Philosophical Scrutiny of the True Elixir of Life

finding a more secure path in this scrutiny, have obtained that desired golden fleece in Colchis. This I wish from the heart, and I persevere.

Marburg in Styria, February 27, 1687.

JOANNES BENEDICTUS GRÜNDEL, Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine, Academician of the College of the Holy Roman Empire of Nature's Curiosities, Physician of the Illustrious Duchy of Styria.

To the Most Noble and Most Excellent Lord Author,

I have most willingly perused the Philosophical Scrutiny of the True Elixir of Life, a treatise which I believe is infallibly supported by experience, and most fertile in reason and authority. In it, among other ingenious things, I have observed the distinction between the books of the Wise and the erroneous ones of vagabonds; between Philosophical gold and common gold; between the Pseudo-Chemists and the Adepts; between the simple matter of the latter and the manifold matter of the former; between the greater, middle, and lesser minerals; between the Mercury of the wise and the common; and finally, between the Philosophical fire and the charcoal fire. These are all usefully, elegantly, and precisely outlined as a warning to Neo-Chemists. To the publisher...