Preface.

The small amount of money it costs will certainly not cause the buyer any regret.

In conclusion, I ask the Gracious Reader G. Leser|Günstiger Leser; a common polite greeting in early modern German books to believe for certain that everything that has been written has been done with a sincere spirit original: "auffrichtigem Gemüthe", and that among such ways of speaking—even if they were set down somewhat darkly and obscurely original: "dunckel und obscur" by the ancient philosophers Philosophis|In alchemical literature, "philosophers" almost always refers to the established authorities of the alchemical tradition, such as Hermes Trismegistus or Geber—no "false coinage" An idiom meaning deception or fraudulent claims, as the saying goes, is hidden beneath them. Whoever knows me, and has known me for a long time, will be able to say nothing else of me than that I deal sincerely with everyone, or else I stay away entirely from anyone who is false and deceitful. Blessed is he who lives sincerely and honestly; it will go well for him, if not sooner, then at last, at which point all his enemies will pine away with envy and wrath; they shall be like dry grass, which withers before it is plucked up.

But he who fears the LORD, loves God above all things, and his neighbor as himself, is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaves do not wither, and whatever he does, prospers; concerning which the first Psalm of the Royal Prophet David may be read immediately.