From the book
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
Heinrich Khunrath · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordConfession names the author's public avowal of the true Magnesia and its significance, not only the separate book called Confessio.
- In KhunrathAt p. 181 the confession concerns Magnesia as Christ's symbolic and natural likeness in the great World-book.
- In this editionKeep this use of confession distinct from the named Confessio repeatedly cited elsewhere.
- A reading distinctionThe final sentence begins with “public” broken across pp. 182–1832.
Meaning
Confession names the author's public avowal of the true Magnesia and its significance, not only the separate book called Confessio. The final pages defend that speech as a duty despite expected ingratitude and hostility.
Use in the book
At p. 181 the confession concerns Magnesia as Christ's symbolic and natural likeness in the great World-book. The author expects the world's thanks received by Christ, the apostles and confessors of truth. The following page makes knowledge and recognition the ground of speaking; p. 183 hopes the public teaching may confirm the doctrine of God's Son to doubters through Nature.
This publicity coexists with withholding. The common identifying name and fuller demonstrations remain reserved under the conditions discussed earlier. The object publicly confessed is the doctrine of the true subject and its testimony, not every detail by which an unprepared reader could claim possession.
The distinction prevents two opposite misreadings: that secrecy makes the book's publication pointless, or that public witness entails complete disclosure. Khunrath assigns different duties to different kinds of speech.
Places to read
- 1599 p. 145Indiscriminate disclosure remains prohibited
- 1599 p. 181Confession of the natural likeness is expected to attract ingratitude
- 1599 p. 182Recognition is offered as the ground of speaking and writing
- 1599 p. 183Public confession may provide natural confirmation for doubters
Translation in this edition
Keep this use of confession distinct from the named Confessio repeatedly cited elsewhere. Context decides whether the word denotes a publication title or an act of witness.
Source note
The final sentence begins with “public” broken across pp. 182–1832. The modern edition rejoins its meaning, but the passage locator should acknowledge the continuation.