THE REVEREND FATHER FRANCISCO MACEDO

Of the Order of St. Augustine, Theologian of the Province of Portugal,

JUDGMENT OF THE WORK.

Decorative woodcut initial 'L' featuring floral scrollwork within a square border.The book which the Reverend Father Athanasius Kircher of the Society of Jesus The Jesuits has entitled The Great Art of Knowledge, I have both read attentively and examined with diligence. I have found nothing in it to cause offense; rather, I found everything explained within such a massive volume—such is the power of his method. Indeed, in reading it, I have found a most suitable thread for navigating and escaping that "Labyrinth" of the Lullian Art referring to the complex combinatorial logic system of Ramon Llull, a 13th-century philosopher, the difficulties of which have until now terrified minds from even entering. It is the offspring of a great genius, conceived in that most capacious mind of Athanasius’s learning, and it is worthy for the Society—that Great Mother of Authors—to receive and protect among the beautiful and marvelous offspring she is accustomed to produce. If my recommendation of this work can be of use to anyone: I perceive in it an ingenious invention, a fit arrangement, an easy method, distinguished erudition, and appropriate expression. I admire the information on many and great matters, the knowledge of almost all disciplines handed down by precepts, the innumerable arguments for proving individual positions, the suitable examples for illustrating the same, and the wonderful harmony amidst such variety. And so I have determined for myself: that while the author has gathered much fame from the many other works he has published, he shall gather the greatest glory from this one—glory which will undoubtedly redound upon the Society, the parent to whom he owes such great progress. This I confirm: that this work, if read diligently and examined accurately, will detract much from the arrogance of the Heterodox those holding non-Catholic or heretical beliefs and those men who seem to themselves to know and be too wise; but to the Orthodox, who are equally strong in wisdom and modesty, it will bring no small benefit. Let this be my judgment of the work—I who, though I may judge less than perfectly, am certainly accustomed to judge freely. At Rome, in the College for the Propagation of the Faith. February 24th, in the year 1661.