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In the third mode, the aspect of one inquiring rationally, one sees

that some things merely are; others, however, are and live; others,

finally, are, live, and discern. And the first are lesser things, the

second midway, and the third the best. Again, one sees that some are only

corporeal, others partly corporeal and partly spiritual, from which it

follows that some are entirely spiritual and are better and more worthy

than either of the others. One sees, nonetheless, that some are mutable and

corruptible, as earthly things; others mutable and incorruptible, as

celestial things, from which it follows that some are immutable and

incorruptible, as the supercelestial things.

From these visible things, therefore, one mounts to considering the power

and wisdom and goodness of God as being, living, and understanding; purely

spiritual and incorruptible and immutable.