The Child-Bed of the Philosopher's Stone

...[of your] senses and of your understanding, and to inspire within you that which I cannot teach you.

Indeed, I would gladly wish that this Highest Majesty A reference to God as the ultimate source of alchemical revelation. would grant me the means to come to your aid in this matter according to your desire; I ask you, therefore, to believe that I strive with all my meager ability, as far as it extends—driven by Divine Love and moved by a sincere, heartfelt Christian desire—to help you through my writing and through the sincerity of my testimony. You may indeed believe of me what you will, but you can be certain that from the bottom of my heart, I truly wish that the true lovers of this science true lovers of this science original: wahren Liebhaber dieser Wissenschafft; a standard term for sincere practitioners of alchemy, often called "Sons of Art." might have a full and complete knowledge of it.

Finally, dear reader, know that there is a special comparison and agreement between this Great Mystery of the Wise Great Mystery of the Wise original: grossen Geheimniß der Weisen; the secret process of creating the Philosopher's Stone. and the Most Worthy Mystery of the Holy Trinity, as well as the mystery of the Incarnation, the Birth, and the Death of the Son of God. For first, just as in the Holy Trinity there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are but one single God, one single Being, and one single Divine Nature in three distinct Persons, among whom the Son and the Holy Spirit proceed from the eternal Father: even so it is in this Work of the Wise Work of the Wise original: Werck der Weisen; the Magnum Opus or Great Work of alchemy.. There, too, is the Heavenly Father, which is the Mercury of the Philosophers Mercury of the Philosophers original: Mercurius Philosophorum; not common quicksilver, but the "philosophical" mercury—the living, spiritual essence and root of the metals....