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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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 21
Early New High German
p. 21heimb-sten fewrigē GEISTES (der SEHLE) der Welt Rationum Seminariarum specialium scintillulæ igneæ speciales habē / jhren Eigenschafften vnd Arthen nach / MATERIAM PRIMAM VNVERSALEM*, in allen vnnd jeden Materialischen Special Dingen / auff jhre gewisse Special Arten / auch gewiß-geartet. MAGNESIAM Philosophorum CATHOLICAM aber hat die NATVR CATHOLISCH gelassen / Dieweil Sie dieselbe weder auff ein Vegetabile, Animale aut Minerale specificiret, Sondern mit jhrer einer Synopticè-Catholica scintillula, h. e. Kurtz-begrifflich-Allgemeinen fünklein Catholicè oder ALGEMein animiret vñ genaturet hat. SVMma: Es ist EIN ALGEMEINER Gott; EIN ALGEMEINE grosse Materialische von GOTT ge-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 21secret fiery SPIRIT (the SOUL) of the World, the special fiery sparks of the special seminal Reasons have — according to their properties and kinds — MATERIAM PRIMAM VNIVERSALEM* in each and every Material particular Thing, fixed in kind after their own certain particular kinds. But MAGNESIA Philosophorum CATHOLICA NATVRE has left CATHOLIC, since she has not specified it upon a Vegetable, Animal or Mineral, but has ensouled and given nature to it Catholicly, or universally, with one Synopticè-Catholica scintillula of hers — that is, a comprehended-in-brief, universal little spark. In sum: there is ONE UNIVERSAL God; ONE UNIVERSAL great Material WORLD made by GOD;
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 21
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.