To the Reader.

...will be found; indeed, there are none at all whose preparation is not explicitly found in the books The Archidoxes original: Archidoxorum — one of Paracelsus's most important works on the "higher" chemistry and the extraction of medicinal virtues. and On Preparations original: præparationum. And these may be prepared in various ways and manners, according to what the disease requires. However, such preparation requires a diligent, sensible, and experienced alchemist Spagyrum A "Spagyrist" is a practitioner of Spagyria, the Paracelsian art of "separating and recombining" substances to create purified medicines. who is not only skilled with his hands but also grounded in the study of nature. For through such skill in Philosophy In this context, "Philosophy" refers to the study of natural laws and alchemy, not just abstract thought., other manual tasks are easily mastered; but where these tasks are complete in themselves and flow from Philosophy, they stand upon a certain foundation of knowledge original: scientiæ. Therefore, everyone must take care so that if he should err, he does not blame Theophrastus Theophrastus von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus., but attributes the fault to himself. For if you were to follow the literal letter to prepare the Mercury of Life original: Mercurium vitæ — a specialized alchemical preparation, often associated with antimony or the essential "spirit" of a substance., the Philosopher's Stone original: Lapidem Philosophorum, or the Tincture, as he teaches in the book On Secrets original: de Arcanis, you would go far astray and deceive yourself.

You should not wonder at this, however, since these three mentioned Secrets original: Arcana — miraculous or hidden healing powers. are the highest matters in nature, over which many a man has beaten his head. Had Theophrastus revealed these to everyone—to the godless and ungrateful as well as the pious and grateful—it would have been very blameworthy of him, just as Christ himself commanded not to cast pearls before swine. You should be satisfied that people are available who can prepare the Mercury of Life, which is the foundation of the others; and these three differ only in the perfection of the cooking original: perfectione coctionis and penetration original: ingressus — the ability of a substance to permeate and transform matter., and not in their Material original: Materia. This you can learn from the little book On the Tincture of the Philosophers original: de Tinctura Physicorum, which we have had printed here for this reason, as it explains the book On Secrets.

If you would also open your eyes and acknowledge the truth, you will see and must admit that all of Theophrastus's primary medicines consist in the Fifth Essence of the Sun original: Quinta Essencia Solis — "Sol" or the Sun is the alchemical symbol for Gold., in Oil of Gold original: oleo Solis, in Potable Gold original: auro potabili, and in Butter of Gold original: butyro Solis. These can never be brought to their perfection without the Mercury of Life, that is, the Mercury of the Sun original: Solis, from which they all spring like fruit from their tree.

That this is true is testified by the little book On the Tincture of the Philosophers.