PREFACE.

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...people, including those skilled in the arts The term "skilled in the arts" (Kunstverstendig) likely refers to those practiced in alchemy, medicine, or philosophy., have understood them rightly, judged them well, and have also spoken and written well of them.

¶ Only the man who is divinely wise, learned, and enlightened by the LIGHT of NATURE The "Light of Nature" (Lumen Naturae) is a central concept in Paracelsian philosophy, referring to the innate knowledge or intuition granted by God to understand the physical and spiritual world., and who also rightly knows himself, can draw conclusions about these matters in a way that is divinely wise, natural, and Christian. No one else can.

¶ May GOD convert all perverted hearts that are capable of conversion, and grant them to recognize and also to accept the LIGHT of TRUTH in the Holy Biblical Scripture; in the Great World-book of NATURE The "World-book" or "Book of Nature" is the idea that God's revelation is found not just in the Bible, but in the creation of the physical universe itself.; and in themselves; this I wish them from the bottom of my heart. But otherwise, fie upon the Devil, as the chief slanderer of the good and the founder of all evil, together with all his stubborn disciples and scoundrels; fie once again, and