Difference between revisions of "Dedication, 1607-12-26, Benedictus Figulus to Michael Daniel Pleickhard genannt Poland, Balthasar Keybe and Johann Enoch Maier"

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Also hat auch Daniel diese Kunst vnnd Lehren von Jugendt auff in der Chaldeer Schulen in sich gesogen/ vnd erlernet/ wie dann seine Prophecey gnugsam außweiset/ {{Pagemark|f. *6r}} vnnd seine geschickligkeit in allerley außlegungen gegen dem König Nebucadnezar vnd Beltzasar klärlich an tag gethan/ vnnd mit höchster Verwunderung erwiesen. Solche Philosophi vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Magi}} sind auch gewesen die Drey Weysen auß Morgenland/ so {{MarkupAntiquaSmallcaps|Christum Jesum}} von Auffgang der Sonnen hergesucht/ vnnd jhn in der Krippen zu Bethlehem gefunden haben.
Also hat auch Daniel diese Kunst vnnd Lehren von Jugendt auff in der Chaldeer Schulen in sich gesogen/ vnd erlernet/ wie dann seine Prophecey gnugsam außweiset/ {{Pagemark|f. *6r}} vnnd seine geschickligkeit in allerley außlegungen gegen dem König Nebucadnezar vnd Beltzasar klärlich an tag gethan/ vnnd mit höchster Verwunderung erwiesen. Solche Philosophi vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Magi}} sind auch gewesen die Drey Weysen auß Morgenland/ so {{MarkupAntiquaSmallcaps|Christum Jesum}} von Auffgang der Sonnen hergesucht/ vnnd jhn in der Krippen zu Bethlehem gefunden haben.


Da aber nach herfürbrechung/ dieser Göttlichen {{MarkupAntiqua|Magiae}} vnd Natürlichen wahren Philosophey 27. Jar nach der Sündfluß/ Vngefährlich im Jahr 1680. nach Erschaffung der Welt/ bey den Chaldeern/ Persianern/ vnd nachgehends in Aegypten auch/ die Abgöttischen vnd Aberglaubischen Griechen solches gerathen/ Sind vnder jhnen die Fürnembsten vnd Verständigsten {{MarkupAntiqua|in Chaldeam}} vnd Aegypten gezogen/ damit sie auß jhren Schulen solche Weißheit schöpffen/ vnd erlernen möchten/ Weil jhnen aber die Lehr Göttliches worts auß der H[eiligen] Bibel vnd dem Gesetz Mosis nit schmachte/ vnd sie sich auff jhr Vernunfft vnd eygenen Verstand verliessen/ geschickter vnnd {{Pagemark|f. *6v}} kluger sein wolten als Gott selbst/ (wie dann deß {{MarkupAntiqua|Lucifers}} vnd seiner anhangender Schuler vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Organen}} angeborne Art vnd Eigenschafft/ vnd deß Teufels brauch allzeit gewesen/ daß wo Gott ein Kirchen gestifftet/ er seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Capellen}} darneben auffgerichtet: vnd im Newen Testament auch also ergangen/ Da {{MarkupAntiquaSmallcaps|Christus}} der Höchste {{MarkupAntiqua|Spagyrus philosophus}} vnd Himmlische Sähmann seinen Edlen Waitzen außgesähet/ Er also bald als der Feind seinen Raden vnd Vnkraut darauff häuffig geworffen/ vnd eingeschmeist/ wie leider zu Erbarmen/ am tag ist. Da sind sie vom {{MarkupAntiqua|Fundament}} vnd Grundveste Aller Natürlichen Geheymniß/ vnd Verborgener Künsten abgewichen/ vnd jhre Eigene dünckel voll Weißheit auß dem Trunckenen/ Thummen/ Jrrigen vnd Verführischen Gestirn deß Sathans gesogen/ mit Eingemischet/ vnd die Warheit damit Vberschwemmet vnd Verfinstert: Dann jhr Eygener hochmut vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|praesumtion} sie verhindert/ bethört/ vnnd in Jrrthumb gestürtzet hat.
Da aber nach herfürbrechung/ dieser Göttlichen {{MarkupAntiqua|Magiae}} vnd Natürlichen wahren Philosophey 27. Jar nach der Sündfluß/ Vngefährlich im Jahr 1680. nach Erschaffung der Welt/ bey den Chaldeern/ Persianern/ vnd nachgehends in Aegypten auch/ die Abgöttischen vnd Aberglaubischen Griechen solches gerathen/ Sind vnder jhnen die Fürnembsten vnd Verständigsten {{MarkupAntiqua|in Chaldeam}} vnd Aegypten gezogen/ damit sie auß jhren Schulen solche Weißheit schöpffen/ vnd erlernen möchten/ Weil jhnen aber die Lehr Göttliches worts auß der H[eiligen] Bibel vnd dem Gesetz Mosis nit schmachte/ vnd sie sich auff jhr Vernunfft vnd eygenen Verstand verliessen/ geschickter vnnd {{Pagemark|f. *6v}} kluger sein wolten als Gott selbst/ (wie dann deß {{MarkupAntiqua|Lucifers}} vnd seiner anhangender Schuler vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Organen}} angeborne Art vnd Eigenschafft/ vnd deß Teufels brauch allzeit gewesen/ daß wo Gott ein Kirchen gestifftet/ er seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Capellen}} darneben auffgerichtet: vnd im Newen Testament auch also ergangen/ Da {{MarkupAntiquaSmallcaps|Christus}} der Höchste {{MarkupAntiqua|Spagyrus philosophus}} vnd Himmlische Sähmann seinen Edlen Waitzen außgesähet/ Er also bald als der Feind seinen Raden vnd Vnkraut darauff häuffig geworffen/ vnd eingeschmeist/ wie leider zu Erbarmen/ am tag ist. Da sind sie vom {{MarkupAntiqua|Fundament}} vnd Grundveste Aller Natürlichen Geheymniß/ vnd Verborgener Künsten abgewichen/ vnd jhre Eigene dünckel voll Weißheit auß dem Trunckenen/ Thummen/ Jrrigen vnd Verführischen Gestirn deß Sathans gesogen/ mit Eingemischet/ vnd die Warheit damit Vberschwemmet vnd Verfinstert: Dann jhr Eygener hochmut vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|praesumtion}} sie verhindert/ bethört/ vnnd in Jrrthumb gestürtzet hat.


Dann als sie etwas wenigs von den Chaldeern vnnd Aegyptiern begriffen/ sind sie stoltz vnd Auffgeblasen worden/ haben jhren {{Pagemark|f. *7r}} Verstand viel mehr vnnd höher vertrawet/ Als in jhrer Natur war/ vnnd angefangen die Sachen mit viel subtilen falsch erdichten Erfindungen zu schärpffen/ vnd ein Eigene auß jhrem subtil gesponnenen Hirn/ auß dem irrigen trunckenen Gestirn jhnen {{MarkupAntiqua|influ}}irte Philosophey zubeschreiben sich vnderstanden/ so nit allein bey jhnen vberhand genommen/ sondern auch nachgehendes zu den Latinern von jhnen ist Außgebreitet worden/ Welche nicht weniger als die Griechen/ da sie deren ein wenig bericht erlanget/ jhren Verstand auch haben wollen sehen lassen/ vnd mit jhrem Zusatz helffen Mehren/ Ziehren vnd Verbesseren/ vnd doch mehr Verbösert haben.
Dann als sie etwas wenigs von den Chaldeern vnnd Aegyptiern begriffen/ sind sie stoltz vnd Auffgeblasen worden/ haben jhren {{Pagemark|f. *7r}} Verstand viel mehr vnnd höher vertrawet/ Als in jhrer Natur war/ vnnd angefangen die Sachen mit viel subtilen falsch erdichten Erfindungen zu schärpffen/ vnd ein Eigene auß jhrem subtil gesponnenen Hirn/ auß dem irrigen trunckenen Gestirn jhnen {{MarkupAntiqua|influ}}irte Philosophey zubeschreiben sich vnderstanden/ so nit allein bey jhnen vberhand genommen/ sondern auch nachgehendes zu den Latinern von jhnen ist Außgebreitet worden/ Welche nicht weniger als die Griechen/ da sie deren ein wenig bericht erlanget/ jhren Verstand auch haben wollen sehen lassen/ vnd mit jhrem Zusatz helffen Mehren/ Ziehren vnd Verbesseren/ vnd doch mehr Verbösert haben.
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Vnnd das ist ein Rechter Teüffelsgriff damit die warheit nicht an tag komme/ vnd sein Lügen vnd Narrenschiff/ darinn er die gantze Welt nun viel 100. Jahr verblendt geschlöppet/ vnd herumb führet/ nicht erkandt werde.
Vnnd das ist ein Rechter Teüffelsgriff damit die warheit nicht an tag komme/ vnd sein Lügen vnd Narrenschiff/ darinn er die gantze Welt nun viel 100. Jahr verblendt geschlöppet/ vnd herumb führet/ nicht erkandt werde.


Fürs ander haben wir vns auch zubeklagen wider diejehnigen/ so solche Bücher zum theil in Truck gehen lassen/ aber verfälschte {{Pagemark|f. **6r}} vnd verstümmelt& wie ichs im Triumphwagen {{MarkupAntiqua|Fr[tris] Basilii,}} Alexanders von Süchten/ auch in {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrasti}} Schrifften klärlich befunden/ das mans den jenigen nit gönnet/ die der kunst vnd wahren natürlichen weßheit nachtrachten/ vnd also da ein {{MarkupAntiqua|Defect,}} oder veränderung/ da ein anders eingemenget wirt/ wie dann auch in diesem gegenwertigen H[errn] Alexanders von Süchten Tractetlein augenscheinlich zusehen/ da hie was/ dort was stucksweis publicirt/ vnd andern {{MarkupAntiqua|Scriptis admisciret}} worden. Vnsonderlich haben wir vns/ Großgünstig Herren vnd Freund/ höchlich zubeklagen wegen der Thewren Schrifften {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrasti,}} vnsers Hocherleuchten Teutschen {{MarkupAntiqua|Philosophi}} vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|HErmetis verè Trismegisti,}} dz dieselben bißhero so teufflischer arglistiger weiß vndergetruckt/ vnd die wenigsten vnd aller schlechtesten zurechnen nur in truck komen sind. Ja ob man sie wol hin vnd her auß allen Landen/ da {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrastus}} gewesen vnd gereiset/ auffgesamlet vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|colligirt:}} derer er etlich 1000. Bücher beschriben {{MarkupAntiqua|in Astronomia, Philosophia, Chymia, Cabala,}} vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologia Gratiae}} hinderlassen hat man doch nur solches zu eigenen nutz/ geitz vnd Reichtumb dardurch zuerlangen/ gerichtet {{Pagemark|f. **6v}} die besten in Fürsten vnnd Herren Höffen verstecket/ damit ein Mercketenterey/ vnnd Kauffmanschafft angefangen/ vnnd also verpartirt/ vmb groß gelt verkaufft/ vnnd der gantzen Christenheit nutz vnd frommen/ vmb deren willen sie von {{MarkupAntiqua|Theoprhasto}} geschrieben vnnd hinderlassen worden/ gar nicht angesehen/ Sonderlich was seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologi}}sche Schrifften anlangt/ weil sie den Gottlosen verruchten/ vom Teuffel verblendten vnd verführten Weltkinder vnnd Bauchdienern zuwider/ vnnd jhren kropff nicht geschmacket/ bißhero gantz vnnd gar vndergetruckt worden/ Zu welchem Teufflischen werck Thurneyser/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Instrumentum verum Sathanae,}} der Alle Welt/ Chur vnd Fürsten groß vnd klein betrogen mit seiner falschen Alchymey/ vnd andern Lugenkünsten/ sich redlich neben andern/ deren ich jetzt verschonen will/ gebrauchen lassen/ Aber das sollen sie an jehnem tag in der Warheit erfahren/ daß ich vor dem Richterstul Jhesu Christi solche gesellen/ neben allen wahren {{MarkupAntiqua|Filiis Doctrinae}} werde anklagen/ vnnd rechenschafft von jhnen erfordern/ daß sie die Thewren vnnd Hochwürdige {{MarkupAntiqua|Scripta}} der gantzen Christenheit zu nutz vnnd heyl {{Pagemark|f. **7r}} von Gott in diesen letzten zeiten durch {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrastum}} verordnet/ abgestohlen/ verkaufft/ verpartirt/ vnnd die Liebe warheit in Kisten vnd Kasten/ Mawer vnd Gewölb/ Schlösser vnd Rigel verstecket haben.
Fürs ander haben wir vns auch zubeklagen wider diejehnigen/ so solche Bücher zum theil in Truck gehen lassen/ aber verfälschte {{Pagemark|f. **6r}} vnd verstümmelt/ wie ichs im Triumphwagen {{MarkupAntiqua|Fr[atris] Basilii,}} Alexanders von Süchten/ auch in {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrasti}} Schrifften klärlich befunden/ das mans den jenigen nit gönnet/ die der kunst vnd wahren natürlichen weßheit nachtrachten/ vnd also da ein {{MarkupAntiqua|Defect,}} oder veränderung/ da ein anders eingemenget wirt/ wie dann auch in diesem gegenwertigen H[errn] Alexanders von Süchten Tractetlein augenscheinlich zusehen/ da hie was/ dort was stucksweis publicirt/ vnd andern {{MarkupAntiqua|Scriptis admisciret}} worden. Vnsonderlich haben wir vns/ Großgünstig Herren vnd Freund/ höchlich zubeklagen wegen der Thewren Schrifften {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrasti,}} vnsers Hocherleuchten Teutschen {{MarkupAntiqua|Philosophi}} vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|HErmetis verè Trismegisti,}} dz dieselben bißhero so teufflischer arglistiger weiß vndergetruckt/ vnd die wenigsten vnd aller schlechtesten zurechnen nur in truck komen sind. Ja ob man sie wol hin vnd her auß allen Landen/ da {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrastus}} gewesen vnd gereiset/ auffgesamlet vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|colligirt:}} derer er etlich 1000. Bücher beschriben {{MarkupAntiqua|in Astronomia, Philosophia, Chymia, Cabala,}} vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologia Gratiae}} hinderlassen hat man doch nur solches zu eigenen nutz/ geitz vnd Reichtumb dardurch zuerlangen/ gerichtet {{Pagemark|f. **6v}} die besten in Fürsten vnnd Herren Höffen verstecket/ damit ein Mercketenterey/ vnnd Kauffmanschafft angefangen/ vnnd also verpartirt/ vmb groß gelt verkaufft/ vnnd der gantzen Christenheit nutz vnd frommen/ vmb deren willen sie von {{MarkupAntiqua|Theoprhasto}} geschrieben vnnd hinderlassen worden/ gar nicht angesehen/ Sonderlich was seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologi}}sche Schrifften anlangt/ weil sie den Gottlosen verruchten/ vom Teuffel verblendten vnd verführten Weltkinder vnnd Bauchdienern zuwider/ vnnd jhren kropff nicht geschmacket/ bißhero gantz vnnd gar vndergetruckt worden/ Zu welchem Teufflischen werck Thurneyser/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Instrumentum verum Sathanae,}} der Alle Welt/ Chur vnd Fürsten groß vnd klein betrogen mit seiner falschen Alchymey/ vnd andern Lugenkünsten/ sich redlich neben andern/ deren ich jetzt verschonen will/ gebrauchen lassen/ Aber das sollen sie an jehnem tag in der Warheit erfahren/ daß ich vor dem Richterstul Jhesu Christi solche gesellen/ neben allen wahren {{MarkupAntiqua|Filiis Doctrinae}} werde anklagen/ vnnd rechenschafft von jhnen erfordern/ daß sie die Thewren vnnd Hochwürdige {{MarkupAntiqua|Scripta}} der gantzen Christenheit zu nutz vnnd heyl {{Pagemark|f. **7r}} von Gott in diesen letzten zeiten durch {{MarkupAntiqua|Theophrastum}} verordnet/ abgestohlen/ verkaufft/ verpartirt/ vnnd die Liebe warheit in Kisten vnd Kasten/ Mawer vnd Gewölb/ Schlösser vnd Rigel verstecket haben.


Was ferns diesen vnsern Thewren Hochbegnadeten Monarchen vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Praeceptorem}} anlangt/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Ph[ilippo] Theophrasto}}/ Hochseligster Gedächtnuß/ wollen wir sein {{MarkupAntiqua|Vitam,}} vnd seine gebührende {{MarkupAntiqua|Laudes}} vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Famam Immortalem,}} das jhm Gott/ die Engel/ vnd das gantz {{MarkupAntiqua|Firmament}} gegönnet vnd gegeben/ für vnser person nicht vndertrucken lassen/ Sondern seine Ehr vnnd Lehr {{MarkupAntiqua|Cordetenus, usq́ue ad extremum vitae habitum defendiren,}} vnd solches/ geliebts Gott/ in kurtzen tagen in einer sonderlichen {{MarkupAntiqua|Praefation,}} (do wir einen Anfang mit seinen {{MarkupAntiqua|Cabali}}schen vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologi}}schen Büchern machen werden/ der gantzen Christenheit ewiges heyl vnd Seligkeit zubefördern/ damit der Dreyköpffige Antichrist oder die Drey vnreine Geister {{MarkupAntiqua|in Apocalypsi,}} recht mögen von jedermann erkandt vnnd geflohen werden/ ins werck richten. Dann wir alle seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Scripta,}} so viel möglich zubekommen/ mit Christi hülff vnnd beystand/ des- {{Pagemark|f. **7v}} sen Ehr vnnd Glori/ wie auch der gantzen Christenheit heil vnd Wolfahrt/ Er Einig vnd allein gesucht/ auffs new in offentlichen truck zu ordnen gäntzlich bedacht vnnd entschlossen. Wie ich dann der tröstlichen hoffnung vnd zuversicht bin/ daß alle Christeyfferige Liebhaber vnd Nachfolger {{MarkupAntiqua|Verae & Christianae Philosophiae,}} von vnserm Himlischen {{MarkupAntiqua|Philosopho Christo Jesu}} herürend/ mir einen trewlichen beystand leisten vnnd erweisen werden. Darumb ich dann vmb Christi Ehr vnd Glori willen/ vnd der lieben lang gedempfften Warheit/ vnnd dieser Thewren vnd Edlen Philosophey/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Magiae}} nvd Alchymey willen/ vmb Gottes willen Hohes vnd Niderstandes personen zum Demütigsten will gebetten vnnd angeruffen haben/ mit solchen schrifften mir zu dienen Soll jhnen hinwiderumb in höchster danckbarkeit/ da wir vnser gewünschtes end inn kürzte wills Gott in der Philosophia vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Medicina Adepta}} erreichen werden/ Zum Vndertähnigsten willfahret vnd begegnet werden: Dann da sie in der warheit sehen vnd erfahren sollen vnnd werden/ daß deme also sey wz wir sambt Andern lang gesucht haben.
Was ferns diesen vnsern Thewren Hochbegnadeten Monarchen vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Praeceptorem}} anlangt/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Ph[ilippo] Theophrasto}}/ Hochseligster Gedächtnuß/ wollen wir sein {{MarkupAntiqua|Vitam,}} vnd seine gebührende {{MarkupAntiqua|Laudes}} vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Famam Immortalem,}} das jhm Gott/ die Engel/ vnd das gantz {{MarkupAntiqua|Firmament}} gegönnet vnd gegeben/ für vnser person nicht vndertrucken lassen/ Sondern seine Ehr vnnd Lehr {{MarkupAntiqua|Cordetenus, usq́ue ad extremum vitae habitum defendiren,}} vnd solches/ geliebts Gott/ in kurtzen tagen in einer sonderlichen {{MarkupAntiqua|Praefation,}} (do wir einen Anfang mit seinen {{MarkupAntiqua|Cabali}}schen vnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Theologi}}schen Büchern machen werden/ der gantzen Christenheit ewiges heyl vnd Seligkeit zubefördern/ damit der Dreyköpffige Antichrist oder die Drey vnreine Geister {{MarkupAntiqua|in Apocalypsi,}} recht mögen von jedermann erkandt vnnd geflohen werden/ ins werck richten. Dann wir alle seine {{MarkupAntiqua|Scripta,}} so viel möglich zubekommen/ mit Christi hülff vnnd beystand/ des- {{Pagemark|f. **7v}} sen Ehr vnnd Glori/ wie auch der gantzen Christenheit heil vnd Wolfahrt/ Er Einig vnd allein gesucht/ auffs new in offentlichen truck zu ordnen gäntzlich bedacht vnnd entschlossen. Wie ich dann der tröstlichen hoffnung vnd zuversicht bin/ daß alle Christeyfferige Liebhaber vnd Nachfolger {{MarkupAntiqua|Verae & Christianae Philosophiae,}} von vnserm Himlischen {{MarkupAntiqua|Philosopho Christo Jesu}} herürend/ mir einen trewlichen beystand leisten vnnd erweisen werden. Darumb ich dann vmb Christi Ehr vnd Glori willen/ vnd der lieben lang gedempfften Warheit/ vnnd dieser Thewren vnd Edlen Philosophey/ {{MarkupAntiqua|Magiae}} nvd Alchymey willen/ vmb Gottes willen Hohes vnd Niderstandes personen zum Demütigsten will gebetten vnnd angeruffen haben/ mit solchen schrifften mir zu dienen Soll jhnen hinwiderumb in höchster danckbarkeit/ da wir vnser gewünschtes end inn kürzte wills Gott in der Philosophia vnnd {{MarkupAntiqua|Medicina Adepta}} erreichen werden/ Zum Vndertähnigsten willfahret vnd begegnet werden: Dann da sie in der warheit sehen vnd erfahren sollen vnnd werden/ daß deme also sey wz wir sambt Andern lang gesucht haben.
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Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovias, Fr[ancus]. Poeta L[aureatus] C[oronatus]. Theologus; Theosophius; Philosophus; Medicus; Eremita. T. M.
Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovias, Fr[ancus]. Poeta L[aureatus] C[oronatus]. Theologus; Theosophius; Philosophus; Medicus; Eremita. T. M.
{{Apparatus}}
 
 
{{InfoboxTranslation|Date=2023-02-26}} The dedicatory speech is the speaker.
 
To the Honorable, Noble, and Wise Sir Michael Daniel Pleickharden, also known as Poland, Consiliario of the High and Reverend Cathedral of Strasbourg, etc. And to the Respectable, Learned, Distinguished, and Wise Sir Balthasar Keyben, Doctor of Both Laws, in Frankfurt on the Main. As well as to the Honorable, Experienced, Prudent, and Worthy Sir Johann Enoch Meyer, Master Builder of the City of Strasbourg, and Steward of the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Undis. His gracious, beloved and beneficent patrons,
 
Noble, Honorable, Wise, Distinguished, Highly Intelligent, and Highly Learned Patrons and Benefactors, as I consider and reflect on the entire course of my studies from my youth until now, and as I have actually experienced and observed, it becomes increasingly evident to the true believers and genuine naturalists that there are three kinds of philosophy or wisdom that the world partly employs, with one more than the other, and among them only one can be eternal and immortal and can stand before Almighty God (although few students are found to possess it). This wisdom comes down from above and flows from the Father of Light.
 
The first is now the common Aristotelian-Platonic, and our contemporary philosophy, which is only a speculative and fanciful philosophy, with which all schools are still filled and belong to, and through which dear youth is seduced. And this is a barren, dead chatter far from the foundation of truth, and it is erroneous, with all kinds of the opinions, beliefs, and erroneous thoughts of the ancient heathens (who were considered wise), which have been accepted as truth and are still fiercely defended today. Because it comes from an unfavorable heaven and constellation, bad influences, and inspirations of Satan, and at the same time, it is considered a great mystery and holiness, as it is still esteemed by the majority of scholars. Yet it is a misleading, false, deadly, and seductive wisdom that will turn into nothing but dust and ashes with the body in the grave, and it is precisely this that the Holy, High-Enlightened Apostle Paul warns us about in his epistle: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit."
 
This philosophy, even though it has been taught to me seriously and diligently in schools since my youth and unfortunately still happens to others nowadays, it has always been suspicious and doubtful to me from a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So much so that I couldn't tire my mind and heart with it, and I couldn't persuade myself to believe it as holy and imagine it as such, nor could I follow it as others have done. Instead, I had to let it pass and stay that way until around the year 87 or 88 when a different philosophy would come my way. Nevertheless, I was determined to not be the least among my fellow students and to eventually earn my doctorate degree with time, so that I could be ahead and preferred over others.
 
But it has pleased God in His divine providence to hinder rather than promote my course of studies through various impediments that befell me before my superiors. Until finally, in the years 87-88, I happened upon the books and writings of Theophrastus, Rogerius Bacchus, and Master Isaac Hollandus, which, by God's indulgence, contained a little of the foundation for medicine and the universal medicine and stone, which I saw to be a different and better basis, but which I still did not understand. Yet, I was soon moved by such a profound inspiration that I was completely determined not to rest my head until I obtained this universal stone and the treasures of heavenly medicine. But at the time, I was too poor to pursue this study further, as I could not afford the expenses, nor could I receive any support from my parents or others (as the promoters of this study were then still few princes and lords). I had to let it go against my will, even though I had such love for it that I could not sleep for many months because of it. Eventually, in the year 90, I was plunged into great misery, misfortune, and illness by the devil and his minions. And when God mercifully delivered me from it, and some preferred my death to my life, I was forced by poverty to work as a mercenary against my will. There, I was tormented, persecuted, and afflicted by all kinds of persecution and hardship, partly by the Antichristian mob, partly by false brethren, by women and friendship. Thus, I was dragged through the mill by the devil himself. But through God's fatherly will, I was rescued and my soul was benefited. Only three years ago (after having given up poetry, which was annoying to everyone, during my pilgrimage for several years), I came back to this true philosophy, medical studies, and the school of Theophrastus, and publicly declared myself a disciple of Paracelsus. Neither the devil, nor the world, nor their scales, snakes, and adders can ever turn me away from it again.
 
The philosophy of old never taught us more than "Nosce teipsum" and the basis of natural light, in which many pagan philosophers, especially Pythagoras, went so far that he could rightly be preferred to many Christians today, since he learned the investigation of nature better from the stars and creatures than our modern, inflated, and unwise philosophers want to teach, and they do not understand the basics themselves.
 
But our Hermetic philosophy, which includes true astronomy, alchemy, and magic, as well as Kabbalah, etc., is an ancient truth, a natural science from Adam himself, who had complete knowledge both before and after the fall. It was inherited and passed down from one patriarch and beloved friend of God to another. After the flood, this general knowledge and science of true natural philosophy, which had arisen from the bright light of nature, was gradually distributed and scattered to different places and ends, and its powers were greatly weakened and reduced. This separation gave rise to partiality, and one became an astronomer, another a magician, a third a Kabbalist, and a fourth an alchemist. It flourished particularly in Egypt, as the Vulcanic Abraham Tubalkain, a master of all kinds of ores and ironworks, as well as an outstanding astrologer and arithmetician, brought such knowledge from Egypt to the land of Canaan. That is why the Egyptians became so advanced that their skill, wisdom, and art were also brought to other peoples and nations.
 
These arts were also always had by the Chaldeans, Hebrews, Persians, and Egyptians, alongside theology and instruction in divine matters, and were treated. Thus Moses was educated in all sorts of good arts in the Egyptian school and was so instructed that he became exceedingly wise, which is why he was chosen and appointed by God to be a leader of the Israelite people.
 
Similarly, Daniel absorbed and learned these arts and teachings from his youth in the Chaldean schools, as his prophecies abundantly demonstrate, and he clearly demonstrated his skill in all sorts of interpretations to King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, and demonstrated it with the highest amazement. Such philosophers and magi were also the Three Wise Men from the East who sought CHRIST JESUS from the rising of the sun and found Him in the manger in Bethlehem.
 
But after the emergence of this divine magic and natural true philosophy, approximately 27 years after the Flood, around the year 1680 after the creation of the world, the idolatrous and superstitious Greeks also took to it, among the Chaldeans and Persians, and later in Egypt. The most important and intelligent among them were drawn to Chaldea and Egypt so that they could draw such wisdom from their schools and learn it. However, since they were not ashamed to teach the Word of God from the Holy Bible and the Law of Moses, and relied on their reason and own understanding, wanting to be more skillful and clever than God himself (as has always been the inherent nature and property of Lucifer and his adherents, and the devil's practice has been that wherever God has established a church, he has also erected his chapels nearby, and the same thing happened in the New Testament when CHRIST, the highest Spagyric philosopher and heavenly sower, sowed his noble seeds, he immediately as the enemy piled his councils and weeds on them and poured them in, as is unfortunately to be pitied. Then they deviated from the foundation and cornerstone of all natural secrets and hidden arts, and drew their own darkness full of wisdom from the drunken, foolish, contentious, and deceitful constellation of Satan, mixed it in, and flooded and darkened the truth with it. Their own pride and presumption prevented, deceived, and plunged them into error.
 
Then, as they understood a little of the Chaldeans and Egyptians, they became proud and inflated, trusting their minds much more than was in their nature. They began to sharpen things with many subtle and false inventions, and to describe their own philosophy that was spun from their confused and drunken minds. This not only took over them but also spread to the Latins afterwards, who, when they gained a little knowledge of it, wanted to demonstrate their intelligence and helped to expand, decorate, and improve it, and yet made it worse.
 
Now, this supposed philosophy has spread throughout all of Europe, passing through almost all academies and universities, which have been established for it, and the youth have been taught in it. Even to this day, it is so stubbornly instituted that they almost forget Moses and the prophets, even CHRIST himself. They defend and even die for such philosophy, not only in Germany but also in almost all other nations.
 
So, if someone presents something that is true and based on God's word, but which contradicts theirs, he must not only be scorned, mocked, and ridiculed but also called a singular, a heretic, and a heresiarch, as happened and happened to me personally by some pseudo-Levites, and even persecuted.
 
Thus, it remains with the old saying "Mundus vult decipi". Satan is a master of a thousand arts with his many deceptions, leading the whole Christian world astray and with his dark lantern, which they consider a glorious light, they look at and worship him, leading them to the eternal darkness of hell. Whoever wants to be deceived and misled, let him go on, and on that day, he will experience eternal agony and lamentation, wailing and gnashing of teeth, and how hot hell is.
 
However, if we want to pursue true natural philosophy based on the light of nature and learn it, as well as our spagyric philosophy, true astronomy, and magic, where and from whom should we study them, as great and generous lords and friends? Should we seek their doctors and teachers at the high schools? We will certainly not find them there, for they are the real enemies, scoffers, and persecutors of our philosophy and all those who follow it. Et ARS non habet osorem nisi ignorantem sui: They prefer to be with the husks and chaff that the wind scatters back and forth, rather than with the noble, well-tasting kernels, rocks, and wheat from the great barns or treasure chambers of the eternal God, presented and granted to us as the rich householder, that is, the macrocosm. Where should we look for it, then, at which school do I ask? Beloved lords and friends, we can, should, and must look for it nowhere else but at the stars, which are the school from which everything is learned. All natural art and wisdom are given to human beings by the stars, and we are the stars' students. The stars are our natural teachers. We should learn from the light of nature, which is our father, from whom we are made and created. The stars are our natural schoolmasters, for all reason and art are inherited from the stars to us. Thus God has ordained that the natural light be in the stars and placed in them the treasure of humanity, from which we should learn. As the human being leans and holds himself towards this school in his imagination, so too does the inclination and ethereal influence follow in it. However, what the human being sucks from the stars is all his deadly wisdom, reason, art, and what is from the light of nature must be learned from them. In summary, what serves the deadly must be taught to us by the firmament, but what belongs to the other, immortal part of the soul, and the inner person's transformation in the divine, must all be learned from God. This now concerns the image of God, which is entrusted to the spirit given to it by the Lord, which teaches humans about the natural to the eternal, which alone, as a schoolmaster, enlightens humans to the eternal. Therefore there are also two bodies, one made of the elements and one from the stars. Through death, the elemental body with its spirit goes into the grave, and the ethereal body is consumed in its firmament. But the spirit of the image goes to where the image is. So everyone dies in that which they are, and in that same thing they are buried. Therefore, death separates three spirits from the human being. Therefore, the wise man, who lives according to divine wisdom in the image of the Lord, rules over the stars and the elemental body. But the human should be content with the image and live according to it in each way so that they are found in the nature of the Lord, as the ancient wise heathens lived, and then in the will of God in the divine spirit, not continuing with the mortal body in their wisdom for the eternal image (as almost the whole world does with their false wisdom). Also, the eternal image should not be rejected because of the animal body, and the animal body should not be considered holy with its wisdom for the eternal image. That is why the Lord Christ did not say in vain in the Gospel of the Tribute Coin: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." What did he want to indicate by this? Namely, that the body, according to natural life, belongs to the emperor, and one should be submissive to him as the earthly head on earth. But the soul belongs to God, and one should give it back to him and be accountable for it. That is, one should give back the image according to the spiritual eternal life, as the heavenly Lord and head, from whom the body and soul come differently. Therefore, one should walk in his commandments according to the will of God, so that he may return his image and divine, fiery eternal deposit of the breath of life to God in the bosom of Abraham, and that they may not be forever cast out of his presence into outer darkness through a godless, devilish life and nature. This was Christ's meaning and intention. Whoever lives according to the image of the Lord overcomes the stars and is rightly called a wise man, although he is often called and considered a fool and simpleton by the blind, senseless, and foolish world.
 
However, to continue philosophizing belongs not to the realm of mortal philosophy, but to that of immortal and eternal philosophy, of which we made reference at the beginning, and which has Christ Jesus as its founder, from whom we have the voice of the Father. "Hunc audite." Likewise, His own calling voice to us in Matthew 11: "Venite Omnes," etc. "Discedite à me, quia sum humilis & mitis corde," etc. From Him, we are to learn the heavenly and eternal philosophy, so that we may enter into the kingdom of heaven. Beloved God, we will discuss this philosophy briefly. This does not pertain to the mortal and natural philosophy we previously discussed. Although I am devoted to both the natural and mortal philosophy, as well as the supernatural heavenly and eternal, that is, immortal philosophy, and I will remain a disciple and student of both until my end, I have completely renounced and bid farewell to false heathen philosophy that does not stem from the true and fundamental light and foundation of nature. For outside of Christ and His wisdom, there is nothing in the world but vanity of vanities. The wisdom I seek and will seek is that which is to be found and sought where the Holy James directs us in his epistle. But where must we go, gracious lords and friends, for our intention and exploration of nature? Certainly not in the confines of our own homes, and even if we had all the books of philosophers piled up and studied them day and night, it would not suffice. Rather, if we wish to explore nature in our philosophy and reach a desired state of happiness, we must tread upon the books of nature with our feet. The scripture is studied through its letters, but nature is studied through traveling from land to land, where we may find faithful and sincere Nicodemuses, naturalists, philosophers, and lovers of our spagyric philosophy (I am not referring to the deceitful country bumpkin false alchemists, with whom I would not move a foot). There we may sometimes obtain useful and good information alongside our own natural exploration of things, which may be beneficial to us later on. Therefore, as often as we may find a land, we may find a leaf in the book of nature. Thus, the codex of nature is ample and vast enough, and we must turn its leaves with our feet and explore it with the spirit of reason. Even though we may be dismissed and scorned by the pseudo-officiants and supposed highly wise red Paracelsian doctors and syrup makers, calling us vagrants, country bumpkins, and wanderers, it matters not to me. The disciple should not have it better than his master. This has also happened to Theophrastus, our teacher and monarch of the arts, as well as to Alexander of Suctions, Phoedron, and others. Therefore, in all my travels, I do not esteem what people have made and crafted, which others hold in high esteem, but only what God's hand has created. I am amazed by it, I desire to explore its three principles, to separate the pure from the impure, to proclaim and describe God's honor and glory, and to create something useful for myself and my neighbor's body and soul. For all of God's created beings are living letters and books for humans to describe. Indeed, all of God's creation is a letter in which one can read who the human being is. Above all, each person should faithfully heed the advice "Nosce te ipsum" (know yourself), as Aristotle the chemist said to Alexander the Great: "Learn about yourself, and you will have everything." And Morienus said: "Those who have everything do not need anyone else's help."
 
Therefore, it is reasonable for me to be content with these three books, from which I can draw and learn all wisdom: Firstly, the great and powerful circular book of nature, not written with ink or pen, but with the finger of God through the sacred sign of the Holy Trinity, in which heaven and earth and all creation are inscribed and recorded before our very eyes. This book is called the Macrocosm. Secondly, the small book, which is taken from the great book with all its leaves and pieces and is formed thereafter, which is man. For the sake of man, everything that God has ever created is there, and this is called the Microcosm. Man alone is the instrument of natural light, which accomplishes those works in arts and wisdom that God has ordained in the firmament. Thus, God has also ordained that man has a twofold magnet, one from the elements, which draws them back to him, and another from the stars, from which he draws back the microcosmic sensibility from the stars, and thus the reason of man has a magnet that draws the senses and thoughts from the stars. From this I say that another one arises in the righteous, magi and cabalists, and that this third magnet is hidden in the image of God and in the human soul, which penetrates through the imagination and faith to that from which it comes, seeking the eternal wisdom and the Holy Spirit promised by Christ. Therefore, it is also noteworthy that there are two souls in man, the eternal and the natural, that is, two lives. One is subject to death, the other resists death. Likewise, there are two spirits, the eternal and the natural. What is natural is in the starry body, and the starry body is in the corporeal, and both are a man, but two bodies. Thus, there are also two heavens in man. One is the lunar brain, the gastric heaven, but in the heart of man is the true, jliaric necroconic heaven. Indeed, the heart of man itself is the true heaven of the eternal essence, from which the soul has never yet emerged, and in which the new Olympus and heaven, Christ Jesus, has chosen his residence and dwelling place among all believers.
 
The third book is namely the Sacred Bible, the holy and venerable scripture of the Old and New Testaments, which directs us to these two preceding books. In it, the divine chronicle of the Holy Spirit is described to us, revealing how the great world was created for the sake of the small world, and how God the Lord has done everything solely and exclusively for mankind. Mankind, who was nourished, sustained, and preserved in the great world by God the Father, was redeemed from eternal damnation through His Son after the fall, and was reborn through water and spirit. They were then fed with heavenly manna and eternal food, belonging to the new creation, and provided with eternal life, and were led and guided in all truth by the Holy Spirit.
 
From these three books, gracious lords and friends, with the help and assistance of divine grace and the Holy Spirit, we can and may sufficiently learn what may be useful and salutary for us in body and soul, both temporally and eternally. We can certainly avoid all kinds of error, seductive pagan books and scriptures, with which the whole world and all corners are filled.
 
However, beloved lords and friends, when it comes to our secret Hermetic philosophy, we have much to complain about among the other students of knowledge. Although countless devilish philosophers have written about the Universal Medicine and the Blessed Stone of the Wise, both pagans and Christians, and have left us their writings, these are mostly suppressed and hindered by godless cacosophists and pseudophilosophers who are instigated by the devil. They cannot make use of them and do not want others to benefit from them.
 
And this is a true devilish trick, so that the truth does not come to light and his lies and foolishness, in which he has blinded and led the whole world astray for many hundreds of years, are not recognized.
 
Furthermore, we also have to complain against those who have allowed such books to be partially printed, but distorted and mutilated, as I have clearly found in the Triumphal Chariot of Frater Basil, Alexander von Suchten, and also in the writings of Theophrastus. They do not allow those who seek after the art and true natural wisdom to have access, and thus defects or changes are introduced, as can be seen in the present treatise of Mr. Alexander von Suchten, where some things are published here, others there, and mixed with other writings. We particularly have to complain, dear gracious lords and friends, about the Thewren writings of Theophrasti, our highly illuminated German philosopher and truly Trismegistus Hermes, that they have been printed so devilishly and cunningly, and only the fewest and worst ones have been printed. Even if they were collected from all the lands where Theophrastus had been and traveled, and some thousand books were described in astronomy, philosophy, chemistry, cabala, and theology of grace, only such things were used to obtain personal gain, greed, and wealth, and the best ones were hidden in the courts of princes and lords, thus beginning a trade and dividing them to sell for a lot of money, and the benefit and usefulness for the entire Christian community, for the sake of which they were written and left behind by Theophrastus, was not taken into account. Especially with regard to his theological writings, they have been completely suppressed until now because they were repugnant to the godless, devil-blinded and seduced children of the world and belly servants, and their palates were not satisfied. Thurneyser, Instrumentum verum Sathanae, who has deceived the whole world, princes great and small with his false alchemy and other lies, has been honestly used alongside others, whom I will spare now, for this diabolical work. But they will find out the truth on that day when I will accuse such companions, along with all true sons of doctrine, before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ and demand accountability from them for having stolen, sold, divided and hidden the Thewren and highly venerable writings of the entire Christian community, which were ordained by God through Theophrastus for the benefit and salvation of humanity in these last times.
 
As for our revered monarch and teacher, Philipp Theophrastus, of blessed memory, we shall not fail to acknowledge his life and give him the immortality of fame that God, the angels, and the whole universe have granted him. We shall defend his honor and teachings with all our heart, until the end of our days. Beloved of God, we shall promote his eternal salvation and the welfare of all Christians in a special preface when we begin with his Cabalistic and theological books, so that the three-headed Antichrist or the three unclean spirits in the Apocalypse may be recognized and avoided by everyone. With the help of Christ, we shall strive to obtain all his writings, seeking only his honor and glory, as well as the salvation and prosperity of all Christians. I am comforted by the hopeful expectation that all true and Christian lovers and followers of philosophy, who hear from our heavenly philosopher, Christ Jesus, will give me faithful support and assistance. Therefore, for the sake of Christ's honor and glory, for the sake of the long-lost truth, and for the sake of this noble philosophy, magic, and alchemy, I have humbly begged and called upon persons of high and low rank to serve me with such writings. In return, I shall express my deepest gratitude to them when we, with God's help, achieve our desired end in the attainment of philosophy and medicine. They shall see and experience the truth that we, along with others, have long sought.
 
<poem>
Let envy burst in pieces, even if it is hateful to the world,
In the end, the sacred and always true goddess,
Hidden in darkness with saving interest, will triumph.
</poem>
 
But this present little book, Great Benefactors and Patrons, which I have entitled "New Golden Pandora and Olympian", treating of the Philosopher's Stone, I have truthfully and without any falsehood, as I received it, submitted to the Sons of Spagyric Doctrine, because these treatises, all included therein, have never been seen before. I gladly want to communicate them and publish them in open print. And especially because Your Lordships' favor and magnificence have been Special Lovers and Mecoenates of the Theories and Noble Alchemy, and Spagyric Art for many years, and have not insignificant knowledge and understanding therein, I wanted to release this little book under Your Noble and Well-known name and Ansehlichen Patrocinio, humbly asking that Your Lordships' favor and magnificence, as of a well-known but poor Disciple of the Holy Theopharastia and an Immortal Christian Philosophy, will not dislike this dedicatory address, but rather defend me and these Philosophical Books against all blasphemers, mockers, and persecutors of these theories and arts, and help me promote the truth and confirm it and promote it in every way. I am ready to show grateful response and demonstrate it in action when God grants me His Grace and Divine Blessing, and I am most willing to be faithful. Herewith we all together and individually are in the Graceful Protection and Shelter of God, done on the Second Natal Day of Jesus Christ Trismegistus, our Spagyri, born in the world 1607, December 26th, in our Hermitage of Hagenoam.
 
Your Lordships' Most Obedient Servant,
 
Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovias, Francus.
 
Laureate Crowned Poet, Theologian, Theosophist, Philosopher, Physician, Hermit. T.M.

Revision as of 14:11, 26 February 2023

Author: Benedictus Figulus
Recipients: Michael Daniel Pleickhard genannt Poland
Balthasar Keybe
Johann Enoch Maier
Type: Dedication
Date: 26 December 1607
Place: Hagenau
Pages: 30
Language: German
Quote as: https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=812
Editor: Edited by Julian Paulus
Source: Pandora magnalium naturalium aurea et benedicta, ed. Benedictus Figulus, Straßburg: Lazarus Zetzner 1608, f. *2r—**8v [BP282]
Names: Leonhard Thurneisser
Translation: Raw translation see below
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[f. *2r] Prolocutrix sermo dedicatorius.

An

Den Gestrengen/ Edlen/ vnd Vesten/ wie auch Hochweisen Herren/ Michael Daniel Pleickharden/ Genandt Poland. Deß Hoch vnnd Ehrwürdigen ThumCapittels Straßburg/ &c. Consiliario.

Dann

Den Ehrnvesten/ Hochgelehrten/ Fürnehmen vnd Hochverstendigen Herren/ Balthasar Keyben. I[uris] V[triusque] Doctorem. Jn Franckfurt am Mayn.

Wie auch

Den Ehrenvesten/ Hocherfahrnen/ Fürsichtigen/ vnnd Wolachtbaren Herren/ Johan Enoch Meyer/ der Statt Straßburg Bawmeister/ vnd deß Closters zu S[anct] Niclaus in Undis daselbsten Schaffnern.

Seine Großgünstige Vielgeliebte Herren vnd wolthätige Patronos,

Gestrenge/ Edle/ Ehrnveste/ Hochweyse/ Fürnehme/ Hochverständige/ wie auch Hoch vnd Wolgelehrte Große günstigen Herren vnnd Mecoenates, wann [f. *2v] ich den gantzen Cursum meines Studij von Jugendt auff hero ordenlich betrachte vnd durchlauffe/ so befind ich/ vnnd hab in der that bißhero auch/ vnd im werck befunden/ vnd Augenscheinlich Erfahren/ wie solchs je länger je mehr den Wahrglaubigen/ vnd rechten Naturalisten zuhanden stosset/ vnd die täglich Erfahrung vor Augen stellet/ das Dreyerley Philosophia oder Weißheit sey/ derer sich die Welt zū Theil gebraucht/ vnd Einer mehr als der Ander/ Einer dieser/ der Ander jehner/ darunter doch nur Eine Ewig vnd Vntödtlich/ vnnd vor Gott dem Allmächtigen bestehen mag/ (derer doch wenig Studiosi gefunden werden.) weil sie von oben herab/ vnd vom Vatter deß Liechts herkommen vnd fliessen thut.

Die erste ist nun die Gemeine Aristotelische Platonische/ & nostri temporis Philosophia, welches nur ein Cagastrische Philosophi, Speculation, vnd Phantasey ist/ mit deren heutiges tags noch alle Schulen erfüllet/ vnd bethöret/ vnd die liebe Jugendt dardurch verführet wirdt: Vnd diese ist ein lähres todtes geschwätz von dem Grundt der Warheit weit abwegs/ vnnd irrig/ mit [f. *3r] Allerley der Alten Heyden (so vor Weyse leuth gehalten worden) opinionibus, Meynungen/ Wähnen/ vnd irrigen gedancken so für die Warheit angenommen worden vnd noch heutiges tags mordicus vnd frävenlich defendirt werden: Dann sie von einem vngünstigen Himmel vnd Gestirn/ bösen Influentzen, Auch Inspirationibus Sathanae her rühret/ vnd zur selben zeit für groß Geheimnuß vnnd Heiligthumb/ wie noch beim meisten Hauffen der Gelehrten geachtet wirdt: Da es doch ein irrige/ falsche/ tödtliche/ verführische Weißheit ist/ die mit dem Cörper im grab zu nicht/ staub vnd aschen wirdt/ vnd ist eben diese vor welcher vns der H[eilige] Hocherleuchte Apostel Paulus in seiner Epistel. Cavete vobis ab inani Philosophia, vnnd Sehet euch für/ daß jhr nicht durch die falsche Philosophien verführet werdet.

Diese Philosophia, ob sie wol von Jugendt auff in die Schulen ernstlich vnnd fleissig auch gegen mir getrieben/ inculcirt vnd auffgedrungen worden/ wie leider heutigs tags andern noch geschicht/ so ist sie mir doch für vnd für/ auß sonderlicher eingebung des H[eiligen] Geistes/ suspect vnnd ver [f. *3v] dächtig gewesen/ Also das ich meinen kopff Sin vnd Gemüth nit darmit abmartern/ vnd sie meinem Hertzen/ als Heiligthumb persuadiren, vnd einbilden wollen noch können/ Derselbigen an vnnd nach zuhengen/ wie Andere gethan/ sondern sie also/ meinem Kindischen Judicio nach/ Dazumahl müssen also passiren vnd verpleiben lassen/ biß vmbs Jahr/ 87. 88. &c. Mir ein andere Philosophey zuhanden kommen/ Ob ich gleichwol mir in meinen Gemüth auch steiff fürgenommen/ vnder meinen Condiscipulis nit der geringste zu bleiben/ sondern mit der Zeit auch in Gradum Doctoris zu promoviren, Damit ich allen andern Vorgehe/ Vorgezogen werden möchte.

Aber es hat dem Lieben Gott in seiner Göttlichen providentz Anders gefallen/ vnnd seind allerley Impedimenta meinen Cursum studiorum mehr zu hindern/ dann zu befördern/ bey meinen Superioribus vor gefallen/ biß letzlich/ da mir Anno 87. 88. Theophrasti, [c1] Rogerii Bacchonis, M[agistri] Isaaci Hollandi [c2] Bücher vnd Schrifften/ zwar gar wenig auß Göttlicher Indulgentz zuhanden gestossen/ darinnen Jch/ sonderlich in Medicina, vnnd da sie vom Univer- [f. *4r] sal Stein vnnd Medicin geschrieben/ einen andern vnd bessern Grundt gesehen/ vnnd Gefunden/ vnd doch noch nit verstanden: Aber also bald den doch eine solche innigliche anmuhtung darzu gewonnen/ daß ich mir gäntzlich für genommen nicht zuersterben/ vnd meinen Kopff nicht sanfft zulegen/ biß ich solchen Universal Stein sampt der Thewren Himmlischen Medicin erlangte. Diesem Studio aber damals nachzusetzen/ weil ich zu Arm/ von meinen Eltern keine Impensas, viel weniger von andern Sumtus vnd promotiones darzu haben mögen (weil dieses Studii promotores damals noch wenig Fürsten vnnd Herren waren/) hab ich solches wider meinen willen müssen lassen fahren/ da ich doch ein solche Lieb darzugetragen/ daß ich viel Monat nit darfür schlaffen können. Auch endlich Anno 90. Vom Teufel vnd seinen Schüppen/ in groß Elend Vnfall vnd Kranckheit/ gestürtzet worden/ Vnd da mir Gott gnedig darauß geholffen/ vnnd man meinen todt lieber gesehen dann mein leben/ darauff von dem meinigen auß Armuth halben/ wieder meinen Willen in den Mercenariat angehalten vnnd ge- [f. *4v] drungen worden/ da ich dann allerley verfolgung vnd drangsal/ theils vom Antichristischen hauffen/ theils von falschen Brüdern/ von Weib vnnd Freundschaft/ torquirt, gemartert/ vnd agitirt, vnd also vom Teuffel redlich durch die hechel gezogen worden/ Aber doch durch Gottes Vätterlichen willen mir/ vnd meiner Sehlen zunutz widerumb darauß errettet/ vnnd allererst vor Dreyen Jahren (demnach ich in meiner geführten Pilgramschafft/ etlich Jahr der/ beneben gebrauchten Poeterey/ weil sie jedermann verdrießlich/ das Valet gegeben/) widerumb zu dieser wahren Philosophey, Studio Medico, vnnd Scholam Theophrastem Gott lob kommen/ vnnd mich offentlich für einen Discipulum Paracelsi erkläret/ Darvon mich weder Teufel/ die Welt/ jhre Schuppen/ Schlangen vnd Natterngezuch/ in Ewigkeit nimmermehr abwenden sollen noch können werden.

Jehne Philosophia lehret vns nimmer mehr daß Nosce teipsum, vnnd den grund deß Natürlichen Liechts/ in welchem doch viel Heydnische Philosophey, Sonderlich Pythagoras, so weit kommen/ daß er vielen heutigs tags vermeinten Maulchristen wol [f. *5r] billich könte vorgezogen werden/ sintemal er auß dem Gestirn vnd Creatis die erkündigung der Natur besser gelernet/ als heut zu tag vnsern auffgeblasenen Naßweise Philosophi andere lehren wollen/ vnnd selbst im Grund nichts verstehn.

Diese vnsere Hermetische Philosophey Aber/ welche in sich begreifft die wahre Astronomia, Alchymiam, vnd Magiam, wie auch Cabalam &c. Jst ein Vhralte Wahre/ Natürliche Scientia von Adam her/ welcher so wol nach dem fall als vor dem fall/ allerding völlige erkandtniß gehabt/ auff die Altvätter/ vnd liebe Freund Gottes/ von Einem zum Andern geerbet/ vnnd hinderlassen/ worden. Nach der Sündfluß ist diese Allgemeine Erkantniß vnd Wissenschafft dieser wahren Natürlichen Philosophey/ so auß dem Hellen Liecht der Natur bey jhnen Entsprungen/ Stucksweiß in vnderschiedliche Ort vnd End außgetheilt/ vnnd spargirt worden/ auch an Kräfften weit geschwechet vnd gemindert/ daß auß solcher Absönderung ein Partialitet entstanden/ vnd Einer ein Astronomus der Ander ein Magus, der Dritte/ Ein Cabalist, der Vierdt ein Alchymist worden/ [f. *5v] vnd sonderlich hat sie in Ægypten trefflich hernach florirt, wie dann der Vulcanische Abraham Tubalkaim, Ein künstlichen Meister in allerley Ertz vnnd Eisenwerck/ wie auch ein Außbündiger Astrologus, vnd Arithemticus, gewesen/ vnnd solche Kunst mit sich auß Aegypten in das Land Chanaan gebracht. Dahero dann die Aegyptier so hoch kommen/ daß von jhnen solcher ding Geschicklichkeit/ Weißheit vnd Kusnt auch zu andern Völckern vnnd Nationen gebracht worden ist.

Diese Kunst haben auch jederzeit die Chaldeer/ Hebreer/ Perser/ vnd Aegyptier neben der Theologi vnnd Vnderrichtung in Göttlichen sachen gehabt/ vnd tractirt. Also ward Moses in der Aegyptier Schul in allerhand guten Künsten instituiert vnd dermassen Vnderrichtet worden/ daß Er außbündig in der Weißheit worden/ darumb er dann nicht vmb sonst zu einem Führer deß Jsraelitischen Volcks von Gott erkorn vnd verordnet ward.

Also hat auch Daniel diese Kunst vnnd Lehren von Jugendt auff in der Chaldeer Schulen in sich gesogen/ vnd erlernet/ wie dann seine Prophecey gnugsam außweiset/ [f. *6r] vnnd seine geschickligkeit in allerley außlegungen gegen dem König Nebucadnezar vnd Beltzasar klärlich an tag gethan/ vnnd mit höchster Verwunderung erwiesen. Solche Philosophi vnd Magi sind auch gewesen die Drey Weysen auß Morgenland/ so Christum Jesum von Auffgang der Sonnen hergesucht/ vnnd jhn in der Krippen zu Bethlehem gefunden haben.

Da aber nach herfürbrechung/ dieser Göttlichen Magiae vnd Natürlichen wahren Philosophey 27. Jar nach der Sündfluß/ Vngefährlich im Jahr 1680. nach Erschaffung der Welt/ bey den Chaldeern/ Persianern/ vnd nachgehends in Aegypten auch/ die Abgöttischen vnd Aberglaubischen Griechen solches gerathen/ Sind vnder jhnen die Fürnembsten vnd Verständigsten in Chaldeam vnd Aegypten gezogen/ damit sie auß jhren Schulen solche Weißheit schöpffen/ vnd erlernen möchten/ Weil jhnen aber die Lehr Göttliches worts auß der H[eiligen] Bibel vnd dem Gesetz Mosis nit schmachte/ vnd sie sich auff jhr Vernunfft vnd eygenen Verstand verliessen/ geschickter vnnd [f. *6v] kluger sein wolten als Gott selbst/ (wie dann deß Lucifers vnd seiner anhangender Schuler vnd Organen angeborne Art vnd Eigenschafft/ vnd deß Teufels brauch allzeit gewesen/ daß wo Gott ein Kirchen gestifftet/ er seine Capellen darneben auffgerichtet: vnd im Newen Testament auch also ergangen/ Da Christus der Höchste Spagyrus philosophus vnd Himmlische Sähmann seinen Edlen Waitzen außgesähet/ Er also bald als der Feind seinen Raden vnd Vnkraut darauff häuffig geworffen/ vnd eingeschmeist/ wie leider zu Erbarmen/ am tag ist. Da sind sie vom Fundament vnd Grundveste Aller Natürlichen Geheymniß/ vnd Verborgener Künsten abgewichen/ vnd jhre Eigene dünckel voll Weißheit auß dem Trunckenen/ Thummen/ Jrrigen vnd Verführischen Gestirn deß Sathans gesogen/ mit Eingemischet/ vnd die Warheit damit Vberschwemmet vnd Verfinstert: Dann jhr Eygener hochmut vnd praesumtion sie verhindert/ bethört/ vnnd in Jrrthumb gestürtzet hat.

Dann als sie etwas wenigs von den Chaldeern vnnd Aegyptiern begriffen/ sind sie stoltz vnd Auffgeblasen worden/ haben jhren [f. *7r] Verstand viel mehr vnnd höher vertrawet/ Als in jhrer Natur war/ vnnd angefangen die Sachen mit viel subtilen falsch erdichten Erfindungen zu schärpffen/ vnd ein Eigene auß jhrem subtil gesponnenen Hirn/ auß dem irrigen trunckenen Gestirn jhnen influirte Philosophey zubeschreiben sich vnderstanden/ so nit allein bey jhnen vberhand genommen/ sondern auch nachgehendes zu den Latinern von jhnen ist Außgebreitet worden/ Welche nicht weniger als die Griechen/ da sie deren ein wenig bericht erlanget/ jhren Verstand auch haben wollen sehen lassen/ vnd mit jhrem Zusatz helffen Mehren/ Ziehren vnd Verbesseren/ vnd doch mehr Verbösert haben.

Von solchen ist nun angeregte vermeinte Philosophey in gantz Europam außgebreitet worden/ vast alle Academien vnnd Hoheschulen durchloffen/ deren zugefallen solche auffgerichtet/ vnd die Jugend in deren Vnderwiesen worden/ auch noch heutiges tags also hartnäckig darinn Instituiret wird/ daß sie Mosis vnnd der Propheten ja Christi selbsten schier gar vergessend/ Solcher gleichsam Gott selbsten anhangen defendiren, vnd biß auffs Blut tuiren, nit [f. *7v] allein in Teutschland/ sondern auch fast bey allen Andern Nationen. So auch Einer etwas der recht wahren in Gottes wort gegründten Philosophey gemäß vorbringt/ so der jhrigen zu wider ist/ muß er nit allein veracht/ verspottet/ vnd verlachet/ sondern Ein Singularis, Ein Ketzer vnd Haeresiarcha, wie mir selbsten von etlichen Pseudo-Leviten geschehen vnd begegnet/ gescholten/ vnd auch wol gar verfolget werden. Bleib es also bey dem alten Sprichwort Mundus vult decipi. Darauff ist der Sathan ein Tausentkünstler mit seinen vielfältigen Deceptionibus, wie er die gantze Christenheit hinters Liecht führet/ vnd mit seiner finstern Latern welche sie für ein herrlich Liecht halten/ ansehen vnd verehren/ jhnen Vorzündet in die Ewige Finsterniß der Höllen. Wer nun will betrogen vnnd verführet sein/ der fahre nur immer hin/ er wirdts an jehnem tag mit Ewigem Ach vnd Weh/ Heilen vnd Zehnklappern wol erfahren wie haiß die Hölle sey.

Wann wir aber/ Großgünstige Herren vnd Freundt wollen der Wahren Natürlichen Philosophey/ auß dem Liecht der Natur gegründet nachgehen/ vnd dieselbe er- [f. *8r] lernen/ Als vnsere Spagyrische Phylosophey/ Astronomiam Veram, vnd Magiam, Wo vnd von wem sollen wir sie studiren? Sollen wir deren Doctores vnd Praeceptores bey den Hohen Schulen suchen? Da werden wir sie wahrlich nicht finden/ dann da sind die rechten Feind/ Spötter/ vnd verfolger vnserer Philosophey/ vnd aller derer/ so jhr anhangen/ Et Ars non habet osorem nisi ignorantem sui: Sie wollen lieber bey den Hülsen vnd Sprewern/ die der Wind hin vnnd her verstrewet/ als bey den Edlen wolschmackenden Kern/ Rocken vnd Waitzen auß der Grossen Scheuren oder Schatzkammer deß Ewigen Gottes/ Als deß Reichen Haußvatters/ hoc est, Macrocosmo vns vorgelegt/ vnnd gegönnet/ verbleiben. Wo sollen wirs dann suchen/ bei welcher Schul frag ich? Geliebte Herren vnd Freundt/ Anders nirgends können/ sollen oder müssen wir sie suchen/ als bey dem Gestirn/ das ist die Schul/ darauß alles gelernet wirdt. Alle Natürliche Künst vnd Weißheit: werden von dem Gestirn den Menschen gegeben/ vnnd Wir seind deß Gestirns Schuler/ Das Gestirn ist vnser Natürlicher Lehrmeister: [f. *8v] Auß dem Liecht der Natur als auß vnserm Vatter/ auß dem wir Gemacht vnd Geschaffen sind/ sollen wir lernen. Das Gestirn ist vnser Natürlicher Schulmeister/ dann alle Vernunfft vnnd Kunst erbet von dem Gestirn an Vns: Allso hat es Gott verordnet/ daß das Natürliche Liecht sey in dem Gestürn/ vnd in dasselbig gelegt den Schatz der Menschen/ auß demselben gelernet zu werden. Nach dem sich nun der Mensch gegen solcher schul neigt vnnd helt in seiner Imagination, Also folget auch in dieselbigen die Inclination vnd aetherische Influentz Was aber nun der Mensch vom Gestirn sauget/ das ist alles seine tödliche Weißheit/ Vernunfft/ Kunst/ vnnd was auß dem Liecht der Natur ist/ daß muß auß denselbigen erlernet werden. Jn Summa/ Was zu dem Tödlichen dienet/ das lehret vns das Firmament: Was aber auff den andern Vntödlichen theil der Sehlen gehört/ vnd deß innern Menschens im Göttlichen wandel/ daß alles muß auß Gott gelernet werden/ Das trifft nun die Bildnuß Gottes an/ die ist dem Geist befohlen/ der Jhr vom Herren geben ist/ derselbig lehret den Menschen vber Natürliches zum Ewigen: Der [f. **1r] beim Menschen allein als ein Schulmeister/ den Menschen zuerleuchten in das Ewige. Darumb sind auch 2. Leib/ Einer auß den Elementen/ vnnd Einer auß dem Gestirn: Durch den todt kompt der Elementisch Leib mit seinem Geist in die Gruben/ vnnd die Aetherischen werden in jhrem Firmament verzehrt: Der Geist der Bildniß Aber gehet zu dem in deß die Bildtnuß ist. Also stirbt ein jeglicher in dem/ auß dem er ist/ vnd in dasselbig wird er Vergraben. Also scheidet der todt Drey Geister von einander vom Menschen. Darumb der Weyse Mann hoc est, der Mann der auß Göttlicher Weißheit lebt in der Bildtnuß des Herren/ derselbig herrschet vber den Gestirnten vnnd Elementischen Leib. Aber Bruder Bildnuß soll der Mensch genug thun/ in einer jeglichen wandeln/ das er im Gesatz deß Herren erfunden werde in der Natur/ wie die Alten Weysen Heyden gelebt haben/ vnd dann fürs ander/ in willen Gottes im Göttlichen Geist/ vnnd den Tödtlichen Leib mit seiner klugheit nit fürsetze der Ewigen Bildniß/ (wie alle Welt fast jetzo mit jhrer vermeinten falschen Weißheit thut) Auch die Ewige Bildniß von deß [f. **1v] Thierischen Leibs wegen nicht verstosse/ vnd den Thierischen Leib mit seiner Weißheit für das Ewige Heyligthumb nicht achte noch erhebe/ Darumb der Herr Christus nicht vergebens gesagt hat in dem Evangelio vom Zinßgroschen: Gebt dem Keyser was deß Keysers ist/ vnd Gott was Gottes ist/ Was hat er damit wollen Andeuten? Eben das/ das Nemlich der Leib dem Natürlichen Leben nach/ dem Keyser gehöre der soll jhm vnderthänig sein als dem jrrdischen Haupt auff Erden: Die Sehle aber Gott zu gehöre/ die solle er auch Gott widergeben vnd ein vber antworten/ Das ist er solle jhm sein Bildnuß auch widergeben nach dem Geistlichen ewigen Leben/ Als dem Himmlischen Haupt Herren/ von dem Leib vnd Sehl doch vnderschiedlich herkomme. Er solle allso in seinen Gebotten wandeln nach dem willen Gottes/ damit er sein Bildnuß vnd Göttlich fewriges Ewiges Depositum Spiraculum Vitae widerumb möge Gott in die Schoß Abrahams einlieffern/ vnnd daß sie nicht Ewiglich durch Gottloß teuffelisches Leben vnnd Wesen/ von seinem Angesicht in die Eusserste finsternuß verstossen werde: Das ist Christi [f. **2r] Meinung gewesen/ vnd Intention. Der nun nach der Bildnuß deß Herren lebt/ der vberwindet das Gestirn/ vnd wird billich ein weiser Mann genennet/ ob er gleich von der blinden vnsinnigen tollen Welt für einen thoren vnnd einfältigen Narren gescholten vnd gehalten wirdt.

Von diesem aber weitters zu Philosophiren gehört nit deß Orts zuu der Tödlichen Philosophey/ sondern zu der Vntödtlichen Ewigen Philosophey darvon wir anfangs andeutung gethan/ welche Christum Jhesum zum Anfänger hat/ von welchem wir die Stimm deß Vatters haben/ Hunc audite. Item, Seine Selbst eigene zuruffende Stimme/ an vns Matth. 11. Venite Omnes, &c. Discedite à me, quia sum humilis & mitis corde &c. Von diesem sollen wir die Himlische vnd Ewige Philosophey lernen/ damit wir in das Reich des Himmlen kommen mögen. Von dieser Philosophey wollen wir in kürtz/ Geliebts Gott/ auch etwas handeln: Hieher will sich dieses orts zu der Tödlichen vnd Natürlichen Philosophey weitters etwas zumelden nit gebühren: Ob ich wol beydes/ der Natürlichen vnd tödlichen/ vnnd der vber Natürlichen Himmlischen/ [f. **2v] Vntödlichen Ewigen h[oc] e[st] Immortali Philosophiae gantz vnd gar ergeben/ vnd darbei biß in mein end vnd gruben hinein deren Discipulus vnd Alumnus bleiben will/ sintemahl ich der falschen Heydnischen Philosophey/ so nicht auß dem wahren gründlichen Liecht vnnd Fundament der Natur geht gantz vnd gar abgesagt/ vnd valedicirt, weil ausserhalb Christo vnd seiner Weißheit/ in der Welt nichts ist dann Vanitas Vanitatum: Vnd die Weißheit ich suche vnd suchen will/ bey dem sie zu suchen vnd zu finden ist/ dahin mich der Heylige Jacobus in seiner Epistel weiset. Wo müssen wir aber zu vnserm Intent vnd Erforschung der Natur kommen/ Großgünstig Herren vnd Freund? Hinderm offen daheim lernets sich warlich nicht/ vnd wenn wir aller Philosophen Bücher vberm hauffen hetten/ vnd die tag vnd nacht herumb stürmten/ vnnd darauß erlernen wolten/ Nein es thuts nicht: Sondern wann wir die Natur in vnser Philosophei durchforschen wollen/ vnd zu einem gewünschten glückseligen end gelangen/ so müssen wir der Natur bücher mit vnsern Füssen tretten/ Die Geschrifft erforschet man durch jhren Buchstaben: Die Natur aber durch [f. **3r] Land zu Land/ da findet man bißweilen fromme vnd trewhertzige Nicodemos, Naturalisten, Philosophos, vnd erkündigung der Natur/ vnd Liebhaber vnserer Spagyrischen Philosophey (ich rede jetzt nit von Betrierischen Landleufferischen falschen Alchymisten/ denen ich zugefallen nit einen fußbreit verrucken wolte) Da kan man dann neben der selbst eigenen Erkündigung der Natürlichen dingen bißweilen einen nutzlichen guten bericht bekommen/ Der jhm hernach dermal eins ersprießlich sein mag. Darumb als offt ein Land/ als offt ein Blatt im Buch der Natur zu finden: Also ist nun Codex Naturae satis amplus & largus, Also muß man jhre Bletter mit den Füssen vmbkehren/ vnnd mit dem Geist der vernunfft erforschen/ Ob wir schon von den Pseudoofficianten/ vnd vermeinten Hochwitzigen Rothen Paretles Doctorn vnnd Syrupköchen/ für Vagenten, Landleuffer/ vnd Landstreicher außgestrichen vnnd beschriehen werden/ ligt Mir nichts daran. Der Jünger soll es nit besser haben dann sein Meister/ Solches ist Theophrasto, vnserm Thewren Praeceptori vnd Monarchae Artium auch begegnet/ Also auch Alexan- [f. **3v] dro von Süchten/ Phoedroni, vnd andern mehr/ Darumb achte ich auch nicht in der gantzen Welt in meinem Reysen/ was Menschen händ gemacht vnnd gekünstelt haben/ welches Andere Hoch achten/ sondern allein was Gottes Hand geschaffen/ darob verwundere ich mich/ das sehe ich an/ vnnd begehre es zu durchforschen seine 3. Principia zuerkündigen/ purum ab impuro zu scheyden/ Gottes Ehr vnd Glori dardurch zu praediciren vnd zubeschreiben/ vnnd etwas nützlichers darauß mir vnnd meinem Nechsten zu nutz vnnd gutem an Leib vnnd Sehl zuschöpffen. Dann alle Creata vnd Geschöpff Gottes sind lebendige Buchstaben vnd Bücher deß Menschen herkommen zubeschreiben: Ja alle Creata sind Buchstaben darinnen gelesen wirdt/ Wer der Mensch ist/ Dann vor allen dingen soll jhm ein jeder das Nosce te ipsum trewlich lassen befohlen sein/ daß er sich selbst lerne/ wie Aristoteles Chymicus zu Alexandro Magno gesagt: Disce te ipsum & habebis omnia, vnd Morienus: Omnes qui omnia habent, alieno auxilio non indigent,

Darumb begnüget mir billich an diesen Dreyen Büchern/ darauß ich alle Weißheit schöpffen vnnd erlernen möge: Als an [f. **4r] dem grossen möchtigen Circkelrunden Buch der Natur/ so nit mit dinten/ oder Stylo geschrieben/ sondern mit dem Finger Gottes durch Sacrum Uni Trinitatis Signaculum, Himmel vnd Erden vnnd allen geschöpffen darinen eingegraben vnd verzeichnet vns vor augen steht: Welches Buch Macrocosmus genennet wirdt. Zum Andern An dem kleinen Buch/ welches mit allen seinen Blettern vnd Stücken auß dem grossen genommen/ vnnd darnach formirt ist worden/ Welches der Mensch ist/ vmb dessen willen alles was Gott je geschaffen hat/ da ist/ vnd dieses wird Microcosmus genennet: Vnd ist der Mensch allein Der/ Der ein Jnstrument ist deß Natürlichen Liechts/ das jehnig zuvolbringen/ dieselbigen werck in Künsten vnd Weißheit darzu thun/ wie sie dann Gott im Firmament verordnet hat. Also hat er auch weitters verordnet/ das der Mensch einen zweyfachen Magneten habe/ Einen Nemlich von den Elementen/ darumb zeucht er sie widerumb an sich: Darnach einen auß dem Gestirn/ auß dem er an sich Zeucht die Microcosmische Sinnligkeit widerumb vom Gestirn/ vnnd hat also die Vernunfft deß Menschen einen Magneten/ der in sich Zeucht vom Gestirn [f.**4v] die Sinn vnd Gedancken: Auß diesem sage ich/ daß noch einer entstehe in den Rechtglaubigen/ Magis vnd Cabalisten/ vnd das dieser dritte Magnet verborgen sey/ in der Bildnuß Gottes/ vnnd in deß Menschen Sehl/ der dringe durch die Imagination vnd den Glauben/ zu dem/ von dem Sie kommen ist/ vnd suchet die Ewige Weißheit vnd den H[eiligen] Geist/ der jhr von Christ verheissen ist. Darumb ist auch wol zumercken/ das zwo Sehlen im Menschen sind/ die Ewig vnd die Natürlich/ das ist zwey Leben: Eins ist dem Todt vnderworffen/ Das Ander widerstehet dem Todt: Also auch die zwen Geist/ der ewig von der Natürlich/ Was Natürlich ist/ das ist im gestirnten Leib/ vnd der gestirnte Leib ist im Corporalischen/ vnd sind als beede ein Mensch/ Aber zween Leib. Also befinden sich auch im Menschen zwen Himmel/ der Eine ist Luna Cerebrum, der Cagastrische Himmel: Jm Hertzen deß Menschen aber ist der Rechte Jliarische Necroconische Himmel/ Ja Cor Hominis selbst ist der Rechte Himmel deß Ewigen Wesens/ darauß die Sehl noch nie kommen ist/ darinnen jhm der Newe Olympus vnd Himmel Christus Jhesus seine re- [f. **5r] sidentz vnd Wohnung bey allen Glaubigen erwehlet hat.

Das Dritte Buch ist Nemblich Sacra Biblia, die H[eilige] Hochwürdige Schrifft Alt vnd New Testaments das weiset vns auff diese 2. vorgehende Bücher hinein/ darinnen vns die Göttliche Chronica vom H[eiligen] Geist beschrieben/ darthut/ wie die Grosse Welt vmb der kleinen Welt willen beschaffen/ vnd Gott dem HErren Einigen vnnd Allein vmb den Menschen zuthun gewesen/ der von Gott dem Vatter zeitlich auß der grossen Welt gespeiset/ ernehret vnd erhalten/ vnd nach dem fall durch seinen Sohn vom Ewigen verderben erlöset&/ durch Wasser vnd Geist wider Newgeboren/ vnd mit dem Himmlischen Manna vnd der Ewigen Speiß/ der Newen Creatur zugehörig/ zum Ewigen Leben vorsehen vnd gespeiset/ vnd durch den H[eiligen] Geist in alle warheit geleitet vnd geführet würde.

Auß diesen Dreyen Büchern/ Großgünstige Herren vnd Freund/ können vnnd mögen wir gnugsam durch hilff vnnd beystand Göttlicher Gnaden vnd deß H[eiligen] Geistes erlernen/ was vns an Leib vnnd Sehl/ Zeitlich vnd Ewiglich nutzlich vnd heylsam [f. **5v] sein mag/ das wir aller Jrrigen/ Verführischen Heydnischen Bücher vnd Scripten, deren die gantze Welt vnd alle winckel vollstecken/ gar wol entrathen mögen.

Damit wir aber wieder zu vnserer Geheymen Hermetischen Philosophey kommen/ Geliebte Herren vnd Freund/ so haben wir vns neben andern Filiis Doctrinae nit wenig zubeklagen/ Ob wol vnzehlich viel Teuflische Philosophi von der Universal Medicin, vnnd dem Gebenedeyten Steyn der Weysen geschrieben/ Heyden vnd Chrsiten/ vnd jre Schrifften vns hinter lassen: dz solche auß des Teuffels anhetzung von getrib/ von Gottlosen Cacosophisten vnd Pseudophilosophis vndergetruckt/ mehrertheils hinderhalten werden/ könnens jhnen nicht nutz machen/ vnnd mögens Andern auch nicht gönnen.

Vnnd das ist ein Rechter Teüffelsgriff damit die warheit nicht an tag komme/ vnd sein Lügen vnd Narrenschiff/ darinn er die gantze Welt nun viel 100. Jahr verblendt geschlöppet/ vnd herumb führet/ nicht erkandt werde.

Fürs ander haben wir vns auch zubeklagen wider diejehnigen/ so solche Bücher zum theil in Truck gehen lassen/ aber verfälschte [f. **6r] vnd verstümmelt/ wie ichs im Triumphwagen Fr[atris] Basilii, Alexanders von Süchten/ auch in Theophrasti Schrifften klärlich befunden/ das mans den jenigen nit gönnet/ die der kunst vnd wahren natürlichen weßheit nachtrachten/ vnd also da ein Defect, oder veränderung/ da ein anders eingemenget wirt/ wie dann auch in diesem gegenwertigen H[errn] Alexanders von Süchten Tractetlein augenscheinlich zusehen/ da hie was/ dort was stucksweis publicirt/ vnd andern Scriptis admisciret worden. Vnsonderlich haben wir vns/ Großgünstig Herren vnd Freund/ höchlich zubeklagen wegen der Thewren Schrifften Theophrasti, vnsers Hocherleuchten Teutschen Philosophi vnnd HErmetis verè Trismegisti, dz dieselben bißhero so teufflischer arglistiger weiß vndergetruckt/ vnd die wenigsten vnd aller schlechtesten zurechnen nur in truck komen sind. Ja ob man sie wol hin vnd her auß allen Landen/ da Theophrastus gewesen vnd gereiset/ auffgesamlet vnd colligirt: derer er etlich 1000. Bücher beschriben in Astronomia, Philosophia, Chymia, Cabala, vnnd Theologia Gratiae hinderlassen hat man doch nur solches zu eigenen nutz/ geitz vnd Reichtumb dardurch zuerlangen/ gerichtet [f. **6v] die besten in Fürsten vnnd Herren Höffen verstecket/ damit ein Mercketenterey/ vnnd Kauffmanschafft angefangen/ vnnd also verpartirt/ vmb groß gelt verkaufft/ vnnd der gantzen Christenheit nutz vnd frommen/ vmb deren willen sie von Theoprhasto geschrieben vnnd hinderlassen worden/ gar nicht angesehen/ Sonderlich was seine Theologische Schrifften anlangt/ weil sie den Gottlosen verruchten/ vom Teuffel verblendten vnd verführten Weltkinder vnnd Bauchdienern zuwider/ vnnd jhren kropff nicht geschmacket/ bißhero gantz vnnd gar vndergetruckt worden/ Zu welchem Teufflischen werck Thurneyser/ Instrumentum verum Sathanae, der Alle Welt/ Chur vnd Fürsten groß vnd klein betrogen mit seiner falschen Alchymey/ vnd andern Lugenkünsten/ sich redlich neben andern/ deren ich jetzt verschonen will/ gebrauchen lassen/ Aber das sollen sie an jehnem tag in der Warheit erfahren/ daß ich vor dem Richterstul Jhesu Christi solche gesellen/ neben allen wahren Filiis Doctrinae werde anklagen/ vnnd rechenschafft von jhnen erfordern/ daß sie die Thewren vnnd Hochwürdige Scripta der gantzen Christenheit zu nutz vnnd heyl [f. **7r] von Gott in diesen letzten zeiten durch Theophrastum verordnet/ abgestohlen/ verkaufft/ verpartirt/ vnnd die Liebe warheit in Kisten vnd Kasten/ Mawer vnd Gewölb/ Schlösser vnd Rigel verstecket haben.

Was ferns diesen vnsern Thewren Hochbegnadeten Monarchen vnd Praeceptorem anlangt/ Ph[ilippo] Theophrasto/ Hochseligster Gedächtnuß/ wollen wir sein Vitam, vnd seine gebührende Laudes vnd Famam Immortalem, das jhm Gott/ die Engel/ vnd das gantz Firmament gegönnet vnd gegeben/ für vnser person nicht vndertrucken lassen/ Sondern seine Ehr vnnd Lehr Cordetenus, usq́ue ad extremum vitae habitum defendiren, vnd solches/ geliebts Gott/ in kurtzen tagen in einer sonderlichen Praefation, (do wir einen Anfang mit seinen Cabalischen vnd Theologischen Büchern machen werden/ der gantzen Christenheit ewiges heyl vnd Seligkeit zubefördern/ damit der Dreyköpffige Antichrist oder die Drey vnreine Geister in Apocalypsi, recht mögen von jedermann erkandt vnnd geflohen werden/ ins werck richten. Dann wir alle seine Scripta, so viel möglich zubekommen/ mit Christi hülff vnnd beystand/ des- [f. **7v] sen Ehr vnnd Glori/ wie auch der gantzen Christenheit heil vnd Wolfahrt/ Er Einig vnd allein gesucht/ auffs new in offentlichen truck zu ordnen gäntzlich bedacht vnnd entschlossen. Wie ich dann der tröstlichen hoffnung vnd zuversicht bin/ daß alle Christeyfferige Liebhaber vnd Nachfolger Verae & Christianae Philosophiae, von vnserm Himlischen Philosopho Christo Jesu herürend/ mir einen trewlichen beystand leisten vnnd erweisen werden. Darumb ich dann vmb Christi Ehr vnd Glori willen/ vnd der lieben lang gedempfften Warheit/ vnnd dieser Thewren vnd Edlen Philosophey/ Magiae nvd Alchymey willen/ vmb Gottes willen Hohes vnd Niderstandes personen zum Demütigsten will gebetten vnnd angeruffen haben/ mit solchen schrifften mir zu dienen Soll jhnen hinwiderumb in höchster danckbarkeit/ da wir vnser gewünschtes end inn kürzte wills Gott in der Philosophia vnnd Medicina Adepta erreichen werden/ Zum Vndertähnigsten willfahret vnd begegnet werden: Dann da sie in der warheit sehen vnd erfahren sollen vnnd werden/ daß deme also sey wz wir sambt Andern lang gesucht haben.

Invida rumpantur reprobo licet Ilia Mundo,
Tandem triumfabit tamen [f. **8r]
Diva, salutari cum foenore, Clausa tenebris,
Sacrosancta, semper Veritas.

Was aber diß gegenwertig Büchlein Großgünstige Herren vnd Patroni, Welches ich Pandoram Novam Auream & Olympiacam intitulirt/ vom L[apide] Philosophorum tractirend/ anlangen thut/ hab ich solches trewlich vnd ohn allen falsch/ wie ichs bekommen/ Den Filiis Doctrinae Spagyricae, weil diese Tractetlein alle/ so darinn begriffen/ vor niemals gesehen worden/ gern Communiciren/ vnd in offenen truck publiciren. wollen. Vnd sonderlich weil E[uer] V[esten] G[unst] vnd Herrligkeit Sonderliche Liebhaber vnd Mecoenates der Thewren vnd Edlen Alchymey/ vnd Spagyrischen Kunst bißhero viel Jar gewesen/ vnd nicht geringe wissenschafft vnd Verstand darinnen haben/ Hab ich solch Büchlein vnder Ewrem Adelichen Löblichen vnd Wohlberühmten Nammen vnd Ansehlichen Patrocinio wollen außgehen lassen/ Vnderthänig bittendt/ E[euer] V[esten] Gunst vnd Herrligkeit wollen jhnen als von einem Wolbekandten/ doch Armen Discipulo SS[anctae] Theopharastiae, vnd Immortalis Philosophiae Christianae alumno, diese dedicatoram Compellationem nit mißfallen/ sondern vielmehr belieben vnd wider alle lästerer [f. **8v] Spötter/ vnnd Verfolger dieser Thewren Künsten mich sampt diesen Philosophischen Büchlein/ defendiren, vnnd mein Christlich eyfferig Gemüth/ die Warheit zu promoviren, Confirmiren, vnnd in alle weg befördern helffen: Dero ich mich hinwiderumb da Gott sein Gnad vnnd Göttlichen Segen verleihen wirdt/ Danckbarliche Respondentz zu erzeigen/ vnd im werck zuerweisen gewillt/ vnd zum trewlichsten geneigt Hiemit vns alle samptlich vnnd sonders/ in den Gnadenreichen Schutz vnnd Schirm Gottes/ Actum Altera Feria Natalitia I[esu] Christi Trismegisti nostri Spagyri in orbe nati 1607. 26. Decembris in Eremitico nostro Muaeolo Hagenoam.

E[uer] Gestrengheit/ Vest/ Gunst vnd Herrligkeiten.

Officiosißimus Servitor

Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovias, Fr[ancus]. Poeta L[aureatus] C[oronatus]. Theologus; Theosophius; Philosophus; Medicus; Eremita. T. M.


English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT on 26 February 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.

The dedicatory speech is the speaker.

To the Honorable, Noble, and Wise Sir Michael Daniel Pleickharden, also known as Poland, Consiliario of the High and Reverend Cathedral of Strasbourg, etc. And to the Respectable, Learned, Distinguished, and Wise Sir Balthasar Keyben, Doctor of Both Laws, in Frankfurt on the Main. As well as to the Honorable, Experienced, Prudent, and Worthy Sir Johann Enoch Meyer, Master Builder of the City of Strasbourg, and Steward of the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Undis. His gracious, beloved and beneficent patrons,

Noble, Honorable, Wise, Distinguished, Highly Intelligent, and Highly Learned Patrons and Benefactors, as I consider and reflect on the entire course of my studies from my youth until now, and as I have actually experienced and observed, it becomes increasingly evident to the true believers and genuine naturalists that there are three kinds of philosophy or wisdom that the world partly employs, with one more than the other, and among them only one can be eternal and immortal and can stand before Almighty God (although few students are found to possess it). This wisdom comes down from above and flows from the Father of Light.

The first is now the common Aristotelian-Platonic, and our contemporary philosophy, which is only a speculative and fanciful philosophy, with which all schools are still filled and belong to, and through which dear youth is seduced. And this is a barren, dead chatter far from the foundation of truth, and it is erroneous, with all kinds of the opinions, beliefs, and erroneous thoughts of the ancient heathens (who were considered wise), which have been accepted as truth and are still fiercely defended today. Because it comes from an unfavorable heaven and constellation, bad influences, and inspirations of Satan, and at the same time, it is considered a great mystery and holiness, as it is still esteemed by the majority of scholars. Yet it is a misleading, false, deadly, and seductive wisdom that will turn into nothing but dust and ashes with the body in the grave, and it is precisely this that the Holy, High-Enlightened Apostle Paul warns us about in his epistle: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit."

This philosophy, even though it has been taught to me seriously and diligently in schools since my youth and unfortunately still happens to others nowadays, it has always been suspicious and doubtful to me from a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So much so that I couldn't tire my mind and heart with it, and I couldn't persuade myself to believe it as holy and imagine it as such, nor could I follow it as others have done. Instead, I had to let it pass and stay that way until around the year 87 or 88 when a different philosophy would come my way. Nevertheless, I was determined to not be the least among my fellow students and to eventually earn my doctorate degree with time, so that I could be ahead and preferred over others.

But it has pleased God in His divine providence to hinder rather than promote my course of studies through various impediments that befell me before my superiors. Until finally, in the years 87-88, I happened upon the books and writings of Theophrastus, Rogerius Bacchus, and Master Isaac Hollandus, which, by God's indulgence, contained a little of the foundation for medicine and the universal medicine and stone, which I saw to be a different and better basis, but which I still did not understand. Yet, I was soon moved by such a profound inspiration that I was completely determined not to rest my head until I obtained this universal stone and the treasures of heavenly medicine. But at the time, I was too poor to pursue this study further, as I could not afford the expenses, nor could I receive any support from my parents or others (as the promoters of this study were then still few princes and lords). I had to let it go against my will, even though I had such love for it that I could not sleep for many months because of it. Eventually, in the year 90, I was plunged into great misery, misfortune, and illness by the devil and his minions. And when God mercifully delivered me from it, and some preferred my death to my life, I was forced by poverty to work as a mercenary against my will. There, I was tormented, persecuted, and afflicted by all kinds of persecution and hardship, partly by the Antichristian mob, partly by false brethren, by women and friendship. Thus, I was dragged through the mill by the devil himself. But through God's fatherly will, I was rescued and my soul was benefited. Only three years ago (after having given up poetry, which was annoying to everyone, during my pilgrimage for several years), I came back to this true philosophy, medical studies, and the school of Theophrastus, and publicly declared myself a disciple of Paracelsus. Neither the devil, nor the world, nor their scales, snakes, and adders can ever turn me away from it again.

The philosophy of old never taught us more than "Nosce teipsum" and the basis of natural light, in which many pagan philosophers, especially Pythagoras, went so far that he could rightly be preferred to many Christians today, since he learned the investigation of nature better from the stars and creatures than our modern, inflated, and unwise philosophers want to teach, and they do not understand the basics themselves.

But our Hermetic philosophy, which includes true astronomy, alchemy, and magic, as well as Kabbalah, etc., is an ancient truth, a natural science from Adam himself, who had complete knowledge both before and after the fall. It was inherited and passed down from one patriarch and beloved friend of God to another. After the flood, this general knowledge and science of true natural philosophy, which had arisen from the bright light of nature, was gradually distributed and scattered to different places and ends, and its powers were greatly weakened and reduced. This separation gave rise to partiality, and one became an astronomer, another a magician, a third a Kabbalist, and a fourth an alchemist. It flourished particularly in Egypt, as the Vulcanic Abraham Tubalkain, a master of all kinds of ores and ironworks, as well as an outstanding astrologer and arithmetician, brought such knowledge from Egypt to the land of Canaan. That is why the Egyptians became so advanced that their skill, wisdom, and art were also brought to other peoples and nations.

These arts were also always had by the Chaldeans, Hebrews, Persians, and Egyptians, alongside theology and instruction in divine matters, and were treated. Thus Moses was educated in all sorts of good arts in the Egyptian school and was so instructed that he became exceedingly wise, which is why he was chosen and appointed by God to be a leader of the Israelite people.

Similarly, Daniel absorbed and learned these arts and teachings from his youth in the Chaldean schools, as his prophecies abundantly demonstrate, and he clearly demonstrated his skill in all sorts of interpretations to King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, and demonstrated it with the highest amazement. Such philosophers and magi were also the Three Wise Men from the East who sought CHRIST JESUS from the rising of the sun and found Him in the manger in Bethlehem.

But after the emergence of this divine magic and natural true philosophy, approximately 27 years after the Flood, around the year 1680 after the creation of the world, the idolatrous and superstitious Greeks also took to it, among the Chaldeans and Persians, and later in Egypt. The most important and intelligent among them were drawn to Chaldea and Egypt so that they could draw such wisdom from their schools and learn it. However, since they were not ashamed to teach the Word of God from the Holy Bible and the Law of Moses, and relied on their reason and own understanding, wanting to be more skillful and clever than God himself (as has always been the inherent nature and property of Lucifer and his adherents, and the devil's practice has been that wherever God has established a church, he has also erected his chapels nearby, and the same thing happened in the New Testament when CHRIST, the highest Spagyric philosopher and heavenly sower, sowed his noble seeds, he immediately as the enemy piled his councils and weeds on them and poured them in, as is unfortunately to be pitied. Then they deviated from the foundation and cornerstone of all natural secrets and hidden arts, and drew their own darkness full of wisdom from the drunken, foolish, contentious, and deceitful constellation of Satan, mixed it in, and flooded and darkened the truth with it. Their own pride and presumption prevented, deceived, and plunged them into error.

Then, as they understood a little of the Chaldeans and Egyptians, they became proud and inflated, trusting their minds much more than was in their nature. They began to sharpen things with many subtle and false inventions, and to describe their own philosophy that was spun from their confused and drunken minds. This not only took over them but also spread to the Latins afterwards, who, when they gained a little knowledge of it, wanted to demonstrate their intelligence and helped to expand, decorate, and improve it, and yet made it worse.

Now, this supposed philosophy has spread throughout all of Europe, passing through almost all academies and universities, which have been established for it, and the youth have been taught in it. Even to this day, it is so stubbornly instituted that they almost forget Moses and the prophets, even CHRIST himself. They defend and even die for such philosophy, not only in Germany but also in almost all other nations.

So, if someone presents something that is true and based on God's word, but which contradicts theirs, he must not only be scorned, mocked, and ridiculed but also called a singular, a heretic, and a heresiarch, as happened and happened to me personally by some pseudo-Levites, and even persecuted.

Thus, it remains with the old saying "Mundus vult decipi". Satan is a master of a thousand arts with his many deceptions, leading the whole Christian world astray and with his dark lantern, which they consider a glorious light, they look at and worship him, leading them to the eternal darkness of hell. Whoever wants to be deceived and misled, let him go on, and on that day, he will experience eternal agony and lamentation, wailing and gnashing of teeth, and how hot hell is.

However, if we want to pursue true natural philosophy based on the light of nature and learn it, as well as our spagyric philosophy, true astronomy, and magic, where and from whom should we study them, as great and generous lords and friends? Should we seek their doctors and teachers at the high schools? We will certainly not find them there, for they are the real enemies, scoffers, and persecutors of our philosophy and all those who follow it. Et ARS non habet osorem nisi ignorantem sui: They prefer to be with the husks and chaff that the wind scatters back and forth, rather than with the noble, well-tasting kernels, rocks, and wheat from the great barns or treasure chambers of the eternal God, presented and granted to us as the rich householder, that is, the macrocosm. Where should we look for it, then, at which school do I ask? Beloved lords and friends, we can, should, and must look for it nowhere else but at the stars, which are the school from which everything is learned. All natural art and wisdom are given to human beings by the stars, and we are the stars' students. The stars are our natural teachers. We should learn from the light of nature, which is our father, from whom we are made and created. The stars are our natural schoolmasters, for all reason and art are inherited from the stars to us. Thus God has ordained that the natural light be in the stars and placed in them the treasure of humanity, from which we should learn. As the human being leans and holds himself towards this school in his imagination, so too does the inclination and ethereal influence follow in it. However, what the human being sucks from the stars is all his deadly wisdom, reason, art, and what is from the light of nature must be learned from them. In summary, what serves the deadly must be taught to us by the firmament, but what belongs to the other, immortal part of the soul, and the inner person's transformation in the divine, must all be learned from God. This now concerns the image of God, which is entrusted to the spirit given to it by the Lord, which teaches humans about the natural to the eternal, which alone, as a schoolmaster, enlightens humans to the eternal. Therefore there are also two bodies, one made of the elements and one from the stars. Through death, the elemental body with its spirit goes into the grave, and the ethereal body is consumed in its firmament. But the spirit of the image goes to where the image is. So everyone dies in that which they are, and in that same thing they are buried. Therefore, death separates three spirits from the human being. Therefore, the wise man, who lives according to divine wisdom in the image of the Lord, rules over the stars and the elemental body. But the human should be content with the image and live according to it in each way so that they are found in the nature of the Lord, as the ancient wise heathens lived, and then in the will of God in the divine spirit, not continuing with the mortal body in their wisdom for the eternal image (as almost the whole world does with their false wisdom). Also, the eternal image should not be rejected because of the animal body, and the animal body should not be considered holy with its wisdom for the eternal image. That is why the Lord Christ did not say in vain in the Gospel of the Tribute Coin: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." What did he want to indicate by this? Namely, that the body, according to natural life, belongs to the emperor, and one should be submissive to him as the earthly head on earth. But the soul belongs to God, and one should give it back to him and be accountable for it. That is, one should give back the image according to the spiritual eternal life, as the heavenly Lord and head, from whom the body and soul come differently. Therefore, one should walk in his commandments according to the will of God, so that he may return his image and divine, fiery eternal deposit of the breath of life to God in the bosom of Abraham, and that they may not be forever cast out of his presence into outer darkness through a godless, devilish life and nature. This was Christ's meaning and intention. Whoever lives according to the image of the Lord overcomes the stars and is rightly called a wise man, although he is often called and considered a fool and simpleton by the blind, senseless, and foolish world.

However, to continue philosophizing belongs not to the realm of mortal philosophy, but to that of immortal and eternal philosophy, of which we made reference at the beginning, and which has Christ Jesus as its founder, from whom we have the voice of the Father. "Hunc audite." Likewise, His own calling voice to us in Matthew 11: "Venite Omnes," etc. "Discedite à me, quia sum humilis & mitis corde," etc. From Him, we are to learn the heavenly and eternal philosophy, so that we may enter into the kingdom of heaven. Beloved God, we will discuss this philosophy briefly. This does not pertain to the mortal and natural philosophy we previously discussed. Although I am devoted to both the natural and mortal philosophy, as well as the supernatural heavenly and eternal, that is, immortal philosophy, and I will remain a disciple and student of both until my end, I have completely renounced and bid farewell to false heathen philosophy that does not stem from the true and fundamental light and foundation of nature. For outside of Christ and His wisdom, there is nothing in the world but vanity of vanities. The wisdom I seek and will seek is that which is to be found and sought where the Holy James directs us in his epistle. But where must we go, gracious lords and friends, for our intention and exploration of nature? Certainly not in the confines of our own homes, and even if we had all the books of philosophers piled up and studied them day and night, it would not suffice. Rather, if we wish to explore nature in our philosophy and reach a desired state of happiness, we must tread upon the books of nature with our feet. The scripture is studied through its letters, but nature is studied through traveling from land to land, where we may find faithful and sincere Nicodemuses, naturalists, philosophers, and lovers of our spagyric philosophy (I am not referring to the deceitful country bumpkin false alchemists, with whom I would not move a foot). There we may sometimes obtain useful and good information alongside our own natural exploration of things, which may be beneficial to us later on. Therefore, as often as we may find a land, we may find a leaf in the book of nature. Thus, the codex of nature is ample and vast enough, and we must turn its leaves with our feet and explore it with the spirit of reason. Even though we may be dismissed and scorned by the pseudo-officiants and supposed highly wise red Paracelsian doctors and syrup makers, calling us vagrants, country bumpkins, and wanderers, it matters not to me. The disciple should not have it better than his master. This has also happened to Theophrastus, our teacher and monarch of the arts, as well as to Alexander of Suctions, Phoedron, and others. Therefore, in all my travels, I do not esteem what people have made and crafted, which others hold in high esteem, but only what God's hand has created. I am amazed by it, I desire to explore its three principles, to separate the pure from the impure, to proclaim and describe God's honor and glory, and to create something useful for myself and my neighbor's body and soul. For all of God's created beings are living letters and books for humans to describe. Indeed, all of God's creation is a letter in which one can read who the human being is. Above all, each person should faithfully heed the advice "Nosce te ipsum" (know yourself), as Aristotle the chemist said to Alexander the Great: "Learn about yourself, and you will have everything." And Morienus said: "Those who have everything do not need anyone else's help."

Therefore, it is reasonable for me to be content with these three books, from which I can draw and learn all wisdom: Firstly, the great and powerful circular book of nature, not written with ink or pen, but with the finger of God through the sacred sign of the Holy Trinity, in which heaven and earth and all creation are inscribed and recorded before our very eyes. This book is called the Macrocosm. Secondly, the small book, which is taken from the great book with all its leaves and pieces and is formed thereafter, which is man. For the sake of man, everything that God has ever created is there, and this is called the Microcosm. Man alone is the instrument of natural light, which accomplishes those works in arts and wisdom that God has ordained in the firmament. Thus, God has also ordained that man has a twofold magnet, one from the elements, which draws them back to him, and another from the stars, from which he draws back the microcosmic sensibility from the stars, and thus the reason of man has a magnet that draws the senses and thoughts from the stars. From this I say that another one arises in the righteous, magi and cabalists, and that this third magnet is hidden in the image of God and in the human soul, which penetrates through the imagination and faith to that from which it comes, seeking the eternal wisdom and the Holy Spirit promised by Christ. Therefore, it is also noteworthy that there are two souls in man, the eternal and the natural, that is, two lives. One is subject to death, the other resists death. Likewise, there are two spirits, the eternal and the natural. What is natural is in the starry body, and the starry body is in the corporeal, and both are a man, but two bodies. Thus, there are also two heavens in man. One is the lunar brain, the gastric heaven, but in the heart of man is the true, jliaric necroconic heaven. Indeed, the heart of man itself is the true heaven of the eternal essence, from which the soul has never yet emerged, and in which the new Olympus and heaven, Christ Jesus, has chosen his residence and dwelling place among all believers.

The third book is namely the Sacred Bible, the holy and venerable scripture of the Old and New Testaments, which directs us to these two preceding books. In it, the divine chronicle of the Holy Spirit is described to us, revealing how the great world was created for the sake of the small world, and how God the Lord has done everything solely and exclusively for mankind. Mankind, who was nourished, sustained, and preserved in the great world by God the Father, was redeemed from eternal damnation through His Son after the fall, and was reborn through water and spirit. They were then fed with heavenly manna and eternal food, belonging to the new creation, and provided with eternal life, and were led and guided in all truth by the Holy Spirit.

From these three books, gracious lords and friends, with the help and assistance of divine grace and the Holy Spirit, we can and may sufficiently learn what may be useful and salutary for us in body and soul, both temporally and eternally. We can certainly avoid all kinds of error, seductive pagan books and scriptures, with which the whole world and all corners are filled.

However, beloved lords and friends, when it comes to our secret Hermetic philosophy, we have much to complain about among the other students of knowledge. Although countless devilish philosophers have written about the Universal Medicine and the Blessed Stone of the Wise, both pagans and Christians, and have left us their writings, these are mostly suppressed and hindered by godless cacosophists and pseudophilosophers who are instigated by the devil. They cannot make use of them and do not want others to benefit from them.

And this is a true devilish trick, so that the truth does not come to light and his lies and foolishness, in which he has blinded and led the whole world astray for many hundreds of years, are not recognized.

Furthermore, we also have to complain against those who have allowed such books to be partially printed, but distorted and mutilated, as I have clearly found in the Triumphal Chariot of Frater Basil, Alexander von Suchten, and also in the writings of Theophrastus. They do not allow those who seek after the art and true natural wisdom to have access, and thus defects or changes are introduced, as can be seen in the present treatise of Mr. Alexander von Suchten, where some things are published here, others there, and mixed with other writings. We particularly have to complain, dear gracious lords and friends, about the Thewren writings of Theophrasti, our highly illuminated German philosopher and truly Trismegistus Hermes, that they have been printed so devilishly and cunningly, and only the fewest and worst ones have been printed. Even if they were collected from all the lands where Theophrastus had been and traveled, and some thousand books were described in astronomy, philosophy, chemistry, cabala, and theology of grace, only such things were used to obtain personal gain, greed, and wealth, and the best ones were hidden in the courts of princes and lords, thus beginning a trade and dividing them to sell for a lot of money, and the benefit and usefulness for the entire Christian community, for the sake of which they were written and left behind by Theophrastus, was not taken into account. Especially with regard to his theological writings, they have been completely suppressed until now because they were repugnant to the godless, devil-blinded and seduced children of the world and belly servants, and their palates were not satisfied. Thurneyser, Instrumentum verum Sathanae, who has deceived the whole world, princes great and small with his false alchemy and other lies, has been honestly used alongside others, whom I will spare now, for this diabolical work. But they will find out the truth on that day when I will accuse such companions, along with all true sons of doctrine, before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ and demand accountability from them for having stolen, sold, divided and hidden the Thewren and highly venerable writings of the entire Christian community, which were ordained by God through Theophrastus for the benefit and salvation of humanity in these last times.

As for our revered monarch and teacher, Philipp Theophrastus, of blessed memory, we shall not fail to acknowledge his life and give him the immortality of fame that God, the angels, and the whole universe have granted him. We shall defend his honor and teachings with all our heart, until the end of our days. Beloved of God, we shall promote his eternal salvation and the welfare of all Christians in a special preface when we begin with his Cabalistic and theological books, so that the three-headed Antichrist or the three unclean spirits in the Apocalypse may be recognized and avoided by everyone. With the help of Christ, we shall strive to obtain all his writings, seeking only his honor and glory, as well as the salvation and prosperity of all Christians. I am comforted by the hopeful expectation that all true and Christian lovers and followers of philosophy, who hear from our heavenly philosopher, Christ Jesus, will give me faithful support and assistance. Therefore, for the sake of Christ's honor and glory, for the sake of the long-lost truth, and for the sake of this noble philosophy, magic, and alchemy, I have humbly begged and called upon persons of high and low rank to serve me with such writings. In return, I shall express my deepest gratitude to them when we, with God's help, achieve our desired end in the attainment of philosophy and medicine. They shall see and experience the truth that we, along with others, have long sought.

Let envy burst in pieces, even if it is hateful to the world,
In the end, the sacred and always true goddess,
Hidden in darkness with saving interest, will triumph.

But this present little book, Great Benefactors and Patrons, which I have entitled "New Golden Pandora and Olympian", treating of the Philosopher's Stone, I have truthfully and without any falsehood, as I received it, submitted to the Sons of Spagyric Doctrine, because these treatises, all included therein, have never been seen before. I gladly want to communicate them and publish them in open print. And especially because Your Lordships' favor and magnificence have been Special Lovers and Mecoenates of the Theories and Noble Alchemy, and Spagyric Art for many years, and have not insignificant knowledge and understanding therein, I wanted to release this little book under Your Noble and Well-known name and Ansehlichen Patrocinio, humbly asking that Your Lordships' favor and magnificence, as of a well-known but poor Disciple of the Holy Theopharastia and an Immortal Christian Philosophy, will not dislike this dedicatory address, but rather defend me and these Philosophical Books against all blasphemers, mockers, and persecutors of these theories and arts, and help me promote the truth and confirm it and promote it in every way. I am ready to show grateful response and demonstrate it in action when God grants me His Grace and Divine Blessing, and I am most willing to be faithful. Herewith we all together and individually are in the Graceful Protection and Shelter of God, done on the Second Natal Day of Jesus Christ Trismegistus, our Spagyri, born in the world 1607, December 26th, in our Hermitage of Hagenoam.

Your Lordships' Most Obedient Servant,

Benedictus Figulus, Utenhovias, Francus.

Laureate Crowned Poet, Theologian, Theosophist, Philosopher, Physician, Hermit. T.M.
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