Manly P. Hall Collection, Box 3

...[as you are] impossible to imitate, for by your power you preserve all things! O material matter, comprehending all matter within yourself! O Nature, who delights by imitating nature itself! O Celestial nature, pouring forth spiritual substance like splendor! O Incorporeal body, reducing corporeal things to an incorporeal state! O Motive force of the moon, through which the order of all things shines! O Most general species, and most beautiful genus! O Nature of truth, above nature, conqueror of all natures! What, then, is this nature?

Tell me, someone: it is surely nature extracted naturally from itself, whose divinity is like a fire, yet its truth and vigor burn like fire. It is also an Idea or unique species, suitable to the most diverse names, and nonetheless a single name containing a multitude of many species. It is nature exercised, and the most explicit face of all things, flourishing with various colors: the Iris Rainbow, which brings all things from its secret recess into the light. O nature always similar to yourself, and representing your character from no other source! O Essence rejoicing in similarity, and Parent of the essence most similar to itself! O Sea, the depth of the immense Ocean, evaporating the multicolored margins of created things! O Complexion of creatures in the vast field of the four Elements, visible in marvelous beauty! O Epigraph or superscription of the contained Trinity, and the universal nexus of all things! O Body of Magnesia, or strength drawing to itself whatever is secret! O Liquor flowing with gold of truly celestial virtue! O Spirit of the arduous Silver, which the sea emits for us! O Substance of Arggithrauis A mythological alchemical term, or clad in the robe of Thracian silver, and bearing the cluster of golden juice! O Beautiful exercise of the wisest minds! O Omnipotent Wisdom of the most divine men! O To those who are not initiated in the mysteries, an inescapable sea! O The prejudiced ignorance of those who glory in vain! O The heat of proud mortals vanishing into smoke! O To pious men, an unconcealed splendor! And by the virtue...