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 65 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 58
Early New High German
p. 58contra; genandt / (Welche Jch vnterhanden habe / Gott lasse Mich dieselben vollenden / Amen) in grossem Weldbuch der Natur zusampt in heiliger Biblischer Schrifft wolgegründet geschrieben; Jetzo aber auch (durch beystandt des GEISTES der WEISHEIT GOTTES) dermassen zum teil Philosophischer richtiger Bescheid gegeben / zum teil im Wercke vnd Augenschein vnterricht gezeiget werden; Also / dz ein Weißheit - liebendes Mensch / zwar neben hoher verwunderung (vberzeuget von seinem eigenem Warheit - liebenden Gewissen) damit zu frieden sein mus vnd kan; wie allbereit die mehrmals probirte vnd wolbestandene Warheit gnugsamb bezeuget hat.
Jch bin gewiß / wo ferne man sonsten auch keinen andern grundt hette / als nur jetztgesagte wun-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 58contra — so named (which I have in hand; God let Me finish them, Amen): written and well grounded in the great World-book of Nature together with holy Biblical Scripture; but Now also (by the assistance of the SPIRIT of the WISDOM OF GOD) in such measure that partly a Philosophically sound account is given, partly instruction is shown in the Work and to the eye; So that a Wisdom-loving Human being — along with high wonder, indeed, and convinced by his own Truth-loving Conscience — must and can be content with it; as the many-times assayed and well-proven Truth has already sufficiently borne witness.
I am certain that, so far as one otherwise had no other ground than only the just-mentioned won-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 58
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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.