Candida Phoenix Philosophica

Name: Candida Phoenix Philosophica
Author: Anonymous

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart I — Theorem VII

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Facing Pages · Branch 55 of 411

Part I — Theorem VII

Book Mode

German & Latin

39–40

Nachdeme aber sehr viel daran gelegen / daß man den Schöpffer / und das Geschöpff / von einander unterscheide / auch mir insonderheit ratione dieser meiner profession, solchen Unterschied zu wissen / oblieget; Inmassen ich lieber wünschen wolte / dieser Königlichen Kunst privirt: als ein blosser practicus, ein Sudler und Laborant / und kein Philosophus (ob ich mich schon nur für den geringsten achte) zu seyn / oder allein notitiam, aber keine gründliche scientiam hierinne zu haben. In mehrer Erwegung / finis principalis dieses studii seyn solle / die Wunderwerck Gottes zu betrachten / und erkennen zu lernen / und dardurch zu ebenmässiger mehrer Erkantnuß des Allmächtigen Schöpffers / und also der rechten Weißheit zu gelangen / bevorab auch seines H. Nahmens Lob / Ehr und Preiß / desto mehr außzubreiten / und zu befördern; Gestalten die / so ihnen diß Orts einen andern Haupt-Zweck vorsetzen / eben die jenige seynd / welche von denen Philosophis, pro indignis gehalten / und deßwegen die Kunst so hefftig vor ihnen verborgen worden:

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part I — Theorem VII

39–40

Yet much depends on distinguishing Creator from creature, and my own profession especially obliges me to know that distinction. I would rather be deprived of this royal art than be a mere practitioner, a bungler and laboratory worker rather than a philosopher—although I consider myself only the least of philosophers—or possess mere acquaintance with it without sound knowledge. Moreover, the principal end of this study should be to contemplate and learn to know God’s wondrous works, thereby attaining a greater knowledge of the almighty Creator and thus true wisdom, and above all spreading and advancing the praise, honour, and glory of his holy name. Those who set themselves another principal end are precisely the people whom the philosophers judge unworthy, and from whom the art has therefore been so carefully concealed.

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.