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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici

Treatises on the True Salt and the Universal Spirit of the World

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Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi PhilosophiciBook Two · Chapter 2

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English Page · Branch 106 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 2

French

1621 pp. 118–120 · scans FR138, FR139, FR140

La naturelle est celle qui est innee en eux, & leur fut donnee dés la creation, qui est ce gouvernement de l’univers dont parle Hermes au Pimandre, par lequel ils l’entretiennent en son estre, le gardant & conservant par leurs vertus de destruction, decadence, & aneantissement des vertus de cette influence, dont l’Esprit de l’univers est incessamment fourny & doüé, comme nous voyons: lequel les applique & fait voir en toutes choses ausquelles il donne accroissement & subsistance. Mais l’accidentelle est celle qui leur survient outre leur nature par les occurrances de leurs situations & regards: Et celle cy change à toute heure, de sorte qu’elle n’est jamais semblable: & n’a puissance que sur les effects de la matiere, & non sur la matiere mesme. Car quelque maligne influence qui arrive, nous voyons que la terre en son centre ne laisse pas à deuëment faire ses operations, & sans cesse produire animaux, vegetaux, & mineraux. Que s’il arrive quelquefois des mortifications, cela procedde seulement de la malice de l’aspect qui ne touche que la superficie des corps, c’est à dire la masse excrementeuse, & non pas la substance interieure, qui est la chose mesme. Et de vray cet accident se change: tellement que cette influxion opere tantost une chose, & tantost une autre toute contraire: Ce que ne fait jamais la naturelle & principalle, qui demeure fixe & permanente en son poinct. De là se doit tirer une conclusion que la matiere premiere comme simple de soy ne reçoit sinon les vertus celestes, qu’elle reçoit & garde encore en sa terrification.

1621 pp. 118–120 · scans FR138, FR139, FR140

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 2

1621 pp. 118–120 · scans FR138, FR139, FR140

The natural is that innate in them and given to them at creation: the government of the universe of which Hermes speaks in the Pimander, whereby they maintain its being, guarding and preserving it, through their powers, from destruction, decay and annihilation—powers of this influence, with which the Spirit of the universe is ceaselessly supplied and endowed, as we see; it applies them and displays them in all things to which it gives growth and subsistence. But the accidental influence is what comes upon them beyond their nature through the contingencies of their positions and aspects. This changes at every hour, so that it is never the same, and has power only over matter’s effects, not over matter itself. For whatever malignant influence occurs, we see that earth at its centre does not cease duly to perform its operations and continually produce animals, plants and minerals. If deaths sometimes occur, this proceeds only from the malignity of the aspect, which touches merely the surface of bodies, that is, the excrementitious mass, and not their inward substance, which is the thing itself. Indeed this accident changes, so that this influx produces now one thing and now another wholly contrary; the natural and principal influence never does this, remaining fixed and constant at its point. Hence we must conclude that first matter, being simple in itself, receives only celestial powers, which it receives and retains even in its earthing.

1621 pp. 118–120 · scans FR138, FR139, FR140

About This Reading Edition

The complete French text of 1621 with a new English translation, all three books, preliminary texts, nine concluding sonnets, original errata, 299 annotations and the complete supplied study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement, Traittez de l’harmonie et constitution generalle du vray sel, secret des Philosophes, & de l’Esprit universelle du Monde. Paris: Jérémie Périer and Abdias Buisard, 1621. The governing witness is the BnF/Gallica reproduction, ark:/12148/bpt6k656273. The reproduced privilege is dated 6 November 1620; the separate eighty-page Poème philosophic of 1620 is outside this edition.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text printed in 1621 is in the public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading text, new English translation, introduction, notes and complete study apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization.