THE ROSICRUCIAN BROTHERHOOD by ROBERT FLUDD

Book IV of his Summim Bonum, T he Highest Good) 1629

(Translated by Carlo Pietzner from the Cerman version of F. lrcudenbcrg)

Since it is the habit and pleasure of Brother Marinus Mersennus" to persecute people of all kinds by slander and lies, it cannot surprise us that he attacks with wickedness those who are familiar with true Magic, Cabala and Alchemy. He himself disdains, despises these sciences, which are the strongest pillars of wisdom, and with shouting and sound of trumpets he condemns the inhabitants of the Palace of Wisdom, trying to separate them from the community of Christians, seeking to send them into exile. -

Let us first see who these men actually are who possess these gifts of wisdom, before we make any remarks about them in reply to the audacious judgment of Mersennus. At the beginning we shall cite the testimony of two recent authors, and then that of the Holy Scripture.

Among recent writers, Agrippa speaks about these men in the fol1owing way: "I confess," says he, "that today also there are men, filled with wisdom, distinguished by knowledge, virtue and skill, blameless in life and custom, unexcelled in cleverness, and through experience in 1ife and strength able to serve the State in deed and counsel. And they are as far from coveting the cattle of your field as they are from the habitation of those who, in place of wisdom put wickedness, for reason substitute subterfuge and treason; for uprightness, slyness and cunning; for science, fraud; for cleverness, faithlessness; for religion, superstition. "-Cardanus also speaks a strong word about people of this kind.

But apart Irom the testimony of these secular authors, we also have that of the Holy Scripture concerning such people who, as it were, wish to erect and inhabit the House of 'Visdom, and also concerning their continued existence to the end of the world. The Scriptures teach us that no age has ex isted, exists, or will exist. in which single individuals, experienced in the world and its dark nesses, have not been able to retain knowledge of the holy light. counting themselves among the sons of God. Thus in each century and epoch were some, however, small in number, who passed through the narrow portal, while the larger part of rnan k ind trod the broader ;1IHI more conspicuous way. For we read that in each epoch of the Church. some were found who were given the "victory, the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7). the "hidden manna and the white stone" t Reuclation 2: 17), the "morning star" (Revelation 2:28), or "clothed in white raiment." (Revelation 3:5) They shall receive their heritage and their name shall not be blotted from the hook of life, and they will be "pi llars in the temple" and will receive "the new name of the Lcunb."

The following words of the Evangelist are also applicable to those men: all who receive "the true Light that cometh into the world," receive the "power to become the sons of God." (John 1 :9,12) They are to live in the above-mentioned House of Wisdom. safely and strongly erected on the mountain, of which the Sauiouv speaks: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of rnirie and doeth them. I will liken him unto a wise man, which bu ilt his house upon a rock; and the rain descended and the floods carne, and the winds blew, and heat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon rock." (l\.Jatthew 7 :24-25 and Luke G:48)

But. you will ask, why aft" these good inhabitants of that imaginary house so hidden: why do their habitations remain so secret? \Vhy have they not appeared before the world long since? Why do they not reveal (as Mersermus wishes) (heir secrets for the prosperity of the State in which they live - if they can call such virtue and power their own?

To these questions I reply that while they are truly endowed with heavenly riches, they stand before the world

poor and unknown. It is no wonder that, rich as they are through the Holy Spirit. they despise the world and its splendor, according to the word of the Evangelist: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world ... For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (I John 2.; 15-16) Thus it is that the world does not know the sons of God because "the sons of God do not know the world" for the world "is built entirely upon wickedness." (I John 5: 19)

On the other hand, however, it is the will of God that what is hidden shall be revealed. And God has promised through His prophets. in the last days before the end of the world, "to pour out His spirit upon all flesh" (Joel 2:28). and the royal Psalmist prophesies that God will quench the thirst of the sons of men out of the stream of His grace; those who remain under the protection of His wings in hope will find in Him the fountain of life, for in his light we shall see the light. (See Psalm 36)

But to return to the inhabitants of that Castle of Wisdom, built with such reason on the mountain. - It is given to them by the Holy Spirit to know everything - because it is His task to teach everything as was said by the Apostle, through "the grace of God which is given to YOll by Jesus Christ. in everything YOll are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge." (I Coririith.ians 1:4-5) - Thus it follows that these inhahitants of the House of Wisdom - they alone. and no one other than they - are those who, together with Solomon, have knowledge of true Magic, of true Cabala, and of true Alchemical science. - We have already spoken sufficiently about these arts in the past.

Therefore it seems to me praiseworthy that this society. the Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians, does not wish to appear before the world before the appointed time. This Fraternity has been slandered by the world in past ages because the children of the world can understand only worldly things, esteeming them to be greater than divine things, and persecuting the servants of the Lord with ha tred and mockery in our time as they have done in the past. I leave to those among my readers who are aware of such things, to judge how unjust it is for Christians to reject the divine gifts of-

Iered by these Brothers, and even to mock them, to speak about them in the most wicked manner, and finally to declare them to be sorcerers and brothers of hell.

Far may it be from us that all laymen would gain such ugly, satanic views about their truly Christian brothers, and more especially may it come about that the clergy will be stopped from persecuting these brothers in Jesus Christ with slander and disdain. Do they not read time and again the 'words of Christ: "Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment ... Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22) And at a different place: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7: 1-2) - Such a one seems to be Brother Marinus Mersennus himself, if we can believe his expostulations at all. "Take care:' says he. "that you do not harm brorher liness!' However. I fear that he himself wavers in his conviction, for in his writings he sometimes agrees and sometimes rejects. How often he himself has done injury to the admonition he has uttered. cannot remain hidden to anyone with an open mind. And yet he has assumed that saying of our Saviour: "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye. but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye. _." (Matthew 7:3,5) He himself, I say, urges us not to harm the brother, but he injures his brothers through slander and perjury; he judges unmercifully, attacks with cunning. and easily glosses over pre~ viously unheard-of tortures. - But let us hear his opinion concerning that divine, that choice seed among men, - concerning those who are called the Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians.

From the Writings of Mersenrius

"With diligence I wish to admonish the judges. and with earnestness the princes. that they shall not let these monsters of false opinion rage within the sphere of their influence. Rather should they completely eradicate these brothers of hell, these Brothers of the Rosicrucians, who on al-

most every market-day at Frankfort introduce their writings, stinking of godlessness, telling about their false and mysterious Father R.C. and his cave, presenting these before the people of the Christian world. For it is blasphemy they teach, and they make themselves known as the heirs of the Magi, whose works they copy, producing- little themselves. etc."

Ansioer

On two grounds I am goaded to defend here the aims of these blessed men against the false accusations of Mersennus. The first is that in my writings, I have already defended this Brotherhood against the accusations of an anonymous writer. The second is that it is the highest duty of a true Christian and righteous man to oppose the enemies and adversaries of those who are the guardians of truth itself, protectors of divine Wisdom. and to revere equally divine Wisdom and her sons with highest reverence, accomplishing this with faithful and sincere love. - In order that we can deal with one subject of this Brotherhood and their three main pillars of wisdom, namely, Magic, Cabala, and Alchemy, mentioned above, we say:

~Either

true and essential, and leads by a straight path to true-

Magic or Wisdom Cabala

Alchemy

the Brotherhood

IS

-Or

covetous or begging, by which they defraud the untrue and false, and people.

some of this sect bear in

a treasonable way such unjustified titles, or are guided by a spirit which is of the following kind:

haughty. so they appear as they are not.

evil, so that, leading a sinful life, they bring a bad reputation to the real Brotherhood.

As for the untrue and fraudulent name given to the Brotherhood, we leave that to those whose business it is to judge the cunning' and fraud of the windbags and highly culpable impostors who exist everywhere. These impostors deceive people every day with their superstitious magic, affected astrology, false formulae of a sub-chemistry, or their pranks with a deceitful cabala. They deceive the laymen, who marvel with open mouth at their gold, their treasures, their secrets. Those impostors bring harm to true wisdom and to the most sincere servants of wisdom by meanness and by spreading evil reports, making the latter contemptuous in the eyes of the world.

If Marsennus refers to impostors of the sort we have just described above, then we declare him to be innocent. However, he must be judged on the fact that he continually confuses truth with error, takes the part to be the whole, or ~ better expressed - the shadow for the real object, sernblance for truth.

These men, devoted to God in their true Brotherhood, are much more to be honored with highest praise than to be judged by the ignorant with such passion. However. since they are judged by Brother Mersenrius, damned and declared to be brothers of the devil, it is incumbent upon us first to investigate what their palace. castle or house may be, which has often been rnenrioned in che ir Fama. After this we may seek to learn who are the inhabitants of this b u i lding. and why they are called particularly and constantly, Brothers and also Rosicrucians. Finally, 'we shall publish a declaration given by these Rosicrucians, from which we can deduce whether or not men of this kind can justifiably and publicly be declared and branded monsters, heretics, and companions of hell by a Mersennus. Thus I shall here set forth briefly my own opinion about these questions.

Let us therefore say, to begin wi th, that the palace or cloister of this Fraternity is that of which the Holy Scripture speaks, as we can prove by these words: "Let us ascend the mountain of reason, and erect the House of Wisdom." As the foundational element in that mountain we recognize the "cornerstone which" (according" to the testimony of the prophet) "has been taken from the mountain without the use

of hands, and has itself become a great mountain, filling the whole earth after it shattered the feet of the statue." Thus says the prophet: "The house of the God of Israel is great and mighty in its possession." - This is the mountain which, in truth, is the Mount of Horeb. that spiritual Zion which is so often spoken of in Holy Scripture, and this stone is the same rock, that true house, wh ich is meant by the Evangelist when he says, "The wise man wi ll build his Iro use by digging into the depth and placing the foundation on the selfsame rock." That l-ock, however, is Christ, upon whom the spiritual house and the sanctuary of the priests rests. ~ However clear it may be that it is required of us that we build a house upon that rock mountain, it is also clear that this cannot be the work of rnerr, as is believed by foolish alchemists or magicians, but rather is a divine work. It is entirely certain that if Wisdom herself is not present in such things and does not undertake the leadership, both as architect and executor of the work, then human power can do nothing. - This is already confirmed in clear words by the sacred text (Psalm. 127: I): "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it ... " ~ Thus it is in truth the l ... ord who does the building of the house, executes it with wise and experienced hands, and brings everything to completion. This is none other than what we see manifested when the active man brings forth in suffering wornan through adjustment and dispersion, a third entity, namely, the foetus, which, however, is not created by clever men, but by the spiri t of God hidden .i n the seed.

Therefore the Apostle also speaks: "We require of you, you brothers, that you bear rich fruit and work diligently: that you are calm and go about your business; work with your hands as we have prescribed for you, etc." - And, as a result. "So that no one will be in need." David says in his Psalm, "Blessed are those who walk in the wavs of the Lord;

I

He will establish the work of their hands." - And yet the

hands of the artist create nothing (as I have said) except that they separate the superficial, and then out of itself the Spirit acts for the perfecting and heavenly ordering of that royal palace. "Your habitation," says the Apostle, "was not made by the hands of men, but We have a spiritual build-

ing in the heavens, which is the House oEWisdom on the Mount of Reason, built upon the spiritual rock."

Paul expresses this aptly in the following words: "] have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. Thus neither is he that planted anything, neither he that watered, hut Cod gave the increase. Every man shafl receive his reward according" to his labor, for we are laborers together with God. You are (;od's huilding. According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master-builder have I laid the foundation, and another builds upon it." (I Corinthians 3:fi, etc.) - Everyone must discover how he can build upon this foundation, "for other foundation can no man lay than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ- If any man's work remain, which he has built upon this foundation. he shall receive a reward.

"No\v if any rna n build upon this foundation gold. silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every marr's work of what sort it is."

To this is related the oft-quoted stone of contention for the false Christians (Romans 9:33). This is the precious and proven cornerstone laid for everyone who believes in him as the foundation stone of the building, which will not be over-thrown (I Peter 2:6). He is also a stone of contention (I.'Iaia!z 28: 16). The prophet speaks of the ill-founded house (Je1-emiah 22), and in Proverbs it says, "Woe to him who builds his ho use upon unrighteousness, and woe to his house in the day of j uclgrncrtr." Solomon also says. "The house of the unrighteous will be destroyed."

Since there exists a proven and a precious cornerstone, the true architects huilt the House of the Word above that stone. - This h o use of the j ust, I say. wi Il last forever, according to the decrees of Wisdom as is testified by j\l atthew 7: 24: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I 'will liken h irn to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the w irrds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: fOT it was founded upon a rock."

Of this house the royal Psalmist sang. (Psalm 5:7; 26:8; 84: 10): "I will come into thy house in the fulness of thy

mercy. I have loved the habitation of thy house. and the place where thy honor dwe lleth. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwelt in the tents of wickedness. "

By this, however. the king did not understand the temple built by the art of men be(:allse, as is testified by the Scripture, God did not inhabit a house frOITI the exodus of Israel from Egypt to the time of Solomon. but He had His place in a tent. Addressing Himself to David. God also said. "Thou shalt not build an house for my narue because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood." With these wor ds he means a material temple. for the Holy Scriptures testify tha t David possessed a description of the rnatcr ia 1 tcrnp le wh ich had been wr irten into his spirit by the finger of (;od. - From this it seems clear that the divine Spirit Hrrnsclf was the maste-r of the plan of the House on the mo un tai n , erected by reason, because, as it were, not only the Tahernacle and the 'Ternp le of SO]OJTlOll. hut also Man h irnself was forrned according to this image, and therefore he is cal l cd the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Thus we come to the conclusion that the huilding of that house under th e coopera tion of a true Broth ('1" is ;1 reve I ation of the occult, that is, the sp ir i t ua l rock or the revelation of the mystical wisdom of the Storie of the Pa tr i.rrch t 1'.'11 ich he calls the house of C;oci. This is the erection of the spiritual ho use: or palace on the Mr n rn r of Reason. And this rock we call the myst ical castle Bcth lehern, of which the Evangelist says, Christ was of the castle Beth lchcrn. - From that place also carne David. which can easily he proved by etymology, for Beth Iehern means "house of bread" and "of war." But manna means "the hidden bread" and "the food of the angels," "the bread of heaven." and "the Word;" hy which everyone can live wit ho ut ordinary bread, as we are taught by Christ in the Scriptures. From this it fo l lows that Be th lehem is the same as Beth-El, which means "the House of the Lord." Thus the stone or rock of Jacob is called "the House of C;'od." Concerning the secret of this House of God, this Temple of Christ. we are exce11ently told by that patient man, Job, who says, "He brings fire of Solomon 'which makes men into prophets and friends of God." It makes them into faith-

fuI, "vise, j ust, holy ones. Likewise one speaks of the holy house, of the holy Christians, universal, a ransomed generation, true seed of Abraham, priests, apostles, brothers of Christ, a Christian brotherhood, and many other names too numerous to mention.

I have undertaken to explain carefully why these lastthese Brothers of the Rosy Cross - are properly to be called the seed of Abraham, and have been chosen from among the heathen. how they are descended from the blood of the Jews, how they have been called brothers of the Apostles, Christians, and members of the Rosicrucian Fraternity.One has to know, first of all, that just as Christ came from the seed of Abraham, to whom hy the word of God was promised blessing and through him salvation for the world, so also all true Christians must be called the seed of Abraham, because they have been born, as the Evangelist says, "not out of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." "Who," asks Christ, "is my mother, and who are my brothers? Whoever does the wil l of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, my sister, my mother." - Such a descent from such seed is recognized unmistakably by the Apostle when he says, "They are of Christ who are of the seed of Abraham and the heirs of his promise." Thus the Apostle Paul praises not those who are circumcised in the foreskin alone, but in their hearts, when he says it is not the external Jew only, but the inner Jew who is chosen by God. So it is also with many among- the heathen, because he says that of the seed of Abraham not only the Jews but all people of the world will be redeemed, as already seems evident from the Genesis. The heathen are co-workers, co-members and participants in this promise of Jesus Christ through the Gospel. For, as the Apostle testifies, Christ is the promised seed.

To anyone who doubts whether this Rosicrucian Brotherhood originates out of such blood, I reply in the sense of the evidence mentioned above, that if one kinship or brotherhood is of the flesh and of man, another is spiritual and divine. Thus it is written that the sons of God and the daughters of men, that is, those chosen by God from the tribe of Shem united themselves with the daughters of the tribe of

the accursed Cain. However, the Scripture speaks quite generally: "You are a divine generation." - Therefore the divine seed is not from below out of the earth, for it is from above that the divine nourishment comes. In many places one finds sapphires, and I umps of earth in wh ich there is gold. No bird has recognized this path. and no vulture's eye has discerned it, and so on. "He places His hand upon the stones, and overturns the foundations of the mountains." -

With those words is not only described the earthly substance of that House. but also its riches. the fiery light within it, and its power and might .. The immeasurable strength of Bethlehem, in terpreted as the house of war, is shown in the castle from which Christ went forth. Thus that spiritual stone (not the erroneous one of the false Alchemists) is also called "the fame of the whole world" by Hermes, a true and divine Alchemist. Through the discernment of that spiritual stone all darkness disappears from around one, and He appears "in the power of his strength" because He conquers all fine things and permeates all solid ones. - Thus was the world created.

Job and Hermes, however, not only describe the precious metals of that house. but also its virtues. For the city or castle built upon the summit of the mountain is also cabal istically called Beth-ulia, which means, as it were, "the Virgin of the Lord," or "the House that gives birth to the Lord." Hence Bethlehem is designated as the virginal earth which shall bring forth the Redeemer. And this saying comprises the whole claim of the prophets: "The earth will open and will give birth to the Messiah." For above all, it must be recognized that in the Holy Scriptures the names of both men and of cities contain secrets. Therefore the name of the city of Lutz was changed to Bethel because of the notable effect of the stone, which is cal1ed the house of God. Likewise, Be th lehern corresponds to the living Bread which shall come forth as out of a house or castle, and Bethulia rneans metaphorically the House of Wisdom built on the Mourit of Reason. Apparently this name was given to this town because it was the most beautiful town or castle upon a height or mountain in that region. 'T'he latter is also called Mo u n t Horeb in order to designate the Moun tain of God. Finally,

the prophet points to the mystery of the word Bethlehem when he says, "Christ, the Lord of Israel, will be given out of Bethlehem ... "

Here then you have that House or Palace of Wisdom erected on the Mount of Reason. It remains however, to learn who are those sages to whom this House is open. These most fortunate of men and their spiri tual house are described by the Apostle in the following manner: "To whom coming. as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. to offer up spiritual sacrifices. acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5) - And further on. he says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal pr iesthood, an holy community, a ransomed people, that you should practise the virtues of him who has called you out of darkness into his royal light. For previously you were not a people, but now you are the people of God."With these words he not only describes the overwhelmingly strong foundation and the builder of the House, but also the inhabitants. For these dwe llers in the House of Wisdom are shown by him to be the faithful in Christ also, according to the teachings of Esdras, who lay down their mortal sheaths, choosing the immortal, confessing the name of the Lord, crowned with victory. Thus says a man, enlightened by wisdorn: "For mortals labor in vain who have chosen a different path than was shown by the prophet," but this is not the path of death, as people are accustomed to believe, for it is the one men tioned by the Apostle Peter w lreri he speaks of the one taught him by Christ when the latter was transfig-ured on the Mountain. - And this should remain secret and hidden. otherwise the Apostle would not have said. "As Jesus has taught me," and the highest Wisdom wou ld not have directed, "Do not tell anyone."

From the beginning of the world it has been known that there is a death of the body. And from this it is clear what remarkable po,ver had been given to these men by Christ. - The same is true for the one of 'whom it is said, HI will erect a house to the faithful one, and he will walk before me all the days of his life." These are the people meant by the prophet, I say, when he invites, "0 house of Jacob, come,

-

and let us walk in the light of the Lord," (Isaiah. 2:5), and e1sewhere, "Those who receive the true light 'will receive the power to become the righ tful sons of God, even those who believe on His name."

You can discern from this the point of view and the true character of the inhabitants of that House of Wisdom. In addition, we now must consider how they arc named, and the relationship given to them at that time by the Holy Scripture, namely, sons of God, the chosen of the Lord, the chosen generation, prophets, friends of God.Wisdoln - not that of the flesh - but the one arising out of pure fire, kindled by the Spirit, brings it about that the children of the world become the children of God by being chosen. as Peter said, "Who once were not a people, but now' are a people of God." - And this seed is that incorruptible spirit which God enclosed within a1 I things. as Christ seems to confirm with the words, (Matthew 3:9) "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." that is, new sons of Christ, Christians, whose head, according to the Apostle. is Jesus Christ, for he says (I Corinthians 11:~) "I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of

/

Chr ist is God," and further, "You are of Christ. but Christ is

of God,"-

Christ. who according- to the prophets is the light of Israel out of Bethlehem (that is, the House of Bread), speaks in you, and though he does not assume your form, yet he is in you, is "the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20), whom we ~ as living stones - should serve to erect the House of Wisdom, This we should do in the same manner as Christ who as the leader of Israel, the chief rock, sends from his never-failing will the 'water of life. From this it follows that inasmuch as we are living stones, so we are seeds of Abraham; inasmuch as 'we are seeds of Abraham so we are truly brothers of Christ and true Israelites; and inasmuch as we are true Israelites, we are the Temple of God.

As we are divine seed and also living stones, that is, living stones cut from a single rock, carved out of Christ. so in this faith we have become one wi th Christ, having become, as it were, his members, according to the word of the Apostle, "a body which has many members;" therefore we are inheri-

tors of the kingdom of heaven. And what is in USt by which we can be called living stones, is one truth in us. Thus we may believe that we are sons of God , and what beyond this is the night-side of man is lie and delusion, cannot in truth be called virtue or truth. For truth alone win pass safely through the trial of fire on the day of judgment. In the same manner as we Alchemists seek for that gold of God wh ich emanates from Christ. so there is the perfect truth which alone will pass through each trial of fire in which the true and g lowirrg virtue is purified. glorified and made more radiant, as is clearly evident from the words of the Apostle (I Corinthians 3: 13).

Here it must be said explicitly that these Brothers are truly sons of Abraham and Israel. but only spiritually, not in the flesh. Thus also they are living stones whorn the Evangelist describes as "horn out of God," and not through physical intercourse, of whorn he also says that it is possible to awaken sons of Abraham out of stones.

Because these stones have sprung' out of one stone in this manner, they arc also inner and spiri tual stones. They can be called living stones because they give life and being to stones and all other earthly things 'which, because of their density are called "earth" and "stones." - Because they have been taken as living stones from the general and universal Rock, they rnak e clear that all is in one and one is in all. For it seems to thorn that according to the word of the Apostle. through Him is everything, and He is in everything, and ou tsicle FLirn all is illusion and untruth, things which seem to he bu t are not.

Therefore it is also the task of the true and blessed /\,1- chemists to distinguish illusion from truth, that is, to distinguish the evil from the good. This distinction is necessary to free Christ in the creation where he 'vas, as it were, kept prisoner by uribcl ief, and to work against the godless nature of Bar abbas, the son of dark confusion. Thus we become creators of the true word and of that wisdom wh ich shines out of darkness, rna king us friends of C;od, enriched by every kind of gi ft.

All this happened through the opening of the earth so that, according to the words of Isaiah, "it may give birth to

the Messiah .' But this does not take place according to the ways of false Alchemists, but in a divine and mystical manner. which is revealed according to the law's of true Alchemy. And Paul seems to call the true .Alc.he m i st "the true husbandman," saying, "the one vvlj o strives 'will not be crowned unless he strives righteously," for the striving husbandman stands in the first place to harvest the fruits. But Paul censures other phi losophers an d theo logians vvh o do not know the Divine Wor k , calling t hern , "men of corrupt rn irtcls. reprobate concerning the faith" (II T'i m ot h v .'LK). 'rhus he describes both the good laborers, that is, the builders of the House of vVisdom on the Mou nr of Reason. and also the cv i I, the false architects. He points to the right ,yay for each man to unite himself with the brotherhood of Cl i r is t arid the seed of Abraham. to 'work as the true h us ba ncl man and .rrc h iteet.

Now these are also called Apostol ic Brothers because they are familiar w i t h those secrets w h ic h the Apost lc not only knew, but proclaimed courageously to the world. 'That is. they k riow that mystical wisdom, the secrets of their relationship to the chief cornerstone. For the Apostles called men brothers w h o dedicated themselves to the same secrets of C;od as they did. From this comes that Apostolic Brotherhood of which the Apostle Paul speaks, "The brotherly love remain in you," and Peter, "live of the brotherhood," and elsewhere, "I-I(yw good and pleasant it is for brothers to live w i t h each other."

Such a cornrnon habitation has no-w been taken up by the Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross, and their strong bond of love and joy lies in their knowledge of that one Christ and that one spiritual rock, upon which foundation everything has been erected, as has been adequately proven hy the words of the Apostle mentioned before. Thus every understandingreader who grasps the above correctly, 'will realize that Mar irrus Mcrsen n us does not belong to that Brotherhood, either as companion or member, even though he gives himself the title "Brother Mar in us Merserm us" on the title-page of his book, and wants to make the wor ld believe it. If, nevertheless, he is a Brother of this Order, then he is a false and untrue Brother, for in that Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians the highest and only truth, the greatest good-wil l, and

brotherly love dwel1s. In Mersennus, on the other hand, dwells nothing but subterfuge. cunning and slander, which are altogether excluded from the school of the true Fraternity.

To the truth of this. Peter testifies in the words, "Laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby, if so be that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom CODling as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen of God and precious, etc." (I Peter 2: 1-4) - If Merseririus. therefore had not been so infantile in his worldly blindness, he would nor have interfered in other people's business as a judge, and would not have called his brothers - who, after all. share Christianity with h irn - atheists, b las pb e me rs. heretics. sorcerers, arch-magicians, fools, shameless ones, spirits of mystification, ignorants, vicious. - And this is not to mention that he publicly and wrongfully branded them thus.

\Vithout question Mersennus himself must be counted as one of the false brothers of whom the Apostle says, "False brothers secretly were brought in, who came secretly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage." (Galatians 2:4) - But already I hear that eriernv of truth mutter to himself, "I am a brother only of my brothers, the Roman Catholic ones, but in no way am I a brother of those heretics like the Lutherans, the Calvinists and those Rosicrucians! For I am a brother of a heavenly Order, but those are brothers of Irel l l "

But I answer Mersennus that such an excuse will not help him, for is it because they confess to a different religion than himself that he damns them? If he wou ld look with a sharper spiritual gaze into the Acts of the Apostles he would have discovered that those of the true Brotherhood of Christ called the Jews. w lro then were their worst enemies, their brothers. Thus Stephen says. "My brothers and fathers, hear," and Paul and Barnabas called both Gentiles and J ews their brothers and sisters of the tribe of Abraham.

Mcrserm us most certainly would answer that in that place in Scripture he understood the word «brothers" to mean the successors of the Jews from Abraham d ownwat-d, for among

the Israe lites all were called "brothers."·- But wi th this Mersennus cannot talk himself out of his dilemma. for in many places in his sermons and letters, Paul calls the most unbelieving heathens, even the servants of idols. his brothers. We read from the Prophet Micah concerning- the Lord of Israel. the Saviour from Bethlehem. "Therefore wi] l he rescue them, and the remnant of his bretheren shall return to the children of Israel."

In this passage a dispersed Hock is spoken of, and Christ is clearly characterized as the Saviour of the wor Id, as is said in Matthew 23:8, "One is your Master, hut you all are brothers.' - And he continues, "For one is your Father. who is in heaven." With these words Christ does not indicate brothers in the Hesh, but brothers in God, and he does not address the disciples alone, but the m ix ed crowd of listeners as we ll - and among them wer e unbelieving Jews and (~entiles. Ann finally the Prophet says clearly, confrrrn ing the wo rd of the Saviour: "Why shou1d you hate your brother, for you both have one Father and' orie Creator?" - From this it fo l lows that with this he refers to all men who have been taken from one and the same rock.

Since this is so, how can this monk dare assert, in face of the word of the Apostle, and even against the 'word of the Highest, that there is anyone who cannot be his brother? For it is said in clear words that all rne n are brothers, taught by one teacher, descended from ant' Father. -

Does Brother Mersermus not know the words of the royal Psalmist, "Thy 1l1011th runneth over with evil, and thy tongue hringeth forth cunning; sitting in counsel thou speakest against thy brother and against him thou createst strife. Therefore thou art in darkness because thou hatest thy brother; thou wa lk est in darkness and dost not know where thou art." - In his hatred. Mcrsenrius therefore kills his brother, according to .John, "Whosoever ha tet h his brother is a murderer: and ye k riow that no murderer hath eternal life abiding' in him." ~ What .John would have thought of that mon k I do not dare to judge, since judgment is the concern of him who judged Cain according to righteousness, and the Apostle also uses this example.

N ow we can consider the reasons why that Brotherhood can give itself the name Rosicrucian, since we have explained above ou t of the clear words of the holy Testament why the designations A postolic and Christian can rightly be used by those chosen ones .. ~. And why not the designation "Rosicrucian?" In the Roman Catholic Church is there not an Order dedicated to the Holy Cross? Is it then such a great offense to concede to this Apostolic Fraternity, to the true chosen ones and Brothers of God, the name Rosicrucians? - Or is one to believe that the designation Rosicrucians in such an important matter means nothing? _. I shall here show, however, that to the initiate the word Rosicrucian or Rose Cross reveals the whole secret of the Brotherhood, however 1 i tt.le it seems to mean to the ignorant.

Not without intention was the sign of the Rose Cross carried on English sails, and by Christian heroes on their breasts in the wars ag'ainst the Saracens and Turks. The rnore I consider it worthwhile to reveal here before all the mystery of the Rose Cross, the more I recognize the justification of this design for the Brotherhood.

One must certainly know that the teaching of salvation has placed before us a twofold cross in the sense of a twofold law or twofold sense of the Holy Scriptures. a twofold wisdom, rramely, an outer and an inner, whereof the outer is the sheath of the inner. Thus, under the outer law is hidden in Holy Scripture the spirit within the letter, the divine and mystical wisdom within the seemingly confused meaning of the external words.

After Adam had tasted of the Tree of Good and Evil, confusion arose, clear wisdom was veiled by the darkness of illusion, and error was brought into the world. Thus, in place of pure and simple unity of unities arose confusion, namely that duality, that two-headed monster which looks at good and evil at the same time.

In a similar manner developed the relationship between the inner and outer, the mixture of virtue and vice, the pollution of the mystical wisdom by the human, the darkening of light through darkness, and - to say it briefly -. the veiling of the spirit by the letter.

But why use further words? Suffice it to say that the same relationship that exists between human wisdorn and divine Wisdorn also rules between the p'hvsica l and outer and that inner, spiritual cross. HFor/' says the Apostle. "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God," and in another place. "God has made it into foolishness." (See,[ Corinthians 1:18 and James I :22.) "Thy wisdom and thy knowledge deceives thee." - However, the divine and mystical Wisdom is that which is "the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory" (I Corinthians 2 :7), as testified by the .A.postle Paul. James speaks of the other w isdom: "This wisdorn descendeth not from above. but is earthly, sensual, devilish." (James 3:15)-This is what one can also say of the cross, for the real and true being of mystical Wisdom is an inner Wisdom, while the external wisdom is only an illusion, a false image of the true.

The Apostle Paul seems to point to this when he says (Hebrews 9:24-25): "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others." - Throughout the whole chapter. the Apostle seems to prove that parables and "figures" are all those acts which took place by sprinkling with "b lood of others" in the Tabernacle with that cross. in which the brazen serpent had heen placed. The corresponding truth was only to reveal itself in a future century, as clearly foretold by his words (Hebrews 9:8): "The Holy Ghost signified that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was yet standing." In addition. we find written elsewhere that the Al l-H'ijrhest does not dwell in

<..0

habitations made with hands (Acts 7:48). -

From this it is clear that the cross created by the human spirit means little, that the worldly w isdorn means little, compared with the divine. mystical Wisdorn, which is the power of God. Human wisdom is pure foolishness. as is also said by the Apostle, "The cross of Christ is a sturnbf ingblock to the Jews, foolishness to the Greeks" (I Corinthians 1 :23). With "stumblingblock" he refers to the hatred which they

harbored against Christ, for they expected only m iracles from him. With the word "foolishness" he means not only those who mocked the cross, but also those who accepted the worldly and visible cross instead of the spiritual cross, that spiritual Wisdom which is the power of God - the outer instead of the inner.

In the world, therefore, we see two strong opposites from which arise so much strife, such monstrous discord in worldly affairs, namely, the light and the darkness. The light is Christ. the darkness is the prince of the letter - the devil. In the same manner we see both crosses - the one which is the power of God, true Wisdom, the pure and clear light, - the other is devilish, for the Godhead is not in it, and because it is external it misguides according to the foolishness of the Gentiles, misleading people into worshiping idols, i .e., to a veneration of things wh ich cannot be called divine. Arrd thus through ignorance the cross of the thief is venerated instead of the living cross.

I t was in this sense that a venerable Church Father wrote that the cross of Christ consisted of two woods, upon which the devil a ncl our Saviour Jesus Christ were crucified at the same tirne. Had he said. however, that Christ was crucified on the dead wood, and the other on the living wood, he wo ul d not have spoken in the sense of the Apostle w h o says, '"But (;'od forbid that 1 should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. by w ltorn the world is crucified unto me and I unto the wor ld." (Galatians 6: 14) - What he meant by the expression that "the world is crucified" is explained by the words, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lorrl J esus," (Ibid. 6: 17) which is the same as though he said Christ's true and spiritual cross I bear within me, compared wi th which wor ldlv things are crucified and dead, and therefore I am dead for the wor ld. Elsewhere he says, "I am crucified with Christ so that I may live unto God." (Ibid 2: 1 g.)

We therefore may not worship the outer, satanic, worldly part of the cross, nor are we to surround it with divers testimonies and venerations. For it is the cross of death, not of life, fashioned out of earthly timber or some other corruptible material. But we must venerate only that true, genuine~ living cross of Christ, that is, the mystical Wisdom which

is called by the Holy &riptures the wood of the Tree of Life, the fountain or root of which is the enlightened Word. To this is related the saying, HThe holy form of the cross shines out of its venerated sheath."

This "holy form of the cross" is the true inward, central cross of Christ, from which the Brotherhood takes- its name, the Brotherhood which has been given such an evil name, which has been slandered by worldly-minded pharrtasts. However, they richly deserve to be called Brothers of the Cross, for to this Order not only belonged the holy Prophets. but all Apostles, and also the true Disciples. as the Redeemer said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) By this he seerns to indicate that above all the true Christian must seek the spiritual cross. of which the Apostle speaks as cited above. and that through the denial of self he is to crucify himself for the world and the world for himself. Peter requires similarly that "As newborn babes desire the milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. to whom coming, as unto a living stone, chosen of God and precious ... etc." (I Peter 2:2-4). Likewise is said elsewhere. "He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me," (Matthew 10:38) and further, "He who does not take up his cross and Fol low me cannot be my disciple."

In these words, therefore, lies the secret, the greatest mystery, and from them it follows that no man can be a true disciple of Christ who does not "ask" and "k.nock." and thus find and recognize within himself that secret cross, and then follows worthily the chief of all mankind and leader of Israel from Bethlehem, carrying Christ Jesus within himself consciously. F'rorn this can be clearly seen that the true disciple of Christ must be a Brother of the Rosy Cross.

Now we shall explain why this name, The Rosicrucian Brotherhood, is a fitting one. From what has been said it can easily be seen that all true Christians must be engaged with greatest effort to discover and recognize that mystical cross, and to bear it within themselves. For without it they cannot justifiably be regarded as pupils and disciples of Christ.

But straightaway is asked in what color. what guise, does this cross usually appear to the chosen ones and is recognized by them? - That cross to which all good Christians should dedicate themselves is not conceived or fashioned according to the ma ter ial used. I t has the color of blood and is similar to the reddest red of the rose, surrounded by Ii li es, of which the Prophet asks in a mystical manner. "Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth the winepress?" (Isaiah 63:2). The answer is, "their blood is sprinkled upon rny garments, etc." - With these words the Prophet seems to indicate that the blood or redness of the cross, that rosy sap of the cross, originates from the fact that the cross of Christ is dipped into the blood of all sinners, and that through this virtue each of them is cleansed Irorn the i m pe rfect iorrs of his sins. Thus John says, "The blood of Jesus Christ. the Son of God, washes us clean of all sin." (I John 1:7)

Wi th the expression, "the blood of the Son of God" he m earis not human blood, but the divine and mystical blood. For as there is procreation out of h urnan blood and sensual intercourse, so there is also a divine procreation out of the Spirit of God, according to the word of the Evangelist, "Not out of blood, nor of the wil l of the flesh, but out of God," for blood and Hesh cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Peter also says that 'we are redeemed "wi th the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spor ." (I Peter 1: 19) I t is likewise said in another place that the shedding of the blood of Christ "speaks hetter things" than that of Abe!, for Ch r ist iwas spiri tual and mystical, the ot her, material and typical. (Hebreios 12:24) .Again we read that "The God of peace ... brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant." (Ibid. II :20) .- Here is meant that blood of the testament 'which is living. spiritual, through whose mediation - and through it alone - according to the testimony of the Holy Scripture, has the restoration from death to eternal life been effected.

In another place the Apostle speaks of that "blood of the testament which God hath entrusted to vo u ," and he speaks still more clearly where he points out that the ceremonies of

the Old Covenant are only parables and figures for the explanation of that hidden, spiritual secret: "For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean. sanctifieth to the purifying- of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God; purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 13-14)

The Holy Scripture also says that those are blessed who have washed their garments arrd have received power through the wood or Tree of Life. Now that blood of the cross, I say, was that spiritual blood of the Covenant into wh ich God has instituted us. For it is a gift of the Holy Spirit which teaches us that we must understand that Chalice which we bless, and likewise that mystical Blood is the true Sacrament, according to the word of the Apostle: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not communion with the blood of Christ?" (I Corinthians 10: 16)

It is this therefore which is the true rose-cross adorned with lilies, which is described by Esdras. or rather is described by God through the testimony of Esdras, indicating the House of Wisdom erected on the imaginary seven pillars:

"I have," says the Lord, "prepared seven mighty mountains whereupon there grow roses and lilies. whereby I will fill all thy children with joy." (II Esdras 2: 19) - And in that place he mentions the House or that heavenly Castle Zion, and describes the condition of the inhabitants when he says, "Take thy people, 0 Zion, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord, that thy people, who have been chosen from the beginning. may be ha llowecl." These are the ones who are clothed in white because they have k nown the name of God. But I spoke above concerning the secret arrangements of this Tabernacle when I mentioned what others usua1Iy call "dying," ~ for as everyone knows, this latter also must have a secret and hidden meaning.

In a similar manner the whole parable of the Song of Solomon is related to our subject, and there we read (the bride and bridegroom are speaking): "1 am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" ... "My beloved is like a young hart among the mountains of Berhcf." (that is, the

House of the Lord) ... "A garden enclosed is my sister, rn..y bride; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomgranates; a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, etc."

Finally, we are taught by the Holy Scripture what we must do in general and in particular in order to attain a pearl of such incomparable worth. What we must do in general is indicated by the Apostle thus: "We beseech you, bretheren, tha t ye increase more and more: and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may lack nothing." (I Thessalonians 4:10-12)

What we are to do in particular he teaches us in a similar ,vay through the pictures of the Sower and the Builder. U nder the picture of the Sower he says (I Corinth ians 3 :6. etc.):

"I have planted. ApoIlos watered, but God gave the increase." "For we are laborers together with God." - This last also means "You are the seed of God." And James, taking such Sowers into consideration, says (James 5:7): "Be patient therefore, bre thereri, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."-

Paul, however, teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ wi ll appear to the chosen ones in this life, by saying, "See that you lack no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you to the end, that ye nlay be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." - With these words he shows that the Lord reveals himself to the true Brothers in this life, and that the following life is without end. In this sense also speaks the prophet Isaiah: "The earth will open itself and give birth to the Savio ur ," while the Evangelist says that God is able to awaken out of the stones the seed of the sons of Abraham.

Job says that "Out of the earth cometh bread, and from beneath it cometh fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold." (Job 28:5-6) The Patriarch knows that indeed the stone which he has erected as a

symbol shall become the House of God. In the wor'd of Wisdom is found the most perfect light 'which reveals the hidden, the invisible, to the eyes of mortals.

If the husbandman described above prepares the right soil in a proper manner, if he cares for it and tills it, if he plants it with Paul and waters it w it h Apollo, nevertheless he cannot gather the harvest until the fruit has been blessed by God, until he has "waited in patience" for the revelation of the Lord. 'T'he reason for this is given in the words of the Apostle: "it is not given to the one who desires and hastens, but through God's rriercy."

After this, the Apostle makes the Brothers labor toward the perfection of the work, under the picture of the Builder, for he says that God has laid the foundation like a wise architect. Such building is indicated by Paul: "For we are 'workers together wi th God; ye are Gods husbandry, ye are God's building." (I Corinthians 3:9) David echoes this thought when he says, "If the Lord does not build the house. they labor in vain that build it." This is exactly the same as is shown by the picture of the SOlver above.

Although the indestructible Spirit of Cod lives within the grain of wheat, nothing- can come of it w i tl io u t the labor of the husbandman and his sowing. I t is his business to prepare the earth and to bed into it the seed for the purpose of its decomposition. Ot.herwise nothing w il l come from its I iving. inner ger m.

'Vith the picture of the Architect. the Prophet demands of us that we "ascend the Mount of Reason and build the House of Wisdom." As for the right ,vay of going about this, and how 'we may reach the rose-red hlood of the cross wh ieh hides itself in the center of the cross, having been poured out into it, we have to consider h o w much labor and diligence we must devote to the task - for this is not a superficial wor k. One has to dig into the inner core of the earth. and to "knock" and "seek," or his labor is in vain.

A philosopher experienced in tr ue and genuine A.1chemy says that all bodies have their boundaries in three dimensions. namely the height before the eyes. the hidden depths, and the widths lying between. There is no direct transition from the one extreme to the other. One must pass through

an intermediate element. Therefore, on the basis of the outer form of anything we cannot deduce for ourselves its inner, hidden aspect unless through the destruction of the revealed we come to the revelation of the hidden element.

The truth of this observation is made apparent through the content of a geolnetrical cube, the height of which, multiplied by itself gives the width, which in turn multiplied by the height gives its content.

In just this way the Alchemist transmutes the apparent fonns into occult ones by finding the general form through destruction of the specific one. This is the work of the true and divine Alchemy, through the mediation of which the ea rt h l v has been opened to the entry of the joys of Paradise so that men may pluck that red rose w it h the lilies of the field and taste of the Tree of Life. This is also taught by the Apostle when he says (Ephesians 3: 18): "That ye may be able to comprehend w it h all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God."Thus the truly w ise Artist w i l l have to dig deeply into the earth, will have to work carefulIy in all three directions in order to find the true cornerstone w hi oh God has laid as foundation in the earth.

Through this he will come to know an al ltower irig love for the science of Christ, and he wi II be fil1ed with the a11- conceivable fullness of God. Thus we can deduce that the Rose-Cross, or that mystical building of the cross, has to be striven for through diligent knocking and patient expectancy of divine grace, through begging- and asking to the very core of our being. This is that mystical building- of which the divine poet spoke, "That sanctified form which shines out of the venerated form."

All of this is according to the statement of the Apostle:

"Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Through these wor ds we are taught in an occult manner that sin is all that alien part in us which does not correspond to pure truth, which is Jesus Christ. We have to use all possible care, working wi rhou t ceasing in order that there may shine forth from the human or animal rock, the truth in its rose-colored, blood-colored glory. - Thus it wi l l shine to

the true Artist and Brother so that in this divine radiance he may see the light and at last harvest the fruits of his labor, according to the word of the Apostle.

All of this carefully considered will make clear what this mystical building of the cross and also the cross of Christ means. For each true Christian will strive for this with all his strength until he finds that reddest of roses, that most precious and eternal building of the cross, so he can be recompensed rightly by being called a Brother of the RoseCross. and will find himself a member of the true Fraternity. This is confirmed by the Psalmist: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!"

Now without doubt someone could say. "How is it that you profess to know the spirit of that Brotherhood so well; how are you so well informed about their secrets so that you proclaim not only their religion and circumstances. but also reveal why they should be called Rosicrucian Brothers?""What? - Are you also one of the Brothers of the RoseCross?" -

Under such questioning I answer that I least of all have deserved such high grace from God, for I acknowledge with the Apostle that such gifts cannot be bestowed through longing and impatience. but through God's mercy alone.

So as to give satisfaction to any questioner, whoever he may be, and also to you, well-disposed reader, I shall place before you a letter written by the Rosicrucian Brothers and sent to a German candidate, which I have reproduced faithfully below. I received a copy of this through my friend in Danzig, and after serious reading and re-read ing you yourselves can judge whether what I have written above about the Spirit and the spiritual gifts of God. about the cornerstone, the living waters, and about the religion of these Brothers and members of the Fraternity, has been produced by me out of error or unrighteousness. Those can judge best who base themselves on the pillars of fairness and justice, giving impartial testimony as "to whether people like the so-called Rosicrucians should be persecuted wirh such baseness, whether they deserve such hatred, whether they must be so diligent-

Iy excluded from the Christian world and condemned to exile, as seems to be the wish of that hell-judging monk, who appears least of all to be called to such an office.

'<Ve nerable and Honorable Sir!

"Seeing that this will be the first year of your riatrvrty, we pray that you may have from the Most High God, a most happy entrance into and departure out of YOUT life, because until now you have been with good mind a constant searcher of divine philosophy. Well clorre! Go forward. fear God, for thus you will gain Heaven. Acquire the most true knowledge. for it is God who has discovered every way; God alone is circumference and center.

"But now draw near and pay heed, take this cross unto yourself, for the one who increases knowledge increases sorrow, for in much knowledge is much grief. as we know from experience. For all worldly men, proud, vain, boasters, talkers, unworrh ilv attack us, yes. curse us without cause. But we are not surprised that the ungrateful world persecutes the professors of the true Arts, together with truth itself. Yet, fOT your sake we shall briefly answer these questions:

What is it that we do? What can we do? Whether there are any such as we?

HIn .John we read that God is the Supreme Light, and we walk in light -so that we show light to the world. But the man of the lvorld who denies this knows not and sees not that in his vile body the Christ dwel Is. This you have from the Apostle. 'And Jesus knew all their thoughts: to whom if you remain faithful, you will at length be made one spirit with him, and having become one, who will hinder you - like Solomon - from knowing the good and the evil thoughts of men? And this you may take from us as truth. Hence it is that we do not answer the questions of all because of the deceitful minds of some. For whoever are alienated from God are against us, and who is so foolish as to allow a total stranger to enter another man's house?

HOn the other hand, if men expect that this union with Christ is to be attained only in the world to come, in this they show their foolishness and ignorance. Are they not also

ashamed to make the Apostle a liar, in whom these things are clearly shown in the words, 'So that you may be warrting in no grace, expecting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: ..

"But men say that this is not to be understood as pertaining to this life on earth. If this is so, what does the following mean: 'Who shall conform you even to the end,' ~ for in the Kingdom of God there is no end, therefore in this earthly condition will appear the glory of the Lord and Christ glorified.

"Tf anything further is required to be known concerning our work, our effort is to lead back the lost sheep to the true sheepfold. Therefore mortals labor in vain to enter upon another path than that outlined by the Apostle. And that path is not walked in through dying, but like Peter when he said, "As Christ taught me," that is, when he was transfigured in the mount. Had this not been secret and hidden, the Apostle would not have said, HAs Christ taught me," neither would the Supreme Truth have said, 'Tell it to no man: for according to the way of earth, to die was known to all men from the beginning of the world. Therefore you are to be changed from dead stones into living philosophical stones.

The Apostle shows you the way to this when he says, 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: He describes that mind in the following words, 'As being in the form of God he thought it no robbery to be equal to God:

"Behold these things, you who search into the secrets of nature! You hear these things but you don't believe them, miserable mortals, who so eagerly run after your own ruin! - If you will be happy, you most miserable; if you will be lifted above the world, you proud; if you will rule th is earth from Heaven above, and your dark body as well, you ambitious; if you will perform all miracles, you unworthy - then know - you rejected ones - what nature is before it is sought!

HBut you, 0 Brother, listen! I will speak with the words of John that you may have communion with us, and indeed our communion is with the Father and Christ, and we write to you that you may rejoice 'Cod is light and in Him is no darkness at al l.' - And that you may come to us, be-

hold this light, for it is impossible for you to see us - unless we will it - in another light. Therefore follow us in this so you may be happy with us, for our most immovable palace is in the center of aU things; it is also much obscured because it is covered with many names ..

"Enter, enter into the glory of God and your own salvation! Enter the gates of the School of Philosophical Love, in which is taught everlasting charity and brotherly love! Enter into that sante resplendent and invisible castle which is built upon the mountain of the Lord, out of which flows a fountain of living water, a river of love! Drink, drink, and again drink, that you may see aU hidden things, and converse with us!

"Again, beware! -- But what? -- For you know very well that nature receives nothing for nutriment but what is subtle, the thick and foeculent is cast out as excrement. And you well know that those who will live in the Spirit rather than in the body take in nourishment by the Spirit, not by the mouth. As for example, it is lawful to know heaven by heaven, not by earth, but by virtues of earth - if you understand us aright ~ no man enters into heaven, which you seek, unless he who descended from heaven enlighten him first. 'T'her efore whatever comes not from heaven is a false image and cannot be caned a virtue.

"Therefore, 0 Brother, you cannot be better confirmed than by virtue itself, which is the Su prerne Truth which. if you will religiously and with all your strength endeavor to follow, in all your words and works, it will confirm you more and more. For it is a fiery spirit, a glistening spark, dwe ll ing in every created being, sustaining and governing it, by Christ purged. purified in fire, always more glorious and pure, jubilating 'without limit. This Spirit, 'we say,will confir m you daily until - as a certain learned man has saidyou become like a lion in battle, can overcome all the strength of the wor ld, and you fear neither death nor any violence whatever that devilish tyrrany can invent. For you wil l have become what you desire to be - a Stone and a true Work.

"In order that God may bless YOUT labors, you wi ll study most approved authors, but under a shadow as it were, for

a wise man reads one thing and understands another.

"Are you imperfect? Strive for due perfection. Are you foul and unclean? Purge yourself with tears, lift yourself by good manners and virtues, beautify yourself with the grace of the Sacraments. Make your soul sublime and subtle for the contemplation of heavenly things, conformable to angelic spirits, that it may vivify your vile ashes and gross body, making it white and altogether incorruptible through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Do these things and you will agree that no man has written more plainly than we. These things the Lady Virtue has commanded should be told you, by whom, according to your deserts, you will hereafter be more fully taught. This read, and keep what has been committed to your trust.

-- F.T.F., in Light, etc:'