DP 335-336 - Means and Methods

DP 335 [1, 3] - 336

The operation of Divine providence takes place unceasingly,
through means, out of pure mercy.
Divine providence has its means and methods.
Its means are the instruments by which
a person becomes human
and is perfected in intellect and in will.
Its methods are the ways these goals are accomplished.

The means by which a person becomes human
and is perfected in intellect
are in common parlance called truths,
which in thought become ideas,
and in the memory are called facts,
and which in themselves
are the concepts on which
the various branches of knowledge are founded.

All of these means regarded in themselves are spiritual.
But because they exist in natural embodiments,
owing to their investiture or clothing
they appear to be natural,
and some of them material.

These means are infinite in number
and infinite in their variety.
They are more or less simple or composite,
and they are more or less imperfect or perfect.

There are just as many means, too,
by which a person is formed and perfected in will,
but these in common parlance are called goods.
It is owing to these that a person possesses love,
whereas it is owing to the former that he has wisdom.
The conjunction of the two form the person,
for a person's character
is such as the nature of the conjunction.
This conjunction is what we call
the marriage of good and truth.

The methods, on the other hand,
by which Divine providence operates
upon the means and through the means
to form the person and perfect him,
are also infinite in number and infinite in their variety,
being as many as the operations
of Divine wisdom out of Divine love to save mankind.
Thus they are as many as the operations
of Divine providence in accordance with its laws,
laws which we have discussed above.

. . . these methods are most secret . . ..