THE GOLDEN TRACT.

where there is sulphurIn alchemical philosophy, "Sulphur" represents the active, masculine principle of fire, soul, and consciousness, rather than the raw chemical element. out of sulphur, and mercuryAlchemical "Mercury" represents the passive, feminine principle of water, spirit, and fluidity. out of mercury—or where sulphur springs from mercury, and again mercury from sulphur. When was there placed before your eyes the idea of most fervent love, the male and the female embracing each other so closely that they could no more be torn asunder, but through unsearchable love became one? This "marriage" of male and female refers to the "Chemical Wedding," the union of opposites—fixed and volatile, spirit and body—to create the Philosopher's Stone. If you understand what I am alluding to, and have performed the experiment with your own hands, and seen it with your own eyes, I welcome you as fellow partakers of the mystery, and have no dearer wish than to enjoy your familiar intercourse—for which reason I have also sent forth into the world this little tract.

If any one complain of the difficulty of our ArtThe "Art" is a standard term for Alchemy, emphasizing that it requires both divine inspiration and technical skill., let him know that in itself it is perfectly simple, and can present no obstacle to those who love God, and are held worthy by Him of this knowledge. If any one blame me for setting forth the truths of this Art too plainly and clearly, so as to render it possible for any one to gain a knowledge thereof, I answer that I have indeed explained them with sufficient lucidity for those who are worthy and foreordained of God, but that the unworthy can derive no profit from them. To some foolish and shallow persons I have several times expounded this Art in the simplest manner, and even word for word, but they despised it only, and would not believe me that there is exhibited in our work a twofold resurrection of the dead. The "resurrection of the dead" refers to the stage of the work where the "killed" or blackened matter (nigredo) is purified and brought back to life in a more perfect, "glorified" state. Our Art, its theory as well as its practice, is altogether a gift of God, Who gives it when and to whom He elects: it is not of him that wills, or of him that runs, but simply through the mercy of God. Although I had diligently studied this Art for 17 or 18 years, yet I had, after all, to wait for God’s own time, and accept it as a free gift. No one need doubt the truth or certainty of this Art. It is as true and certain, and as surely ordained by God in nature, as it is that the sun shines at noontide, and the moon shows her soft splendour at night. But I must conclude this preface, and gird myself for writing the tract itself. But ye, beloved Brethren of the Golden CrossA reference to the "Rosy Cross" or Rosicrucians, a secret brotherhood of alchemists and mystics believed to possess deep spiritual and physical secrets., who are about to learn how to enjoy and use this most precious gift of God in secret, do not remain unknown to me, and if ye know me not, be sure that the faithful will be approved and their faith become known through the Cross, while security and pleasure overshadow it. God be with us, Amen!