A
Short BOOK
OF
DIALOGUES,
OR,
(Certain) Colloquies of some Studious Searchers after the
Hermetick Medicine and Universal Tincture.
Written for the Sake of the Lovers of Hermetick Philosophy.
THE
PREFACE
TO THE
Well-minded READER.
I was formerly minded never to have published these Three Dialogues, but only to have made some of my good Friends, and such as had well deserved at my hands, here and there, partakers of the same. And upon this Account I permitted some [of them] to Copy them out, but they abusing that Curtesie [of mine] whereby they received them, did make others of their own Friends too, enjoyers of the same, contrary to my Will and Intention; and so it happened, that they became Common, and being on this wise often Coppied out, there crept in amongst them (as indeed usually falls out in such Cases) abundance of Faults or Errors, and the sense [and true meaning] of my Words were construed in the worser Part. Which thing when I perceived, that it would more disadvantage than profit me (especially seeing, that such a work [thus Copied amiss] did nevertheless pass under my Name, and was adjudged by others, as really mine) I deemed it, expedient, of two Evils to chuse the least, and to have regard to mine own good repute, and to publish it in mine own Name. But yet, not with an intent of getting my self some eminent Fame, as if I were wiser than others, and to have it thought, that I had more knowledge and experience than many others have; but rather, that the incredible Works of the omnipotent God, and his great Wonders, might be laid open and made known, to the infinite Glory of his Name. In the setting down of which, I do produce only such things, as my self have wrought with mine own hands, and can even yet demonstrate by a certain and undoubted Operation, (by Gods help) at any time.
in de Dialogus.
But yet, I would not have any one thus to understand me, as if I had already wholly and compleatly finished the whole Operation, and had advanced it to a due, and throughly perfect, end, No! I cannot arrogate to my self by any means, any such matter. Thus much I only affirm, that if any one shall (in his Operation) follow the bare literal Description of these Labours, he will without any Error arrive, so far as I my self am already come, but yet with this Proviso, that he knows the true Salt of the Philosophers, and the use thereof; And as for what remains, [unfinisht] I commit unto God to bestow a prosperous Success: And this one thing I entreat, that every Body accept of the things I have here written, with the same mind I wrote them, and that he take in good part my sincere Endeavours of deserving well at his hands.