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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Facing Pages · Branch 160 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 153
Early New High German
p. 153Mühe / Fleiß vnd Arbeiten / GOtt zu Ehren; Jhnen / vnd jren Nechsten zu allerley guten; auch dem Teuffel / sampt desselben anhang / zu verdrieß; Alchymisch (GOtt hat es nicht anders geordnet) zu erforschen / vnd denselben wie billich geschehen solte / vnuerdrießlich nachzusuchen.
O / Jhr viel - geld - Reichen vnnd sehr wol - habenden! Meinet jhr dann auch eben das euch Gott der HERR derowegen viel Geld vnd Gut gegeben habe / Euch vnd die ewrigen / nur alleine in Geld vnd Weld - sachen / hoch zu machen? Nein / Warlich. Jhr seid nur Haußhalter von dem grossen vnd milden GOTT darüber gesetzet; demselben müsset jhr (da wird keine exception für helffen) am Tage des strengen Gerichts / SEINES von jhme auch vertraweten vnnd vnterhanden bevolenes
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 153Pains, Diligence and Labours — to the Honour of GOd; to Themselves and their Neighbours for every manner of good; and to the vexation of the Devil, together with all his following — Alchemically (GOd has ordained it no otherwise), and to seek after them unwearyingly, as in fairness ought to be done.
O ye that are Rich in much money and very well off! Do ye then suppose that GOd the LORD has given you much Money and Goods for just this, only to make you and yours great in Money and Worldly matters? No, truly. Ye are only Stewards, set over it by the great and bountiful GOD; and to Him ye must render, on the Day of the strict Judgement (no exception will avail there), an account of HIS own Money, entrusted to you by Him and committed to your hands
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 153
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.