On the Hyleal, or Prime-Material Universal or General Natural Chaos

Preface and Apology.

They claim that I do a great wrong by presuming to write so certainly about the Subject of the Universal and Great Philosopher’s Stone original Latin: Lapidis Philosophorum Catholici ac Magni Subjecto; the "Subject" refers to the raw material or "prime matter" required to begin the work. and its circumstances, when I myself have never made the Philosopher’s Stone original Latin: Lapidem Philosophorum in all my life; otherwise, I would surely have come forward and shown myself with it. Oh dear, what are you saying? What do I hear? Dear fellow, wait just a while before I paint more clearly before the noses of you and those like you—you brain-rattling phantasms original German: Hirnschlotterenden Phantasten; a colorful insult for those whose brains "shake" or "rattle" with deluded ideas. in this art—and give an account, according to your pleasure, of each and every point: how, from where, when, and in what manner or way I have the thorough knowledge of that which I write. If there is but a tiny spark of recognition of the universal truth, according to nature and alchemy, within you, then your own conscience will give good testimony for me, against you, that I have not written wrongly.

There are very good, certain theories, theses, or positions, indeed the most certain hypotheses and indisputable demonstrations original Latin: Theoria, Theses oder Positiones, imò hypotheses certissimæ & apodicticæ Demonstrationes which (like those of mine I have mentioned) proceed from the theosophical foundations of the light of the Biblical Scriptures and of Nature. Defiance is offered to you—