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THE MAGIC SECRET,

Concerning three blessed Magi-

cal Stones:

In this, first, is treated the right true Prime MatterOriginal: "Materia Prima." In alchemy, this refers to the formless, primitive substance required to begin the Great Work of transformation. of all God's creatures. Secondly, regarding the Prime Matter of Metals, how from the same should be prepared the Philosopher's Stone, which true Universal accords with Holy Scripture: And then finally regarding two further Magical Stones, which are called Animal and Vegetable: And it is the highest Secret for the preservation of human life, etc.

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Although the golden Philosopher's Stone was often found by the very ancient philosophers through tedious labor and research—so that they also thereby sometimes came to a high knowledge (namely, that something high exists which sustains nature) and their opinions regarding nature were described in manifold and wonderful ways: Since they, however, did not recognize the highest Center, "from which all circles must be guided and found," but all their writings and works were researched and founded in a wandering and doubtful manner original: "vagabundè vnd zweiffelhafftīg" from the circulations of the elementsoriginal: "ex circulationibus elementorum." This refers to the ancient theory of elements transforming into one another in a cycle., and did not touch upon the CENTER, much less its elegant TRIANGLE original: "TRIGONVM" within the circle, from which the nature of the circle arises: And yet, praise God, afterwards to many Christian philosophers and chosen men of God—MosesOriginal: "Moyſi.", EsdrasOriginal: "Esdræ.", SolomonOriginal: "Salomoni.", the Divine HermesOriginal: "Diuo Hermeti." Referring to Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary founder of the hermetic and alchemical tradition., MorienusA 7th-century hermit and alchemist famous for his dialogue with King Khalid., and many others, as well as to us Christians—the single Center and origin of all things has revealed and made itself known in the TRIANGLE of the Center, or the Divine Trinity of UnityOriginal: "Trinitate diuina vnitatis.". Thus we find, from the midpoint, a much higher and more beautiful foundation of true philosophy, according with Scripture, as to what it is and what it is useful for: From which not only the Philosopher's Stone, but also two more Magical Stones are produced and tested. Therefore, their heathen