PREFACE.

Preface.

Nothing but a sluggish weight,
and heaped together in the same
place, the discordant seeds
of things not well joined.
original: "Non quicquam nisi pondus iners, congestaq; eodem Non benè iunctarum discordia semina rerum." This is a famous passage from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, describing the primordial Chaos before the world was ordered into its current form.

THEOSOPHY, etc.

Other learned
people have
also spoken
thus before me.

// Regarding the little words (Theosophus, Theosophia, Theosophically / meaning a God-wise man / Divine Wisdom / God-wisely), I have already briefly and sufficiently explained myself on page 40 of the notes in this Confession original: "Confessionis huius, in scholijs." The author refers back to an earlier section of his own work where he defined his specialized vocabulary.. If someone else would rather say Philotheosopher, Philotheosophy, Philotheosophically These terms add the Greek prefix "philo-" (loving), suggesting a "lover of God-wisdom," much like the word "philosophy" means "lover of wisdom.", I will allow that to happen as well. I do not wish to bicker with anyone over words; one should simply ensure the underlying meaning remains sound. Bickering over words is not edifying.

Enthusiast.

/2 Hearken, you slanderous mouth / if you say mockingly that I am an Enthusiast ENTHUSIAST: In the 17th century, this was a derogatory term for someone who claimed to receive direct, personal revelations from God, often implying they were fanatical, delusional, or "possessed" by a spirit. / because in this present book of mine I speak of Visions or Sights / and special (yet Good-Spiritual) Revelations; then I say with truth that you lie... lye?

ije