172. The existence of these three-end, cause and effect-in each and all things that have been created can also be seen from the fact that all effects, which are called last ends, become anew first ends in unbroken succession extending from their origin, which is the Lord the Creator, to their last, which is the conjunction of mankind with Him. That all last ends become anew first ends is apparent from this, that there is nothing so inert and lifeless that it has in it no capability of producing an effect. Even sand emits an exhalation such that it assists in producing something further, thus in producing an effect.