Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici

Name: Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici
Author: Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement

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

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Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi PhilosophiciBook Two · Chapter 4

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Facing Pages · Branch 149 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 4

Book Mode

French

1621 pp. 203–205 · scans FR223, FR224, FR225

Ce grand & souverain autheur de toutes choses, prevoyant des le commencement du monde que l'infection & corruption feroient une mortelle guerre en toutes choses composées de corps & d'esprit; voulut opposer à cette dissention un remede certain, afin de sauver l'un & ne perdre pas l'autre. Car l'esprit & la substance estant enveloppez dans les corps, & les corps enfouis dans la corruption; Il estoit impossible qu'estans les corps assaillis & surmontez par la corruption, l'esprit logé dans eux n'en receust perte & dommage; & demeurast avec les corps esclave de la mort, qui sans intervalle est aux aguets pour surprendre la nature, & entre en tous genres & especes pour y exercer sa tyrannie. La preuve en est trop suffisante en la fin naturelle & quelquefois precipitee des animaux, vegetaux, & mineraux, que nous voyons arriver par accident de corruption. Et qui mortifiant les corps il advient que les esprits courent mesme fortune. C'est à dire que leurs vertus vivifiantes sont du tout aneanties. Mais pource qu'en toutes ses œuvres cet admirable ouvrier a voulu faire estinceler le feu de l'amour parfaict qu'il porte à l'homme qu'il avoit destiné de toute eternité pour l'unique instrument de sa gloire; assubiettissant à luy seul tout ce qu'il feroit de plus esmerveillable en la creation de l'univers: il a en sa faveur estably des remedes souverains tant pour purifier & accomplir les choses qu'il avoit creées pour son usage, que pour le garder & conserver luy mesme contre les assauts de cette corruption mortelle.

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 4

1621 pp. 203–205 · scans FR223, FR224, FR225

This great and sovereign author of all things, foreseeing from the beginning of the world that infection and corruption would wage a mortal war in everything composed of body and spirit, chose to oppose this discord with a sure remedy, so as to save the one without losing the other. For since spirit and substance were enclosed within bodies, and bodies buried in corruption, it was impossible for bodies to be assailed and overcome by corruption without the spirit lodged in them suffering loss and injury, and remaining with them enslaved to death. Death is constantly on the watch to take nature unawares, and enters every genus and species to exercise its tyranny. There is more than sufficient proof in the natural, and sometimes premature, end of animals, plants and minerals, which we see occur through the accident of corruption. As it puts bodies to death, their spirits meet the same fate: that is, their life-giving powers are entirely extinguished. Yet in all his works this admirable craftsman wished to make the fire of his perfect love for humanity shine forth. From all eternity he had appointed humanity as the sole instrument of his glory, subjecting to it alone the most wonderful things he would make in the creation of the universe. In its favour he therefore established sovereign remedies, both to purify and perfect the things he had created for human use, and to guard and preserve human beings themselves against the assaults of this mortal corruption.

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.