From the book
The Sophic Hydrolith, Water Stone of the Wise
Anonymous and companion authors · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Meaning
Praise and thanks identify the proper response to an allegedly received gift. The introduction explains concealment partly as a way of directing possessors to honour God rather than boast. At completion the practitioner bows both knees and heart, acknowledges God as the chief governor of the work, and couples thanksgiving with alms. The Sirach motto asks who can praise God adequately when so much of his work remains hidden. The earlier praise of the art through magnificent titles is a related but distinct object of exaltation.
The prayer’s closing Deut. heading introduces the command to honour God alone; Deuteronomy is the expanded English lookup, while Deut. is the printed abbreviation. The adjacent Joshua heading concerns fulfilled promise and is explained separately. The epigram similarly ends by assigning honour to God even after describing the good person’s enduring reputation.
The 1661 First Response adds its own distinctions. Treasures should lead to recognition of divine goodness and omnipotence; recipients must also thank their guide for what he shares, without self-display or unauthorized taking. The closing exhortation combines thanks to God with honour to the appointed instructor and continued caution. Gratitude therefore does not erase ordered responsibility or license complacency. These passages belong to the later response, not to a single anonymous speaker across both printings.
Places to read
- Opening explanation · unit 4Recipients should acknowledge God alone.
- Part II: matter and the work · unit 2High titles and exaltation celebrate the art before and after perfection.
- Part II: matter and the work · unit 23Completion returns to humble gratitude.
- Part III: benefits and their rank · unit 1Divine greatness exceeds adequate human praise.
- Prayer · unit 3Read the Deut.32.v.3. heading and command to honour God alone; Joshua’s fulfilled-promise seal immediately precedes it.
- Closing epigrams · unit 5The last doxology returns honour to God alone.
- First Response · unit 2Created goods are occasions to recognise divine goodness and power and to thank God.
- First Response · unit 15The recipients must also thank the guide who allocates the jewels.
- First Response · unit 16Continuous thanks for divine grace accompany the attained treasure.
Attested forms
preisten; Ehr; dancken; zudancken; lob vnd Ehr; Knien vnd Hertzen; preisen; extolliren; Gott allein die Ehre; GOtt allein die Ehre; Gütigkeit; Allmacht; ehren; hertzlich dancken; dancket Gott Tag vnd Nacht; Gnade; Deut.; titulis