The Twelve Keys of Philosophy

PREFACE.

-ching (according to the means that God has given me) whence and from what matter our ancestors first drew, then prepared the triangular stone The "triangular stone" is a symbolic name for the Philosopher's Stone, referring to the three alchemical principles—Salt, Sulfur, and Mercury—which must be brought into perfect unity., given by the liberality of Sovereign God, (which they used to maintain their health during the course of this mortal life, and to season, as if with a celestial salt, the misfortunes of this world:) Now, so that I may keep my promise, and so that I do not wrap you in fallacious sophistications sophistications: in alchemical literature, this refers to the deceptive practices or intentionally confusing jargon used by "puffer" alchemists to hide their lack of true knowledge, but rather show you, as they say, from one end to the other, the source of all good things: Be attentive, and diligently consider what I am about to say, (if you are a seeker of science In this period, "science" referred to the "Sacred Science" or "Hermetic Science," meaning alchemy and the study of nature's hidden laws.) for it does not please me to speak in vain, and it is not my intention to use frivolous words for this purpose, since