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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Abraham the Jew

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures

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The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume IThe Sun Moon and Mercury · Manuscript 105r · Scan 243

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French Page · Branch 236 of 351

The Sun Moon and Mercury · Manuscript 105r · Scan 243

French

Ms. 105r

et que nous espérons qui nous arrivera dans les siècles futurs, et je fais profession de ce qu'elle propose à croire, à espérer et à confesser; or si nous tirons de ces figures la connaissance et les preuves de quelques mystères, nous les avons proposés nûment et simplement et selon que la nature même les explique dans ses œuvres, ou comme il plaît à Dieu nous les révéler par son moyen et nous les communiquer quoique nous en soyons indignes; car nous avons fait tout notre possible, et tâché autant qu'il dépendait de nous, d'exposer la vérité de la physique et après l'avoir expliquée nûment, de découvrir combien ces figures contiennent de vérités et de lumières pour expliquer ces secrets sacrés, de sorte qu'un chacun apprendra non pas de moi, mais par lui-même et par ces emblèmes, ce qui est caché dessous, et plus que je ne peux dire et verra que nos sentiments par rapport à Dieu sont purs, et en aura peut-être de meilleurs que moi, et ne tournera point ces choses en proverbes ridicules, mais, au contraire, en fera grand cas, par

Ms. 105r

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: The Sun Moon and Mercury

Ms. 105r

and which we hope will happen to us in future ages; I profess what she proposes for belief, hope and confession. If we draw from these figures knowledge and proofs of certain mysteries, we have presented them plainly and simply, as nature herself explains them in her works, or as it pleases God to reveal and communicate them to us through her, although we are unworthy. We have done everything possible and tried, as far as it depended on us, to set forth physics' truth. After explaining it plainly, we have sought to disclose how much truth and light these figures contain for explaining these sacred secrets. Thus everyone will learn—not from me but through himself and these emblems—what is hidden beneath them, and more than I can say. He will see that our sentiments toward God are pure and will perhaps have better ones than mine. He will not turn these things into ridiculous proverbs, but, on the contrary, will value them highly with

Ms. 105r

About This Reading Edition

The first manuscript in the Manly Palmer Hall collection at the Getty Research Institute: the Book of Hieroglyphic Figures, presented in French and English with 463 explanatory notes, 13 manuscript plates, 25 source details, an introduction, chapter outline, glossary, bibliography, and register of readings.

Historical Text and Translation

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures (Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques), attributed in the witness to Abraham the Jew. Getty Research Institute, Manly Palmer Hall collection of alchemical manuscripts, accession 950053, Box 1, Hogart manuscript 3; French witness catalogued circa 1800. Manly Palmer Hall is the collector, not the author.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The circa 1800 source manuscript is public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, outline, glossary, register, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. Source photographs are credited to the Getty Research Institute and Internet Archive in the supplied edition.