Der gülden Gesundbrunnen

and highly necessary art, and is a special gift of God. Within it, our dear God has faithfully indicated inexpressible grace and goodness, and has very skillfully modeled the secrets of all things, indeed of the entire world. Many wise pagans and Christians since the Flood referring to the biblical Deluge of Noah have endeavored to explore these secrets. From this, many of them learned, experienced, and found their highest desire and nature's best gifts, namely enduring health and long life, as well as earthly wealth. These things were richly granted to them through a Universal medicin arcanum universal medical secret, which was called by the ancient sages the Lapis benedictus Philosophorum Blessed Stone of the Philosophers. However, they had to attain its præparation preparation through long periods of time, much toil, through various masteries and bodies metallic or mineral substances, various regimens, manual techniques, and tedious reiterationibus repetitions. Therefore, they recorded this holy art, each according to his own opinion, manner, and regimen, and described it with so many meanings and dark, deeply placed parabolis parables or allegorical stories,