
and receives its light, whereas the sun and its rays are entirely
independent of the earth. But if there were no sun, the earth and all
earthly beings could not exist.

The dependence through the creatures upon God is a dependence of
emanation: that is to say, creatures emanate from God, they do not
manifest Him. The relation is that of emanation and not that of
manifestation. The light of the sun emanates from the sun, it does no