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The creatures of this sensible world signify the invisible things of

God [Rom., 1, 20], partly because God is of all creation the origin,

exemplar, and end, and because every effect is the sign of its cause, the

exemplification of the exemplar, and the way to the end to which it leads;

partly from its proper representation; partly from prophetic prefiguration;

partly from angelic operation; partly from further ordination. For every

creature is by nature a sort of picture and likeness of that eternal

wisdom, but especially that which in the book of Scripture is elevated by

the spirit of prophecy to the prefiguration of spiritual things. But more

does the eternal wisdom appear in those creatures in whose likeness God

wished to appear in angelic ministry. And most specially does it appear in

those which He wished to institute for the purpose of signifying which are

not only signs according to their common name but also Sacraments.