Restored Hermetic Science of the Ancient Philosophers

to be brought to light. Indeed, even nowadays, in Spain, France, Italy, England, Bohemia, and Germany, people are found who possess this noble art, know it, and with a powder of the smallest quantity original Latin: "cum minimæ quantitatis pulvere" can tincture many thousands of parts of Mercury The metal mercury or quicksilver, often used as a base for transmutation. or Luna The alchemical name for silver, associated with the moon. into the Sun The symbol ☉ and the name "Sun" refer to gold, the most perfect of metals.; thus, the truth and certainty of the transmutation Transmutation: The alchemical process of changing one substance or metal into another, specifically base metals into gold. of metals is in no way to be doubted.

For if in worldly affairs—those concerning body, life, honor, and property—it is believed, according to spiritual and secular laws, that two or three witnesses are sufficient (for "in the mouth of two or three, as Christ the truth itself says in Matthew chapter 18, all truth shall be established" original Latin: "cum in ore duorum aut trium, sicut Christus ipsa veritas dicit, Matth. c. 18. Consistat, omnis veritas;" referencing Matthew 18:16.); should this then not also occur in this laudable art? This art can be proven with certain reasons, analogies, examples, and witnesses—not only two or three, but many hundreds.

For the Philosophers In this context, "Philosophers" refers specifically to Alchemists or "Philosophers by Fire" who study the hidden laws of nature. have lived at different times over many hundreds of years, one after the other, in foreign