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HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
possessed by Adam, Enoch, Salomon,
&c. Written with
great care, by desire and command of some superior
persons, by Andrew Libavius." It claims to be inspired
by a spirit of friendly criticism, decides that the Order does
exist, advises the accomplishment of a limited and private
reformation, leaving the universal one to God,
as the
world is far too corrupt for improvement before the judg-
ment day, and that a pretension so large will never by any
possibility be carried out. Though posing as a critic, he
advises all persons to join the Order, because there is much
to be learned and much wisdom to be attained by so doing.
He praises their sound doctrine in matters of religion,
particularly the denunciation of the Pope and Mahomet,
the value they set upon the Bible, &c. It is evident, in
fact, that in spite of his " homely good sense " he had
radically changed his ground. The treatise is divided into
forty-three chapters, and among the subjects
discussed are
the Spheric Art, the Lapis Philosophorum, and the Magical
Language.
What we seek as vainly in the most authoritative
Eosicrucian apologists as in their critics, is any additional
information concerning the society, its members, or its
whereabouts. Such information is promised frequently on
the title-pages of the innumerable pamphlets of the period,
but it is not given, and the proffered proofs of the existence
of the Order are confined to abstract considerations devoid
of historical value.
Professor Buhle considers that the attacks of Libavius
joined to other writings " of the
"
same tendency might
possibly have dispelled the delusion, except for the conduct
of Andreas, whom he represents as doing his best to
increase it by the publication of other documents, and for