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 183

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Early New High German

p. 183

fentlichen Bekentnis vnd Lehre vom SOHN der grossen Weld / in diesem letzten zänckischen seculo: vieleicht vielen zweiffelern / die lehre von seinem SOhne / auch aus der Natur zubestetigen. So ich den Sophisten vnd vnwissenden zugefallen / wie sie es gerne höreten / vnd nicht der Natur nach / lehrete / so were Ich der Warheit Diener nicht. Warlich / warlich Ich sage euch / wer nicht zur rechten Thür hinein gehet in diese Kunst / sondern steiget anderswo hinein / der ist ein Sophist vnd jrrender. MAGNESIA Catholica ist die Pri-materialische Thüer der Natur / das HöCHSTE der NATVR GVTh / durch Chymischer kunst hülffe (benedicente IEHOVAH) zu vberkommen. So ein Philosophus durch SIE Naturgemeß-Alchymisch eingehet / der wird FORTVNATVS & BEATVS

Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

p. 183

-pen Confession and Teaching of the SON of the great World, in this last quarrelsome age: perhaps to confirm to many doubters the teaching of his SON out of Nature also. If I taught to please the Sophists and the unknowing, as they would gladly hear it, and not according to Nature, then were I no servant of the Truth. Verily, verily I say unto you: he that goes not in at the right Door into this Art, but climbs up some other way, the same is a Sophist and one that errs. MAGNESIA Catholica is the First-material Door of Nature, whereby to attain the HIGHEST GOOD of NATURE through the help of Chymical art (IEHOVAH blessing it). If a Philosopher goes in through HER in a Nature-conforming and Alchemical way, he shall FORTVNATE AND BLESSED

244.Marginal glosses: ‘A PROGNOSTICATION. Behold! the time is yet coming when Theology out of the great World-book of Nature will be alleged, alongside Biblical Theology, as an Ocular Proof, and will count for a very great deal — against certain quarrelsome and self-willed Stubborn-heads.’; ‘He will Dissolve; will Coagulate; and will Fix.’ — The PROGNOSTICON is the passage the Introduction to this edition builds on, and it is now edited: the claim is not that the book of nature replaces scripture but that it will one day be cited beside it and carry weight in court. — Warlich / warlich Ich sage euch down to der ist ein Sophist vnd jrrender is John x. 1 with three changes: Luther has zur Tür where Khunrath has zur rechten Thür, in den Schafstall where he has in diese Kunst, and ein Dieb und ein Mörder where he has ein Sophist vnd jrrender. The added rechten is doing work: there is a right door, and the Sophists are not at it. — The second gloss turns the Solue, Coagula, Fige of p. 46 from imperative into prophecy. — Chymischer kunst is Antiqua, both words, between the Fraktur durch and the Fraktur hülffe.

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