Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

Name: Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
Author: Heinrich Khunrath

The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.

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Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica PhilosophorumMagnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 147

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Early New High German Page · Branch 154 of 215

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Early New High German

p. 147

GOTT deswegen zeitlich gnug / hinwiederumb mit Hertz / Leib vnd Seel zitterlicher verfluchung vnd straffe / nicht vngestraffet dahin gehen lassen. Deuorabitur, secundum Hebræorū doctrinam, à IEHOVAE vltore subdelegato. AZAZELE, per proprietatem Iudicij, iuxta legem iræ & punitionis Diuinæ. Derhalben / auff das du nicht sündigest / so schreibe sie in die Taffeln deines Hertzens / stelle sie ins Liecht für deinem Angesicht / vnd thue bestendig darnach / so wirstu wohnen in der Hütten des HERRN / vnd bleiben auff seinem heiligen Berge; auch / nach GOTTES gnedigen willen / zu rechter zeit / vom HERRN in diesem Geheimnis weiter gesegnet werden. Dann es spricht LILIVM, si DEVS reperiret cor fidele, vtiq; revelaret ei Artem

Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

p. 147

GOD, on that account, soon enough not let him go thither unpunished — but in requital, with a cursing and a punishment to make Heart, Body and Soul tremble. He shall be devoured, according to the doctrine of the Hebrews, by AZAZEL, the subdelegate of JEHOVAH the avenger, by the property of Judgement, according to the law of Divine wrath and punishment. Therefore, that thou sin not, write them upon the Tables of thy Heart, set them in the Light before thy Countenance, and do constantly thereafter; so shalt thou dwell in the Tabernacle of the LORD and abide upon his holy Mountain; and also, according to GOD’S gracious will, in due time, be further blessed by the LORD in this Mystery. For the LILY says, si DEVS reperiret cor fidele, vtique revelaret ei Artem

208.Marginal glosses: ‘Pico, Count of Mirandola, attesting this; with Capnio, Agrippa and Scalichius.’; ‘We know that God heareth not sinners, John ix, verse 31. It helps them nothing, though they should put all their hands together.’; ‘In silence and in Hope shall your STRENGTH be…’ (running on to p. 148). — The four witnesses are Giovanni Pico della Mirandola; Johann Reuchlin, who Grecized his name as Capnio; Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim; and Paulus Scalichius (Pavao Skalić, 1534–75), the compiler of the Encyclopaedia. They are the standing line of Christian-cabalistic authority, and Khunrath calls them for a point of Hebrew demonology. — John ix. 31, Now we know that God heareth not sinners. — The German is doubly negative — GOD will not let him go unpunished — and both negatives are kept. — LILIVM is cited as a speaker, as the Rosarium is at pp. 134–135; which of the several alchemical Lilia is meant cannot be told from this page. — si DEVS reperiret cor fidele, vtique revelaret ei Artem hanc: ‘if GOD should find a faithful heart, He would assuredly reveal to him this Art.’ The Latin is kept because Khunrath restates it in German at the head of p. 148, where the English gives it; hanc stands over the page turn with the German.

About This Reading Edition

Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.

Historical Text and Translation

The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.

About Diotimos Editions

Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.

Rights

Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.

supplied-bilingual-editionSupplied complete German–English scholarly edition