The Sophic Hydrolith

Name: The Sophic Hydrolith
Author: Anonymous

Water Stone of the Wise

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The Sophic HydrolithPart Four

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English Page · Branch 137 of 287

Part Four

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German & Latin

1619 pp. 130–131 · scans ER134, ER135

Vñ ist dieses hiebey auch wol zu mercken/ vnd in acht zunemmen/ dz die Chimische philosophi den Antimonium (durch den/ wie hiezu vor in der Chimischen præparation vermeldt) die nachfolgende fermentation geschehen muß/ ehe sie dem erlangten Elixir/ oder Chimischen König vorgelegt werden/ oder mit dem Alten grawen Saturno ein schweißbad halten vnnd außziehen/ eben mit diesem Character ♄ bezeichnet vnnd angedeutet haben/ welches dann nicht vngeschickt für ein wunder vnd geheimniß gleichsam zu halten vnnd anzuschawen ist. In massen dann solche form vñ gestalt bey vns Christen auch gleichfals zu finden/ vnnd fast in gleicher verborgenheit gebraucht vnnd fürgestellet wirt/ in dem so man dem höchsten haupt vnd regierer der gantzen Christenheit/ einen Reichsapffel/ oben mit einem Kreutzlein zugericht in die hand/ damit angedeutet wirt/ das solcher/ ehe er zu friedlicher vñ ruhiger possession gelanget/ zuvor dieser welt creutz vñ leide wol erfahre vnd dadurch getrieben/ versucht vñ approbirt werden muß/ welche vorbildung vñ bedeutung dann gedachte philosophi/ so vor vhralten jaren gelebt/ vielleicht mit solchem zeichen ♄ nit vngefähr oder vergeblich vnd eben zumal in dieser chimischen arbeit (die solchen proceß auch erfordert) haben andeuten wollen. Welches alles nicht vnfüglich auff die rechte creutzschul vnd trübsal der Christen (das sie nemblich auch/ vorhin/ ehe sie zur ewige freud vnd ruhe eingehe/ durch den beschwerlichen weltlauff/ oder mit dem feindseligen grawen Saturno das ist dem Alten Adam vnd Sathan ein Kampffschul vnd schweißbad halten müssen) gezogen vnd angedeutet werden.

The Sophic Hydrolith: Part Four

1619 pp. 130–131 · scans ER134, ER135

It should also be carefully noted that the chemical philosophers designated and signified antimony—through which, as stated earlier in the chemical preparation, the ensuing fermentation must take place before it is presented to the obtained elixir or chemical king, or before taking and undergoing a sweating bath with old grey Saturn—by this very character, ♄. This may fittingly be regarded and contemplated as something wondrous and secret. A similar form and shape is also found among us Christians and is used and represented in almost the same hidden fashion: the supreme head and governor of the whole Christian commonwealth is given into his hand an imperial orb furnished with a little cross above it. This signifies that, before he attains peaceful and tranquil possession, he must first thoroughly experience this world’s cross and suffering and be driven, tested and proved through them. Perhaps those philosophers who lived in ancient years wished, neither by chance nor in vain, to signify this with the character ♄, precisely in this chemical labour, which also requires such a process. All this may fittingly be referred and applied to the true school of the cross and tribulation of Christians: before entering eternal joy and rest they too must first undergo a school of combat and sweating bath in the burdensome course of the world, with hostile grey Saturn—that is, the old Adam and Satan.

About This Reading Edition

The anonymous Water Stone of the Wise of 1619, with German text, a new English translation, 240 annotations, three companion treatises from the original volume, two separately identified responses of 1661, and the complete supplied study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Wasserstein der Weysen. Frankfurt: Lucas Jennis, 1619. The governing e-rara copy belongs to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich (DOI 10.3931/e-rara-8968). The work is traditionally attributed to Johann Siebmacher; this remains an attribution, not a name printed in the anonymous witness. The separately sourced First and Second Responses use the 1661 Wolfenbüttel witness, qun-642-1s, pp. 200–206.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

Historical texts printed in 1619 and 1661 are in the public domain. The supplied 2026 German reading text, new English translation, introduction, notes and complete study apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The original triangle is credited to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich, and e-rara, Public Domain Mark.