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to be, and to have received from me the revelationoriginal: revelation of these secretsoriginal: Secreten; the hidden mysteries of the alchemical art., and that the same revelation could be obtained from them for a sum of money by one or another well-to-do enthusiast. To counter such fraud, I hereby state publicly, and swear by the highest Truth, which is the LORD JESUS himself, that I have not yet revealed to any person in the world the complete foundation of the matter for the Philosophical Workoriginal: Philosophischen Werck; also known as the "Great Work" or Magnum Opus, the process of creating the Philosopher's Stone.. And if it were so that anyone has boasted, or should yet boast, of some thorough revelation from me and seek money thereby, the same is truly and truthfully a malicious fraud and liar; and may there come upon him what the Apostle PeterA reference to the biblical story of Simon Magus (Acts 8:18-24), who was rebuked by Peter for trying to buy the gifts of God with money. says to those who think God's gifts are bought with money. Let the matter rest there.

Now, to return to our beloved and praiseworthy HollandusLikely referring to Isaac Hollandus or John Isaac Hollandus, influential 15th-century Dutch alchemists whose writings focused on the "quintessence" of metals and stones., many might well marvel at the mighty powers he attributes here and there to the Quinta Essentiaoriginal: Qvinta Essentia; the "Fifth Essence" or Quintessence. Alchemists believed this was the purest part of a substance, capable of curing all diseases and even driving out spiritual darkness., even to the point that it drives devilsoriginal: Teuffel out of possessed people, and works such inexpressible wonders that transcend all reason, appearing unbelievable to many. So