Preface.

in their parables original: "Parabolis." Alchemical authors frequently used allegories and symbolic stories to hide their secrets from the uninitiated. in several places based on experience, so that nothing else can be seen from them than a pure correspondence original: "Mera convenientia." Latin, meaning an exact or total agreement. with the modern [philosophers]. No difference is found in the Matter and Form Matter (Materia) and Form (Forma) are Aristotelian concepts; in alchemy, this refers to the physical substance and the essential, animating principle or "soul" that gives it specific properties., because all wise and true naturalists original: "Natur-Kündiger." A term for those who study the hidden laws of nature, specifically alchemists. enlightened by GOD—whoever have ever been, still are, or will be until the end of the world—have agreed in one thing, in that they followed Nature in her preparation. From this, they extracted the hidden principles of things original: "Principia rerum." and led them to the predestined end and perfection, until they finally introduced the noble Form into its purest Matter, and separated both from all elemental impurity and mortality. Thus (because of their equal and proportioned union of the power and the natures of the four elements: heat, cold, moisture, and dryness), nevermore in this age may any dissolution or corruption fall upon it. And if it stood in the fire until the end of the world, it would nonetheless be subject to no burning nor change. And since the downfall of the world, because of the fall of human...