Curious Physics

...lest he remain entangled and confused in his thoughts and work. And although no quantity original: quantum; referring to the physical amount or measurable aspect of a thing can be grasped and understood unless its quality original: qvale; the essence or nature of a thing, nature, or kind is rightly perceived, so too can no one bring this science of quality to right use, to a certain art, or to a desired work—without fear of deceiving oneself and failing—unless the quantity is certain and well known to him; for no quality exists without quantity. original: nulla qvalitas est sine qvantitate

But so that the words Nature and Motion may hereafter be better understood, I describe Nature/ What are nature and motion? original: Natura & motus quid? as being the internal movement of things original: motus rerum internus; and Motion as the presence of the sustaining Divine Word. original: Verbi divini conservantis Præsentia Upon and from this Word hangs the universal Light: upon and from the Light, the universal Spirit: upon and from the Spirit, the universal Salt. In alchemical philosophy, Salt, Spirit, and Light/Sulfur were often seen as the three fundamental principles of all matter. Whoever now recognizes these through God’s grace, Light, Spirit, and Salt, and understands the rays of the Light, the number of the Spirit, and the weight of the Salt within the creatures, he Self-motion is, etc. can truly look into the depths of Nature—that is, self-

...something happens through an ordered and universal impulse without the laying on of human hands. Motion/, and rejoice in the wonderful presence of the Word with usefulness and in deed.

CHAPTER III.

Of Light.

Chap. III. Of Light. IT is necessary, so that nothing be omitted which serves for the sufficient explanation of the truth and the instruction of my neighbor, to write how I understand the word "Light," and what Light actually is. On What is light? original: Lux, quid? this matter, many treatises have indeed been written by subtle people, which one can read, where it is disputed whether the light is a being an essence or substance or not, and various opinions are presented. But I wish to borrow nothing from them, nor to refute anyone, but simply to reveal my own knowledge of it. The Light went out from GOD The origin of light. original: Lucis origo and was created in the beginning of creation, before there was anything else except the glorious world-slime original: Welt-Schleim; a term for the primal, chaotic matter from which the world was formed, out of the Divine Breath; so that it should be a vehicle original: vehiculum of the eternal Word or Divine Breath, with which and in which the Lord into the...