152. In an earlier paragraph [150] it was shown that the salvation of men and their everlasting life are the Lord's first and last ends in view. Since the first and last ends contain within them the intermediate ends, it follows that the spiritual benefits described above are at the same time in the Lord, and in people by the Lord's gift, but they still come forth one after the other. For the human mind grows as the body does, but the one grows in size, the other in wisdom. The mind too is lifted from one level to another, from the natural to the spiritual, and from this to the celestial. At this level a person is wise, at the spiritual intelligent, at the lowest level knowledgeable. But this lifting of the mind happens only from time to time, as a person acquires truths and links them to good. This is like building a house: first of all one buys the materials for it, such as bricks, tiles, planks and beams, and then one lays the foundations, builds the walls, partitions the interior to make rooms, provides them with doorways, puts windows in the walls and constructs stairs from one floor to the next. All of these things are at the same time contained in the end in view, which is the comfortable and dignified dwelling which the builder foresees and provides. It is similar when a church is being built; all the details of its construction are contained in the end, which is the worship of God. It is the same with all other plans, for instance for gardens and farms, as well as official positions or businesses; the end in view equips itself with the supports necessary to its accomplishment.