ADEPTUS REALIS
That is
Brief Letter
to all respectively highly esteemed lovers
of true and real
ALCHEMY,
consisting of
(1) A sincere-hearted warning against all kinds of fraudulent metal and mineral also special and particular processes.
(2) A thorough proof that not only in former times there truly and certainly existed a gold-producing wondrous matter, or so-called Philosopher’s Stone, but also that it has been found up to the present day by various people, and with divine assistance can indeed be prepared.
(3) A sincere confession of the above-named author, that through divine grace he not only possesses this secret, but has also resolved to demonstrate and reveal it ocularly to some honest patriots.
Published for the second time.
Leipzig
To be found in Groschuff’s Bookshop,
1716.
Most Esteemed Reader!
The fashion of criticizing everything, and even making remarks on such things as often go ultra captum judicii (beyond the grasp of judgment), is, in today's world, just as common as wearing perukes and carrying canes. And whoever, for this reason, wished to avoid the judgments of all the clever or the ignorant, and take them into consideration, would surely often have to change his good intentions, or even abandon them altogether. Since I have feared the same, I too, at the very beginning of these few pages, would have been dissuaded from taking up and setting down my pen, had I let myself be influenced by such thoughts.
But because I well know that unjust persecution, undeserved accusation, and unavoidable envy are always inseparable companions of rare and extraordinary sciences, I have never allowed such considerations especially also the purest truth cannot remain unexamined have feared little, nor let myself be deterred, since I am certain of the matter, and various persons, both high and mighty men as well as other good friends and lovers of this blessed science, have assured me not only to protect me, but also to clear such stones from my path.
Thus, I have all the more confidently set my hand to the pen and proceeded in my unfeigned truth, in order to place before the eyes of the superficial world, or the so-called modern Thomists who believe nothing except what they themselves see and grasp with their hands as much of this secret as possible, and to demonstrate it visibly.
For this reason, so many thousands have been at odds in the world; indeed, all bookshops have been burdened and overloaded with such writings, so that the greater part of the curious world has grown weary from reading, and, in their uncertainty, have mostly worked themselves to death. The rest who remain have for the most part fallen into the delusion that this art or secret must be nothing but an Ens Rationis, or that, if it were indeed true, it must have been learned from the Devil himself since, despite all their attempted diligence and labor, and all expenses spared, they still could find nothing and could not strike the right path, but have spent all effort and work in vain and to no purpose spent.
On the other hand, they have not at all considered that the seal of Almighty God has been placed upon it, and that He has, for special important reasons, kept such a high secret hidden from them until now allowing them, like others, in their blindness and darkness, to grope along the walls, stumbling and falling because, as blind seekers, they have followed blind guides, and have neither known God, nor Nature, nor themselves, nor sought that which is beneficial to the honor of God and the profit of their poor neighbor, but have pursued only their own honor, vain display, pride, greed for money, and even eternal damnation.
Thus God, out of incomprehensible goodness, patience, and mercy, in order to snatch their souls from destruction, has blinded their eyes so that, despite all their supposed diligence, they cannot understand or attain the true purpose of the writings of the Philosophers a purpose which, to a God-fearing mind, is as clear as the midday sun nor can they recognize or find it.
I say, the purpose of this more divine than human science, of the true Alchemy, or the so called Philosopher’s Stone not of the chimerical metal and mineral sophistical deceit by which, for so many centuries, not only the most outstanding princes and leaders of the world, but also persons of lower standing have been led astray, and for many millions whom such sophists and deceivers, partly through the chimney, but mostly through the throat, have cunningly deceived and irresponsibly ruined have been cheated to such an extent that the pure truth can now scarcely find a place, and because of the great mistrust that has arisen, a true Adept can hardly gain a hearing.
To say nothing of the undeserved slander and reproach, which comes not only from the ignorant rabble, who are entirely unacquainted with the inner workings of souls since they cannot grasp such a high secret with their foolish skulls, so overmastered by all outward passions but even from some learned men, who in public discourses and satirical writings have declared it to be nothing but a contemptible and punishable curiosity.
This is because they have learned or read nothing else than what Aristotle or Descartes teach in their lecture halls, and least of all what God Almighty has placed into Nature and His creatures truly philosophically explored, as Basil Valentine, Theophrastus, and many others have done. Thus they have cast aside this high secret as mere imagined delusion, or even dared to rank it among the punishable arts, since in theology they declare this secret to all reasonable Christians, as mentioned above, clearly and plainly revealed, reporting something entirely different, and being much better informed about the impotence of this accursed man, his enmity, and his arts.
By contrast, this more divine than human science is as old as the animated clod of earth itself, since it took its origin straight from Paradise its fatherland at the creation and formation of the same.
For as soon as more persons than Adam and Eve inhabited this beautiful and great round world, the curiosity of its inhabitants increased, so that the rational man examined such a magnificent edifice not only outwardly, like dumb cattle, but also investigated its inner nature and hidden powers until at last, through many observations, he successively discovered its analogy with the great world and its bodies, reflected further, and finally, through thorough analysis of these things, determined most precisely what God had placed in them and how He had so highly ennobled them.
Such philosophers, or true adepts, could still be found in considerable number, if they were not oppressed and hindered by undeserved hatred, restriction of their liberty, and innocent persecution if they were protected and assured, whereby at once no small benefit could arise to the high authorities of the land and to their loyal subjects, if such men would openly show themselves and live like other well to do people.
But disregarding all such supposed difficulties since I have already endured much my once-taken resolution remains firm, especially as I rely not on men, but on Almighty God, and ground myself upon my truth.
As for those of the third kind, who attack this science, such people are more to be pitied than to be reproached, because they proceed ex ignorantia vincibili (from conquerable ignorance), claiming that this art has neither foundation nor reason to be believed, and cannot exist, since against all reason it can derive neither from metals nor minerals (in which they may perhaps have tried something), nor should be taken, as the philosophers say, from them.
If, however, these metallists and mineralists or rather untested reasoners knew the true Alchemy, which is a pure and uncorrupted virgin, admitting no homo rationalis (man of mere reason), nor dealing constitutively with metals, but requiring a homo mentalis (man of understanding), who rightly knows its prima materia, thoroughly understands it, or knows its tria principia vera, vera & media, and from a true Adept had it carefully and fundamentally demonstrated then I would by no means not — they would come to other thoughts, just as it should follow from what was said above, that something is not impossible or altogether unreal merely because my or your weak brain does not know how to investigate or comprehend the causes of its hidden workings; nor if I and you have seen enough with our eyes, when experience convinces us, or when high and credible persons attest that the matter is indeed in reality as it is stated, and not otherwise.
For whoever wished to reject everything for which no ratio (reason) can be given would certainly find in theology, as well as in medicine and jurisprudence, many points of offense since in the first, reason (as here in our blessed science) must be taken captive, while in the other two, one must also accept experience, conjecture, and the opinions of learned men.
Regarding the frequent shifting ground of scholastic philosophy when one denies what another affirms it is not worth speaking.
Enough: whoever still doubts this evident alchemical truth should first dare to risk his head to overturn so many imperial, royal, and princely attestations et hoc præstito (once this is done), and then read the epistle of the incomparable Morhoff De Transmutatione Metallorum, as well as the learned preface of Mr. D. Conrad Horlacher, and that of Mr. D. Johann Fabri the shining sun in the alchemical firmament, as well as the renowned Professor at Kiel, Mr. D. Joh. Ludovici Hahnemann’s Ovum Hermetis Trismegisti, and many others besides then his hitherto untrained understanding will in this matter come forth enlightened, and his presumptuous reasoning will be silenced.
For no matter how he may speculate and reason, a rightly prepared Adept will still confront him with the visible truth, nor will he try to force belief upon him by compulsion since this science indeed requires no coercive means, nor is it necessary for salvation but whoever does not wish to believe it may let it be.
Nevertheless, it is not impossible that God may still, out of grace, reveal this hidden secret to one or another, in order to show His omnipotence. It is well known, and by no means new, that up to this very hour many thousands of intelligent and highly learned men, in searching for the true materia, as the chemist Count Bernhard himself confesses, have failed seventy times before they succeeded; yet such errors should not serve as a protection for error itself, nor make truth to be no truth.
No one should be surprised if it has gone with him as with others before, but all the more, since so many learned and experienced have thus arrived [at the goal], why should not I also rather be still, and pray to God with a devout spirit and a calm mind, and await His gracious mercy. If it pleases Him and the time is right, He will also grant you this exceedingly abundant gift of grace either by revealing it to you Himself, or, through my small efforts and others skilled in this science, teaching you clearly and without falsehood so that you may see what you could otherwise hardly imagine.
Now, I know well that the envy of all the ill-disposed, who beside themselves grant nothing to Christians except what they themselves can claim, will be able to attack me and my few pages because of the sincerity in which I offer them to anyone worthy just as much as if the body of the sun could be deprived of its shadow. These people, though they do not themselves possess the thing, may nonetheless think and say publicly or secretly: “Even if I knew the art, I would remain silent and keep still, and not reveal it to anyone in the world for much money.”
But most of all such talk will come from those who up to now have secretly wandered back and forth, keeping themselves hidden, and presenting themselves as fugitively concealing adepts especially since I do not, like other authors, promise to veil this high secret and teach it through riddles or obscure, ambiguous expressions, for it has not yet been granted to me though I am well known to various high heads and noble gentlemen, and not without some privilege to live that I should keep this science out of envy, as they suppose, for myself alone. I do not value their maledictions at all, but rather, the times of distress up to now, the misery of the poor, and especially of those whose property has been squandered through the seduction and deceit of sophists, driven through the chimney, and who would gladly have been helped, have moved me to grant this science, out of good affection, to such as, according to the state of their condition and honesty, are worthy of it.
Holy Scripture also admonishes me to this, desiring that no one should bury his pound, but share it to the glory of God and for the benefit of his poor neighbor.
For although the curse of all philosophers is said to lie upon the revelation of this secret, yet I well know that all these were also sinful men, and that their curse extends no further than upon the unworthy, against whom I shall indeed take precautions while in the meantime God is to be obeyed more than men.
For the Almighty God will not allow the unworthy, as enemies of natural things, to see them with longing eyes, but will keep His almighty hand over them as long as they persist in an unrepentant life (as John de Padua in Philosoph. Sacra p. 12 says) will be my position on the matter.
Neither the curse mentioned on that account, nor the ill will of such envious people, will harm me any more than a flying gnat against an oak, or the barking of an enraged dog at the rising moon.
I hope rather that these few pages although in appearance and style of writing poor and humble will nevertheless find their lovers everywhere; for in the world there is hardly a man so unreasonable that he would not, with all seriousness and diligence, strive for that which, with a clear conscience and under a just title, and with pleasant labor, might secure him both a good and plentiful livelihood, enable him to help the poor liberally, and give him health and long life.
This, without vain boasting, can each one obtain through my faithful information, communication, and the clearest report, as if in a well-arranged treasure chamber:
What exactly is the prima materia of this most blessed stone?
How and where is it to be obtained?
How and in what manner is it to be treated, purified, and from beginning to end digested per gradus (step by step)?
And what it will finally, through divine blessing, produce for an abundant benefit you will find and encounter here.
…this science has enough room and space in two or three pages.
Therefore, I humbly request the respective kindly disposed reader not to withhold from me, because of the aforementioned misuse, the omission of the insertion of the processus, and to remember that these are not mere shells without kernels, but to view these few lines with a reasonable and not a prejudiced or malicious eye, and even less to pass a passionate and unjust judgment.
Rather, he should first test the groundlessness of such suspicion according to my communication and information in praxis. For when each one shall see and grasp the discovered, pure truth with me, I hope that henceforth there will be heard from the machine a far better sentiment concerning this science so greatly despised until now, and nearly entirely corrupted and extinguished because of great mistrust or rather deceit.
But if, nevertheless, I should again encounter persecutions or undeserved calumnies of my sincerity, I shall regard them as little as I am resolved to reveal this secret to everyone, without distinction, openly or otherwise but will rather keep in mind for myself:
Accipio nullam, quamvis Calumnia fiat
Vis veri palma est, pressa resurget humo.
I accept no blame, even if slander is made.
The strength of truth is the palm: when pressed down, it will rise again from the ground.
Since indeed Veritas Victrix (“Truth is the victor”).
In the event, however, that I am sufficiently report from an honest person, whose condition I shall come to know, that he is a sincere lover of God and of this secret
to such a one, the publisher will provide further information from my sojourn.
In the meantime, I wish the kind reader every personal satisfaction, in the hope that he will not condemn my sincere intention, since it is neither against his station nor profession unless he be a deceitful sophist, against whom I have here spoken in passing and devoted to the craft, but sought nothing else than that the omnipotence of God be praised, His great name glorified, truth defended, service rendered to the fatherland, and that in due time, the dear poverty may also be alleviated.
Farewell.
The End