PREFACE.

...demonstration. For this reason, God deservedly drives far away from His secrets those who are estranged from Him. As for what remains: I specifically ask the Sons of the Art original: "filios artis." A traditional term for dedicated practitioners of alchemy who view themselves as spiritual heirs to the ancient masters. to receive with a grateful spirit my desire to be of service to them. And when, by God’s will and through constant labor, they have made the HIDDEN MANIFEST original: "OCCVLTVM fecerint MANIFESTVM." A fundamental alchemical principle involving the revelation of the internal essence or "seed" of a substance through the laboratory process. and have arrived at the desired Philosophical port original: "portum Philosophicum." A nautical metaphor common in the 17th century representing the successful completion of the Great Work or the attainment of the Philosopher's Stone., let them follow the Philosophical custom and exclude all unworthy people from this art. Being mindful of the love they owe their needy neighbors in the fear of God, and having cast aside all vain boasting, let them sing eternal praises of gratitude to God, the Best and Thrice-Greatest original: "optimo ter Maximo." A phrase combining the Roman address for the supreme deity (Optimus Maximus) with the "Thrice-Greatest" epithet of Hermes Trismegistus, used here to honor the Christian God as the source of all chemical wisdom. for this special gift. Let them do so without abuse, holding this joy within a silent and piously rejoicing heart.

original: "Simplicitas veritatis sigillum."