To the Reader.

Likewise, the Latin work On Long Life original: de vitalonga is divided into many chapters. Therefore, without the knowledge of this Mercury of the Sun Mercurius Solis Likely referring to a "solar" essence or a gold-based alchemical preparation considered the pinnacle of restorative medicine., neither I nor you have much to boast of regarding the highest medicine. This is not because other medicinal pieces do not also have their sufficient effect—for God has given each its own nature along with its own powers—but rather because this Mercury of the Sun, as Theophrastus Paracelsus testifies and experience original: Experiens demonstrates, fails no physician even in the most severe diseases, where all other medicines are used in vain and pass without effect. Since all medicines are used for the sake of maintaining or restoring human health, we have added to the aforementioned books the treatise On the Renewal and Restoration of Life original: de renouatione & restauratione vitæ, followed by On Long Life original: de longa vita, and thus concluded this volume with them. There are also some difficult matters in certain sections, such as On Rings original: de annulis — likely referring to the creation of medicinal or astrological rings and On Homunculi original: homunculis — the controversial Paracelsian concept of creating artificial life in a flask, which are not for everyone. Therefore, they should not be attempted by the unlearned, for they contain a deeper meaning original: verstand than might be understood by the unskillful.

One more thing I must admonish the reader: namely, that in the Archidoxes original: Archidoris — a variant spelling of Archidoxis, Paracelsus's foundational work on chemistry nothing has been omitted by us, as we have arranged the books one after another just as Theophrastus left them in his own handwriting. Why he omitted the second book is unknown to me. Likewise, I have withheld nothing in the others, but have had them printed as faithfully as was possible for me in haste. I hope to have offended no one with this, but rather to have served everyone, which is my intention. If God wills, I also intend soon to print the books now printed in Latin, along with my observations and annotations original: obseruationibus & annotationibus, alongside my German Introduction to the books of Theophrastus, and others On the Causes of Diseases original: de causis morborum together with the main diseases, so that it may be clearly recognized upon what the philosophy and medicine of Theophrastus are grounded. May the merciful God grant that, regardless of the ignorance and envy of many people, nature may be explained more and more over time, to the honor of His divine name and to the promotion of the long life of man.