Candida Phoenix Philosophica

Name: Candida Phoenix Philosophica
Author: Anonymous

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart I — Theorem IV

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German & Latin Page · Branch 24 of 411

Part I — Theorem IV

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German & Latin

12–13

Derowegen / und zwar anjetzo allein von denen Vegetabilien und Mineralien zu reden (weil die Animalia zu unserm Vorhaben nicht dienlich seynd) durch die Chymiam auß solchen Vegetabilien / und Mineralien nichts anders / als vegetabilisch Wasser / Oel und Saltz / ein Mercurius, Sulphur, und Sal, Saturni, Jovis, Veneris, Martis &c. zuwegen zu bringen / keines wegs aber dieselbe wieder in ihre erste materiam und die Elementa, und principia universalia zu reduciren. Gestaltsam das uhralte Philosophische axioma, jederzeit wahr ist und bleibt: Quod nempe non detur regressus in naturâ. Dahero weder auß einem animali, vegetabili, noch minerali, noch auch auß diesen allen sämbtlich eine universal Medicin zu præpariren / sondern ein für alle mahl ein Subjectum universale und catholicum darzu gehörig ist. Nam qualis causa talis effectus. Wie dann auch Ristius sagt: Ein jeder Anfang muß von seinem Ende / und ein jedes Ende von seinem Anfang zeugen.

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part I — Theorem IV

12–13

Therefore, speaking now only of plants and minerals, since animals do not serve our purpose, chymistry can obtain from them only vegetable water, oil, and salt, or a Mercury, Sulfur, and Salt of Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and so forth. It cannot reduce them to their first matter, the elements, and the universal principles. The ancient philosophical axiom remains forever true: “There is no return in nature.” Thus no universal medicine can be prepared from an animal, plant, or mineral, or even from all of them together; it requires, once and for all, a universal and catholic subject. For “as the cause is, so is the effect.” As Ristius also says: “Every beginning must bear witness to its end, and every end to its beginning.”

About This Reading Edition

An anonymous Hermetic treatise of 1680, presented in its original German and Latin with a new English translation, 279 explanatory notes, the historical phoenix frontispiece, an introduction, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and original registers.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Candida Phoenix philosophica. Frankfurt am Main: Christian Hermsdorff, 1680. The chosen witness is the Wellcome Library copy digitized as b32993456; German and Latin, with French, Greek, and Hebrew passages retained.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The 1680 source is identified as public domain by the Wellcome/Internet Archive record. The supplied 2026 transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. The frontispiece is retained from the supplied edition and credited to its historical witness.