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Sulphur · The Three Principles · Passage 11
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · sequence pages 51–53
Latin
Conclusive dicimus hanc artem solius Altissimi Dei donum esse, qua cognita orandus est, ut etiam ad artem hanc benedictionem suam dare dignetur, quoniam sine benedictione divina omnino inutilis est, quod nos ipsi experti sumus, cum propter scientiam aliquot gravissima pericula passi, plus infortunii ac incommodi quam utilitatis inde habuimus; sed credimus mundum tempus advenisse, cum raro sapiunt Phryges. Iudicia Domini abyssus multa, attamen divinam providentiam in eiusmodi nostris infortuniis admiratus sum. Semper enim Altissimi conditoris nostri protectionem praesto habuimus, ut nullus inimicus potuerit nos opprimere; custos fuit semper Angelus Domini Arcae huius, in quam Altissimus conditor rerum tantum thesaurum inclusit, quem et usque tuetur. Audivimus namque inimicos nostros in laqueum quem nobis paraverunt, incidere. Qui in nostram vitam irruerunt, vita privati sunt; qui vero bona nostra invaserunt, bona sua, nonnulli et regna, amiserunt. Praeterea illorum qui nostro honori detraxerunt multos infames periisse scimus. Tantam custodiam ab omnium rerum Creatore semper habuimus, qui nos statim ex utero matris nostrae sub umbram alarum suarum suscepit, spiritumque intelligentiae rerum naturalium infudit, cui sit laus et gloria per infinita saecula saeculorum. Tanta beneficia ab Altissimo Deo Creatore nostro accepimus, quod non solum calamo verum et mente comprehendere sit impossibile. Vix unquam mortalium alicui maiora, imo saltem talia contulit Deus. Utinam tantum animi, tantum Spiritus et eloquentiae intelligentiaeque haberemus, ut debitas gratias illi agere possemus, scimus enim talia non meruisse. Hoc unicum credimus esse, quod in illo solo semper speravimus, speramus et sperabimus. Scimus enim non esse inter mortales, qui nos adiuvare possit, nisi hic solus Deus et Creator noster, quia vanum est confidere in principibus, quoniam homines sunt, ut ait Psalmista. Omnes hi a Deo Spiritum vitae habent, quo ablato, pulverem omnia esse; sed sperare in Domino Deo, a quo sicut a fonte bonitatis omnia bona abundantissime fluunt, tutum et securum est.
English
In conclusion, I say this art is the gift of the Most High God alone. Once it is known, he must be asked to grant his blessing to it too, for without divine blessing it is altogether useless. I have experienced this myself. Having suffered several very grave dangers because of this knowledge, I have received more misfortune and harm than advantage from it. Yet I believe the time has come, since the Phrygians seldom grow wise. The Lord's judgments are a deep abyss. Nevertheless, in these misfortunes I have marvelled at divine providence. We have always had the protection of our Most High Creator at hand, so that no enemy could crush us. The Lord's angel has always guarded this ark, in which the Most High Creator of things enclosed so great a treasure, and which he still protects. For we have heard that our enemies fell into the snare they had prepared for us. Those who attacked our life were deprived of life. Those who invaded our possessions lost their own possessions, some even their kingdoms. Moreover, we know that many who defamed our honour perished in disgrace. We have always had such protection from the maker of all things. Immediately from our mother's womb he received us beneath the shadow of his wings and infused a spirit of understanding of natural things. To him be praise and glory through endless ages of ages.
I have received such benefits from the Most High God, our Creator, that they cannot be comprehended in writing, or even in thought. God has scarcely ever bestowed greater things—or even their like—on any mortal. Would that I had enough courage, spirit, eloquence and understanding to give him due thanks! I know that I have not deserved such things. I believe this alone accounts for it: I have always hoped in him alone, I hope in him now, and I shall continue to hope. I know there is no mortal who can help me, but only this God and Creator of ours. For it is vain to trust in princes, since they are human, as the Psalmist says. All have the spirit of life from God; take it away and everything is dust. But it is safe and secure to hope in the Lord God, from whom, as from a fountain of goodness, every good flows most abundantly.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Sulphur · The Three Principles · Sulphur · The Three Principles · Passage 11
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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.
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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.