THE BOOK
OF
Philip Theophrastus Bombast
JESUS CHRIST the Son of GOD.
Since thou, Sophister, with foolish and lying Words, hast reproached me in all places, because I was born in Helvetia, that I am rude, and understand or know nothing; also, that being one Letter more than a Physician, I rove and wander about from one Region to another: Therefore I purpose in this small Treatise to discover and lay open to the World, ignorant and unexperienced men; also that in the first Age good Arts were in being; and what your Art is able to effect against mine and mine against yours, and what is to be judged of either, and how Posterity in the Age of Grace will imitate me.
Consider Hermes, Archelaus, and others in the First Age, what Spagyrists they were, and how great Philosophers. That they were such, is witnessed even by their Enemies, who are thy Patrons, (or Idols rather at this time) O Sophister. But if this had not been testified by your Authentick Fathers and falsly-reputed Saints; yet the ancient Smaragdine-Table discovers more of Art and Experience in Medicine, Alchymy, Magick, and other like Sciences, than can ever be taught by you and all your Tribe. If from the Precedent you do not yet understand what, and how great Treasures these be, tell me why no Prince or King was able to subjugate the Egyptians? Then why did Dioclesian the Emperour command all Books of Chymistry (how many soever they were he could come by) to be burnt? For their Books being destroyed, they were long since compelled to bear such an intolerable Yoke, as will in time fall upon the neck of thee and thy Collegues, O Sophister.
In this Middle Age the Monarchy of all Arts is at length derived to me, Theophrastus Paracelsus, Prince of Philosophy and Medicine; for unto this am I chosen by GOD, that I may extinguish all Phantasies of devised, putatitious, and false Works, and presumptuous Words, whether they be the Placets of Aristotle, Galen, Avicen, Mesue, or any other Follower of them. And my Theory proceeding from the Light of Nature, shall never fail through its unconstancy, nor be changed, but begin to flourish in the 58th. year of the following Age. Then the Practice following, it shall be proved by admirable and incredible Signs, so as it shall be openly manifest to Mechanicks and the Common People, how constant and unmoved the Paracelsick Art stands against the Trifles of Sophisters; in the mean while that Sophistick Art hath need of Papal and Imperial Privileges, to strengthen and uphold its Impertinencies. But whereas I am by thee, O Sophister, accounted a Beggar and Vagabond, the Danube and the Rhine, I being silent, shall answer for me to thee. Often hath those impertinently-devised Calumnies of thine against me, displeased many Princes and Earls, also Imperial Cities, Noblemen, and Knights; for I have a Treasure in a certain City of Forum Julij, called Weiden, hid in the Hospital there, which neither thou Leo the Roman, nor thou Charles the German, with all your Substance, are able to purchase. Although a signate Star fell upon the Arcanum of your Names, yet it was known by none but the Sons of the Divine Spagyrick Art. Wherefore since, thou Verminous and Lowsie Sophister, judgest the Monarch of Secrets to be an ignorant Fool and prodigal Decocter, I will now, in the middle Age, openly discover (as an honourable prosecution of those things I have asserted) the Virtues and Preparation of that Tincture, for the profit and honour of the Lovers of Truth, and that the Contemners of true Arts may be reduced to Beggary. The latter Age will be illustrated and honoured with this Arcanum, as the Gift of GOD, and manifest Endowment of the true Spirit, so as from the Beginning of the World the like sprout of Understanding and Wisdom was scarcely ever heard of. In the mean while, Vice shall not be able to suppress the Just, nor the Riches or power of those that are evil, be any Damage to the Upright.