Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
A New Light of Alchemy
With the Dialogue of Mercury and the Treatise of Sulphur
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Modernised English Page · Branch 184 of 204
John French to the Reader · 1650 · Passage 1
Source reference
- Historical English witness
- 1650 PDF image 17, PDF image 18
Historical English · 1650
To the Reader
Judicious Reader,
There is abundance of knowledge, yet but little truth known. The generality of our knowledg is but as Castles in the aire, or groundlesse fancies. I know but two ways that are ordained for the getting of wisdome, viz. the book of God, and of Nature; and these also, but as they are read with reason. Many look upon the former as a thing below them, upon the latter as a ground of Atheisme, and therefore neglect both. It is my judgement, that as to search the Sciptures is most necessary, so without reason it is impossible. Faith without reason is but implicite.
Modernised English
John French to the Reader 1650
Discerning reader,
There is an abundance of knowledge, yet little truth is known. Most of our knowledge is like castles in the air or unfounded fancies. I know only two ways appointed for acquiring wisdom: the book of God and the book of Nature—and even these only when read with reason. Many regard the former as beneath them and the latter as a foundation for atheism, and therefore neglect both. In my judgment, searching the Scriptures is most necessary, but impossible without reason. Faith without reason is merely implicit faith.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · John French to the Reader · 1650 · John French to the Reader · 1650 · Passage 1
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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.