First Chapter.

possesses the most perfect knowledge, also recognizes God most perfectly in His omnipotence, wisdom, goodness, and justice. Through this science, even the ancient wise heathens original: "Heyden"; referring here to pre-Christian philosophers like Plato and Cicero. arrived at the point where they recognized not only one God, who created humans, angels, and everything, but moreover as a trinity: namely Him as Father, Word, and Holy Spirit. They likewise recognized an eternal life, the reward of virtues, and the punishment of vices, alongside the most beautiful moral teachings they left behind for us; as can be read in Hermes Trismegistus, Iamblichus, Plato, Pythagoras, Plutarch, Seneca, Cicero, and others. (*)

Regarding the idolatry The worship of false idols or gods. of the heathens, however, one must know that the wise men had no part in it; for they represented this very art this very art|Refers back to the Hermetic Mastery or Alchemy. through hieroglyphs hieroglyphs|In an alchemical context, this refers to symbolic images like dragons or lions rather than Egyptian writing. such as dragons, snakes, and other animals, and under lesser gods such as Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Apollo, Diana, and the like. They did this in the same manner as Moses with the Ark and Solomon with the Temple, so that by these means some more enlightened people among the populace [might be led] to this science

(*) Hermes Trismegistus in Asclepius, chapter 10. Iamblichus, Book on the Highest Good. Plato, Book 10 of The Laws, and in the dialogues Phaedrus and Axiochus. Pythagoras according to Timaeus of Locri in the work On the World. Plutarch, On those whom the Divinity punishes late. In the commentary That it is not possible to live pleasantly according to the Epicureans. Seneca, On the Shortness of Life. Cicero, On the Death of his Daughter.