Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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Early New High German Page · Branch 155 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 148
Early New High German
p. 148hanc, fünde GOTT ein trewes Hertz / gewißlich er offenbarete jhme diese Kunst. Wer seinem Nechsten schweret vnd helts / der wird wol bleiben / sagt der Man nach GOTTES willen / im 15. Psalmo. Die exception, lingua iuravi, mentem injuratam teneo / als habe man es im Hertzen also scharff vnd hefftig nicht gemeinet / wie die Wort gelautet / hat in foro conscientiæ keinen bestand; sie pflegt doch entlich noch elendiglich zu expiriren.
CHRISTVM verachten / lestern / wissende - vnd vorsetzlich verspotten / auch vngebürliches eigenes nutzes halben grüblen vnnd suchen / wie man / in Ehrlichen billigen Sachen / möge ausflucht haben / gethane pflicht nit zu halten / seind Sünden in den heiligen Geist / die nimmermehr vergeben werden; Gewißlich auch nicht
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 148hanc — If GOD found a faithful Heart, assuredly He would reveal to him this Art. Whoso sweareth to his Neighbour and keepeth it, he shall well abide, says the Man after GOD’S will, in the 15th Psalm. The exception, I swore with the tongue, I keep the mind unsworn — as though one had not meant it in the Heart so sharply and vehemently as the Words ran — has no standing in the court of conscience; it is wont in the end to expire miserably all the same.
To despise CHRIST, to blaspheme him, to mock him knowingly and of set purpose; and, for the sake of improper private gain, to grub and to search out how one may, in Honest and Equitable matters, have a shift not to keep a duty once undertaken: these are Sins against the holy Ghost, which shall nevermore be forgiven. And certainly not
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 148
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.