TO THE

SINCERE READER.

I thought it worthwhile, Sincere Reader original: "Lector Candide," a traditional Latin greeting to the "fair-minded" or "honest" reader, implying the author hopes for an unbiased reception., to inform you of the reasoning behind my undertaking. And in the first place, why I wished this book to be published with such a title prefixed to it. Indeed, I have no doubt that to many it seems too pompous and arrogant; but he who will not find it a burden to run through the whole little book original: "libellum," a modest term for a shorter treatise or volume. with both mind and eyes will discover that here the names match their subjects. For what wonders do not reveal themselves in the making of the Philosophers’ Stone original: "Lapide Philosophico," the legendary alchemical substance capable of turning base metals into gold and providing an elixir of life., in particular transmutations The process of changing one substance or metal into another., in philosophical salts, in extracts, in distilled waters, and so forth? What medical mysteries are not found in the final part of this little work? Read first, therefore, and understand; then judge, and not before. To be sure, I am not unaware that for a master of this art The "art" referred to here is alchemy, often called the "Hermetic Art" or "Spagyric Art" during this period., there are neither miracles nor mysteries. For so it is in every art, even the most abstruse: nothing is strange or rare to the expert. But let these things pass. Wherefore