The Sophic Hydrolith

Just as, I say, this earthly philosophers’ stone possesses many and various names besides that of its matter—indeed a thousand—and is wonderfully named in many places, so these titles and others like them may much more truly, and in the highest degree, be applied and spoken of God, the almighty good. For God—indeed God’s Son, his eternal Son—is the true, eternal, precious and tried cornerstone and foundation stone which the builders rejected and cast out: Isaiah 28; Psalm 118; Matthew 21; Acts 4; Romans 9; 1 Peter 2. He is the true ancient, indeed the most ancient, who existed before the foundation of the world and from eternity: Daniel 7; Ecclesiasticus 43; Psalm 90. He is the true hidden and unknown God, supernatural, incomprehensible, heavenly, blessed and highly praised: Mark 16; the sole bringer of salvation, indeed a God of all gods: Deuteronomy 10. He is the truly truthful one who cannot lie: Numbers 23; Isaiah 53; Romans 3. He is the most certain, able to do and accomplish whatever he wishes, or the only mighty one: Genesis 17; Ephesians 3. He is the most secret and eternal one, in whom all knowledge and treasures of wisdom lie hidden: Romans 16; Colossians 2. He is the sole divine power and omnipotence hidden from the fools, the wise of this world: Psalm 147; Jeremiah 10; Proverbs 8; Matthew 11; Ecclesiasticus 44. He is the first and last in heaven and upon earth. He is the true, single, perfect accord of all the elements, from whom and through whom and in whom all things are and originate: Romans 11; James 1. His being is indestructible and could not be separated or divided by any element: Psalm 16; Acts 2 and 13. He is the fifth being, indeed the being of all beings, and yet, properly speaking, no being. He is the true twofold Mercury, or Gigas geminae substantiae, the champion consisting of two substances, as the hymn concerning Christ puts it: “God by nature and man.” A champion containing a heavenly spirit which gives life to all things, indeed which is life itself: Wisdom 7; Isaiah 42; John 14.