The Hermetic Museum, Vol. II — trans. A. E. Waite (1893)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
The translator’s English as printed (A. E. Waite). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
through the wilderness of their words ; yea, many have been reduced to despair. Anaxagoras indeed acquitted himself better than the rest, in his book * Concerning Natural Changes" Of all the ancient Sages whose writings I have read, he lays open most plainly the foundation of our knowledge. For this very reason Aristotle is wroth against him, and attacks him most virulently in many passages, as I can shew, his purpose being to keep men from following him. For he (Anaxagoras) was full of wisdom and love: may God above reward him for his goodness, and pardon the evil deeds of those who sow the seeds of enmity and hatred. To the latter class belonged that monk who set forth a pretentious book of A Thousand Receipts, from malice and the love of mischief—which was copied in many places, and deceived and deluded numerous enquirers, and reduced them to beggary ; moreover, he represented true and approved men as forgers and impostors. For this reason I am impelled by pity to set forth the truth in a few simple words, in order to warn you against false and deceitful teaching, if, indeed, you will pay attention to me and to my words. "Throw away your volumes of * Recipes," for they are full of falsehood and fraud. Do not believe them, but give diligent heed to the maxim, that nothing is wrought without its own proper cause. This is the mistake into which those self-styled * Practical Sages" fall. They do not place knowledge on a firm foundation by enquiring into the cause of things. You should therefore constantly bear this momentous rule in mind: never to set about an experiment until you fully comprehend the why and the how. He who would make good progress in this Art should also diligently eschew all falsehood. For God is Truth, and itis He who shews this Art to men : therefore keep yourself above all things unspotted from the slightest taint of falsehood. Let it be fixed .in your mind as an abiding principle, under no circumstances to procure for yourselves * adulterated " metals, like those who seek to accomplish albifications and citrinations, which cannot abide a searching test, and by which they produce false silver and false coin for the purpose of duping the credulous. But God has provided that no one should succeed in attaining to this Blessed Art, who loves that which is false rather than that which is true. If any man would obtain grace of God to discover the secrets of this Art, he should be a lover of justice and truth ; nor let him be too eager in his own mind to follow this Art on account of its outward advantages. He who would enjoy the fruit of his labour, should be satisfied with such wealth as is sufficient. Let him not waste time and trouble on divers methods of procedure, but let him follow the directions of this Book, which is called the * Ordinal of Alchemy," the Crede-;u/, an everlasting standard. For as the Ordinal instructs the presbyters concerning the ministry of the days which they must observe,so all the true and useful teaching of ill-digested books on Alchemy is here set forth in proper order. Wherefore, this Book is of. inestimable value for the - acquisition of the precious science, nor can its truth ever be denied, though it be composed in an unassuming style. As I have received this Art by Divine Grace, so I set it forth to yon in seven chapters as fully as my fealty will permit. For I remember what is said about the judgment of God at the last day.
The first chapter will shew what persons from among the common people can attain to this knowledge, and why the science of Alchemy was by the Ancients called blessed and sacred.
In the second chapter will be set forth the wise joy and the long labours of those who follow this Art.
The third chapter will, for the sake of my fellow-men, contain a faithful description of the substance of that Stone which the Arabians call the Elixir. There you willlearn whence it is obtained.
The fourth chapter will treat of the gross part of the work, which is foul and little suited to delicate persons.
The fifth chapter is concerned with the subtle part of the process which God has ordained for the lezrned only, but which few of the learned ever comprehend ; so that the secret is really possessed by very few.
The sixth chapter deals with the question of proportion, and with the agreement of this world below with the sphere of heaven above, of which a right understanding greatly helps many learners, and proves of great assistance to them in our wonderful Art.
. The seventh chapter will truly set forth to you the principles in accordance with which your fire should be regulated.
: Now, O Lord, do Thou guide and assist me, for I desire to gird myself to my task! Everyone that shall happen to read this Book, I implore to offer up prayers for my soul, and not to alter. that which I have written, for the better or for the worse, on the pain of my most grevious anathema. For where the sense is obscure this is for the purpose of secrecy ; but if a single syllable.be altered in a critical passage, it may destroy the value of the whole book. Therefore, see that which I have written be preserved intact, for though the language be humble, yet it conveys truths of most momentous importance, and it should be read not once or twice, but twenty times. Your best plan will be to read many books on Alchemy, and this one last of all.
VUPEHE ORDINAL OR ALCHEMY.
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EIER E A p s M
THOMAS NORTON'S
CA EMJCAZIbU R BA TISE.
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