Christian Rosenkreuz

“ Now I do not think that there can be found any one who would not wish and desire with all his heart to be Partaker of this noble Treasure; but seeing the same Felicity can happen to none, except God himself give Wisdom, and send his holy Spirit from above, we have therefore set forth in print this little Treatise, to wit, Famam & Confessionem, of the Laudable Fraternity of the Rosie Cross, to be read by every one, because in them is clearly shewn and discovered, what concerning it the World hath to expect. ”

“ It is true, that if we could putrifie Salt, it would discover all the Mysteries of Nature, for it hath all the Tinctures in it: but to destroy this substance, is a hard task, for he that would do it, must do something more, then Death can do, for even her Prerogative comes not so far. Howsoever it cannot be denyed, but some Wise men have attain’d to the putrifaction of Salts, but this Key they received from God, and it is the great Secret of their Art. ”

“ There is nothing more absurd, then to be of the same mind with the Generality of Men, for they have entertain’d many gross Errors, which Time and Experience have confuted. It is indeed our Sluggishness and Incredulity that hinder all Discoveries, for men contribute nothing towards them but their Contempt, or, which is worst, their Malice. I have known all this my self, and therefore I tell it thee: but what use thou wilt make of it, I know not. To make thee what Man should be, is not in my power, but it is much in thy own, if thou know’st thy Duty to thy self. ”

“ I am sure there are in Nature powers of all sorts, and answerable to all Desires: and even those very powers are subject to Us. Behold, I will declare unto thee their Generation, and their secret Descents even to this Earth. It is most certain that God works by the Ideas of his own minde, and the Ideas dispence their Seals, and communicate them dayly to the Matter. ”

“ It is a living water, wherein there dwels a divine Fire, and this Fire binds the parts thereof to himself, coagulates them, and stops their flux, and Salt is the water, that wets not the Hand. This Fire is the life, and therefore it hinders Death; nay it is such a preservative against is, that the very gross Body of Salt prevents Corruption, wheresoever it comes. But if any man would fully know the power of this Fire, let him wisely and effectually dislodge him, let him destroy his Habitation, and then he shall see, what course this Artist will take, to repair his own House. ”

“ Be therefore, gentle Reader, admonished, that with me you do earnestly pray to God, that it please him to open the hearts and ears of all ill hearing people, and to grant unto them his blessing, that they may be able to know him in his Omnipotency, with admiring contemplation of Nature, to his honour and praise, and to the love, help, comfort and strengthening of our Neighbors, and to the restoring of all the diseased. ”

“ Also, might one examine all and several persons upon the Earth, he should find that which is good and right, is always agreeing with it self; but all the rest is spotted with a thousand erroneous conceits. ”

“ He shewed them new Growths, new Fruits, and Beasts, which did concord with old Philosophy, and prescribed them new Axiomata, whereby all things might fully be restored: But it was to them a laughing matter; and being a new thing unto them, they feared that their great Name should be lessened, if they should now again begin to learn and acknowledg their many years Errors, to which they were accustomed, and wherewith they had gained them enough: Who so loveth unquietness, let him be reformed. ”

“ Now those that are appointed to examine him, have the skill to read his Qualities in his countenance; for the Eyes discover most of mens Manners, and in the Brows and Cheeks there are many excellent Indicia, whereby Wise men, and such as are skill’d in the Mysteries of Nature, may discover our minds and dispositions, as Images are discovered in a glass. And certainly since Philosophy amongst the Indians is had in very great Honor, it is necessary that those who would know the secrets of it, should be tempted and proved by all possible Tryels, before ever they be admitted. ”

“ Ye that are wise eschew such Books, and turn unto us, who seek not your moneys, but offer unto you most willingly our great Treasures: We hunt not after your Goods with invented lying Tinctures, but desire to make you Partakers of our Goods: We speak unto you by Parables, but would willingly bring you to the right, simple, easie, and ingenuous exposition, Understanding, Declaration and Knowledg of all Secrets. ”

“ Although that great Book of Nature stand open to all Men, yet there are but few that can read and understand the same. For as there is given to Man two instruments to hear, likewise two to see, and two to smell, but only one to speak, and it were but vain to expect speech from the ears, or hearing from the eyes: So there hath been Ages or Times which have seen, there have also been Ages that have heard, smelt, and tasted: now there remains yet that which in short time, honour shall be likewise given to the Tongue, and by the same ”

“ But to the false Hypocrites, and to those that seek other things then Wisdom, we say and witness by these presents publikely, we cannot be made known, and be betrayed unto them; and much less they shall be able to hurt us any manner of way without the Will of God; but they shall certainly be partakers of all the punishment spoken of in our Fama; so their wicked Counsels shall light upon themselves, and our Treasures shall remain untouched and unstirred, until the Lion doth come, who will ask them for his use, and imploy them for the confirmation and establishment of his Kingdom. ”

“ Every year the Arabians and Africans do send one to another, inquiring one of another out of their Arts, if happily they had found out some better things, or if Experience had weakened their Persons. Yearly there came something to light, whereby the Mathematica, Physic, and Magic (for in those are they of Fez most skilful) were amended; as there is now adays in Germany no want of learned Men, Magicians, Cabalists, Physicians, and Philosophers, were there but more love and kindness among them, or that the most part of them would not keep their secrets close only to themselves. ”

“ This considered, it cannot be thought unreasonable and certainly not unseasonable, if a Society conscious of the Truth, and skil’d in the abstruse principles of Nature, shall endeavour to rectifie the world: for hitherto we have been abused with Greek Fables and a pretended knowledge of Causes, but without their much desired Effects. We plainly see, that if the least Disease invades Us, the School-men have not one Notion, that is so much a charm, as to cure Us: and why then should we imbrace a Philosophie of meer words, when it is evident enough, that we cannot live but by Works. ”

“ Now it is evident to all the World, that Salt hinders Corruption, and a Solution of the parts, and this not only in living Things, but even in dead Bodies: for if they be season’d with Salt, then are they preserved, and Corruption comes not at them. ”

“ Let us not for shame be so stupid any more, for ’tis a Barbarous Ignorance to maintaine that for Truth which our own dayly Experience can assure us to be False. But some body will reply, That the Antiquitie of this Peripatism may claim some Reverence ”

“ If thou art a malicious Reader, and dost think it too much, because it suits not with thy own Gingles, I must tell thee, thou art none of my Peers: for I have known some Sciences which thou hast never heard of, nor thy fathers before thee. But to make an end, I would have every man descend into himself, and rationally consider those Generations which are obvious to out eyes. ”

“ I speak not this out of any contempt, for I undervalue no man; It is my Experience in this kind of learning, which I ever made my Business, that gives me the boldness to suspect a possibility of the same faylings in others, which I have found in my self. ”

“ What think you, loving people, and now seem you affected, seeing that you now understand and know, That we acknowledg our selves truly and sincerely top rofess Christ, condemn the Pope, addict our selves to the true Philosophy, lead a Christian life, and dayly call, intreat, and invite many more unto our Fraternity, unto whom the same Light of God likewise appeareth? ”

“ He asks Jarchas, whether the Earth or the Sea did exceed in quantity? To this the Indian replies, that if he only consider’d the Mediterranean, or some other particular Channel, the Earth without question did exceed: but if you speak (said he) προς πᾶσαν ττὼ υγραὺ ὲσίαν, concerning Humidity, or Moisture in general, then verily the Earth is much lesser then the Water, for it is the Water that bears up the Earth. This indeed is sound Reason, and conformable both to Scripture and Nature: for the very Spirit that animates and supports the Universe, hath his Habitation in the Water. ”

“ From the which Characters or Letters we have borrowed our Magick writing, and have found out, and made a new Language for our selves, in the which withall is expressed and declared the Nature of all Things: So that it is no wonder that we are not so eloquent in other Languages, the which we know that they are altogether disagreeing to the Languages of our forefathers, Adam and Enoch, and were through the Babylonical Confusion wholly hidden. ”

“ Consider you not at length how you might begin with us, not only by pondering the Gifts which are in you, and by experience which you have in the Word of God, beside the careful Consideration of the Imperfection of all Arts, and many other unfitting things, to seek for an amendment therein; to appease God, and to accommodate you for the time wherein you live. ”

“ At last they considered, God without all question begin their Guide, that Nature had for every seed a Vessel of her own, and that all her Vessels were but several sorts of Earth: For example, The Vegetable Seed had the Common Earth for his Vessel, for therein Nature did sow it. The Animal Sperm had the Flesh for his, and flesh is but a soft animated Earth, as it appears in the Dissolution of the Body. ”

“ Let us now return to Jarchas, for he proceeds in his Instructions, and Apollonius hears him to no purpose. The Pantarva (saith he) after night discovers a Fire as bright as day, for it is fiery and shining: but if you look on it in the day-time, it dazles the eye with certain gleams or Coruscations. Whence this Light came, and what it was, the Brachman was not ignorant of: τὸ ᾖ ὀν αὺτῆ φᾶς, πνεῦμὰ ≡ς ιν ἀῤῥήτε ιχυθ. That Light (said he) which shines in it, is a Spirit of admirable Power; for it attracts to it self all things that are near it. ”

“ Although the Fama be set forth in five languages, and is manifested to every one, yet we do partly very well know, that the unlearned and gross wits will not receive, nor regard the same; as also the worthiness of those who shall be accepted into our Fraternity are not esteemed and known of us by Mans Carefulness, but by the Rule of our Revelation and Manifestation. ”

“ To such an intent of a general Reformation, the most godly and highly illuminated Father, our Brother, C. R. a German, the chief and original of our Fraternity, hath much and long time laboured, who by reason of his poverty (although descended of Noble Parents) in the fifth year of age was placed in a Cloyster, where had learned indifferently the Greek and Latin Tongues, who (upon his earnest desire and request) being yet in his growing years, was associated to a Brother, P. A. L. who had determined to go to the Holy Land. ”

“ That the true Philosophers are far of another minde, esteeming little the making of Gold, which is but a parergon; for besides that they have a thousand better things.
And we say with our loving Father R. C. C. Phy. aurum nisi quantum aurum, for unto them the whole nature is detected: he doth not rejoyce, that he can make Gold. and that, as saith Christ, the devils are obedient unto him, but is glad that he seeth the Heavens open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending, and his name written in the book of life. ”