Pyrrho Clidensis Redivivus: A Consideration of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood

PYRRHO CLIDENSIS

[Signature A]

Who is prepared? He who, first through self-restraint, then through temperance, and finally through holiness original: "sanctimoniam"; here referring to a state of spiritual purity and consecration—that is, through the civic and purifying virtues original: "purgatoria"; in Neoplatonic philosophy, these are the "purgative virtues" that cleanse the soul of worldly attachments of a cleansed mind—has so purified his soul that he emerges beautiful, which is to say, entirely pure and shining; and who has desired that exemplary and divine virtue, namely wisdom original: "sapientiam" alone, as the Treasury of all riches.

For this reason, Socrates The Greek philosopher often cited by Renaissance writers as a precursor to Christian humility prays that God, the Father of all, and His ministers might breathe upon him in a friendly manner, so that by Their kind and favorable grace he might emerge purified. He chooses to hold bodily and external things lightly, so that they do not hinder the tranquil purity of his soul.

Then, having already acquired this beauty, he desires to value wisdom alone—that is, the knowledge of God original: "Dei cognitionem"—as his total wealth and sufficiency, and to thirst for it alone.

Finally, being prepared through these aforementioned steps, he asks for this gleaming gold of divine wisdom. He does so neither with pride, nor with negligence. For indeed, intemperate men obtain only the slightest knowledge of the truth, while [the temperate obtain] the greatest and infinite...