Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Latin Page · Branch 105 of 204
Preface to the Treatise of Sulphur · Passage 5
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · unnumbered preface 5–6
Latin
Deus altissimus conditor rerum, nihil difficile posuit in natura, si igitur vis esse imitator naturae, tibi suadeo ut in simplici via maneas naturae, et omnia bona invenies. Quod si vero tibi nec mea scripta, nec consilium placet, ad alios Autores ito. Propterea ego non magna volumina scribo, ut in illa non multum expendas, citoque perlegere possis; ut tibi sit ad alios Autores recurrendi tempus, et quaerere non desinas, pulsanti enim aperietur. Iam etiam illa tempora adveniunt, in quibus arcana multa naturae revelabuntur. Iam illa Monarchia quarta Borealis incipere habet. Iam tempora appropinquant, mater scientiarum veniet, maiora elucidabuntur, quam in his tribus praeteritis Monarchiis factum est, quoniam hanc Monarchiam, ut veteres divinarunt, plantabit Deus per unum ex Principibus, omnibus virtutibus ditatum, quem fortasse nobis iam tempora produxerunt. Habemus enim in hac parte boreali Principem Sapientissimum ac bellicosissimum, quem nullus Monarcharum victoriis superat, humanitate ac pietate nullus excellit. In hac Monarchia Boreali, Deus omnium conditor rerum, maiora arcana sine dubio in natura elucidabit, quam illis temporibus, ubi aut Paganorum, aut Tyrannorum Principum sedes fuit. Sed has Monarchias Philosophi non secundum potentiores, sed secundum Cardines mundi numerant. In primis Orientalem, postea Meridionalem; iam vero Occidentalem habent, et ultimam Septentrionalem in hac parte Boreali expectant, de quibus in Harmonia dabitur.
English
The Most High God, maker of all things, has placed nothing difficult in nature. If you wish to imitate nature, I advise you to remain on her simple path, and you will find every good thing.
If neither my writings nor my advice please you, go to other authors. That is why I do not write large volumes: you need not spend much on them and can read them quickly, leaving you time to consult other authors. Do not cease seeking, for to the one who knocks it will be opened. The times are now approaching in which many of nature's secrets will be revealed. The fourth, northern monarchy is now to begin. The times draw near; the mother of sciences will come. Greater things will be brought to light than in the three preceding monarchies. For God will establish this monarchy, as the ancients foretold, through one of the princes, endowed with every virtue, whom perhaps our own times have already brought forth. Here in the north we have a prince of the greatest wisdom and martial prowess. No monarch surpasses him in victories, and none excels him in humanity and piety. In this northern monarchy, God, the maker of all things, will undoubtedly reveal greater secrets in nature than in the times when the seats of power belonged either to pagans or to tyrannical princes. But philosophers reckon these monarchies by the quarters of the world, rather than by the mightiest rulers: first the eastern, then the southern; now they have the western, and they await the last, northern one in this boreal region. These matters will be treated in the Harmony.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Preface to the Treatise of Sulphur · Preface to the Treatise of Sulphur · Passage 5
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete supplied Latin–English edition of the Twelve Treatises, Epilogue, Enigma, Parable, Dialogue of Mercury and Treatise of Sulphur, with original preliminaries, John French’s historical English address and its separately labelled modernisation, 101 annotations and the complete study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
The Twelve Treatises and their concluding texts follow the selected 1606 Herzog August Bibliothek witness. The Dialogue uses the 1607 Cologne printing; the author’s preface and Alsted epigram use Frankfurt 1611. Sulphur uses the 1616 Munich and Rome witnesses. John French’s 1650 address is separately identified as historical English reception.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical Latin texts and John French’s 1650 English address are in the public domain. The new translation, modernisation and editorial apparatus were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026 and are published with the site owner’s authorization.