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The Agent and the First Matter · Original
Original English
This is an Humor much like that of Don Quixote, who knew Dulcinea, but never saw her. Those students then, who would be better instructed, must first know. There is an Universall Agent, who when hee was dispos'd to Create, had no other Patterne or Exemplar whereby to frame and mould his Creatures, but himself, but having infinite inward Idea's, or Conceptions in himself as hee conceived so hee created, that is to say, hee created an outward forme answerable to the inward Conception, or figure of his Mind. In the second place they ought to know, there is an Universall Patient, and this Passive Nature was created by the Universall Agent. This generall Patient, is the immediat Catholic Character of God himself in his Unitie, and Trinitie. In plain Termes, it is that Substance which wee commonly call the first Matter. But verily it is to no purpose to know this Notion, Matter, unlesse we know the Thing it self, to which the Notion relates; wee must see it, handle it, and by experimentall ocular Demonstrations know the very Central Invisible Essences, and Proprieties of it. But of these things heare the most excellent Capnion, who informes his Jew, and his Epicure of two Catholic Natures Material and Spiritual: Alteram (saith he) quae videri oculis, & attingi manu possit, propè ad omne Momentum
Modern English
Their disposition much resembles that of Don Quixote, who knew Dulcinea but had never seen her. Students who wish for better instruction must first understand that there is a universal agent. When he determined to create, he had no pattern or model by which to frame and mould his creatures except himself. But having infinite inward ideas or conceptions within himself, he created as he conceived: that is, he created an outward form corresponding to the inward conception or figure of his mind. Second, they must know that there is a universal patient, and that this passive nature was created by the universal agent. This general patient is the immediate universal character of God himself in his unity and trinity. In plain terms, it is the substance we commonly call first matter. Yet knowing the concept “matter” serves no purpose unless we know the thing to which the concept refers. We must see it, handle it, and through experimental demonstrations before our eyes come to know its very central, invisible essences and properties. But hear the excellent Capnion on these matters. He tells his Jew and his Epicurean of two universal natures, material and spiritual. [New translation of the Latin:] “One can be seen with the eyes and touched with the hand, and can change at almost every moment.
Socrates
Reading Magia Adamica · The Agent and the First Matter · Page 81 · Passage A
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Thomas Vaughan’s complete 1650 Magia Adamica publication, with all historical preliminaries and the complete appended Coelum Terrae, original and modern English, fresh translations of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, full poems, eight historical marginal notes, the complete recovered printed corrections, 312 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Magia Adamica: or The Antiquitie of Magic, with Coelum Terrae. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650. Governing transcription: EEBO-TCP A64768.0001.001. The Getty Research Institute copy supplies surviving first-edition page images; the 1656 issue supplies explicitly disclosed missing or defective material. The complete shared 1650 errata are recovered from the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica copy of The Man-Mouse.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
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The historical text is public domain; the EEBO-TCP Phase I transcription is released under CC0. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.
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