167. The end in creation finds expression in the lasts of it, which is for everything to return to the Creator and conjunction take place. We must first say something about ends. There are in everything three ingredients which follow in order, called the first end, the intermediate end, and the last end, and called also end, cause, and effect. These three ingredients must exist concurrently in everything for it to be anything; for a first end without an intermediate end and at the same time a last end does not occur, or to say the same thing, an end without a cause and effect does not occur. By the same token, neither does a cause occur alone without an end producing it and without an effect containing it. So, too, neither does an effect occur alone, or an effect without a cause and its accompanying end. The fact of this can be comprehended if one considers that an end without an effect or cut off from the effect is not anything having expression, so that it is nothing but a word. For to be an end in actuality, an end must end in something, and it ends in the effect, in which for the first time it is called an end because it is the end. It appears as though an instrumental or efficient cause occurs by itself, but this is an appearance arising from the fact that it exists in the effect. But if it is cut off from the effect, it instantly disappears. It is apparent from this that these three ingredients-end, cause and effect-must exist in everything for it to be anything.