Restored Hermetic Science of the Ancient Philosophers

An ornamental headpiece with floral motifs appears at the top of the page.

inspiration and a secret of God, who gives and withdraws it from whom He wills (thus Geber a legendary 8th-century alchemist says rightly: Ars nostra in potentiâ Dei Reservatur, qui cui vult, eam largitur, & subtrahit, qui & gloriosus, & sublimis, in omni justitiâ & bonitate repletus Our art is reserved in the power of God, who grants it to whom He wills, and withdraws it, He who is glorious and sublime, filled with all justice and goodness): hence it is fitting, first of all, for him who desires to be initiated into this, to pray to the triune and one God with a simple mind, that He might deign to illuminate his intellect and confer wisdom upon him. For there is no wisdom except from God, who does not deny it to those who seek and ask with a sincere heart and good intention.

John, Chapter 9. Because God does not hear sinners, it is therefore necessary, first, that the one who undertakes this art should earnestly call upon God for the forgiveness of his sins, and pray that He might grant him wisdom and understanding, grace and blessing for this high secret, and that he might live in the fear of God therein: Timor enim Domini, Principium est Sapientiae, ut ait Regius Propheta For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, as the Royal Prophet says.

To the