Introduction to the Divine Art of Chemistry

P R Æ F A T I O.

It is a fitting punishment, and one to be met with laughter rather than deplored. For while we believe these triflers and consider the goal of this most sacred art from both sides, we do not find the art itself, but rather the shadow of the art. For this science is twofold: true, indeed, and false, which bears a certain image of the true, but because it does not have foundations in nature, it also brings forth no fruits, but entices the minds of greedy men with the vain hope of sophistries. This is the sort practiced by those who promise golden mountains to others, when they can only exhibit iron ones. What wonder is it, then, if, wandering from the path of the art, they lead many with them into ruin? But the true species of chemistry is that which has a double goal: it teaches the consideration of metals or hands down the preparation of medicines. No physician can exist without this, because the foundation of medicines consists in their true preparation, so that stars may become medicines, and be accommodated to the stars themselves, which create diseases. For it is necessary that medicine comes from heaven, and is contained in arcana, in which the virtue and power of the stars consist. Chemistry brings aid to desperate diseases and shows the hidden forces of things to the physician, which would in no way be revealed without this art. Added to this is the fact that this divine science explains to us the philosopher's stone, the single medicine sought by all philosophers, than which there is no more excellent treasure in the whole world, whether for the sake of metals or for the health of the human body, whether to preserve it or to restore it.