Letter to the Gold-Seeking Lovers of Chemistry and Alchemy

to understand [them], he should apply himself to investigating exactly the natural first principles first principles original: "Anfangsgründe"; the basic underlying elements or axioms of a subject, the causes of every moving being, and the origin of individuals original Latin: "individuorum"; in a philosophical context, this refers to specific, indivisible things or substances.

3. This science is named a divine science for the reason that it teaches [one] to recognize nature (as the most noble thing after God), and from its active power and constantly moving essence, the knowledge of the Creator Himself may be demonstrated. Therefore, those err greatly who believe they can treat this science mechanically mechanically original Latin: "mechanice"; referring to the practice of alchemy as a mere manual craft or rote procedure without spiritual or theoretical depth.

4. Now, after this introduction, I wish to ask what my seeker original: "Liebhaber"; literally "lover," a common term for a dedicated amateur or student of a "noble" art searches for out of or through this knowledge? He will answer me: exactly that which all seekers would like to have, namely to be able to make gold and silver. Although this was not the noble longing of the philosophers philosophers original: "Weltweiſen"; literally "world-wise ones," referring to those who seek deeper truths rather than material wealth, I know well enough that the majority of mankind carries a desire only to be rich, regardless of the fact that this wild and vain impulse has deprived many of all they possessed. My seekers! This objective is thus not the be— The text cuts off here at the catchword "ſte," forming the word "beſte" (best) on the following page