Long livers: a curious history of such persons of both sexes who have liv'd several ages, and grown young again: with the rare secret of rejuvenescency of Arnoldus de Villa Nova, and a great many ... rules to prolong life: as also how to prepare the universal medicine ....

By Eugenius Philalethes

In 1722, a mysterious book was published in London, England under the pseudonym Eugenius Philalethes, a renowned alchemist who was thought to have been deceased for many years. The text itself claimed to hold the secret to extending life, or even ceasing the ageing process altogether. It contained various special health regimes and examples of how, in the past, these secret treatments, lifestyles or remedies had led to long, happy lives. These included specific diets, special baths, fasting practices, herbal poultices, methods of turning precious metals and stones into drinkable potions and even an alchemical recipe that could cure all illnesses! Perhaps most astonishingly, the reader was also given an in-depth explanation of why we age and what caused eternal youth in the Garden of Eden.

This text, however, unlike other works on the subject at the time, contained a very special, secret method that would be more effective than the rest. A system of inner evolution that would bring about a change from within. The name of this secret method was Freemasonry. The author, himself a Freemason, dedicated the work to the Grand Master, Masters and Wardens and Brethren of the most Ancient and most Honourable Fraternity of the Free Masons of Great Britain and Ireland, claiming to reveal the true secrets of Freemasonry as a method of inner alchemy and path of enlightenment that only genuine brothers would understand.

Perhaps the earliest known work on esoteric Freemasonry this work is filled with Rosicrucian and Hermetic references. The text has always been considered of great historical interest, but has puzzled readers ever since due to its strange symbolism, encoded messages and mysterious writing style.

Now, over three hundred years later, Lewis Masonic has produced a new edition of this book, featuring an introduction by Martin Faulks, which provides guidance for those who wish to read it and gain an understanding of the author's original message. The complete manuscript has been carefully digitally restored and printed at a scale close to the original for ease of readability.

Available as a Paperback or Foil Embossed Hardback

308 Pages

Contents Include:

The Dedication - A Text On True Freemasonry

On the Immortality of the First man - Why we were immortal and why we now age

The Duration of the Life of Man in the First Age of the World from the Creation to the Flood

The Duration of the Life of Man in the Second Age of the World from the Flood to Abraham

The Duration of the Life of Man in the Third Age of the World from Abraham

That the year of the Ancients was not composed of one of our Months.

That the Years were never regulated by the Seasons, the Greek Olympiad, much less the Roman Luftrum.

That the Patriarchal year followed the Course of the Sun upon the Zodiac

That the year was always composed of 12 Months and every Month had 27 days according to the Holy Scriptures

That even after the Flood, several persons have lived one, two and three hundred years and upwards

Of Kings and Princes who have lived above one hundred Years.

Of Governors and Generals who have lived above one hundred Years

Of Learned Men who have lived to a very great Age,

Of Prelates and Churchmen who lived very long

Of old Women

That Temperance contributes to long Life

Climates, where people arrive at an extreme Old Age,

That the Life of Man was never limited to forty, fifty, or one hundred Years, according to Divinities,

The Sentiments of the Antients upon Death

Of Rejuvenescency, or growing young again and if it be possible.

Of Men and Women who have been believed to grow young again,

The Method of Arnold de Villa Nova, to be used in the grand Operation of Rejventency,

Of Things which may prolong Life,

Rules for a long Life

Of the Universal Medicine