16. This may be illustrated by comparison with a tree. A tree in its first origin is a seed, in which there is an endeavour to produce fruit. This endeavour, being excited by heat, first produces a root, and from it a shoot or stem with branches and leaves, and lastly fruit: and thus the endeavour to bear fruit is brought into existence. From this it is evident that the endeavour to produce fruit is continuous in the whole of the progression until it is brought into existence; for were it to cease, vegetative power would instantly perish.
The application is this. The tree is man. The endeavour to produce means is with man from the will in the understanding; the shoot or stem with branches and leaves are, with man, the means by which [the will proceeds into effect], and are called truths of faith; and the fruits, which are the ultimate effects of the endeavour in a tree to bear fruit, are in man, uses. His will manifests itself in uses [as effects]. From this it may be seen that the will to produce uses by means of the understanding is continuous in the whole progression, until it manifests itself. Respecting the will and the understanding, and their conjunction see THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE FOR THE NEW JERUSALEM No. 43.
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