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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart I — Theorem VI

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Facing Pages · Branch 41 of 411

Part I — Theorem VI

German & Latin

25–26

Welches jedoch einig und allein de potentia, keines wegs aber de actu & operatione zu verstehen: Inmassen die Heydnische Natur ein blosses Gedicht / und keine Natur ist / die etwas würcket. Sintemahln der Allerhöchste und allein weise Gott / alle Ding durch sein ewig selbständig Wort geschaffen; Derohalben auch alle Ding durch dasselbige verwaltet / regieret / geleitet / beweget und erhalten werden. Gestaltsamb Gott der HErr durch kein ander Mittel / als durch sein Wort (und zwar nicht durch die Dinge / sondern in denen Dingen) würcket: Wo bleibt nun die Heydnische Natur? Wie dann und damit ich alhier nicht ferner extra propositum schreite / unten im andern Theil davon mehrers gehandelt: Nicht weniger auch / und daß das Regenwasser die mineralische Natur ebenmässig in sich habe / dargethan werden / dahin sich unterdessen abermahl beruffen wird.

25–26

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part I — Theorem VI

25–26

This, however, must be understood solely in respect of potentiality, and by no means of actuality and operation. For pagan “Nature” is a mere fiction: there is no nature that acts. The Most High and only-wise God created all things through his eternal, subsistent Word; therefore all things are also administered, governed, directed, moved, and preserved through that Word. God the Lord acts through no other means than his Word, and indeed not through things, but in things. What, then, becomes of pagan Nature? To avoid straying further from my purpose, I shall discuss this more fully in the Second Part. There it will also be shown that rainwater likewise contains mineral nature; meanwhile the reader is again referred there.

25–26

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.