I.

THE LETTER ALEPH.

1. The first letter is called "Aleph," the interpretation of which is "doctrine." You, therefore, as a solicitous auditor, must assume that the verses which follow are full of doctrine.
2. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart. How beautiful is the order, how full of doctrine and grace! He did not say first: they that search his testimonies—for that could have been appropriate according to the letter—but first: blessed are the undefiled in the way. For life must be sought before doctrine. For a good life even without doctrine has grace, but doctrine without life does not have integrity; for wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul. And therefore he says: They will seek me and will not find me, because the eye of the mind is blinded by wickedness, and with iniquity clouding it, it cannot find the deep mysteries. Therefore, the warfare of life must first be exercised, and morals must be corrected. When we have established these things for the due course, so that there may be a correction of offense and the grace of purity, then let us come to the studies of acquiring knowledge in their own order and way. Therefore, the first things are moral, the second are mystical. In the former is life, in the latter is cognition, so that, if you seek perfection, there should be neither life without cognition nor cognition without life, but each should support the other. And therefore Scripture says: Sow for yourselves unto justice, reap for the fruit of life, enlighten for yourselves the light of knowledge.