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 185

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Early New High German

p. 185

Vniuersalis, daraus Alle / welche Naturgemeß-Alchymisch darinnen Laboriren / nechst GOTTES Gnad vnnd Segen / LAPIDEM Philosophorum erlangen sollen) wollestu / O HEILIGER GOTT / vns bestendiglich / solch HöCHSTES GVTH der NATVR durch Kunst daraus zu vberkommen / gnediglich erhalten: AMEN.

Dann / diese MAGNESIAM stellet vns die Natur für Augen; diese hat vns GOtt gegeben; diese haben vns alle Naturgemeß-lehrende Philosophi zu gebrauchen befohlen; keine andere sollen wir wissen / erkennē noch annehmen; Sintemal in keinem andern die höchste Medicin der grossen Weld / sampt jhrer früchten / zufinden.

Wo ferne anders ein Philosophus selbst an dieser einmal er-

Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum

p. 185

Vniuersalis, out of which All who Laborate therein in a Nature-conforming and Alchemical way shall attain, next after GOD’S Grace and Blessing, the LAPIS of the Philosophers) — wouldest thou, O HOLY GOD, graciously preserve us constantly, that we may attain out of it such HIGHEST GOOD of NATURE through Art: AMEN.

For this MAGNESIA Nature sets before our eyes; this has GOD given us; this have all Nature-conformingly teaching Philosophers commanded us to use; no other shall we know, recognize, or accept — since in no other is the highest Medicine of the great World, together with her fruits, to be found.

Provided only that a Philosopher shall himself, to this once re-

246.No marginal gloss stands on this page. — The prayer is the last of the treatise and is addressed to God, not to the reader — unlike the Beschluß at p. 165, which speaks of the Chymist in the third person and only then puts the Nunc dimittis in his mouth; the parenthesis that opens the page has been running since p. 184 and the main clause does not arrive until wollestu. — die höchste Medicin der grossen Weld: the Stone as Medicine of the great World, the standing formula since p. 56, where it is first set against Christ as Medicinal Saviour. — Wo ferne anders, except in so far as: the last sentence of the treatise proper begins here and runs to p. 186. — nechst, next after: Grace and Blessing come first and the attainment follows on them. — No erratum falls anywhere in pp. 177–187; the leaf’s last entry is the one for p. 160.

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