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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Lumen de Lumine

A New Magical Light · The Complete 1651 First Edition

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Lumen de LumineLight From Light · Modern English

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Light From Light · Modern English

Latin

Istam vero publicationem aut major pars calumniatur, aut contemnit, aut sine Deo promissa ejus penes nos quærit, existimans nos illos statim Docturos, quo modo Aurum Chimicum sit præparandum, aut illis afferre magnos Thesauros, quibus possint coram mundo pomposè vivere, superbire, Bella gerere, Lucra exercere, helluari, potare, incontinenter vivere, & in aliis peccatis vitam commaculare, Quæ tamen omnia contraria sunt voluntati ipsius Dei. Hi exempla capere debebant à decem virginibus illis (quarum quinque Stolidæ à prudentibus Oleum petebant) esse multum aliam rationem, dum nimirum opus sit, ut quilibet proprio labore & studio in Deo id consequatur. Nos tamen Illorum sociorum Animos ex singulari Dei gratiâ & Revelatione, etiam ex ipsorum scriptis agnoscimus, aures nostras obturamus, & quasi nubibus nos obducimus, ne Ipsorum Boatus, & Ejulatus audiamus, qui in vanum aurum clamant. Atque hinc fit etiam quod multum Calumniarum & Conviciorum contra nos effundunt, quæ non curamus, sed Deus suo tempore judicabit.

Modern English

But most people either slander or despise this publication, or seek God’s promises from us without God. They imagine that we will immediately teach them how chymical gold is prepared, or bring them great treasures, enabling them to live pompously before the world, indulge their pride, wage wars, pursue gain, gorge themselves, drink, live licentiously, and stain their lives with other sins—all contrary to God’s will. They should learn from those ten virgins, of whom the five foolish asked the prudent for oil, that the matter is quite otherwise: each must obtain it by personal labour and study in God. Through God’s singular grace and revelation, and also through their own writings, we recognise these fellows’ dispositions. We stop our ears and veil ourselves, as if in clouds, so as not to hear the roaring and howling of those who cry for gold in vain. Hence they also pour out many slanders and insults against us. We disregard these; God will judge in his own time.

About This Reading Edition

The complete 1651 Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magical Light, by Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), with original and modern English, fresh translations of the Latin, Greek and Hebrew passages, the historical emblem and its inscriptions, all twelve Magical Aphorisms, 105 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Lumen de Lumine, or A New Magicall Light. London: H. Blunden, 1651. Governing witness: Wellcome Collection EPB/A/69096.4, digitisation b30340160, Wing V150, ESTC R146. Source credit: Wellcome Collection; Public Domain Mark.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text and emblem are public domain. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.