Letter to the Gold-Seeking Lovers of Chemistry and Alchemy

11. The Matter is described by the Philosophers in so many different ways that one cannot easily get to the bottom of it without very great study original: "Studio" and divine grace; for divine grace leads us to understand the authors, regarding what they intend by a thing (which is indeed only one single thing) that lies hidden under so many various names; although it should be well considered that the Matter from which the Stone is made is not so difficult to discover as the rest—namely, what one must then do with it to bring the Work to its end. For the Matter has certain properties from which it can be recognized; but it is also quite certain that this Matter has a similarity to many others, and precisely because of this similarity, so many seekers original: "Liebhaber"; literally "lovers" of the art, referring to aspiring alchemists. are led astray, so that they fall now upon this, now upon that mineral or metal; I exclude original: "präscendire"; from the Latin 'praescindere', meaning to set aside or disregard. those who work entirely outside of and against Nature.

12. This arises, however, most worthy seekers! from the poor application and incorrect synthesis original: "Combinirung" of the philosophical writings; indeed, some even cling to the