OF CREATION

-ty has perfectly given to the ancient sages /
He who sits on high / in the
heavens / and creates and governs all things /
who is a flowing well and
fountain of eternal wisdom / and
the Word of God the Most High / who
is an eternal essence of all things.
Therefore, in the beginning, he
who wishes to learn the art and wisdom must
ask God for understanding understanding: "verstendnuß" implies not just intellectual grasp, but spiritual discernment and divine insight. / which
understanding is locked within this book /
in the most truthful word / which
word is God Himself / which word
may be brought forth from the truest treasure
of treasures with great diligence and the deep-
est reflection /
in the garden of the most righteous
composition The "garden" is a common alchemical metaphor for the laboratory or the "philosophical garden" where the elements are planted and tended to grow into the Stone. / of the true planting / the
perfection of all truths / everything that
is God / and all His creation / and
creatures original: "Creaturen"; refers to all living and material things brought into being by God. / along with their natures. And
this is and shall be divided into six spe-
cial chapters / so that those who
study them may not be idle in