Preface.

[...diligence] in heavenly and earthly philosophy and
astronomy / so that he may put the natural / and the eternal into
practice / so that he might not only learn to rightly
know God through this / and serve his neighbor with it /
but that he might reveal himself through it / so that others
may see his works / and praise and honor God for them. For
one should judge a man not by his appearance / but by his works /
as to what he is / just as the prophets /
Christ and his apostles were revealed through their works.
Therefore we should—in the Light of Nature Light of Nature: The innate human capacity for reason and understanding the physical world, distinct from divine revelation as well
as in heavenly gifts—seek, ask, and knock / according
to the command of Christ A reference to Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.". For
we remain here for only a short time / and what we attain
during it / follows us eternally. But if we
neglect this / and overburden ourselves with gluttony / drinking / and
the lusts of the flesh / then both philosophies / the
natural and the heavenly, will be taken from us /
so that we fall into darkness / as happens daily
in all faculties Likely referring to the academic departments or disciplines of the university / and even if the sun / and moon /
and other creatures do not complain against us on account
of our misuse / we must still give a
heavy account to God on the Day of Judgment.

But it also happens that the two bodies of man
come into conflict / so that the body from the
stars The "astral" or "sidereal" body; in Paracelsian thought, this part of man governs the intellect, arts, and wisdom, derived from the heavens desires to lead the man into wisdom / art and
cleverness / so that he may appear wondrous
in the Light of Nature / and the mysteries original: "Mysteria" of the
wonder-works of God be greatly discovered / and revealed.
The elementary body, however / since it is from the two
lower elements of earth / and water / God has created
for it its nourishment / and also medicine / from these two /
so that it might sustain itself until its end original: "terminum"; the appointed time of death / and has given to it...