Chapter I
BOOK II Chapter I The first kind of contemplation consists of consideration of and wonder at visible things The first kind of contemplation is in consideration of and wonder at corporeal things with respect to all those things which enter into the soul by means of the five bodily senses. Indeed this is the lowest of all contemplations and ought to be the beginning. For those who are unlettered until now ought to begin with this, so that they may gradually rise to higher things, as it were by means of certain stages of advancement. And so, to this kind of contemplation pertains all wonder at the Creator, wonder that rises up from consideration of corporeal things and is indicated in this description of the ark by the joining together of pieces of wood. And by a sufficiently suitable distinction, those things which pertain to imagination are indicated by pieces of wood, just as those things which seem to pertain to reason are indicated no less by gold. However, it is not permissible for this ark to be made of pieces of just any wood, but only of pieces of Setim wood, which are very incorruptible.
Now, any honest and truthful investigations of things pertain to pieces of incorruptible wood. Pieces of incorruptible wood are any considerations whatsoever of things and any reconsiderations whatsoever of works that do not lead to corruption of mind and that watch over the integrity of sincerity and truth. And so in such an abundance of visible things, among so many kinds of manifestations, everyone ought to see that he chooses and takes care not to bring before the eyes of the mind anything by which he might
THE MYSTICAL ARK
pollute the purity of his heart. Therefore, he who desires to rejoice perpetually concerning internal incorruption ought to remove incitements to pleasures from the view of his consideration. He should separate from that multitude of his recollections whatever arouses avarice, whatever incites gluttony, whatever inflames luxury. Surely that one who comes to despise things of the world by means of a regard for things of the world is drawn to the world and those things in the world that are profitable in contemplation.
Hence, that great contemplator of worldly things sought and found the fruit of such contemplation, and he left a book: "Vanity of vanities," said Ecclesiastes, "vanity of vanities, and all is vanity"
(Eccles.
1:1). That one does not take up contemplation of vanity in vain who rises up into praise of the Creator from that which he has a regard for in the lowest things and discovers in all His works something marvelous, laudable and lovable. "Lx)rd, our Lord, how wonderful is your name in the whole earth"
(Ps.
8:2).
Behold, marvelous. "From the rising to the setting of the sun, laudable is the name of the Lord" (Ps.
112:3). Behold, laudable. "The Lord is just in all of his ways, and holy in all of his works" (Ps. 144:13). Behold, lovable. Thus rigid pieces of wood, strong pieces of wood, hard pieces of wood are any considerations whatsoever that restore the vigor of the mind, strengthen it with respect to constancy, and establish it in steadfastness.
Finally, pieces of wood that produce neither a stain of filthiness nor a fault of falsity are free from every corruption. And so, in like manner, any true assertion, any firm declaration whatsoever concerning corporeal things pertains to pieces of Setim wood, to pieces of incorruptible wood. And so this ark of wisdom ought to be made from pieces of incorruptible wood, from irrefutable declarations, so that we may think about all these things that, made by one God and created from nothing, are seen in the world, while with respect to all these things we define nothing that disagrees with truth.