As God lives, in the time of Elijah, friend and prophet of God, there were twelve mountains inhabited by seventeen thousand Pharisees; and so it was that [even] in so great a number there was not found a single reprobate, but all were elect of God. But now, when Israel has more than a hundred thousand Pharisees, may it please God that out of every thousand there be one elect!”
The Pharisees answered in indignation: “So then we are all reprobate, and you hold our religion in reprobation!” Jesus answered: “I do not hold the religion of the true Pharisees in reprobation but in approbation and for that I am ready to die. But come, let us see if you are [true] Pharisees. Elijah, the friend of God, at the prayer of his disciple Elisha, wrote a little book in which he included all human wisdom with the Law of God our Lord.”
The Pharisees were confounded when they heard the name of the book of Elijah, because they knew that, through their traditions, no one observed such doctrine. They [claimed they had] to depart under pretext of business to be done. Then Jesus said: “If you were [true] Pharisees you would forsake all other business to attend to this; for the Pharisee seeks God alone.” So they tarried in confusion to listen to Jesus, who said again.:
“Elijah, servant of God” (for so begins the little Book), “to all them that desire to walk with God their creator, writes this:
Whoever desires to learn much, they (sic) fear God little, because he who fears God is content to know only that which God wills. They that seek fair words do not seek God, who does nothing but reprove our sins.
They that desire to seek God, let them shut fast the doors and windows of their house, for the master does not suffer himself to be found outside his house [in a place] where he is not loved.
Therefore guard your senses and guard your heart, because God is not found outside of us, in this world in which he is hated.
They that wish to do good works, let them attend to their own selves, for [there is no profit] in gaining the whole world and losing one’s own soul.
They that wish to teach others, let them live better than others, because nothing can be learned from him who knows less than ourselves. How shall the sinner amend his life when he hears one worse than he teaching him?
They that seek God, let him (sic) flee the conversation of men; because Moses being alone upon Mount Sinai found him and spoke with God, as does a friend who speaks with a friend.
They that seek God, shall come forth [to where] there are men of the world only once in [every] thirty days for in respect of the business of him that seeks God works for two years can be done in one day.
When he walks, let him not look save at his own feet.
When he speaks, let him not speak save that which is necessary.
When they eat, let them rise from the table still hungry; thinking every day not to attain to the next; spending their time as one draws his breath.
Let one garment, of the skin of beasts, suffice.
Let the lump of earth sleep on the naked earth [and] for every night let two hours of sleep suffice.
Let him hate no one save himself; condemn no one save himself.
In prayer, let them stand in such fear as if they were at the Judgment to come.
Now do this in the service of God, with the Law that God has given you through Moses, for in this way you shall find God [so] that in every time and place you shall feel that you are in God and God [is] in you.”
This is the little book of Elijah, O Pharisees. Again I say to you that if you were [true] Pharisees you would have had joy that I [have] entered in here, because God has mercy upon sinners.”