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diff --git a/26340-h/26340-h.htm b/26340-h/26340-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..42f210b --- /dev/null +++ b/26340-h/26340-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3410 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Of Natural & Supernatural Things, by Basilius Valentinus. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Of Natural and Supernatural Things, by +Basilius Valentinus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Of Natural and Supernatural Things + Also of the first Tincture, Root, and Spirit of Metals and + Minerals, how the same are Conceived, Generated, Brought + forth, Changed, and Augmented. + +Author: Basilius Valentinus + +Translator: Daniel Cable + +Release Date: August 17, 2008 [EBook #26340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL THINGS *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h2><i>BASILIUS VALENTINUS</i>,</h2> + +<h3>A</h3> + +<h3>BENEDICTINE MONK,</h3> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h2><i>NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL</i></h2> + +<h1>THINGS.</h1> + +<h4>ALSO,</h4> + +<h3>Of the first <i>Tincture</i>, <i>Root</i>, and <i>Spirit</i> of METALS and MINERALS, +how the same are <i>Conceived</i>, <i>Generated</i>, <i>Brought forth</i>, <i>Changed,</i> +and <i>Augmented</i>.</h3> + +<h3>Whereunto is added, Frier <i>Roger Bacon</i>, of the <i>Medicine</i> or <i>Tincture</i> +of <i>Antimony</i>; Mr. <i>John Isaac Holland</i>, his Work of <i>Saturn</i>, and <span class="smcap">Alex. +Van Suchten</span>, of the <i>Secrets</i> of <i>Antimony</i>.</h3> + + +<h2>Translated out of <i>High Dutch</i> by<br /> <span class="smcap">Daniel Cable</span>.</h2> + + +<h4><i>LONDON</i>,</h4> + +<p class="center">Printed, and are to be Sold by <i>Moses Pitt</i> at the <i>White Hart</i> in +<i>Little Britain</i>, 1671.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><i>BASILIUS VALENTINUS</i>,</h2> + +<h3>A</h3> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Benedictine Monk</span>,</h3> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h2><i>NATURAL & SUPERNATURAL</i></h2> + +<h1>THINGS.</h1> + +<h4>ALSO,</h4> + +<h3>Of the first <i>Tincture</i>, <i>Root</i>, and <i>Spirit</i> of METALS and MINERALS, +how the same are <i>Conceived</i>, <i>Generated</i>, <i>Brought forth</i>, <i>Changed</i>, +and <i>Augmented</i>.</h3> + + +<h2>Translated out of <i>High Dutch</i> by <br /><span class="smcap">Daniel Cable</span>.</h2> + + +<h4>Whereunto is added</h4> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Alex.</span> Van <span class="smcap">Suchten</span></h2> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h3>SECRETS of <i>ANTIMONY</i>.</h3> + + +<h4>Translated out of <i>High Dutch</i> by<br /> <i>D. C.</i> a Person of great Skill in +<i>Chymistry</i>.</h4> + + +<h4><i>LONDON</i>,</h4> + +<p class="center">Printed, and are to be sold by <i>Moses Pitt</i> at the <i>White Hart</i> in +<i>Little Britain</i>, 1670.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> +<h2><i>Basilius Valentinus</i>,</h2> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h3><i>Natural and Supernatural Things</i>.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. I.</span></h2> + + +<p>Because I have at this present undertaken to write of the of the first +Tincture, the Root of Metals and Minerals, and to inform you of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>Spiritual Essence, how the Metals and Minerals are at first spiritually +conceived and born corporally; it will be necessary first of all to +utter, and to acquaint you by a speech, that all things consist of two +parts, that is, Natural and Supernatural; what is visible, tangible, and +hath form or shape, that is natural; but what is intactible, without +form, and spiritual, that is supernatural, and must be apprehended and +conceived by Faith; such is the Creation, and especially the Eternity of +God without end, immensible and incomprehensible; for Nature cannot +conceive nor apprehend it by its humane reason: This is supernatural, +what Reason cannot apprehend, but must be conceived by Faith, this is a +Divine matter, and belongs to Theology, which judgeth Souls. Moreover, +there appertains to supernatural things,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> the Angels of the Lord, having +clarified Bodies, doing that by the permission of their Creator, which +is impossible for any other Creature to do, their Works being concealed +from the Eyes of the World, and so likewise are the Works of the +Infernal Spirits and Devils unknown, which they do by the permission of +the most High God. But above all the great Works of God are found and +acknowledged to be supernatural, not to be scann'd and comprehended by +Humane Imaginations; such is in especial the great Grace and Mercy of +God which he bestows upon Mankind out of his great Love, which indeed no +man can apprehend or know, and other great and wonderful works which he +hath manifested divers manner of wayes by Christ our Saviour and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +Redeemer, for the confirmation of his Omnipotence and Glory: As when he +raised <i>Lazarus</i> from the dead, <i>Jairus</i> his Daughter, the Ruler of the +Synagogue, and the Widows Son of <i>Naim</i>. He made the Dumb to speak, the +Deaf to hear, and the Blind to see, all which are supernatural, and +<i>Magnalia Dei</i>; so also was his Conception, Resurrection, Descension, +and Ascension into Heaven, too deep and mysterious for Nature; all which +is only to be obtained by Faith.</p> + +<p>There belongs likewise to supernatural things, the taking of <i>Enoch</i> and +<i>Elias</i> into Heaven, the divine rapture of St. <i>Paul</i> in the Spirit into +the third Heaven. Moreover, many supernatural things are done by +Imagination, Dreams, and Visions; many wonders are done by the +Imagination,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> witness the speckled Sheep by the speckled Rods laid in +their watring places. God warned the wise men of the East by an especial +Dream not to return again to <i>Herod</i>; likewise their three Persons, +their three Gifts, Presents, or Offerings, and the supernatural Star, +have all their peculiar and mystical meaning.</p> + +<p>Nor was that Dream which hapned to <i>Pilates</i> Wife natural, who unjustly +adjudged our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to death. The Vision of the +Angels which appeared to the Shepherds at the Birth of Christ, and to +the Women at his Sepulchre, who sought his Body where they had laid it, +cannot be accounted Natural.</p> + +<p>There are many other supernatural things done at several times by the +Prophets & Saints; so was the voice of the Ass speaking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> to <i>Balaam</i>, +contrary to the common course of Nature; as also <i>Joseph</i>'s +Interpretation of Dreams. And so God by his Angels preserves us +oftentimes from infinite Evils, and delivers us out of manifold Dangers, +impossible for Nature to do.</p> + +<p>All this & many others belong to Theology, and to Heaven, whereunto the +Soul is to have regard. Now follows the supernatural things of the +visible Works of God, as we see them in the Firmament; to wit, the +Planets, Stars, and Elements, which are above our Reason, only their +Course and Motion is observed by speculation and reckoning, which +belongs to Astronomy; it is a visible but incomprehensible Being, +performing its operation in a Magnetick way, out of which likewise +divers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> admirable things are found and observed, which are altogether +supernatural; understand it thus, that the Heaven operates in the Earth, +and the Earth affords a correspondence with the Heavenly. For the Earth +hath also its seven Planets, which are operated and bred by the seven +Celestial, only by a spiritual Impression or Infusion, even as the Stars +operate all Minerals. This is done incomprehensibly and spiritually, and +therefore it is to be accounted supernatural, even as two Lovers, their +persons are visible, but their Love one to the other is invisible: +Humane Bodies are tangible and natural, but Love is invisible, +spiritual, intangible and supernatural, comparable to a Magnetick +Attraction only; for the invisible Love which is attracted unto it +spiritually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> by the Imagination is, accomplish'd by the desires and +fruition. In like manner when the Heaven hath a love to the Earth, and +the Earth hath a Love, Inclination, and Affection towards Man, as the +great World to the lesser, for the lesser World is taken out of the +greater, and when the Earth by the desires of its invisible Imagination +doth attract unto itself such a Love of the Heaven, there is thereby an +Union of the Superiour and Inferiour, as Man and Wife are accounted one +Body together, and after this Union the Earth is impregnated by the +Infusion of the Heaven, and begins to conceive and bring forth a Birth +sutable to the Infusion, and this Birth after its Conception is digested +by the Elements, and brought to a perfect Ripeness and this is reckoned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +among the supernatural things; how the supernatural Essence performs its +operation in the natural.</p> + +<p>Among the supernatural things are likewise reckoned all Magical and +Cabalistical Matters which depend thereon, arising out of the Light of +true knowledge, not those which proceed from Superstition, Conjuration, +or unlawful Exorcisme, such as the Sorcerers use; but I mean in this +place such a Magick as the Wise men had that came out of the <i>East</i>, who +by Revelation from God, and by true allowable Art judged rightly; or +such an one, as those of old had before us, usual among the <i>Egyptians</i> +and <i>Arabians</i>, before Writing was found, they noted, observed, and +reserved by Signs, Characters and Hieroglyphicks. Such Blessings may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> be +used, which Christ the Son of God used, as the Scripture saith; He took +little Children, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. But +whatsoever is contrary to God and his Word, ought justly to be rejected, +and not to be tollerated, because they are not Godly, but Diabolical. +But those Supernatural things which oppose not God and his Holy Word, +belong unto Magick, and do the Soul no prejudice.</p> + +<p>As concerning Visions which Holy Men of God have often seen, it is +reason they should be reckoned among those things which are not Natural; +for whatsoever man speculates and comprehends by the Mind, is +Supernatural; on the contrary, whatsoever he can take, see, and hold is +Natural.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let us consider the third part of Natural & Supernatural things in +Physick, the Virtues and Powers of each; this Medicine of every thing +must first be driven out of a visible, tangible, natural Body, and be +brought into a spiritual, meliorated, supernatural operation, that the +Spirit which at the first was infused and given to the Body to live, +might be released, that it should operate and penetrate as a Spiritual +Essence, and Fire, having its Vent-holes left that it might burn and +have no opposition, which might suffocate, suppress, or hinder the +burning Life; whereas otherwise, if the separation of the Soul and +Spirit from the Body should not first be done, there could not succeed +any operation either effectual, profitable, or necessary; for whatsoever +is visible, to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> felt, and inseparably in a Body, that is Natural and +Corporal; but so soon as there is a separation, the living departs from +the dead, gaining its perfect operation, and the natural Body being +separated, the spiritual Essence is free to penetrate, becoming a +spiritual and supernatural Medicine. In brief, all things (none +excepted) which we can touch and handle, are natural, but they must be +made supernatural, if you would prepare them for Physick; for the +supernatural only hath a living power in it to operate, the natural hath +only a dead tangible Form. For when <i>Adam</i> was made, he was dead, having +no life of any virtue, but so soon as the operative quickning Spirit +came to him, then he manifested his living virtue and power by +supernatural admiration, so that in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> every thing there is the natural +and supernatural united in one, and bound together in their habitation, +that every thing might be perfect; for all created things in the world +are some supernatural, only what concerns the Soul and spiritual +matters, and some are natural and supernatural, with what concerns the +Elements and Firmament, as likewise the Minerals, Vegetables, and +Animals, which is known and found, when they are separated one from the +other, that the Soul departs out of the Body, and the Spirit forsakes +its Soul, leaving the Body an empty habitation.</p> + +<p>Moreover, you must understand and consider, that the great and little +World are made and formed of one first Matter, by an unsearchable +Almighty Essence, at that time in the beginning,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> when the Spirit of God +moved upon the Water, who was from Eternity without beginning. The great +World, as Heaven and Earth, was first, then was Man, the Little World, +taken out of the greater; the Water was separated from the Earth, the +Water was the Matter whereon the everlasting Spirit of God moved; the +Little World was formed of the noblest Earth, as its Quintessence, by +the Aquosity which yet was in the Earth, and all was only Natural; but +after the breathing in of the Divine heating Breath, immediately the +Supernatural was added; so then the Natural and Supernatural were knit +and united. The great World is perishable, yet there will be a New Earth +or World; the Little World is Eternal, the Great, Created, Dissoluble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +world will again be brought to nothing, but the little world will be +clarified by the Spirit of God, because he possesses it, making a +Celestial clarified water out of the aforesaid Earthly water; then it +will follow, that the first matter will be turned into the last, and the +last matter will become the first. Now the reason why the great world is +perishable, is this, that the Spirit of God hath not his dwelling or +habitation in the great world, but in the little world; for Man is the +Temple of the Holy Ghost, if he do not wilfully defile himself, adhering +to the Hellish Fire, which makes a breach and difference. For he +remaines in the little world, which he formed after his own similitude, +and made him a consecrated Temple; otherwise there is every thing in +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> little world which is to be found in the great, as Heaven and Earth +with the Elements, and what depends thereon, or appertains thereunto.</p> + +<p>We find also that in the first Creation, which was performed of nothing, +three things arose; to wit, a Soulish, Spiritual, Invisible Essence, +which represented a Mercurial Water, a Sulphurous Vapour, and a Terrene +Salt; these three gave a compleat and perfect, a tangible and formal +Body to all things wherein especially all the four Elements are +contained, as I have already mentioned in my Writing where I treat of +the Microcosme.</p> + +<p>But that I may yet give a little more information of Natural and +Supernatural things, as well spiritual as corporal: We find that the +<i>Canaanitish</i> Woman was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> cured of her Flux of Blood which held her +twelve years, only by a bare touch, when she touched the Garment of the +Son of God, her Disease being natural, but the Medicine or Cure was +Supernatural, because by her Faith she gained help from the Lord Christ.</p> + +<p>Likewise we have an excellent, high and supernatural Miracle in the +three Children, <i>Shadrach</i>, <i>Meshach</i>, and <i>Abednego</i>, who were cast +into the fiery Furnace, by the Command of King <i>Nebuchadnezzar</i>, yet by +God wonderfully delivered, and not consumed, <i>Dan. 3</i>.</p> + +<p>So also the Confusion of Tongues, and Infusion of divers Speeches at the +foolish structure of the Tower of <i>Babel</i>, which should have reached up +to Heaven, is esteemed for a Supernatural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> Miracle. And so was that a +Supernatural Sign, when the Children of <i>Israel</i> did lap water as Dogs +do, when a small Number at Gods Command, fought against the +<i>Midianites</i>, Judg. 7. 6. So the sending of the Dove by <i>Noah</i> out of +the Ark, when she brought an Olive Branch in her Bill, a Sign of Mercy, +and a Divine Supernatural Message.</p> + +<p>When the Holy man of God <i>Moses</i> struck the Rock with his Rod, that the +hard Rock yielded Water, is beyond humane Reason; so was the turning of +the salt water into sweet and drinkable, supernatural. As also the dry +passage of the Children of <i>Israel</i> through the Red Sea; and the Budding +of <i>Aarons</i> Rod, are all supernatural. In brief, the Resurrection of +Christ the Eternal Son of God out of the grave,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> for all the Tomb-stone, +his appearing to the two men going to <i>Emas</i>, his revealing himself to +his Disciples when the Door was lock'd, are all Divine and Supernatural. +Divers Examples more might be recited out of Divine Writ, which for +Brevities sake I omit.</p> + +<p>Among Supernatural things are accounted all Mineral Signs, as the +Appearance of Spirits, Representations, Pigmies appearing diversly and +numerously, giving notice of good or bad Luck, Ruine or Riches; so also +those Figures, Shapes, or other works found in the Ores of Metals, as of +Men, Fishes, and other Creatures, so formed and represented by the +imagination of the three first Principles, then ripened and fully +digested by the Earth, and other Elements. Hereunto appertain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> the +Monsters of the Earth, and such things as are found within the Earth at +certain times of a wonderful form and shape, but not at all to be found +when that time is past, yet appear again and are to be found at some +other time.</p> + +<p>Hereunto also belong all Visions and Appearances performed by Water, +Glasses, Cristal, or other means, as also those done by Sigils and +Characters, which yet are so various, some being only Natural, yet +affording Supernatural appearances or sights; but the others which are +performed by Conjurations, are neither Natural nor Supernatural, but +Diabolical, belonging unto Sorcery, and are prohibited all good +Christians; so likewise all those Means which oppose Holy Writ, Gods +Word and Commandments,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> are to be rejected and refuted by true Natural +Cabalists; I say this, because a certain distinction and sure order +ought to be found of the Natural, Supernatural, Unnatural things.</p> + +<p>In like manner there appertains unto Supernatural things, all the +Water-Spirits, as the <i>Syrens</i>, <i>Succubi</i>, & other Water-Nymphs, with +their Relations, as likewise the Terrestrial Spirits, and those which +inhabit the Air, who sometimes are heard, seen, or perceived, sometimes +foretelling Death or other Disasters, sometimes they discover by their +Apparition Riches and good Fortune in certain places, and the Fiery +Spirits appertain here also, which appear in a fiery shape, or like a +burning Light; all these are Spirits having untangible Bodies,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> yet are +they not such Spirits as the right Hellish Spirits, who hunt after mens +Souls as an Eternal Jewel, even as the Infernal <i>Lucifer</i>, the Devil and +his Dependents do, who were ejected with him; but these are such Spirits +which are above Nature, set before Men for admiration, and are only +maintained by the Elements, whereby they are nourished and fed; but when +this Earthly world shall cease, they also shall decay and vanish with +it, because they have no Souls to be saved. I will say no more hereof at +present, but refer the opening of such Circumstances more at large to +another opportunity, where I shall particularly treat of Visions and +Spiritual Appearances, which are esteemed Unnatural by most part of the +World, yet truly are Natural,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> but they are found to be Supernatural in +their Operations and wonderful Qualities.</p> + +<p>That I may further confirm my Assertion, I say likewise, that there are +many things to be found in Physick, which yield and manifest their +workings supernaturally in a Magnetical way, operating only by an +attractive spiritual power which is attracted to it by the Air; for the +Air is the <i>Medium</i> between the Physick and the Hurt or Distemper, even +as the <i>Magnet</i> ever doth direct and turn it self towards its Polestar, +though the star be many thousand Miles distant from it, yet the +spiritual operation and sympathy between them is so prevalent, that it +is attracted together at so vast a distance by the <i>Medium</i> or middle +Band of the Air; but because this attractive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> power is only known unto +people in general, or as a thing common, it is therefore become +customary, and is so esteemed, there being no notice taken of any +further Secret whence this operative Faculty hath its Source or +Original: In like manner Hurts and Distempers may be healed and cured, +though the Patient and Physitian be very far distant one from the other; +not by Charmes, Exorcismes, or other unlawful prohibited means, which +are opposite to God and Nature, but by such means wherein the attractive +Magnetick Virtue lies to accomplish it. As when a wounded person goes a +Journey, leaving the Weapon wherewith he was wounded, or else of his +Bloud which issued out of the wound with his Physician, wherewith he +proceeds rightly and by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> orderly means, as is usual in dressing a wound, +without all doubt he shall be absolutely cured, this is no Witchcraft, +but the cure is performed only by the attractive power of the Medicine, +which is carried to the Sore by the means of the Air, wherewith it is +mundified, that it may perform the Spiritual Operation.</p> + +<p>Some will think these hard sayings, and impossible in Nature, and many +will say it is contrary to Nature, whereby many will be excited to +dispute it, and raise Arguments one opposite to the other, whether it be +Natural or no, whether it be possible or no, or whether it be Sorcery: I +will thus resolve them, that this Cure is natural, but as it operates it +is supernatural & spiritual, because it is performed meerly by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> an +attractive incomprehensible means, and that this manner of Cure is no +Sorcery: I affirm it hereby, that it is not mixt or accompanied with any +Sorcery, nor with any other unnatural Means, contrary to God the +Creator, or his holy and saving Word. But it is only Natural, out of its +supernatural, invisible, incomprehensible, spiritual, and attractive +power, which received its Original from the Sydereal, and performs its +Operation by the Elements.</p> + +<p>Lastly, I likewise approve this Cure to be no Sorcery, because the Devil +rather delights in all Mischief to Mankind, than to assist any manner of +way for their benefit, which yet is impossible for him to do without +Gods permission. Much more might be written of this Magnetick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Form, but +I chuse rather to be silent; referring it till I come to treat of the +Natural Miracles of the World.</p> + +<p>The grosser sort of foolish Wits, who imagine themselves to be wise +Philosophers, and all others who are not in their perfect senses, know +no difference in this case, but the wise and truly discreet well know +how to distinguish betwixt that which is natural and that which is +supernatural.</p> + +<p>For do but observe this comparison, to be proved by a gross Example, how +many Creatures are there which dye absolutely in the water, so that no +life is left therein, but so soon as the pleasant Summer appears, the +natural heat gives a new life, & the Body quite restored in the same +substance as it was before in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> its living Motion; even as an Herb, which +dies in the Winter, but in the Spring it manifests it self anew. The +death of these things is to be esteemed natural, but the return of a new +life in its knowledge is supernatural; but because we are accustomed to +all these things, the least part of us consider what is worthy of +further Meditation in this case, letting both natural and supernatural +go away together.</p> + +<p>Most people overpass, that natural custom which yet is supernatural, as +also monstrous Births, and those that bring signs and marks with them +into the world; which may all be natural, but manifest themselves +supernaturally, by the imagination which caused them: These supernatural +forms and customs, the Mother of the Child caused by intervening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +thoughts, which unexpectedly happened to her, as it were by accident: +Even as we often see and find, that many Men naturally are born with +some gestures, which he can never leave, though he endevour with all his +might to do it. The natural gestures of these Men are natural, but the +conception in the Womb which caused the imagination of these things is +supernatural, and subject to what the Heaven imprints.</p> + +<p>To conclude: I say, that none can defend the supernatural not to be true +by good grounds and reasons, except he have learn'd to know the natural, +which hath its original, and gained its shape from the supernatural; +after he hath learned this, he may evidence it by sure proofs, that he +will be conquerour over those,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> who will not believe what is +supernatural; and he will convince the opinions of those who dispute of +natural things, and yet know not the grounds, saving only a bare +pretence, much talk, tedious and unprofitable Debates.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. II.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the first Tincture and Roots of Metals.</i></h3> + + +<p>But now to come to my intent, and by Gods permission to accomplish the +same. I undertake to certifie of the first Tincture, Root, and +Generation of Metals and Minerals: Know that the first Tincture and Root +of all Metals, is likewise a supernatural, flying, fiery Spirit; which +preserves it self in the Air, seeking its habitation naturally in the +Earth and Water, wherein it can rest and operate: This Spirit is found +in all Metals, more abundant in other Metals than in Gold, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +Gold, by reason of its well digested, ripened, and fixt body, is tight, +close, and compact, and therefore no more can enter into its body than +is just requisite; but the other Metals have not such fixt bodies, for +their pores are open, and far extenuated, therefore the Tincture Spirit +can the more abundantly pass thorough and possess them. But because the +bodies of the other Metals are inconstant, the Tincture cannot remain +with those inconstant bodies, but must depart. And whereas the Tincture +of Gold is found in none more plentiful than in <i>Mars</i> and <i>Venus</i>, as +Man and Wife, their bodies therefore are destroyed, and the tinging +Spirit taken out of them, which makes Gold sanguin, being first opened +and prepared, and by their food and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> drink it becomes volatile, +wherefore this volatile Gold being satisfied with its food and drink, +assumes its own bloud to it self, dries it up by its own internal heat, +by the help and assistance of the vaporous fire, and there is a Conquest +again, which is quite fix'd, makes the highest Constancy, that the Gold +becomes an over-fix'd Medicine, by reason of abundance of Bloud it +yields no Body, except another superfluous Body be again put to it, +wherein the abounding fix'd bloud may disperse itself, this additional +Metallick Body, by reason of the great heat of the fix'd Lions bloud, is +penetrated as by fire, and purged from all impurity, and forthwith +throughly digested to a perfect ripeness and fixedness: That first of +all the Servant brings the Matter unto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> Riches, because the Master +before could not spare any of his Cloaths to give away, seeing that +Nature had lent and endowed him with one Noble Suit only; on the other +side, the King, when he hath received his Aides and Contributions from +his Subjects, can then distribute possessions, and permanent Liveries, +that the Lord and Servant may remain both together; and do not think it +strange, that the King needs to borrow of his Subjects, because their +Bodies are unfix'd and inconstant, for they receive much, and yet can +keep but little Credit: But if the King can participate thereof, he will +the better overcome heat and Frost, than the Leprous Metals can; and +henceforth by this Receipt he becomes particularly a Dominator and +Conquerour of all other,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> with a great Victory and triumph of Riches and +of Health to long Life. I hope you have from the beginning sufficiently +understood concerning this Natural and Supernatural Advice, and the +first tinging Root of Metals and Minerals, whereon the Corner-stone is +placed, and where the true Rock is grounded in its kind, wherein Nature +hath placed and buried her secret & deeply concealed Gifts; to wit, in +the fiery tinged Spirits, which Colours they gained out of the starry +Heaven by the operation of the Elements; and they can moreover tinge and +fix that which before was not tinged and unfix'd, seeing that <i>Luna</i> +wants the Robe of the Golden Crown, together with the fixedness, as +likewise <i>Saturn</i>, <i>Jupiter</i>, and <i>Mercury</i> do; and although <i>Mars</i> and +<i>Venus</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> need not this Rayment, but can communicate it to the other +five, yet I say, that they can perform nothing to attain any thing with +wealth without the Lion, because they are not sufficiently accomodated +with a fixedness of their <i>Mercury</i>, and a gentleness of their Salt, +except it be that the Lion overcome them, that they have triumphed on +both parts, and gained a remarkable Melioration altogether; this +Melioration lies concealed in their Signate star, or Magnet, out of +which all Metals have themselves received their Gifts.</p> + +<p>Now I will proceed, and particularly step to the Birth and Generation, +how the or <i>Archæus</i> manifests its power; pouring it forth, and daily +reveales it, whereby all Metallick and Mineral Forms are visibly +proposed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> and made formal, tangible, and corporal by the Mineral, +intangible, flying, fiery Spirits: Understand therefore further, and +observe with diligence and care, that by forgetfulness you let not that +which is weighty pass away, nor yet neglect or overlook that which is +most profitable, and on the contrary observe the bare words at length, +passing over the Truth; for what I write herein, is undoubtedly held and +esteemed that the highest is undoubtedly by many esteemed for the +lowest, and the lowest for the highest Mystery, and is so to be reputed.</p> + +<p>Now you must first know, that all Metals and Minerals of the Earth have +one only Matter and Mother, whereby in general they all received +Conception, gaining a compleat and corporal Birth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> This Matter which +comes out of the Center, first of all divides it self into three parts, +to procure one corporal or certain form of each Metal. These three parts +are only fed in the Earth by the Elements, out of their Bodies, and +nourish'd till they be perfect. But the Matter which comes out of the +Center is imagined by the Stars, operated by the Elements, and formed by +the Earth: It is a Matter to be known, and the true Mother of Metals and +Minerals: It is such a Matter and Mother, whereof Man himself is +conceived, born, nourish'd, and made corporal: It may be compared to the +middle World, for what is in the great World is in the little World, and +what is in the little World is also in the greater; and what is jointly +in the great and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> little World is likewise found in the middle World, +which unites and conjoins the great and little world; it is a Soul which +unites and copulates the Spirit with the Body. This Soul is compared +unto water, and it is a right true water, but not so that it wets as +other water doth, but it is a Celestial water, dry, found in a Metallick +Liquorish substance; it is a Soulish water, which loves all Spirits, and +unites them with their Bodies, conducting them to a compleat Life; +therefore it is reasonably found out, and evidently proved, that Water +is the Mocker of all Metals, which are heated by the warm aerial Fire, +or Spirit of <i>Sulphur</i>, which by its digestion makes the Earthly Body +lively, wherein the Salt is evidently found, which preserves from +putrefaction so that nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> might be consumed by Corruption. At the +beginning and birth <i>Quick-silver</i> is first operated, which stands yet +open with a subtile coagulation, because little Salt is imparted to it, +whereby he manifests a more spiritual than corporal Body; but all the +other Metals which follow out of its Essence, and have more Salt, +whereby they become corporal, do all follow this; so that I now begin +first with the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap.</span> III.</h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit of</i> Mercury.</h3> + + +<p>Though I have a peculiar Stile in writing, which will seem strange unto +many, causing strange Thoughts and Fancies in their Brains, yet there is +reason enough for my so doing; I say enough, that I may remain by my own +experience, not esteeming much of others prating, because it is +concealed in my knowledge, Seeing having alwaies the preheminence before +Hearing, and Reason hath the praise before Folly; Wherefore I now say, +that all visible, tangible things are made of the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, +which excels all earthly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> things of the whole world, all things being +made out of it, having their Off-spring only from it; for all is found +therein which can perform all whatsoever the Artist desires to find; It +is the beginning to operate Metals, when it is become a spiritual +Essence, which is meer Air flying to and fro without wings; it is a +moving wind, which after it is expelled its dwelling by <i>Vulcan</i>, it is +driven into its <i>Chaos</i>, where it again enters, and resolves it self +into the Elements, where it is elevated and attracted by the Sydereal +Stars after a Magnetical manner unto themselves, out of love, whence he +proceeded before, and was operated, because it affects its like again, +and attracts it to it. But if this Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> can be caught, +and made corporal, it resolves into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> Body, and becomes a pure, clear, +transparent water, which is the true spiritual water, and the first +<i>Mercurial</i> Root of the Minerals and Metals, spiritual, intangible, +incombustible, without any mixture of earthly Aquosity; it is that +Celestial water, whereof very much hath been written; for by this Spirit +of <i>Mercury</i> all Metals, may if need require, be broken, opened, and +resolved into their first Matter, without Corrosive; it renews the age +of Man or Beast, even as the Eagles; it consumes all evil, and conducts +a long Age to long Life. This Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> is the Master-Key of +my Second Key, whereof I wrote in the beginning; wherefore I will call; +<i>Come ye Blessed of the Lord, be anointed, and refreshed with water, and +embalm your Bodies, that they may not putrefie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> or stink</i>; for this +Celestial Water is the beginning, the Oyl, and the means, seeing it +burns not, because it is made of a spiritual Sulphur, the Salt Balsam is +corporal, which is united with the Water by the Oyl, whereof I will +afterwards treat more at large, when I shall write of them, and mention +them.</p> + +<p>And that I may further declare what is the Essence, Matter and Form of +the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, I say, that its Essence is blessed, its Matter +spiritual and its form earthly, which yet must be understood by an +incomprehensible way; these are indeed harsh Expressions, many will +think, thy Proposals are all vain, strange Effusions, raising wonderful +Imaginations, and true it is that they are strange, and require strange +people to understand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> these Sayings; it is not written for Peasants, how +they should grease Cart-wheels, nor is it written unto those who have no +knowledge of the Art, though they be never so learned, or think +themselves so; for I only account them Learned, who next unto Gods Word, +learn to know Earthly things, which must be pondered and judged by the +Understanding, founded upon a true Knowledge, to distinguish Light from +Darkness, who chuse that which is good, and reject the evil.</p> + +<p>It is needless for you to know what the beginning of this Spirit of +<i>Mercury</i> requires, because it can in no wise help nor advantage you, +only take notice of this, that its beginning is supernatural, out of the +Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, bestowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> on it from the beginning +of the first Creation, that it may enter further into an Earthly +Substance. But because this is necessary which hath been declared to +you, leave the Celestial to the Soul, apprehend it by Faith, and let the +Sydereal likewise alone, because these Sydereal Impressions are +invisible and intangible, the Elements have already brought forth the +Spirit perfect into the world by the Nutriment, therefore let that alone +likewise; for man cannot make the Elements, but only the Creator, and +remain by thy made Spirit which is already formal and unformal, tangible +and intangible, and yet is presented visibly. So have you enough of the +first Matter, out of which all Metals and Minerals grow, and is one only +thing, and such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> matter which unites it self with the <i>Sulphur</i> in the +following Chapter, and enters into a Coagulation with the <i>Salt</i> of the +fifth Chapter, that it may be one Body, and a perfect Medicine of all +Metals, not only to bring forth in the Earth at the beginning, as in the +great World, but also by help of the vaporous Body to transmute and +change, together with the augmentation in the lesser World: Let not this +seem strange to you, seeing the Most High hath permitted, and Nature +undertaken it.</p> + +<p>Many will not believe this, esteeming it impossible, despise and vilifie +these Mysteries, which they understand not in the least, they may remain +Fools and Idiots till an illumination follows, which cannot be without +Gods Will; but remains till the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> predestinate. But wise and +discreet, men who have truly shed the sweat of their Brows, will be my +sufficient witnesses, and confirm the Truth, and indeed believe and hold +for a truth all that which I write in this case, as true as Heaven and +Hell are preordained, and proposed as Rewards of good and evil to the +Elect and Reprobate. Now I write not only with my hands, but my Mind, +Will and heart constrain me to it: Those who are highly conceited, +illuminated, and world-wise, hate, envy, scandalize, defame and +persecute this Mystery to the utmost Rind, or innermost Kernel, which +hath its beginning out of the Center; but I know assuredly, there will +come a time, when my Marrow is wasted, and my Bones dried up, that some +will take my part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> heartily, after I am in the Pit; and if God would +permit it, they would willingly raise me from the dead; but that cannot +be; wherefore I have left them my Writings, that their Faith and Hope +may have a Seal of Certainty and Truth, to testifie of me what my last +Will and Testament was, which I ordained for the poor, and all the +Lovers of Mysteries, though it did not behove me to have wrote so much, +yet I could not refrain without prejudice to my Soul, but to drive a +Light or Flash through a Cloud, that the Day might be observed, and the +dark Night, thick and gloomy, rainy Weather expelled.</p> + +<p>Now how the <i>Archæus</i> operates further by the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> in the +Earth, or Veins of the Earth, take this Advice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> that after the +spiritual Seed is formed by the impression of the Stars from above, and +fed by the Elements, it is a Seed, and turns it self into a <i>Mercurial</i> +Water, as first of all the great World was made of nothing, for when the +Spirit moved upon the Water, the Celestial Heat must needs raise a Life +in the cold watrish and earthly Creatures; in the great World it was +Gods Power, and the Operation of the Celestial Lights; in the little +World it is likewise Gods Power, and the Operation to work into the +Earth by his Divine and Holy Breath. Moreover the Almighty gave and +Ordained means to accomplish it, that one Creature had obtained power to +operate in the other, and the one to help and assist the other, to +perform and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> fulfil all the Works of the Lord; and so an influence was +permitted the Earth to bring forth by the Lights of Heaven, as also an +internal Heat, to warm and digest that which was too cold for the Earth, +by reason of its humidity, as unto every Creature a peculiar fashion +according to its kind; so that a subtile sulphurous Vapour, is stired up +by the Starry Heaven, not the common, but another more clarified and +pure Vapour, distinct from others, which unites it self with the +<i>Mercurial</i> Substance; by whose warm property, in process of time, the +superfluous Moisture is dryed up, and then when the foulish property +comes to it, which gives a preservation to the Body and Balsam, +operating first into the Earth by a spiritual and sydereal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> influence, +then are Metals generated of it, as it pleaseth the Mixture of the three +Principles, the Body being formed according as it assumes unto it the +greatest part of those three. But if the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> be intended +and qualified from above upon Animals, it becomes an Animal Substance; +if it goes upon Vegetables by order, it becomes a Vegetable Work; but +if, by reason of its infused nature, it fall on Minerals, it becomes +Minerals and Metals, yet each one hath its distinction as they are +wrought, the Animals for themselves, the Vegetables, on another manner +and form by themselves, and so likewise the Minerals, each one a several +way, whereof to write particularly would be too tedious, and yield large +and various Narrations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Many one may here demand and not without cause, how such a Spirit of +<i>Mercury</i> may be procured, how to be made, and after what manner it is +to be prepared to expel Diseases, and change all the kinds of the meaner +and baser Metals, as if they were born in a little world, by +transmutation and augmentation of their Seed; many expect this with +impatience. I answer without concealing any thing, but will truly +discover as much as is permitted me by Gods Command, in manner and form +following.</p> + +<p><i>In the Name of the Lord</i>, Take a Red Quick-silver Ore which is like +unto <i>Sinople</i> (or <i>Vermilion</i>) and the best Gold Ore you can get; grind +of each a like quantity both together, before they partake of any fire, +poure an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> Oyl of <i>Mercury</i>, upon it made <i>per se</i>, of common, purified +and sublimed Quicksilver, set it a month to digest, you have an Extract +rather Celestial than Terrestrial; distil this Extract gently, as in +<i>Balneum Mariæ</i>, the Flegme ascends over, the Oyl remaining at bottom, +being heavy, which in a moment receives all Metals into it poure thrice +as much Spirit of Wine to it, circulate it in a Pellican, till it be as +red as Bloud, and become so sweet that nothing may compare with it; +decant the Spirit of Wine to a Liquidness, poure fresh Spirit of Wine +upon it, this reiterate so often, till the Matter be exceeding sweet, +and transparent red as a a Ruby, then put all together, poure that which +ascended over upon white calcined <i>Tartar</i>, and distil it strongly in +Ashes, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> Spirit of Wine remains behind with the <i>Tartar</i>, but the +Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> ascends over. If this Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> be mixt +with the Spirit of <i>Sulphur</i>, together with its Salt, and so brought +over jointly together, that they can never be separated, you have such a +work which if it come over, and it get its ferment with Gold by solution +according to a just measure and time appointed, and be brought to a +perfect ripeness, unto the <i>Plusquam</i> perfection, nothing may compare +therewith, for prevention of Diseases, and poverty, and to a rich +excessive recreation of the Body and Goods. This is the way to obtain +the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, which I have revealed as far as it is permitted +me to do, by the Supremest Emperour; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> Manual Operations are found in +the Work which I have revealed; you must wisely observe, that you may +not endure a Bath in Hell for me, by my true admonition to thee, +forasmuch as a true opening of the Door which leads to the Royal Palace, +is performed but with one Key, which cures all Diseases, be it +<i>Dropsie</i>, <i>Consumption</i>, <i>Gout</i>, <i>Stone</i>, <i>Falling Sickness</i>, +<i>Apoplexy</i>, <i>Leprosie</i>, or howsoever called in general: This Medicine +likewise cures all kinds of the <i>French Pox</i>, and all old Sores of long +standing, be it <i>Wolf</i>, <i>Noli me tangere</i>, <i>Tetter</i>, <i>Ring-worm</i>, +<i>Cancer</i>, <i>Fistula</i>, and corroding hollow Sores; all which I have +declared, and concealed nothing. Last of all, observe, that you do not +discover too much, or no more, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> all Art hath its Original or +Source out of the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, which is refreshed and raised to +Life by the spiritual <i>Sulphur</i>, that it becomes Celestial, & with and +by the Salt they are made corporal and formal; but the beginning of the +Soul, of the Spirit, and of the Body, let it be and remain a Magnet, +even as it is, and can be acknowledged to be nothing else. This is the +summe in brief, that without the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, which is the only +true Key, you can never make Corporal Gold potable, nor the Philosophers +Stone. Let it remain by this Conclusion, be silent; for I my self will +at present say no more, because Silence is enjoyned thee and me by the +orderly Judge, recommending the Execution and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> further Search thereof to +another, who hath not as yet reduced the Matter into a right Order.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap.</span> IV.</h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit of</i> Copper.</h3> + + +<p>The Star of <i>Venus</i> is very difficult, and not well to be calculated, as +all <i>Mathematicians</i> and <i>Astronomers</i> will bear me witness; for its +course is found to be otherwise than that of the other six Planets, and +therefore its Birth is otherwise; for the Birth of <i>Venus</i> possesses the +First Table, after <i>Mercury</i>, as for what concerns the Generation of +Metals. <i>Mercury</i> makes active, but <i>Venus</i> provokes, giving Lust and +Desire, together with the Beauty which gave occasion thereunto; though I +am accounted no <i>Astronomer</i>, nor do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> I give my self out for one, who +knows to calculate the Course of the Heavens; for I should spend my time +in my Cell in Prayer, but that the spare hours after my Devotion is +ended, may not be spent in vain, I have ordered and proposed it as my +aim and intent to exercise my self, and to spend those hours in the +knowledge of Natural things. So likewise it is not well to be reckoned +what arises, grows or proceeds from <i>Venus</i> or whence she arose, grew, +or proceeded; for she is superfluously cloathed more than she needs, and +yet must want that which she needs most of all in her Constancy.</p> + +<p>But you must be advertised, that <i>Venus</i> is cloathed with a Celestial +<i>sulphur</i> which far surpasses the brightness of the Sun; for there is +more and more abundant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> <i>Sulphur</i> in her than in Gold; but it requires a +knowledge what the Matter of that Gold <i>Sulphur</i> may be, which is, and +rules so plentifully in Copper, and whereof I make so great a Cry: know +then that it is likewise a flying very hot Spirit, which can pass +through and penetrate, as also ripen and digest all things, as the +imperfect Metals into perfect, which the inexpert will not believe. And +here a Question presents it self at hand; <i>How the Spirit of Copper can +make other imperfect Metals perfect, and make them ripe, whereas in its +own Body it is imperfect and inconstant?</i> For Answer, I say as I have +often said, that this Spirit cannot possess or inhabit a permanent Body +in Copper; for when the habitation is burnt by Fire, the Spirit goes +away with it, and must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> with impatience leave its Lodging, for it dwells +therein as a Sojourner; but it hath protection in the permanent fix'd +Body of Gold, whence no man can expel it, without the Warrant of an +especial Judge; for it is put into the inheritance as an Heir, and taken +Root by her permanent Body, that she cannot easily be expelled. The +Tincture which <i>Venus</i> hath obtained, is in like manner found in <i>Mars</i>, +more powerful, high and Noble; for <i>Mars</i> is the Man, and <i>Venus</i> the +Woman, which I speak more of, seeing I write of them. This Tincture is +delivered in <i>Verdigreece</i>, and likewise it is found in <i>Vitriol</i>, as in +a Mineral whereof a peculiar Book might be wrote. In all these things a +combustible <i>Sulphur</i> is found, and yet a <i>Sulphur</i> which is +incombustible, this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> is a strange thing, one is a white Sulphur, the +other is red in the operative generation; but the true Sulphur is +incombustible, for it is a pure true Spirit, whereof an incombustible +Oil is prepared, and it is the same Sulphur which is made out of one +Root from the Gold-Sulphur.</p> + +<p>I open many Mysteries, which ought not to be; but what should I do? to +conceal all is not answerable, but a measure is good in all things, as +you may observe in my last Advice of protestation; forget not my desire +therein.</p> + +<p>This Sulphur may well be called the <i>Sulphur of the Wise</i>; for all +Wisdom is found therein, unto the <i>Mercurial</i> Spirit; which excels it, +which together with the Salt of <i>Mars</i> must be put together by a +spiritual Conjunction,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> that three may come into one understanding, and +be advanced to equal operations. This spiritual Sulphur proceeds in the +same manner and form out of the upper Region, as doth the Spirit of +<i>Mercury</i>, but in another manner and kind, whereby the Stars manifest a +separation in fix'd and unfix'd, in colour'd and uncolour'd things.</p> + +<p>The Tincture consists only in the <i>Spirit of Copper</i>, and most of all in +that of his Bed-fellow; it is a meer Vapour, stinking and ill-sented in +its beginning; this Mist must be dissolved in the manner of a Liquor, +that the stinking, incombustible Oil may be prepared thereof; but yet it +must have and take its beginning out of <i>Mars</i>; this Oil unites freely +with the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, assuming all Metallick Bodies speedily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +unto them, if they be first prepared in all points as I have advised in +my Keys.</p> + +<p>I observe not the Order of the Planets, and not without just grounds; +for I observe the order of their Birth, by which I am directed; for +because <i>Venus</i> hath much Sulphur, she is sooner digested and ripened +together with <i>Mars</i>, before other Metals; but because unconstant +<i>Mercury</i> shewed them both too little assistance, therefore no room is +left him to work harder, by reason of the superfluous Sulphur, so that +they could obtain no melioration of their unfixt Bodies. Now I will +reveal a Secret unto thee, that Gold, Copper, and Iron have one Sulphur, +one Tincture, and one Matter of their Colour; this Matter of the +Tincture is a Spirit, a Mist and Fume; as aforesaid,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> which can +penetrate and pass through all Bodies, if you can take it, and acuate it +by the Spirit which is in the Salt of <i>Mars</i>, and then conjoin the +Spirit of <i>Mercury</i> therewith in a just weight, purging them from all +impurity, that they be pleasant and well sented, without all Corrosives, +you have then such a Medicine, whereunto none in the world may compare, +being fermented with the bright shining Sun, you have made an entrance +penetrating to work, and to transmute all Metals.</p> + +<p>O Eternal Wisdom from the beginning! how shall we thank thee for such +great Mysteries, which the Children of Men do no wayes regard, but are +despised by the greater number, to know what thou hast concealed in +Nature, which they see before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> their Eyes, and know it not; they have it +in their Hands, and comprehend it not; they deal with it, and know not +what they have, nor what they do, because the Internal is concealed. I +will yet reveal this unto thee in truth, and by the Love of God, that +the root of the Philosophical Sulphur, which is a Celestial Spirit, is +found with the root of the spiritual supernatural <i>Mercury</i>, as also the +beginning of the spiritual Salt, are in one, and found in one Matter, +out of which the Stone is made, which was before me, and not in many +things, though all Philosophers speak as if the <i>Mercury</i>, <i>Sulphur</i>, +and <i>Salt</i> were each one a part by themselves and distinct, that the +<i>Mercury</i> is found in one, the <i>Sulphur</i> in another, and the <i>Salt</i> in a +third; yet I tell you, this is only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> to be understood of their +superfluity, which is found to abound most in each, and may be used and +prepared divers ways particularly with profit, both for Physick and +transmutation of Metals; but the Universal, which is the supreamest +Treasure of Earthly Wisdom, and of all the three Principles, is one only +thing, and is founded and extracted out of one only thing, which can +make all Metals into one, it is the true Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, and Soul +of <i>Sulphur</i>, together with the spiritual Salt, united together, +inclosed under one Heaven, and dwelling in one Body, it is the Dragon +and the Eagle, the King and the Lion, the Spirit and the Body, which +must tinge the Body of Gold to a Medicine, that it may gain power +plentifully to tinge his other Companions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>O thou blessed Medicine given by God thy Creator! O thou Celestial +Magnet of great attractive Love! O thou valid substance of Metals, how +great is thy power, how uninventive is thy virtue, how durable is thy +constancy? happy is that man on Earth who knows thy Light in truth, +which all the world takes no notice of; he shall not see poverty, no +Disease shall touch him, nor no sickness hurt him, till the appointed +time of death, and till the last hour predestinated for him by his +Heavenly King. It is impossible for all the tongues of Men to utter the +Wisdom which is laid in this Treasure of the Fountain, all Orators must +be silent and ashamed at it, yea terrified and not able to speak a word, +when they shall behold and discern this supernatural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> Glory, and I my +self am afraid when I consider that I have discovered too much. But I +hope to prevail with God by Prayer, that he will not charge it on me as +a deadly Sin, because I began the Work in his Fear, obtained it by his +Grace, and revealed it for his Glory.</p> + +<p>O thou holy everlasting Trinity! I praise, honour, and magnifie thee +with Heart and Mouth, that thou hast revealed unto me the great wisdom +of this earthly World, next unto thy Divine Word, whereby I have known +thy Almighty Power, and supernatural Wonders, which Man will not +discern; I heartily beseech thee to give me more understanding and +wisdom, that I may bestow the use and profit thereof with a continual +Sacrifice of Praise before thee, unto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> the Christian-like Love of my +Neighbour, and to my own welfare both spiritual and corporal, in power +and virtue, that thy Name may be made glorious, honoured, and praised, +for all thy works in Heaven and Earth; and that my Enemies may know, +that thou art the Lord full of eternal Wonders, that they may repent and +be converted, and not be drowned in the falshood of Darkness. God the +Father, Son, and Holy Ghost help me, and all of us, from his heavenly +Throne, exalted above all Glory, Might, and Majesty, whose Wisdom hath +neither beginning nor end, and before whom all Celestial, Earthly, and +Hellish Creatures must tremble with fear, to him be Glory forever, +<i>Amen</i>.</p> + +<p>O <i>Seraphin</i>! O <i>Cherubin</i>! how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> great are thy Wonders and Actions, look +graciously upon thy servant, and be entreated to be pacified that he +hath manifested this.</p> + +<p>The Reader must moreover know concerning the Generation of Copper, and +observe, that it is generated of much <i>Sulphur</i>, but its <i>Mercury</i> and +Salt are in an equality, for there is found to be no more or less of the +one than of the other, seeing then that the <i>Sulphur</i> in quantity excels +the <i>Mercury</i> and the Salt, thence arises a great coloured redness, +which possesses the Metal, that the <i>Mercury</i> cannot perform its +fixation, that a fixt Body should be generated thereof. Observe and +understand it so of Copper, that the form of <i>Venus</i> Body is so stated +as that of a Tree, which abounds in Rosen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> as the Larch Tree, the Firr, +the Pine, Deal Tree, and other sorts of Trees more, the Rosen of the +Tree is its <i>Sulphur</i>, which it evacuates at sometimes by reason of its +superfluity, for it cannot bear it all; such a Tree which is tinged with +abundance of fatness, by the digestion of Nature and the Elements, burns +quickly and freely, and is not ponderous, nor so durable as is the Oak, +or other hard wood which is close and compact, whose Pores are not so +open, as those sorts of light wood, and wherein the Sulphur doth not so +predominate, but the Oak hath therefore the more <i>Mercury</i>, and a better +Salt than the Pine, Firr, and Deal trees have, and such wood doth not +float so well above the water, as the Deal, being bound & closed up +compactly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> so that the Air is easily prevented in bearing it up. So is +it to be observed of Metals, and especially of Gold, which by reason of +its abundant, fixt, digested and ripe <i>Mercury</i>, hath a very close, fast +and compact, fixt and invincible Body, which neither Fire nor Water, +Air, nor any Corruption of the Earth can prejudice, that the consuming +power of the Elements can do them no harm; this fixedness & close +compacted Conjunction gives evidence of its natural ponderosity, which +cannot be evidenced in other Metals, which is to be observed, not only +by weighing it in the scales, but likewise you will find it thus: if you +lay but a scruple of pure Gold upon a hundred weight of Quicksilver, it +immediately sinks to the bottom, whereas all other Metals<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> being laid +upon Quicksilver in like manner, float on the top of it, and sink not to +the bottom, because they are more open, that the Air or Wind can +penetrate them and bear them up.</p> + +<p>Now what further concerns the Spirit of <i>Venus</i> or Copper in Physick, +you must last of all take notice and observe, that it is throughout in +its virtue and power discerned to be very wholsom and beneficial, not +only that Spirit which lies in the first <i>Ens</i>, but also that very +Spirit which is found in the last Matter, its virtue, power and +operation is, that it is preferred before all other Medicines in the +Rising of the <i>Matrix</i>: It's like is not yet found particularly against +the <i>Falling Sickness</i>. This Spirit hath also received an especial gift +to dry the <i>Dropsie</i> up; it preserves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> the Bloud from putrefaction, +digests all which is adverse to the Stomach, breaks the Stone, of what +kind soever it be. Externally in Wounds, this Spirit lays a ground to +heal: <i>Noli me tangere</i> and all other Sores cannot defend themselves, +nor their ill Qualities, but this Spirit doth assault them, and prepares +a good ground for their Cure; externally it mundifies and searches out +that whereby the Medicine may operate, fasten, and make a beginning of +the Cure. Internally this Spirit penetrates through & through, searching +out all that is evil in the Body; even as doth the noblest Vulnerary +potion; No Imposthume can withstand this Spirit, but is reformed by it. +I say briefly, observe the Spirit of <i>Venus</i> very well, it will manifest +it self to admiration both internally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> and externally, that many will +esteem it to be incredible & supernatural. Last of all, you must +understand that this Spirit of <i>Copper</i> is a fiery Spirit, penetrating, +searching and consuming all evil Humours, and superfluous Flegme in Man +and Metals, and may in reason be accounted the Crown of Medicines; it is +very fiery and sharp, incombustible, but spiritual and unformal, and +therefore as a Spirit it can particularly help to make unformal things +fiery, digest and ripen them; and if you are a true Naturalist, I +recommend this Spirit unto thee; it will not fail thee in the least, in +any necessity of Health or Wealth, in case you observe it rightly, and +execute according to Justice. I hope my Call and Request will at last +take place, and have a hearing with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> those who regard Nature, and have +an earnest and longing desire to search out, and learn, whereby they may +whet their Wits, open their Eyes, and let their Ears hear, and learn +such a thing out of my Advice, which was never taken notice of, or +learn'd before, and is to be found in this Spirit of Copper, internal +and external. He that doth not observe, or truly understand my Writings, +will not fathom many Secrets, nor search out to purpose and in truth, +nor learn to advantage without me, therefore no Man can direct me, as +concerning the Spirit of Copper, except he hath beforehand inverted and +turned the Copper inside outwards, and truly learned all the Mysteries +of its internal Virtues, as I have done, if he can find out any thing +better,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> which I know not, I earnestly desire him not to conceal any +thing, so shall his instruction be well rewarded, with a thousand-fold +advantage, and recommend you herewith to the Highest Creator.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">V<i>ain Reason cannot alwayes apprehend</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">E<i>ach matter which</i> Venus <i>can bring to an end:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">N<i>o man can find it presently in sence,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">V<i>ain Reason banns it far away from thence;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">S<i>uch a Spirit only can all things speed,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>So that</i> Mercury <i>be joyn'd with it indeed.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. V.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit and Tincture of</i> Mars.</h3> + +<p><i>Mars</i> and <i>Venus</i> have a Spirit and Tincture as well as Gold and other +Metals, be that Spirit which is in each Metal never so mean and little. +It is undeniable and known to all, that many men have many minds, though +all men originally are of one first Matter, born and produced from one +Seed; yet have they divers different Minds, because the Stars have so +operated them, and not without cause; for the influences of the great +World operates the next to it in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> the little World; for all Opinions, +Natures and Thoughts, together with the whole complection of Man proceed +alone from one Influence of the Stars, manifesting themselves according +to the Course of the Planets and Stars, so that nothing can prevent, nor +can such Influences hinder it, when the Birth hath attained to the end +of its perfection.</p> + +<p>As a man is naturally inclined to study; one delights in Divinity, +another in the study of the Laws, a third in Physick, a fourth will be a +Philosopher; moreover there are many Wits who are naturally inclined to +the Mechanicks; as the one is a Painter, another a Goldsmith; the one a +Shoomaker, the other a Taylor, a Carver, and so forth, divers and +innumerable; all this happens by the Stars influence, whereby the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +Imagination is supernaturally founded & fortified, and whereupon it is +resolved to rest; as it is found, that what a man hath once conceived in +his Mind, and framed a foundation thereof, none can divert him from a +constant resolution and relying thereon, except Death, which at last +concludes all. So is it to be understood of <i>Alchymists</i>, who are set +upon the search of Natures Secrets, they intend not to cease, till they +have discover'd Nature, absolved it quite, and brought all to an end, +which cannot well be done.</p> + +<p>Even so is it to be understood of Metals, according as the Influence and +Imagination is from above, so is the Form; and although the Metals be +called Metals in general, and are such, yet you have understood by the +various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> minds of men, which yet proceed from one Matter, that there may +be manifold and divers Metals, one hot and dry, another cold and moist, +a third assuming a mixt Nature and Complection to it self. Therefore the +Metal of <i>Mars</i> being ordained in its degree by a gross Salt before +others in the greatest quantity, is found to have the hardest, ungentle, +strongest, and grossest Body, which Nature appropriated and granted to +it, it hath the least portion of <i>Mercury</i>, but more of <i>Sulphur</i>, and +most of <i>Salt</i>, hence, and from such a mixture or composition is its +corporal essence descended, and born into the world by help of the +Elements. Its Spirit is like to the other Spirits in operation, but if +you can know the right and true Spirit of <i>Mars</i>, I tell you truly, and +in true Wisdom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> that one grain of its Spirit or Quintessence drunk with +the Spirit of Wine, strengthens the Heart, Courage, and Senses, so that +you shall fear no Foes; it raises up in him the Courage of a Lion, and +provokes a desire to hunt and fight at <i>Venus</i> sports. When the +Conjunction of <i>Mars</i> and <i>Venus</i> are rightly placed in a certain +Constellation, they bring Fortune and Victory in Love and Affection, in +Battel and joy, remaining in unity though the whole World should be +against them: But because I am an Ecclesiastick under Church Government, +and dedicated my Soul to God, without provocation of humane desires, and +lusts of the Flesh, for they lead a direct way to Hell without leave; +but Gods Commands, Fear, and a rejection of Mans Will, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> are +tollerated by his Commands, prepare a way to Heaven, if they continue in +the true calling upon, and in the true and right Faith of the only +Throne of Grace, Mediator and Patron <i>Jesus Christ</i> our Saviour. All +Martial Diseases are expell'd, cured, and healed in an admirable manner +by this Spirit; such as are the <i>Bloody Flux</i>, the Disease or Menstruous +<i>Fluxes</i> of Women, both white and red, and all other <i>Fluxes</i> of the +Belly, and open <i>Sores</i> in the Legs, or any part of the Body, together +with all those Diseases, both internal and external, howsoever they are +called, which bloody <i>Mars</i> hath caused, which I omit to nominate +particularly, being well known unto the discreet Physician what Diseases +are subject to the jurisdiction of <i>Mars</i>. If the Spirit of Iron be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +truly known, it hath a secret affinity with the Spirit of <i>Venus</i>, so +that both may be conjoined in one, both becoming one only matter, of a +like operation, form, substance and being, healing and expelling the +self-same Diseases, as also to bring the particulars of the Metals into +a change with profit, praise, and excess. But properly <i>Mars</i> must be +observed thus with its virtues, that in his Corporal form he only hath +an earthly Body, which may be used in many things, for to stanch Bloud, +externally in Wounds, to graduate <i>Luna</i>, internally to stop or bind the +Body, which yet is not good at all times, and may be used both +internally & externally in mans Body, as likewise in Metallick affairs; +because without the true known means, which Nature hath in her secret<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +Closet, much profit cannot be gotten <i>per se</i>.</p> + +<p>One thing more I must at present propose, that the Magnet and true Iron +perform almost a like benefit in Corporal Distempers, having almost one +kind of Nature in and with them, as it is with it in the Celestial, +spiritual, and Elementary Intellect, between the Body, Soul, and the +Chaos, out of which the Soul and Spirit went, the Body at last was found +out of the Composition.</p> + +<p>How shall we now do? the gross dull-witted Lads will not apprehend it, +the middle sort of Wits will take no notice of what I write, and the +supernatural wits will descant too much upon it; I must find out a +remedy, and would willingly preserve all these over-wise-people to be +my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Friends still. I will now teach, instruct, and presently inform you, +seeing that the Argument it self declares and pronounces its definitive +sentence, therefore the resolution lies open, and can be declared and +resolved, reserved nor directed to any other sentence of the +understanding, further than for it self.</p> + +<p>Last of all, reserve this hereupon in this Chapter, that there can be no +House kept to stand in unity between the Married Couple, if the one of +them turn his Coach and drive to the East, and the other towards the +West, for they are not equal, so that they cannot draw the Coach +together in an equal weight, whereby there arises a great dissention and +hinderance, in obtaining that which was intended: but if true Married +People will carry on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> their House-keeping with a right subsistance, they +must be of one spirit, mind, judgment and virtue, to accomplish all +whatsoever is in their heart and mind, and that the one operate into the +other, if their Love and Truth shall be permanent; for want of one of +these things, the three principles cannot be truly together; for the +<i>Mercury</i> is banisht, and too little by reason of the firmness and +constancy; the <i>Sulphur</i> is too little, it cannot warm the Body of Love, +because it is very much extinct; the <i>Salt</i> likewise hath not its right, +convenient, natural kind, but is too hard and too much, seeing it makes +a hard coagulation, is sharp and biting, because it doth not manifest it +self in truth and constancy. Even so it goes now in the World, which +goes astray,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> and is pregnant with such Vices, for the constancy is but +small, the Love little, and Truth as little.</p> + +<p>I hope you will take this Philosophical Example in good part, because +<i>Syrach</i> doth both praise and dispraise the goodness, truth, and +wickedness of a false Woman, and both after a different manner; and +herewith I bid <i>Mars</i> Farewell, saying, that no man knows how to +distinguish the Sentence of one, much less of all things, but he who +hath in this point taken notice of them, learned and experimented their +Nature and Properties, and truly known and discovered them. God our +Heavenly Father, the Everlasting Power, proceeding from all beginning, +separate us so in the Form, that the terrestrial corruptible Body may +again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> attain unto, contain, and receive the Celestial, Spiritual and +Incorruptible Revelation. <i>Amen.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">M<i>aist thou not know me alone indeed,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">A<i>nd procure a pure help for me in need;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">R<i>esolve then, and hear what I do speak or say,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">S<i>o shalt thou find what I can do for aye.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. VI.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit of</i> Gold.</h3> + + +<p>The Clearness of Heaven hath now commanded me to govern my Pen, to +reveal a matter of valour and of permanency; for the Sun is a burning +and consuming Fire, hot and dry, wherein is concealed the right and true +virtue of all Natural things; this virtue of the Sun worketh +Understanding, Riches, and Health. My Mind is very much grieved, and my +Spirit is terrified within it self to discover it publickly, which was +not publish'd in common before, and to make it vocal, which was +concealed in the deep with great secresie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> But if I consider in my +self, and enter into my Conscience, I could find no alteration, nor +catch at any thing to disturb my mind, or bring it to another +resolution, which might cause many Obstructions: Yet will I speak with +discretion, and write understanding, that no evil with may follow, but +rather that I may gain a grateful profit, which I have pourtrayed after +the manner and occasion, as the Philosophers before me have done.</p> + +<p>Mark now, give your Mind perfect Thoughts, refrain all strange matters, +which are not serviceable to your speculation of Philosophy, but rather +cause a ruine of that benefit, which you pursued with so much diligence; +and know if you have a hearty desire and strong affection to gain the +Golden Magnet, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> in the first place your prayer be truly directed to +God, in true Knowledge, Sorrow, Repentance, and true Humility, to know +and learn the three distinct Worlds which are subject to Humane Reason; +as, there is the Super-celestial World, wherein the right immortal Soul +hath its seat and residence, together with its first coming, and is +according to Gods Creation the first moveable Sense, or the first moving +sensible Soul, which hath operated the Natural Life from a Supernatural +Essence; this Soul and Spirit is at first the Root and Fountain, the +first Creature which arose to a Life, and the first Mover, whereof there +hath been so much Disputing among the Learned.</p> + +<p>Now take notice of the second Celestial World, and observe it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +diligently, for therein the Planets rule, and all the Stars of Heaven +have their course, virtue and power in this Heaven, performing that +Service therein whereunto they are by God ordained, and in this service +they operate the Minerals and Metals by their Spirit.</p> + +<p>Go now out of these 2 distinct Worlds into the third, wherein is +contained and found what the other two have wrought, to wit, the +Super-celestial and the Celestial worlds; out of the Super-celestial +arises the Fountain of Life, and of the Soul; out of the other Celestial +world the light of the Spirit; and out of the third or Elementary world, +the invincible Celestial Fire, which yet may be felt, out of which, that +which is tangible is digested; these three Matters and Substances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +produce and generate the Form of Metals, among all which Gold hath the +pre-eminence, because the Sidereal & Elementary Operation hath digested +and ripened the <i>Mercury</i> in this Metal the more perfectly to a +sufficient ripeness.</p> + +<p>And even as the Male-Seed is injected into the Womb, and touches the +<i>Menstruum</i>, which is its Earth, but the Seed which goes out of the Male +into the Female, is operated in both by the Sydereal and Elementary, +that they be united, and nourished by the Earth unto the Birth.</p> + +<p>Even so understand it likewise, that the Soul of Metals which is formed +and conceived out of the <i>Chaos</i> by an intangible, invisible, +incomprehensible, concealed, and supernatural, Celestial Composition of +Water<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> and Air; afterwards it is further concocted by the Celestial +Elementary Light and Fire of the Sun; whereby the Stars move the Powers, +when its heat is perceived in the inward parts of the Earth, as in the +Womb, for the Earth is opened by the warm operating property of the +upper Stars, that their infused Spirit yield a nourishment unto the +Earth, that it may bring forth somewhat, as Metals, Herbs, Trees and +Animals; where each one in particular brings its Seed with it for its +farther augmentation and encrease: And as hath been mentioned, even as +Man is begotten spiritually and heavenly, Soul and Spirit, and by the +nourishment of the Earth in the Body of the Mother is formally brought +up to perfection; even so, and in like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> manner, is to be observed and +understood of the Metals and Minerals in all points.</p> + +<p>But this is the true mystery of Gold, which I will make good to you by +an Example and Parable to certifie you, whereby the possibility of +Nature, and its Mystery is to be found after this manner.</p> + +<p>It is evident, that the Celestial Light of the Sun is of a fiery Quality +and Essence, given unto it by a Celestial, fixt and permanent sulphurous +Spirit, by the most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to preserve +its substance, form, and body; which Creature, by its swift motion and +course, is enflamed and kindled by the Air through that swiftness in a +continued manifestation of it; this inflammation can never be extinct, +nor decay in any of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> its power, so long as its Course last, or this +whole Created visible World shall remain and continue, because there is +no combustible matter at hand which is given unto it, by whose +consumption this great Light of Heaven should fall to decay.</p> + +<p>Even so Gold is so digested, ripened, and made into such a fixt +invincible Nature by the Superiours in its Essence, that nothing can +hurt it in the least, because the superiour Stars have past through the +inferiour, that the inferiour fix'd Stars by the influence and donation +of the superiour, cannot in the least give place to its like, for the +inferiour have obtained such a fixedness and permanency from the +superiour; this you may well retain, observe, and take notice of as +concerning the first Matter of Gold.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>I must yet produce one comparison according to the Philosophical custom, +of the great Light of Heaven, and of that little terrestrial fire here +daily kindled, and made to burn before our Eyes; because that great +Light hath a magnetick simulation and an attractive living power with +the small fire here on earth, but yet it is unformal and +incomprehensible, only it is found to be spiritual, invisible, +insensible and intangible.</p> + +<p>It is to be observed and remembred, as experience manifests, and is +proved, that the great Light of heaven bears an especial sympathy, +affection and inclination to the little earthly fire, by means of the +spiritual Air, whereby they are both promoted and preserved from +Mortality; for behold, when the Air receives into it a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> Coruption, by +too great humidity attracted up by it, that Clouds are generated by +Mists, and farther coagulations, which hinder the Sun-beams that they +cannot have a reflection, nor get a right penetrating power. So likewise +the small terrestrial fire doth not burn so lively in dusky, dark, rainy +weather, nor manifests it self with joy in its operation, as it doth +when there is a fair, pure, serene, unfalsified heavenly Air; the reason +is, because the sympathy is bound and hindered by the obstruction of +those Accidents and the waterish Air, so that the attractive power is +grieved, that it cannot accomplish its compleat Love and Operation as it +should, for this hinderance brings the aquosity to the contrary Element.</p> + +<p>Now even as the Sun, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> great Light of Heaven, hath a peculiar +community and sympathy with the small terrestrial fire to attract unto +it, after a Magnetical manner; So also the Sun and Gold have a peculiar +understanding, and an attractive power and sympathy together; for the +Sun hath wrought the Gold by the three Principles, which have their +Magnets, being nearest related to the Sun, and hath gained the next +degree to it, for that the three Principles are found to be most mighty +and powerful therein, Gold immediately succeeds it in its corporal Form, +being composed of the three principles, and hath its beginning and +off-spring from the Celestial and Golden Magnet.</p> + +<p>This is the supremest Wisdom of this world, a wisdom above all wisdom, +yea a wisdom above<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> all Natural Reason and Understanding; for by this +wisdom is comprehended first of all Gods Creation, the heavenly Essence, +the Firmamentary Workings, the spiritual Imagination, and the corporal +Essence, it contains all qualities, and properties, and all whatsoever +sustaines and preserves Mankind. In this Golden Magnet sticks and lies +buried the resolution and opening of all Metals and Minerals, their +domination, as also the first Matter of their generation, their power +over health; and again, the coagulation and fixation of Metals, together +with the operation of expelling all Diseases: Take notice of this Key, +for it is Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, out of which the +terrestrial is generated, it is both Supernatural and Natural, and is +generated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> Celestially of the Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, Spiritually of the +Spirit of <i>Sulphur</i>, and Corporally of the Spirit of <i>Salt</i>; this is all +the way, the whole Essence, the beginning and end; for the Spirit and +the Body are bound up together in one by the Soul, that they can never +be separated, but produce a very perfect, durable Body, which nothing +can hurt. Out of this spiritual Essence, and out of this spiritual +Matter, out of which first of all Gold was made into a Body, and became +corporal, out of it is made a more true and compleat <i>Aurum potabile</i> +than out of Gold it self, which must first of all be made spiritual, +before a potable Gold can be prepared out of it.</p> + +<p>This Spirit cures and heales the <i>Leprosie</i> and the <i>French Pox</i>, as +being an over-fix'd Mercurial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> Essence, dries up and consumes the +<i>Dropsie</i>, and all running and open Sores, which have raged a long +season, it strengthens the Heart and Brain, makes a good Memory, +generates good Blood, brings Lust, Delight and Desires in humane +incitation unto Natural Affections. If the Quintessence of Pearl be mixt +with the Tincture of Coral, and be administred with an addition of an +equal quantity of this Spiritual Essence of Gold, the Dose of two grains +taken at once in a just observation, you may be bold & confident of the +truth, that no disaster of any Natural Distemper can harm you, or happen +to you, to the prejudice of your health, because the nature resides only +in the Spirit of Gold, to alter, remove and amend all weaknesses, so +that the Body shall be adjudged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> perfect and free from any Disease. The +Quintessence of Pearl corroborates the Heart, and make a perfect Memory, +of the five senses. The Tincture of Coral expels all poison, and evil +Spirits which fly from the good. So can the Soul of Gold in a Water turn +the spiritual Essence of the Pearl, and the Sulphur of the Coral united +in one, perform such a thing which otherwise Nature could not be +intrusted with, but seeing that Experience hath manifested it, and +confirmed the undeniable Truth, therefore this Cordial in this temporal +Life is, and ought in reason to precede all other Cordials with +admiration and admirable Effects, be they called by what name soever. I +am an Ecclesiastical person, obedient to the Ecclesiastical degree, +related to the <i>Benedictine</i> Order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> by a Spiritual and Divine Oath, by +which Order with my internal Prayer, I obtain comfort and promises of +Gods Word, a refreshment to my Soul, but in a corporal temptation of my +weaknesses, and for my Brethren I have not found and used a better +corroboration by Gods Blessing, than these three Compounds united: God +give, bless, and increase this Virtue and Power unto the End of this +temporal World, which Man must change together with Death. O thou golden +power of thy Soul! O thou golden intellect of thy Spirit! O thou golden +operation of thy Body! God the Creator keep thee, and grant unto all +earthly Creatures, who love and honour him, the true understanding of +all Gifts, that thy Will may be done in Heaven and on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> Earth: This is +enough revealed at present concerning the Spirit of Gold, until the +coming again of <i>Elias</i>.</p> + + +<h4><i>Hereunto I add a short process:</i></h4> + +<p>Take a Spirit of Salt, therewith extract the Sulphur of Gold, separate +the Oil of Salt from it, rectifie the Sulphur of Gold with Spirit of +Wine, that it be pleasant without Corrosive; then take the true Oil of +<i>Vitriol</i>, made of the <i>Vitriol</i> of <i>Verdigreece</i>, therein dissolve +<i>Mars</i>, thereof make a <i>Vitriol</i> again, and again dissolve it into an +Oil or Spirit, which rectifie in like manner as before with Spirit of +Wine, conjoin them, and abstract the Spirit of Wine from it, resolve the +Matter which remaines dry in Spirit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> of <i>Mercury</i>, according to a just +weight, circulate and coagulate it when it is fix'd and permanent +without Ascention, you have then a Medicine to tinge Man and Metals, if +it be fermented with prepared Gold.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. VII.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit of</i> Silver.<br /><br /> [Transcriber's note: Original heading had +Gold with a handwritten correction to Silver.]</h3> + + +<p>The Tincture and spirit of Silver manifests its Colour of a Watchet or +Sky-colour, otherwise it is a waterish Spirit, cold and moist, not so +hot in its degree as that which is found in <i>Gold</i>, <i>Mars</i>, and <i>Venus</i>; +for <i>Luna</i> is more phlegmatick than fiery, though it be brought by the +Fire out of its waterish Substance into a coagulation; and even as the +Metals gain their tinging Spirits and Coagulation, in like manner do +stones get their fixedness, and colour, as out of one Influence. A fix'd +coagulated <i>Mercury</i> is found in the <i>Diamond</i>, therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> it is fixeder +and harder than the other stones, and cannot be so broken; so the +tincture of <i>Mars</i>, or the Sulphur of Iron is found in the <i>Ruby</i>, the +Sulphur of <i>Venus</i> in the <i>Emerald</i>, the Soul of <i>Saturn</i> in the +<i>Granate</i>; in Tin the tincture which is found in the <i>Topaz</i>; and +<i>Crystal</i> is appropriated to common <i>Mercury</i>; in the <i>Saphire</i> is found +the Sulphur and Tincture of <i>Luna</i>, but each one according to a peculiar +understanding, and according to its kind, and in Metals according to +their form and gender; for when the blew Colour is taken and extracted +out of the <i>Saphire</i>, its Rayment is gone, and its other Body is white +as a <i>Diamond</i>, wanting only the hardness that is in a <i>Diamond</i>; even +so when Gold hath lost its Soul, it yields a fix'd white Gold Body, +which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> by searching Students and young Artists is called fix'd <i>Luna</i>.</p> + +<p>Wherefore you must now understand and observe, that even as I have +declared unto you concerning the <i>Saphire</i>, for your apprehension, even +so on the other side, you must learn to what purpose my Speech is +intended, for your Instruction concerning Metals.</p> + +<p>For this blew Spirit is the Sulphur and the Soul, whence the Silver +receiveth its Life, both in and above the Earth, by Art, and the white +Tincture of the Silver upon white stands in the Magnetick form of an +everlasting thing, or Creature, wherein is likewise found the first +<i>Ens</i> of Gold.</p> + +<p>O ye high qualified Orators! where is your voice in this case to explain +this Mystery? And you conceited Naturalists, where is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> your Writings and +Advice of Reason? And you Physicians, Whither is your Opinion flown, to +fetch somewhat afar off over the Seas for to cure the <i>Dropsie</i>, and all +<i>Lunary</i> Distempers? You will say, that this my speech is too dark for +you; is it so? then kindle the terrestrial Light, seek, and be not +ashamed to make acquaintance with <i>Vulcan</i>; and let nothing be irksome +unto you, so will you find by the assistance of the Eternal God, that +the Spirit of <i>Silver</i> contains in it to cure and expel the <i>Dropsie</i> +quite alone, as the Spirit of <i>Gold</i>, and as that of <i>Mercury</i> can expel +the <i>Consumption</i> radically, or in the root, even so that the Center of +those Diseases cannot be found any more. But that <i>Luna</i> in the veins of +the Earth is not furnished with such a hot substance or quality<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> in its +degree, but is subjected to a Waterish Nature; this fault lies upon that +great Light of Heaven, which by reason of its Waterish influence, hath +implanted such qualities in the other Creatures, and Planets of the +Earth, than it hath in <i>Silver</i>. And albeit that <i>Silver</i> contains a +fix'd <i>Mercury</i>, which is generated in it, yet it wants a hot, fix'd +<i>Sulphur</i>, truly to dry up and consume its Phlegme, whereby it hath not +obtained a compact Body, unless it be done afterwards by the art of the +Little World. And seeing that its Body is not compact by reason of the +abounding watery substance, its Pores therefore are not rightly +defended, nor closed to undergo the weight and endure a Battel with the +Enemies; all which Virtues are to be found in <i>Gold</i>, if it shall +overcome<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> all Enemies, and endure all trials without defect.</p> + +<p>All things are difficult in the beginning, but when they are brought to +an end they are easie to be understood and apprehended. If you do truly +observe the Spirit and the Soul of <i>Luna</i>, and learn to know it truly, +you may quickly compass the midst of the Work, how it shall afford the +end with profit; wherefore I will now propose to you an Example, and +instruct you by a Countrey-Rule, that you may apprehend it, and consider +of it, as Childrens Play, in a high and weighty Matter, that you may +search it out with advantage; as followeth:</p> + +<p>A common Peasant casts forth (or sows) his Seed in a Field well dunged +and prepared, this Seed after putrefaction, sprouts forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> of the Earth +by the operation and furtherance of the Elements, and sets before our +Eyes the Matter of Flax together with its Seed which it brings with it +augmented; this Flax is pluck'd up, and separated from its Seed; but +this Flax cannot be used and prepared for any work profitably, except it +be first putrefied and rotted in water, whereby the Body is opened, and +gains an ingress of its doing good; after this putrefaction and opening, +it is again dried in the Air and Sun, and by this coagulation it is +again brought into a Formal Being, that it may do future service. This +prepared Flax is afterwards buck'd, beaten, broken, peel'd, and last of +all dress'd, that the pure may be separated from the impure, the clean +from the filth, and the fine from the course;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> which otherwise could not +be done at all, or brought to pass without the preceding preparation; +this done, they spin Yarn of it, which they boil in water over the Fire, +or else with Ashes set in a warm place, whereby it is purified afresh, +whereby the filth and superfluities are fully separated from it, and +after a due washing the Yarn is dried again, delivered to the Workmen, +and Cloth weaved of it; this Cloth is purified or whitened by a frequent +casting of water upon it, cut in pieces by Taylors, and other people, so +converted to future services in houshold affairs, and when this Linnen +is quite worn out, and torn, the old Rags are gathered together, and +sent to the Paper-Mills, whereof they make Paper, which is put unto +divers uses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>If you lay Paper upon a Metal or Glass, kindle and burn it, the +vegetable <i>Mercury</i> comes forth and flies away into the Air, the Salt +remaines in the ashes and the combustible <i>Sulphur</i> which is not so +quickly consumed in the burning, dissolves to an Oil, which is a good +Medicine for dim and defective Eyes. This Oil hath in it a great +fatness, which is the Matter of the Paper, contained originally in the +Seed of the Flax; so that the last Matter of the Flax which is Paper, +must again be dissolved into the first Matter, which is the fat +Sulphurous Oyliness of the Flax-seed, together with the separation of +its <i>Mercury</i> and <i>Salt</i>, that so the first may be made of the last, and +the ground-work revealed, so the Virtues and Operations known by the +first.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>And though this Discourse be gross and not subtil, yet you may learn +thereby to know what is subtile and secret; for that which is subtile +must be infused into the ignorant by course Examples, that thereby they +may be taught to reject the gross, and to embrace that which is subtile.</p> + +<p>In like manner understand, that the first Matter of Metals must be +observed, known, and found out by the revelation of their last Matter, +which last Matter, as there are the perfect Metals, must be separated +and divided asunder, that it may plainly appear singly before the Eyes +of men. Out of which separation may be judged and learnt what the first +Matter was at the beginning, out of which the last was made. Accept of +this Advice concerning <i>Luna</i> at present. I could have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> said more, but I +must desist at this time until another opportunity; and intreat you +heartily, admonishing you by your Conscience, that you observe all that +which I have revealed unto you, of all those Letters which are contained +in the middle between <i>Alpha</i> & <i>Omega</i>, & that you keep all the +Speeches & Writings, that you may not undergo a denial of pardon for +your Sins, & a continued perpetual Vengeance for Eternity; which I at +last reveal unto you thus:</p> + +<p>Take the Sky-coloured Sulphur extracted out of <i>Silver</i>, rectified with +Spirit of Wine, dissolve it according to its Quantity in the White +Spirit of <i>Vitriol</i>, and in the sweet-sented Spirit of <i>Mercury</i>, +coagulate them together by the fixation of the Fire, you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> the White +Tincture in your Hands with all its Medicines; but if you can get all +their <i>primum Mobile's</i>, it is then needless, because you can perfect +the Work at once.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. VIII.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Soul or Tincture of</i> Tin.</h3> + + +<p>Good <i>Jupiter</i> possesses almost the mean or middle place between Metals, +it being not too hot, nor too cold, not too warm, nor too moist, it hath +no excess of <i>Mercury</i>, nor of Salt, and it hath the least of Sulphur in +it; it is found to be white in Colour, yet one exceeds the other in the +three Principles, as it is evidently found in its dissection, the right +and true discovery of Nature. It is generated of such a composition and +mixture of the three first Principles, being operated,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> coagulated into +a Metal, and brought to the ripeness of perfection. <i>Jupiter</i> is a God +of Peace, a Lord of Goodness, a Ruler and Possessor of the middle +Region; as concerning its State, Essence, Function, Virtue, Form and +Substance; for it holds the mean; no special Disease can happen, that +<i>Jupiter</i> should cause any remarkable damage, if its Medicine be used a +little at once, not too much in quantity; it is likewise thought +needless, where its Medicines are not required, that they should be +administred in strange cases with a just Call, but we should rather +abide by those, where the Body and its Disease have an equal temper with +the superiour Stars and their assistance, in vertue, power, and +operation, and so accord together in their juncture, that there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> is not +found the least contrariety in the Operation, nor in the Operative +Nature.</p> + +<p><i>Jupiters</i> Spirit is found not to be wanting in the least, in the +generation of Metals, as likewise no one Spirit of all the Metals can be +set backwards, because of necessity they accord together from the lowest +to the highest degree, and must agree together, as a Metal is perfect in +the great Earth, so should the transmutation & augmentation succeed in +the little world; understand it after this manner, that all the degrees +from the meanest to the highest Metal must be passed through in all +perfection, even as the Metals must finish their course, from <i>Saturn</i> +unto <i>Gold</i>, as concerning the permanency of Colour and Body, +notwithstanding that <i>Saturn</i> possesses the highest place in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +highest Region, wherein the stars reign and perform their Course.</p> + +<p>The generation of Tin in and above the Earth, is brought to light even +as Man is and other Animals, which are originally nourished and fed by +the Mothers Milk; there is no Diet to be found on Earth more fit for the +nourishment of all men than Milk; for its best part is chiefly an Animal +<i>Sulphur</i>, which yields the Nourishment. Even in like manner <i>Tin</i> is +nourished by its Metallick <i>Sulphur</i>, which likewise feeds it with the +greatest acceptation, it assumes in and to it more heat than <i>Saturn</i>, +therefore is <i>Jupiter</i> more digested & broiled, whereby its Body +likewise is more fixt and permanent in the degree of Salt.</p> + +<p>He causes in his Dominion and Reign, that good Rule be observed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> and +Justice done to all men in his Court. The Spirit of Tin is a Preserver +from all Distempers & Accidents whereby the Liver is consumed or put +into malady; its Spirit is naturally to be compared unto Honey in Taste, +its <i>Mercury</i> being made volatile, gains a venomous quality; for it +purges violently, and penetrates through by force, therefore it is not +alwayes to be advised, that its opened <i>Mercury</i> should be used alone +and simply, but if a Correction precede, there may an excellent benefit +succeed, being used in those distempers and diseases, which are +immediately subject to its Influence, that is, when its venomous +volatility is taken away, and set in a better and fixeder state, which +resists the poison.</p> + +<p>The Vulgar Physician cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> understand this Description; for this Art +and knowledge proceeds not from the bare Talking, but from Experience; +the common Physician hath the foundation and egress in speaking, but our +Preparation hath its Rise from speaking, and then its foundation first +of all out of a certain trial, which manifests it by Experience, and +this is firmed upon hard Rocks by manual Operations, but the other +stands upon moving Reeds & Sand; wherefore in reason that which is +strong and immoveable, made by Natures hand, ought to be prefer'd before +bare Speeches, which proceed only from an inconstant phantastical +speculation, because the Work alwayes will praise the Master.</p> + +<p>At present I do not indeed speak according to my own Poetical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> manner, +nor after such a way as I directed my stile, when I treated of the +wonderful generation of the seven Planets in my occult Philosophy, nor +after a Magical or Cabalistical manner and custom; much less do I +observe the method which teaches, and diligently marks the Mystical, +Secret and Supernatural Arts, to wit, of <i>Hydromancy</i>, <i>Æromancy</i>, +<i>Geomancy</i>, <i>Pyromancy</i>, <i>Nigromancy</i>, and the like: But my present +purpose and intent is directed to reveal Natures Secrets, that all the +Lovers of Art, and the Children which seek and desire wisdom, may by +Gods Grace, Blessing, and Permission, easily understand, observe, mark, +and likewise after diligent observation learn, & retain something that +is beneficial; this concerns the generation of Metals in two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> parts, in +the great and in the little World, as likewise what is the true Medicine +contained in the inward part of those Metallick and Mineral Forms, which +must be apprehended and made moveable by their dissection that their +first beginning may be made notoriously visible in three distinct +things; Then is Nature stript, and her secret parts discovered by laying +off her temporal Cloathing, and all the secret Virtues, Powers, and, +Operations revealed for Mans Health. My Persecutors, and, indiscreet +Physicians will now tell me, thou talkest much of Geese, and knowest not +a Duck; who knows whether all what thou writest be true? I will stick +where I am, and remain by what I have tried, and bears the sway among +all my Associates and Physitians; so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> shall I not be deceived, and am +assured that I shall not need to take paines to learn any new Matter. He +that is of such a resolution, may remain with the Ducks; for he is not +worthy of a roasted Goose, nor to learn what is concealed in Nature.</p> + +<p>But this in truth I acknowledge, and confess it before the Supreme +Trinity, speaking it to the hazzard of that most Noble Ecclesiastical +Jewel, that all what I have wrote, and yet shall write in this point, is +all true, and shall be found to be no otherwise in truth: But that every +ignorant, or vulgar person, which are haters and persecutors of this +Mystery, do not well, fully, and clearly understand my Writings at +first; alas! that cannot I help; pray unto God for his Grace, and ye +Persecutors for pardon, labour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> without repining, read with +understanding, then will no Mystery be withheld from you, but will be +very easie for you to find out. I moreover admonish, that the finder of +this gift of God, above all things give thanks unto God day and night +without ceasing, with all reverence and due obedience, from the bottom +of his heart; because no Creature can yield sufficient praise which may +recompense so great a benefit; but Diligence is known by a right and +true industry according to our capacity. I have done my part, which I +hope to justifie before God and the World; for what my Eyes have seen, +my Hands felt, and apprehended by an undeceived Judgment, that shall no +man take from me in this Life; only Death, which is the determiner of +all things.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>This my Speech hath indeed had no force to poure forth from it what is +written by me herein; but what I have done is not out of curiosity, nor +out of a desire of vain and transitory Glory; but I have been induced +thereunto by the Command of Christ the Lord, that his Glory and Goodness +in eternal and temporal Matters, should not be concealed from any man, +but to the praise, honour, and glory of his holy everlasting Name, that +it might be exalted, acknowledged, and revealed in his Majesty by reason +of his Highness and Almightiness, through the confirmation of his +wonderful Deeds! And secondly, I have been led thereunto by Love and +Charity towards my Neighbour, for his good as for my own, and to heap +burning Coals on my Enemies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> heads. And last of all, that all Opposers +may know, what erroneous waies others have gone against me, and whether +I am most of all to be condemned, or they adjudged most just in what +hath been written most truly of the concealments of Nature; & likewise +that the supremest Mystery may not quite be suffocated in darkness, nor +be drowned in overflowing waters, but be delivered out of the deep and +filthy mire of the Ideotish Crew by the right appearance of the true +Light, and obtain many witnesses by the spreading abroad of a sure, +true, and right Confession, who may follow me in the Writings of Truth. +In my Nativity of the twelve Signes in the Zodiack, <i>Sagitary</i> and +<i>Pisces</i> were allotted unto me; I was born under <i>Pisces</i>, for I was in +Waterishness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> before my Life, but <i>Sagitary</i> set an Arrow to my Heart, +whereby I lost my Waterishness, and by the heat I became worthy of the +dry Earth; and although at the first the Earth was turned by the Water +into a soft substance, yet you must understand that the Water was +consumed by the heat of the drying Air, so that all the soft Matter of +the Earth went away, and by this drying up was dignified with a +Hardness; whereby thou Learner, and much Understander should carefully +observe and take good notice, that Tin is subject to all the four +Elements, as also to the other principal Planets; which Elements +received their Center from above, and are generated as others.</p> + +<p>To conclude, I let you know, and give you to understand, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> if thou +extract out of Benevolent <i>Jupiter</i> its Salt and Sulphur, and lettest +<i>Saturn</i> flux well with it, <i>Saturn</i> assumes a fixt body unto it, purges +it self, and becomes clear thereby, there being a full change and real +transmutation of Lead into good Tin, which may be found to the height by +a durable infallible proof. And though you may think this to be false, +yet you must take notice, that seeing the Salt of <i>Jupiter</i> only by its +Sulphur is made more corporal, yet likewise it hath obtained an efficacy +and power to penetrate <i>Saturn</i>, the basest and most volatile Metal, and +bring it to a melioration of its Equals, as you will find it in +reality.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> +<h2><span class="smcap">Chap. IX.</span></h2> + +<h3><i>Of the Spirit of</i> Saturn, <i>or Tincture of</i> Lead.</h3> + + +<p><i>Saturn</i> to generate his Metal Lead, is placed in the upper Heaven above +all Stars, but he possesses the lowest and vilest degree in the +under-parts of the Earth, even as the supreme Light of <i>Saturn</i> is +mounted aloft in the highest supremacy of all the Celestial planets, so +hath its Children of the lower Region succeeded it in Kind; and Nature +hath permitted that <i>Vulcan</i> should conduct them to their like, if +<i>Saturn</i> be content; for the upper light gives occasion thereunto,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +having generated an unfixt Body of <i>Saturn</i>, penetrated with open pores, +that the Air can pass through this <i>Saturnine</i> Body, that the Air can +keep it aloft, but the fire can quickly assault it, because the body is +not compact by reason of its unfixedness, so that it must decay, which +must be in all points observed by him that will attain to the search of +it; for there is a great difference between the fix'd and unfix'd +bodies, and of the causes of their Constancy and Inconstancy. And though +<i>Saturn</i> hath an especial ponderosity above other Metals, yet observe, +when they are poured forth together, after their union in the Flux, the +other Metals alwaies settle at the bottom, even as it likewise comes to +pass in the pouring of <i>Antimony</i> through with other Metals,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> whereby it +is evident, that the other Metals fall through equally, and are more +compact than <i>Saturn</i>, for it must give place and preheminence to the +other Metals, leaving the victory with them; for it must vanish and be +quite consumed with the unfixt inconstant Metals; in it all the three +properties of the three principles are most course; and because its Salt +is very fluxible above that of other Metals and Planets, so is its Body +more fluxible, inconstant, unfixt, and volatile, than any other +Metallick Body. As <i>Saturn</i> steps to its regeneration, so know that in +like manner, as common Water is forced by the natural coldness, by the +change of the Heavens, whereby it becomes a coagulated Ice, in like +manner is it to be made evident, that by reason of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> the great coldness +which is found to be in the Salt of <i>Saturn</i> above other Salts; <i>Saturn</i> +is also coagulated and made corporal; Ice dissolves into water by heat; +so likewise the coagulated <i>Saturn</i> is made fluxible by Fire, it hath +most of <i>Mercury</i> in it, but it is inconstant and volatile; it hath +least of Sulphur, and therefore according to its small quantity its cold +body cannot be made warm; it hath little Salt, but fluxible, otherwise +Iron would be more fluxible and malleable than Lead, if the Salt alone +could cause a malleableness and fluxibleness, because Iron contains more +Salt than any other Metal: Seeing then there is a difference to be found +in this point, you must therefore observe and remember the difference, +and how to distinguish between Metals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>All Philosophers have wrote as well as I, that the Salt gives the +Coagulation and Body to every Metal; and it is true; but to prove it by +an example, how and after what manner this Relation is to be understood: +Plume Allom is esteemed to be only a meer Salt, and is approved to be +such, which in this particular may be compared to Iron, that the Salt of +the Plume Allom is found to be a thing unfluxible as Iron is. On the +other side, <i>Vitriol</i> likewise is a Salt, manifesting it self in a small +quantity, but fluxible and open, therefore its Salt cannot yield such a +hard congelation unto its appropriated Metal, as the other can; although +all the Salts of Metals grew out of one certain Root, and out of one +Seed, yet nevertheless you must observe a difference in their three +Principles,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> as also you must observe & remember, that a difference is +found in one Herb from the other, and likewise how man differs from +other Creatures and Animals in Qualities, Original, and the three +Principles; for one Herb is indued with more of this, another with more +of that kind, which in like manner is to be understood concerning Man +and other Animals. The Soul of Lead consists in a sweet quality, as also +doth the Soul of Tin, and sweeter yet, that nothing almost may be +compared to it, being first of all purified to the highest by +separation, that the pure be well separated from the impure, that a +perfect accomplishment may succeed in the Operation: Otherwise the +Spirit of Lead is by nature cold and dry, wherefore I advise, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> it +be not much used by Men and Women, because it over cools Nature, so that +the Seed of both cannot perform their Natural Function; nor doth it much +good to the Spleen and Bladder, but in other cases it attracts +flegmatick Humours unto it, which raise up much Melancholy in Men; for +<i>Saturn</i> is a Ruler, and such a <i>Melancholicus</i>, whereby a Man is +confirm'd in his Melancholy, wherefore its Spirit is used, for one +Melancholy Spirit attracts another unto it, whereby Mans Body is freed +and delivered from its infused Melancholy. Externally the Soul of +<i>Saturn</i> is so healing, in all Sores old or new, Cuts, Thrusts, or +Accidents by Means or Nature, so that no Metal can do the like; it is +cooling in all hot, tumified Members; but Noble <i>Venus</i> hath<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> the +pre-eminence to mundifie and cauterize all putrid Sores, and to lay a +ground for their Cure, which have their access from within; for in her +essence she is hot to dry up, but <i>Saturn</i> on the contrary is found to +be cold in his Essence.</p> + +<p>The Celestial Light of the Sun is much hotter than the Light of the +Moon; for the Moon is much lesser than the Sun, and according to its +dimension and division it contains an eighth part of the greatness in +its Circle; if then the Moon in this her Magnitude of the eighth part +could excel the Sun, as the Sun excels the Moon, all Fruits and +Productions of the Earth must perish, and there would be a perpetual +Winter, no Summer to be found at any time: But the Eternal Creator hath +in this case well ordained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> a certain Order and Law for his Creatures, +that the Sun should give light by day, and the Moon by night, and so all +Creatures should be served. Those Children which are subject to the +influence of <i>Saturn</i>, are melancholy, churlish, continually murmuring, +as old covetous people, who do no good to their own Bodies, and yet +never have enough; they put their Bodies to much labour, torment +themselves with thoughts and whimsies, seldom recreate themselves, or +are merry with other people, nor do they greatly regard the natural love +of fair Women.</p> + +<p>In brief, I tell thee that <i>Saturn</i> is generated of little Sulphur, +little Salt, and much unripe gross <i>Mercury</i>, which <i>Mercury</i> is to be +esteemed as a Froth that floates upon the Water, in comparison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> of that +<i>Mercury</i> which is found in <i>Sol</i>; and is much more hot in its degree, +and therefore the <i>Mercury</i> of <i>Saturn</i> by reason of its great coldness, +hath not so quick a running Life as that which is made of Gold, wherein +more heat is to be found, whence that running Life hath its original: +Therefore in the inferiour world we must take notice of little <i>Vulcan</i> +in the augmentation and transmutation of Metals, as I have described +those three Principles of <i>Saturn</i>, as concerning their descent, nature, +and complection. And every one must know, that no transmutation of any +Metal can follow out of <i>Saturn</i>, by reason of its great coldness, only +and except to coagulate common <i>Mercury</i>; for the cold Sulphur of Lead +can qualifie and take away the hot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> running Spirit of the Quicksilver, +if the process be rightly ordered, wherefore it is not amiss to observe, +that <i>Mercury</i> is so detained, that the Theory should agree with the +Practick, and meet together in a certain measure and concordance. You +must not therefore quite reject <i>Saturn</i>, nor in all points scornfully +neglect him, because its Natures and Virtues are known yet but unto few; +for the Stone of the wise hath the first beginning of its Celestial, +high-shining Colour only out of this Metal, and from the influence of +this Planet, the Key of Constancy is delivered unto him by putrefaction, +because the red cannot be made out of the yellow, except before-hand a +white be made out of the beginning of the black.</p> + +<p>I could yet treat variously, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> at large of many wonderful works of +Natural and Supernatural things. But because other Labours prevent me +therein, of making a longer Narration, I therefore put a Conclusion to +this Treatise at present, referring the other concerning the concealed +Secrets of Minerals until I have a purpose to write further, in a +particular Treatise of <i>Antimony</i>, <i>Vitriol</i>, <i>Brimstone</i>, <i>Magnet</i>, and +which in especial are endowed before others, and depend upon those, out +of which Gold and Silver have their beginning, middle and end, together +with the true transmutation particularly; which virtues and power they +have received out of one thing, wherein all these lie to be generated +invisibly concealed, together with all Metals; which matter is publick +before the eyes of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> men, but because the vertues and powers are very +deeply buried and unknown to the most part, therefore this matter is +likewise esteemed as nothing, or of no value, and unprofitable, out of +ignorance; even as the Disciples of the Lord going to <i>Emaus</i>, their +eyes were opened at the breaking of Bread, that they knew wonder above +wonder, what the rich Creator hath placed in the vile creature, the name +is <i>Hermes</i>, who carries a flying Serpent in his Shield, having a Wife +whose Name is <i>Aphrodita</i>, who can know the Hearts of all men, and yet +all is one, and one only thing, one only Essence, which is common in all +Places, and known every where, every one grasps it with his hands, and +uses it in vile matters, and of small value; he values the vile at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> a +high rate, and that which is high he casts away; it is nothing else but +Water and Fire, out of which the Earth is generated by the help of the +Air, and is yet preserved. Praise be to the most High for his Gifts: At +present enough is revealed what my intent was to shew in this Treatise, +and so I depart hence; for in separation all is to be found.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<h2><i>Of the Medicine or Tincture of</i> Antimony<i>, as well to preserve Mans +Body in Health, and to divert all desperate, and incurable Diseases, as +also to cure the Leprosie of Metals, to purifie and to transmute them +into the best Gold.</i></h2> + +<h3><i>Written by that Noble and Learned Philosopher</i>, Roger Bacon.</h3> + + +<p><i>Stibium</i> or <i>Antimony</i>, as the Philosophers say, is composed of a Noble +Mineral Sulphur, which they accounted to be the black secret Lead of the +Wise.</p> + +<p>The <i>Arabians</i> call it <i>Asmat</i> or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> <i>Azmat</i>; the Alchymists retain the +Name <i>Antimony</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Addition.</i> The <i>Moors</i> call it <i>Antimony</i>, others call it <i>Alabaster</i>, +or <i>Tarbason</i>. By the <i>Arabians</i> and <i>Spaniards</i> it is called <i>Alcohol</i>. +<i>Avicennæ</i> c. 7. calls it <i>Artemed</i>. <i>Alexius</i> of <i>Piedmont</i>, in his +seventh Book of Secrets, calls it <i>Talck</i>, even as <i>John Jacob Wecker</i> +renders it in his Books of Secrets; but <i>Talck</i> is far different from +<i>Antimony</i>. <i>Pliny</i>, Book 33. Chap. 6. of <i>Antimony</i>. <i>Dioscorides</i> +gives a preparation of <i>Antimony</i>, Book 5. Chap. 39. They call it also +<i>Stibi</i>, <i>Stimmi</i>, <i>&c.</i> The <i>Germans</i> call it <i>Spies glass</i>, or as +<i>George Fabricius</i> would rather have it, <i>Spies glantz</i>. <i>Gerlandius</i> +calls it Black <i>Alcophil</i>, <i>Altofel</i>, or <i>Alirnu</i>, others <i>Cosmet</i>, and +it is twofold, Masculine and Feminine.</p> + +<p>It will lead us to the consideration<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> of higher Mysteries, if we behold +and discern that Nature wherein Gold is exalted, even as the <i>Magi</i> have +found that this Mineral is by God ordained under the Constellation of +<i>Aries</i>, which is the first Celestial Sign, wherein the Sun takes its +Exaltation, though this be not regarded by the Vulgar; yet discreet +people will know, and the better observe, that even in this place also +the Mysteries and Perpetuity may in part be considered with great +benefit, and in part discovered.</p> + +<p>But some ignorant and indiscreet people think, that when they had +<i>Antimony</i>, they would deal well enough with it by Calcination, others +by Sublimation, and some by Reverberation, thereby to obtain its great +Mystery and perfect Medicine. But I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> tell you, that here in this place +it availes not in the least, either Calcination, Sublimation, or +Reverberation, whereby afterwards a perfect extraction can or might be +done or effected with profit, to transmute the meaner into a better +Metallick virtue; for it is impossible for you.</p> + +<p>Be not deluded; some of the Philosophers which have wrote of such +things, as <i>Geber</i>, <i>Albertus Magnus</i>, <i>Rasis</i>, <i>Rupecissa</i>, +<i>Aristotle</i>, and many others: But observe this: Some say, that if +<i>Antimony</i> be made to a <i>Vitrum</i> or Glass, the bad volatile Sulphur is +gone, and the Oil which may be prepared out of that Glass, will be a +very fixt Oil, and will really give an ingress and Medicine of +perfection to the imperfect Metals.</p> + +<p>These words and opinion are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> good and true, but it will not be nor +appear such indeed; for I tell you truly, without concealed speeches, +that if you lose any of the aforesaid <i>Sulphur</i> in the Preparation or +Burning, for a small fire may easily prejudice it, you then have lost +the true penetrating Spirit, which should make the whole Body of +<i>Antimony</i> to a perfect red Oyl, which should also ascend over the helm +with a delightful sent, and curious Colours; observe likewise, that the +whole Body of this Mineral, with all its Members, should be but one Oyl, +and ascend over the helm without any loss of weight, excepting the +<i>feces</i>.</p> + +<p>How should the Body be brought to an Oil, or yield its pleasant Oil, if +it be brought to the last being of its degree, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> Glass is in all +things the utmost and last.</p> + +<p>You shall likewise know that you shall not obtain that perfect noble Oil +in the least, if it be extracted with corrected Vinegar poured upon the +<i>Antimony</i>, nor yet by Reverberation; and although its various colours +may appear, yet is it not the right way; you may indeed get an Oil, but +you must know that it hath no part of the Tincture, or power of +transmutation in it.</p> + + +<h4><i>Now we come to the Manual Operation.</i></h4> + +<p>Take in the Name of God, and of the Eternal Trinity, fine and very pure +Mineral <i>Antimony</i>, which is fair, white, massie, and inwardly full of +yellow Streaks or Veins, and likewise of red<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> and blew Colours, and +small Veins, this is the best; pound it to fine Powder, dissolve it by +little and little in <i>Aqua Regis</i>, that the Water may conquer it. After +Solution take it out immediately that the <i>Aqua Regis</i> may do it no +prejudice; for it will quickly dissolve the Tincture of the <i>Antimony</i>; +for our Water in its nature is like to the <i>Ostrich</i>, which by his heat +can digest Iron, and consume it to nothing; for the Water will consume +it, and turn it to a Mud, that it shall remain only as a yellow Earth, +and then is it quite spoiled.</p> + +<p>Take an Example hereof from Silver, which is dissolved, fair, pure and +fine in these our Waters, but if it stand a night therein while the +Water is strong and full of Spirits, I tell you, your good Silver will +be corroded to nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> in these our Waters; and though you would reduce +it into a Massie Body, you cannot; for it will remain as a pale yellow +Earth, and sometimes it will run together in the form of Horn, or of a +white Horse Hoof, which you can by no Art reduce into a Body.</p> + +<p>Wherefore you must remember to take the <i>Antimony</i> out presently after +the Solution, precipitate and adulterate it according to the custom of +<i>Alchymists</i>, that it may not be corroded with its perfect Oil by the +Water, and burnt up to nothing.</p> + + +<h4><i>The Water wherein we dissolve is thus made.</i></h4> + +<p>R. <i>Vitriol</i>, a pound and a half, <i>Salt-Armoniac</i> one pound, <i>Azinat</i> +one pound, <i>Salt-nitre</i> a pound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> and a half, <i>Salt-gemme</i> one pound, +<i>Allom</i> half a pound; these are the Ingredients which belong unto the +making of the Water for the Solution of <i>Antimony</i>.</p> + +<p>Take and mix them well together; at first distil very slowly, for the +Spirits ascend with greater violence than those of any other common +<i>Aqua fortis</i>; beware of its Spirits; for their Fumes are very subtile +and hurtful in their penetration.</p> + +<p>When you have adulterated the <i>Antimony</i> well and purely from the +corrosive Water, then put it into a clean Vial, poure good distilled +Vinegar upon it, set it forty dayes and nights to putrefie in +Horse-dung, or in <i>Balneum Mariæ</i>, it will be bloud-red. Take it out, +and see how much is yet to be dissolved, decant off gently the pure and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +clear, which is red into a Glass-Gourd, poure other Vinegar upon the +<i>Fæces</i> as before, that if any thing should yet remain therein, it might +be dissolved; this must be done four times in fourty days and nights; +for if any good be in the <i>Fæces</i>, it will be dissolved in that time, +then cast the Dregs away as unprofitable, being but Dirt, and to be cast +to the Dunghill.</p> + +<p>Put all the Solutions in a glass-Gourd into <i>Balneum Mariæ</i>, distil all +the tart Vinegar from it, pour it on again, or else pour fresh, if this +be too weak, it will quickly dissolve in the Vinegar; distil it again +from it, that the Matter be quite dry; then take common distilled water, +wash all tartness from it with the Vinegar imparted to the Matter, then +dry the Matter in the Sun, which is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> of a very deep red, or else dry it +very well at a gentle fire.</p> + +<p>When the Philosophers find our <i>Antimony</i> thus secretly prepared, they +say then that its external nature and virtue is inverted internally, and +the internal cast forth externally, henceforth becoming an Oil, which is +concealed in its innermost and profoundest part, till it be well +prepared, and cannot any more be brought into its first Essence, untill +the last Judgment; and it is true, for so soon as it feels the force of +the fire, it flies away in a Vapour with all its parts, because it is +volatile.</p> + +<p>Some of the common Laborators, having thus prepared <i>Antimony</i>, they +take one part out because of its consumption, that they may the better +operate it, they mix with it one part of <i>Salt-Armoniac</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> one part of +the <i>Vitrum</i> (with others <i>Titrum</i>) one part of the <i>Rebooth</i> (with +others <i>Cadoli</i>) wherewith the Bodies are cleansed; this mixture they +cast upon a pure <i>Luna</i>, and if there were eight Ounces of the <i>Luna</i>, +they found ten Drams of good Gold in the separation, and sometimes more; +and by this work they gained wherewithal to bear their Charges, the +better to attend upon, and attain unto the great Work. The ignorant +called this an induction into the Silver, but that is false; for this +Gold is not brought into it by the Spirits, but every kind of Silver +hath one Ounce of Gold more or less in the Mark (or 8 Ounces) for Gold +is so united with the Nature of Silver, that it cannot be separated from +it, either by <i>Aqua fort</i>, or common <i>Antimony</i>, as the <i>Gold-smiths</i> +know.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>But when the aforesaid Composition is cast upon the <i>Luna</i> in the flux, +then happens such a separation, that the <i>Luna</i> doth freely let go the +Gold implanted therein into the <i>Aqua fort</i>, and is separated from it, +letting it precipitate and sink to the bottom, which otherwise could not +be done at all. Therefore it is not an induction into the <i>Luna</i>, but a +bringing out of it.</p> + +<p>But we return again to our proposed Work; for we would have only the +Oil, which was only known to the Wise, and not to the Ignorant.</p> + +<p>When you have rubified the <i>Antimony</i> very well according to the former +Directions, you must have in readiness a Spirit of wine well rectified, +pour it over the red Powder of <i>Antimony</i>, set it four daies and nights +in a gentle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> <i>Balneum Mariæ</i>, that it may dissolve very well. And if +then any of it remain undissolved, pour fresh Spirit of Wine upon it, +set it again into the Bath as aforesaid, all will be well dissolved; and +if perhaps any more <i>Fæces</i> remain, they will be very few, cast them +away, for they are good for nothing. Put the Solution into a +glass-Gourd, with a Head luted upon it, set it into <i>Balneum Mariæ</i>, +with its receiver to take the Spirits, distil slowly with a slack heat, +till all the Spirit of Wine be come over, pour it in again upon the dry +matter, draw it off again as before; this pouring in & abstracting +continue so often, till you see the Spirit of Wine ascend over the helm +in various colours, then it is time that you follow it with a strong +fire, then with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> Spirit of Wine ascend red into the helm, and drop +into the Receiver like a bloody Oil, and the tender Body ascends like a +red Oil, dropping into the Receiver; truly this is the most secret way +of the Wise, the so much applauded Oil of <i>Antimony</i>; it is a noble, +well sented, virtuous, and powerful Oil, as you shall hear afterwards.</p> + +<p>But here I will teach and instruct you poor Operators another way, +because you have not the Means to attend the great work, not as the +Ancients did, with the separation of Gold out of Silver.</p> + +<p>Wherefore take one part of the Oil, or half an Ounce of <i>Saturn</i>, four +Ounces calcined according to Art, pour the Oil upon the <i>Calx</i> of +<i>Saturn</i>, mixing it, set it ten daies and nights in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> heat, into the +secret Furnace; every two days augment the fire one degree, according to +the capacity of the Furnace; after four days and nights set it into the +third degree of Fire, therein let it rest three days and nights, then +open the Door or Vent of the fourth degree, which must likewise continue +three days and nights; afterwards take it out, the <i>Saturn</i> will be +above black, like unto Charcole dust, but under this black dust you will +find other Colours, throughout pure, red, yellow, which flux with +<i>Venetian Borax</i>, you will find it converted into good Gold by the power +of our Oil, so have you means again to set forward the great work.</p> + +<p>We return again to our purpose, where we left off before. You have +heard, and have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> instructed how to abstract the Spirit of Wine with +the Oil over the helm into the Receiver, and to use it for the work to +convert <i>Saturn</i> into Gold. But we will now hasten to the other work of +the Tincture, and give advice concerning it. It will therefore be +necessary to separate the Spirit of Wine again from the Oil, which do as +followeth;</p> + +<p>Take the mixture of the Spirit of Wine, and of the Oil, set it into +<i>Balneum Mariæ</i>; distil the Spirit of Wine only from the Oil with a very +slack heat, so that you may be assured that there is no more of the +Spirit to be found in this most precious Oil, which you may easily try; +when you see some of the drops ascend over with the Spirit of Wine, it +is a sign that the Spirit of Wine is separated from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> Oil, then +remove all the fire from under the Bath, how little soever it be, that +it may cool the sooner. Take away the Receiver with the Spirit of Wine, +stop it very close, for it is full of Spirits which it hath retained +from the Oil, as you will hear afterwards: But in <i>Balneum Mariæ</i> you +will find that blessed Oil of <i>Antimony</i> red as Bloud; take it out, wash +the Lute off by gentle mollification, that nothing impure may fall into +that curious red Oil, when you take the head off; reserve it carefully, +that by no means it may receive prejudice, for you have a Celestial Oil, +which in a dark night shines like a glowing Cole, and this is the +reason, because its internal power and soul is cast forth externally, +the hidden Soul being now revealed, shining through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> the pure Body as a +Candle through a Lanthorn, even so at the last day, these our invisible +internal Souls shall be revealed, and seen out of the Body, shining as +the clear Sun: So keep each apart, as well the Spirit of wine full of +power, and wonderful in curing humane Distempers, as also the blessed, +red, noble, celestial Oil, which transmutes all the Diseases of the +imperfect Metals into the perfection of Gold; and the power of the +spiritual Wine extends very far being rightly used.</p> + +<p>I tell you, you have obtained a Celestial Medicine, to cure all the +Diseases and Distempers of Mans Body; its use is, as followeth;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><i>In the Gout.</i></h4> + +<p>Give three drops in a Cup of Wine fasting to the Party, just at the time +when he feels the beginning of his misery, anguish and pain to come upon +him, the second and third, use it in like manner; it allaies all pain +the first day how great soever it be, and prevents Swelling; the second +day it causes Sweat, which is very nasty, tough and thick, very soure in +taste, and of an evil sent, and most of all in those parts where the +Members are united and joined together by the Joints; and if you should +give none in the third day, yet will there be a purgation of the Veins, +and of the Excrements, without any molestation or pain; is not this a +great power of Nature?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><i>In the Leprosie.</i></h4> + +<p>At the first time take six drops fasting, and cause the impure party to +be alone, free from sound people, in a place far distant, and +commodious; for all his Body will begin to send forth Fumes and Steams, +like unto a stinking Fog, and Vapours abundantly; the next will Scales +and much Uncleanness fall from his Body; then let him have three drops +of this Medicine, and let him take it in on the fourth day, afterwards +on the eighth or ninth day by the assistance of Gods Grace and Blessing, +he will be quite clean.</p> + + +<h4><i>In the Apoplexie.</i></h4> + +<p>Let one drop fall upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> tongue of the Patient, it will attract it +forth immediately like unto a Mist or Fume, and restore the party again; +but if he were taken in the Body, or in the Members and Limbs, then give +him three drops at once in good wine, as you have been taught in the +Gout.</p> + + +<h4><i>In the Dropsie.</i></h4> + +<p>Give one drop in baulm water, or Valerian water six days together, the +seventh day give three drops in good wine, and it is sufficient.</p> + + +<h4><i>In the Falling Sickness, and its kinds, as Epilepsie, Catalepsie, and +Analepsie.</i></h4> + +<p>In the beginning of the Fit give the Patient two drops in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> Sage-water, +after three hours, give him three drops more, and it is sufficient. But +if in case any thing should stir again, give him two drops, as hath been +said.</p> + + +<h4><i>In a Hectick.</i></h4> + +<p>Give the party two drops the first day in water of Violets, the second +day two drops more in good Wine.</p> + + +<h4><i>In Agues.</i></h4> + +<p>Give the party three drops in the beginning of the Fit, early in a +morning, in good distilled water of St. <i>John</i>'s wort, or of Succory, +and the next day two drops more fasting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><i>In the Plague.</i></h4> + +<p>Give the Patient seven drops in good Wine, let the infected party be +alone, and let him sweat well upon it, by the Divine Assistance that +poison will not prejudice him as to his Life.</p> + + +<h4><i>For a prolongation of a healthful Life.</i></h4> + +<p>Take and give two drops at the beginning and entrance of the Spring, and +in the beginning or entrance of Autumn likewise two drops; every one +that so takes it, is freed, and well preserved from unhealthful and +infectious Air, except the Disease were by Almighty God ordained for the +death of the party.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>We will now step further to the Oil, and its Power, and shew how by it +the Diseases of the impure Bodies of the Metals may be cured.</p> + +<p>In the Name of God, take very pure, fine, refined Gold, as much as you +will, or think to be sufficient, dissolve it in a rectified Wine, as is +usual to make <i>Aqua vitæ</i>; after solution of the Gold, set it a Moneth +in digestion; this distil in a Bath very slow and gently, distil the +Spirit of Wine divers times from it, so long till you see your Gold lie +at the bottom like a Juice: This is the true way and meaning of some of +the Ancients, to prepare Gold. But I will shew and teach you a way much +readier, better, and more beneficial; that in stead of this prepared +Gold, you take one part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> of the <i>Mercury</i> of Gold, as I have taught the +making of it in another place; abstract from it its water of Airiness, +that it may be a subtle Dust, and take two parts of our blessed Oil, +poure the Oil very slowly upon the Dust of the <i>Mercury</i> of Gold, till +all be in it, set it in a Vial well sealed, in the heat of the first +degree of the secret Furnace; therein let it stand ten dayes and nights, +your Powder and Oil will be quite dry, of a black gray colour. After ten +days give it the heat of the second degree, the gray and black colour +will by little and little become white, till at last it will be of a +heavenly white, and at the end of the ten days it will begin to be of a +pure red, but let not this trouble you; for all these Colours proceed +only from the <i>Mercury</i> of Gold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> which swallowed up our blessed Oil, +and now conceals in the innermost part of its Body; but our Oil will +conquer this <i>Mercury</i> of Gold by the power of the fire, and cast it +forth from within, and the Oil will predominate over it with its hot red +Colour, and be continually outwards. And therefore it will be time, +after the expiration of twenty days, that you open the window of the +third degree, wherein the external white Colour and Power will by little +and little enter in into the inward part, and the internal red Colour +will turn outward by the force of the fire. Keep this degree of heat ten +days without diminution or augmentation of it, you will see a Powder +which before was white, to be now very red, but let not redness trouble +you, for 'tis yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> unfix'd and volatile. And after these ten days are +ended, thirty days being in all expired, then open the last window of +the last degree of fire, keep it ten days in this degree, this high red +pouder will then begin to flux, let it stand so in flux the ten days, +then take it out, you will find at the bottom a very high, red, +transparent stone of a Ruby Colour, flux'd according to the form of the +Glass, as is taught in the Treatise of <i>Vitriol</i>, wherewith you may make +projection. Praise God for such his high Revelation, and thank him for +ever, <i>Amen</i>.</p> + + +<h4><i>Its Multiplication.</i></h4> + +<p>The Ancient Wise, having found the Stone, and prepared it to a perfect +power, and mutation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> of the imperfect Metals into Gold, have a long time +enquired whether a thing were not to be found to augment the power of +the Stone; and they found two kinds of Augmentation, one of the power of +it, so that the Stone may be brought much higher; of this multiplication +you will find direction in the Treatise of Gold. The other Augmentation +is an augmentation of the quantity of the Stone, in its former power, so +that it receives no more, nor loses any thing of its power, though it +increase in weight, and augment more and more, that out of one Ounce +many Ounces arise and increase.</p> + +<p>The Augmentation or Multiplication is done as followeth; Take your Stone +in Gods Name, grind it to a subtile powder, add to it as much of the +<i>Mercury</i> of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> Gold, as is taught before, put them together into a fine +round Vial, seal it hermetically, set it into the fiery Furnace, +proceeding as you have been instructed before, only this time is +shorter, for whereas before you had ten (thirty) days, now you need no +more than four (ten) days, otherwise the work is one and the same.</p> + +<p>Praise and give thanks to Almighty God for his high Revelation, continue +in Prayer for his Grace and Divine Blessing in this Art and Operation, +as likewise for continuance of Health and Prosperity; withal let the +poor be recommended to your Help and Charity.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4><i>Glory be to Almighty God.</i></h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<h2><i>A Work of</i> Saturn, <i>of Mr.</i> John Isaac Holland.</h2> + + +<h3>The PREFACE.</h3> + +<p>Courteous Reader,</p> + +<p><i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Philosophers</span> <i>have written much of their Lead which is prepared +out of</i> Antimony, <i>as</i> Basilius <i>hath taught; and I am of the opinion, +that this Saturnine Work of the most</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> <i>excellent Philosopher M.</i> John +Isaac Holland <i>is not to be understood of common Lead</i>, (<i>if the Matter +of the Stone be not much more thereby intended</i>) <i>but of the</i> +Philosophers <i>Lead. But whether the Vulgar</i> Saturn <i>be the Matter of the +Philosophers Stone, thereof you will receive sufficient satisfaction +from the subsequent 17 Considerations or Documents. This is published +for the benefit of all the Lovers of this Art, because it expounds and +declares the Stone of Fire.</i> Vale.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><i>A Work of</i> Saturn</h3> + +<h4><i>In the Name of the Lord</i>, Amen.</h4> + +<p>My Child shall know, that the Stone called the <i>Philosophers Stone</i>, +comes out of <i>Saturn</i>. And therefore when it is perfected, it makes +projection, as well in mans Body from all Diseases, which may assault +them either within or without, be they what they will, or called by what +name soever, as also in the imperfect Metals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>And know, my Child, for a Truth, that in the whole vegetable work there +is no higher nor greater Secret than in <i>Saturn</i>; for we do not find +that perfection in Gold which is in <i>Saturn</i>; for internally it is good +Gold, herein all Philosophers agree, and it wants nothing else, but that +first you remove what is superfluous in it, that is, its impurity, and +make it clean, and then that you turn its inside outwards, which is its +redness, then will it be good Gold; for Gold cannot be made so easily, +as you can of <i>Saturn</i>, for <i>Saturn</i> is easily dissolved and congealed, +and its <i>Mercury</i> may be easily extracted, and this <i>Mercury</i> which is +extracted from <i>Saturn</i>, being purified and sublimed, as <i>Mercury</i> is +usually sublimed, I tell thee, my Child, that the same <i>Mercury</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> is as +good as the <i>Mercury</i> which is extracted out of Gold, in all operations; +for if <i>Saturn</i> be Gold internally, as in truth it is, then must its +<i>Mercury</i> be as good as the <i>Mercury</i> of Gold, therefore I tell you, +that <i>Saturn</i> is better in our work than Gold; for if you should extract +the <i>Mercury</i> out of Gold, it would require a years space to open the +body of Gold, before you can extract the <i>Mercury</i> out of the Gold, and +you may extract the <i>Mercury</i> out of <i>Saturn</i> in 14 days, both being +alike good.</p> + +<p>Would you make a work out of Gold alone, you must labour two whole years +upon it, if it shall be well done: and you may finish a work of <i>Saturn</i> +in 30 or 32 weeks at the most. And being both well made, they are both +alike good; <i>Saturn</i> costs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> nothing or very little, it requires a short +time, and small labour; this I tell you in truth.</p> + +<p>My Child, lock this up in thy heart and understanding, this ♄ +is the Stone which the Philosophers will not name, whose name is +concealed unto this day; for if its name were known, then many would +operate, and the Art would be common, because this work is short, and +without charge, a small and mean work.</p> + +<p>Therefore doth the name remain concealed; for the evils sake which might +thence proceed. All the strange Parables which the Philosophers have +spoken mystically, of a Stone, a Moon, a Furnace, a Vessel, all this is +<i>Saturn</i>; for you must not put any strange thing unto it, only what +comes from it, therefore there, is none so poor in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> world, which +cannot operate and promote this work; for <i>Luna</i> may be easily made of +<i>Saturn</i>, in a short time, and in a little longer time <i>Sol</i> may be made +out of it. And though a man be poor, yet may he very well attain unto +it, and may be employed to make the <i>Philosophers Stone</i>.</p> + +<p>Wherefore my Child, all is concealed in <i>Saturn</i>, which we have need of, +for in it is a perfect <i>Mercury</i>, in it are all the Colours of the +world, which may be discovered in it; in it are the true black, white +and red Colours, in it is the weight, it is our <i>Lattin</i>.</p> + + +<h4><i>Example.</i></h4> + +<p>The eye of a man cannot endure any thing that is imperfect,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> how little +soever it be, though it be the least Atome of Dust, it would cause much +pain, that he can rest no where. But if you take the quantity of a Bean +of <i>Saturn</i>, shave it smooth and round, put it into the Eye, it will +cause no pain at all; the reason is, because it is internally perfect, +even as Gold and Precious Stones. By these and other Speeches you may +observe, that <i>Saturn</i> is our <i>Philosophers Stone</i>, and our <i>Latten</i>, +out of which our <i>Mercury</i> and our Stone is extracted with small Labour, +little Art and Expence, and in a short time.</p> + +<p>Wherefore I admonish you, my Child, and all those who know its name, +that you conceal it from people, by reason of the evil which might +thence arise; and you shall call the Stone our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> <i>Laton</i>, and call the +Vinegar Water, wherein our Stone is to be wash'd; this is the Stone and +the Water whereof the Philosophers have wrote so many great Volumes.</p> + +<p>There are many and different works in the Mineral Stone, and especially +in that Stone which God hath given us <i>gratis</i>, whereof many strange +Parables are written in the Mineral Book.</p> + +<p>But this is the true Stone, which the Philosophers have sought, because +it makes projection upon all the imperfect Metals, especially upon quick +<i>Mercury</i>, and moreover it makes projection upon all diseases +whatsoever, which may come into mans Body, as likewise upon all Wounds, +<i>Cancer</i>, <i>Fistulaes</i>, <i>open Sores</i>, <i>Buboes</i>, <i>Imposthumes</i>, and all +whatsoever can come externally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> upon mans Body, therefore this Stone is +not under the Mineral work, but under the Vegetable.</p> + +<p>It is the beginning of the Vegetable Book, and the principal; this Stone +is called <i>Lapis Philosophorum</i>, the Mineral Stone is called <i>Lapis +Mineralis</i>, and the third Stone is called <i>Lapis Animalis</i>. This Stone +is the true <i>Aurum potabile</i>, the true Quinessence which we seek, and no +other thing else in this world but this Stone. Therefore the +Philosophers say, whosoever knows our Stone, and can prepare it, needs +no more, wherefore they sought this thing and no other.</p> + +<p>My Child shall take 10, 12, or 15 pound of <i>Saturn</i>, wherein is no +mixture of any other Metal; laminate it thin, have in readiness a great +Stone Jugg, half full of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> Vinegar, stop the Jugg very close, set it in a +Lukewarm Bath, every three or four days scrape off the calcin'd <i>Saturn</i> +from the Plates, and reserve it apart, thus do so long till you have 5 +or 6 <i>l.</i> of the calcin'd <i>Saturn</i>, then grind it very well on a Stone +with good distilled Wine-Vinegar, so as you may paint therewith, then +take two or three great Stone-pots, therein put the <i>Calx</i> of <i>Saturn</i> +which you ground, poure good distilled Wine-Vinegar upon it, that two +parts of the Pot be full, stir it well together, stop the Pot close with +a polished Glass or Pebble-stone, set the Pots in a Bath, stir it four +or five times in a day with a wooden Ladle, lay the Glass or Stone +Stopple again over it, make the Bath no hotter than that you may well +endure your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> hand therein, that is, lukewarm; so let it stand fourteen +days and nights, then decant that which is clear into another Stone-pot, +poure other distilled Vinegar upon the <i>Calx</i> which is not well +dissolved, mix them well together, set it 14 days in the Bath, again +decant it, and poure other Vinegar upon it as before. This decantation +and pouring on continue so long till all the <i>Calx</i> of <i>Saturn</i> be +dissolved, then take all the dissolved <i>Saturn</i>, set it in a Bath, +evaporate the Vinegar by a small fire, the <i>Saturn</i> will become a powder +or lump. Or stir it about until it be dry, you have a mass or powder of +a dark yellow, or honey colour, then grind the powder again very finely +upon a Stone with distilled Vinegar; put it into a stone-pot, stir and +mix it well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> together, set it again into a Bath, which is but lukewarm +so let it stand five or six dayes, stir it every day from the top to the +bottom with a wooden Ladle, cover it again with the glass-Stopple, then +let it cool, poure off that which is dissolved into a great stone pot, +poure other Vinegar upon it, mix and stir them well together, set it +into the Bath as before, reiterate this decantation and pouring on so +often, till no more will dissolve, which try with your tongue, if it be +sweet, it is not enough dissolved, or put some of it into a glass-gourd, +let it evaporate, if any thing remain, it is not yet all dissolved which +would be Gold, and then what remaines in the pot are <i>Fæces</i>, and sweet +upon the Tongue; if you find any thing in the Gourd, it is not yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> all +dissolved, then may you poure fresh Vinegar upon it, till all be +dissolved, then coagulate it as before, poure other Vinegar upon it, +stir it, set it again into the Bath, reiterate this operation of +solution and coagulation so long till you find no more <i>Fæces</i> at the +bottom, but all be dissolved into a pure clear water, then is <i>Saturn</i> +freed from all its Leprousness, Melancholy, <i>Fæces</i>, and blackness, +being pure and white as Snow, for it is cleansed from all its +uncleanness, because its coldness stands outwards as <i>Luna</i> doth, and +its heat is internal, fluxible as wax, and sweet as sugar Candy.</p> + + +<h4><i>Why is it as white as Snow?</i></h4> + +<p>Because it is purified from all its impurities, and because its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +coldness stands external as <i>Luna</i> doth, and its heat is internal.</p> + + +<h4><i>Why is it sweet?</i></h4> + +<p>Because the four Elements in it are pure, and separated from all +sulphurous stink and blackness, which <i>Saturn</i> received in the Mine; it +is almost Medicinal, and like unto Nature: And because it is so pure, it +affords some of its internal virtue outwardly, as that of Sweetness; but +the heat is so covered with the cold, that it cannot put forth its power +externally by reason of the cold which is external (the heat of <i>Saturn</i> +lies internal, even as in <i>Salt-Nitre</i>) as doth the Taste, the Spirit of +Tasting is the most subtile in all things, as is taught more at large in +the Book of Vegetables, how the Air doth dilate it self <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>from all Herbs +and Flowers externally; for the Spirit of the Air lies in the inward +part of all things; for God created nothing in this world but it hath +its peculiar Taste or Air, the Air and the Taste are one Spirit, the +Taste goes out of the Air, as Smoke from the Fire.</p> + +<p>But how comes it to pass, that a thing which hath a sweet Air, is bitter +in Taste? The cause is, because the <i>Fæces</i> of that thing are putrid and +stinking in the Elements, that is the Choler or Heat; for whatsoever is +unnaturally hot, hath a bitter Taste; the Air and the Taste are both one +Spirit, and as the Spirit of the Air presses outwards through a hot +thing, so doth the Air embrace the Taste about, and descends the subtile +Taste, that it should not be burnt by the vehement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> burning Choler, as +in the Herbal is at large express'd.</p> + +<p>But the cause why <i>Saturn</i> is sweet in Taste is, that it is almost pure +and clean, having scarce any unnatural heat in it, which can burn the +subtile Tast, therefore it hath the Taste externally, and the Taste hath +the Spirit of the Air lock'd up in it.</p> + +<p>My Child, know what I said before, that a thing wherein is much burning +heat, the Air locks up the Taste therein, because the Taste shall not be +corrupted by the unnatural heat. So the Taste includes the Air in it, +when it issues forth from a thing which is externally cold; for the +subtil Spirits of the Air or Sent of a thing can endure no Cold, as we +see daily in Herbs and Flowers that they yield no Sent in the Winter, as +they do in the Summer;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> but they hide themselves in the Winter, and the +Spirit hath the Sent inclosed in it, and the Spirit of Sent or Air. +Behold a man that hath taken Cold, immediately he loses his Sent, and +his Tasting is diminished. Even so it is here with <i>Saturn</i>; it is quite +cold, so that the Taste manifests it self with the Spirit of Sent; for +the Spirit of the Taste hath the Smell in it. Look upon Sugar which is +well clarified from its <i>Fæces</i>, how sweet it is in Taste, yet it yields +no Sent, yet there is an extraordinary sweetness in Sugar. What is the +reason of this? Sugar is very cold externally, therefore is it white as +Snow, and of a sweet Taste; yet Sugar internally is hot and moist, of +the temper of Gold, and of such great virtue that it is called the +Philosophers Stone, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> it is approved, and very prevalent to cure all +the Distempers of mans Body, as appears by its operation. The reason why +I say this, my Child, is, that you should altogether understand its +internal & external, and the Spirits which are in these things, whereof +we discourse; that thereby you should know Gods wonderful works, and +what wonders he works in these inferiour things, which are all made for +our use.</p> + + +<h4><i>What hath God in us, for whose sake he hath created all these Wonders, +and all these things?</i></h4> + +<p>Wherefore, my Child, believe in God, love him, and follow him, for he +loves you, as he makes it appear, and manifests himself in all things, +as well in their Internals as in their Externals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> O how wonderful is +our Lord and God, from whom all Wonders proceed!</p> + + +<h4><i>Now, my Child, why is</i> Saturn <i>fluxible as Wax?</i></h4> + +<p>By reason of its abounding <i>Sulphur</i>, which is therein; for I find no +fluxibleness or fusibleness in any thing saving in <i>Sulphur</i>, <i>Mercury</i> +and <i>Arsenick</i>, and all these three are in <i>Saturn</i>; so that <i>Saturn</i> is +quickly fluxible, but all these three are cleansed with it from their +uncleanness. And do you not know, that the Philosophers call their Stone +<i>Arsenick</i>, and a white thing; and they say their <i>Sulphur</i> is +incombustible; they call it likewise a red thing, all this is <i>Saturn</i>, +in it is <i>Arsenick</i>; for <i>Luna</i> is principally generated of a white +<i>Sulphur</i>, as is plainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> taught in the Book of <i>Sulphurs</i>, and all +<i>Arsenick</i> is internally red as Bloud, if its inward part be brought +outwards, as is demonstrated in the Book of Colours, <i>&c.</i> <i>Saturn</i> +stands almost in the degree of fix'd <i>Luna</i>. So that in it there is a +red Sulphur, as you see, when its internal is placed outwards, it will +be red as a Ruby; there are no Colours but in the Spirits, so that there +is in it a red and a yellow Sulphur. In it is <i>Mercury</i>, as may be seen, +for <i>Mercury</i> is extracted out of <i>Saturn</i> in a short time, and with +little labour.</p> + +<p>So that all three are in <i>Saturn</i>, but they are not fix'd therein, but +they are clean, pure, incombustible, fluxible as Wax; in it are all +things which the Philosophers have mentioned. They say, our Stone is +made of a stinking menstruous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> thing: What think you, is not <i>Saturn</i> +digg'd out of a stinking Earth? for divers are killed with the ill Sents +and Vapours where <i>Saturn</i> is digg'd, or they live not long who labour +in that stinking black Mine, whence <i>Saturn</i> is digg'd. And the +Philosophers say, our Stone is of little value, being unprepared; they +say, the poor have it as well as the rich, and they say true; for there +are not poorer or more miserable people to be found than those which dig +and work <i>Saturn</i> in the Mine; and they say it is to be found in all +Towns and places, wheresoever you come <i>Saturn</i> is there. They say it is +a black thing: What think you, is it not black? They say, it is a dry +water, if Gold or <i>Luna</i> be to be refined upon the test, must it not be +done with <i>Saturn</i>?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> they must be wash'd and tried with it, as a foul +garment is made clean with Sope. They say, in our Stone are the four +Elements, and they say true; for the four Elements may be separated out +of <i>Saturn</i>. They say, our Stone consists of Soul, Spirit and Body, and +these three become one. They say true; when it is made fix'd for the +white <i>Mercury</i> and Sulphur with its Earth, then these three are one.</p> + +<p>Whereby is to be observed, that the Philosophers have said true; they +concealed its Name for the ignorants sake, who are not their Children, +to keep them still in their Ignorance. Thus, my Child, the Ancients took +care to conceal the name of the Stone; now let us return to our purpose.</p> + +<p>You have now <i>Saturn</i> wash'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> and cleansed from all its impurity, and +made as white as Snow, fusible as Wax, but is it not fix'd yet; we will +make it fix the <i>Mercury</i> and Sulphur with its Earth.</p> + +<p>Take a Glass-Vial, put half of your purified <i>Saturn</i> into it, reserve +the other half till you have occasion to use it; lay a polish'd Glass +upon the mouth of the Glass, set it in a Cuple with sifted Ashes upon a +Furnace; or set it on the <i>Tripos</i> of Secrets, or in the Furnace wherein +you calcine Spirits; give it Fire so hot as the heat of the Sun at +<i>Midsummer</i>, and no hotter, either a very little hotter, or a very +little cooler, as you can best hit it. But if you give it a greater +heat, such as you may keep Lead in flux, then your Matter would melt as +if it were Oil; and having stood so, ten or twelve days,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> its Sulphur +would fly away, and your Matter would all be spoiled, for the Sulphur +which is in your Matter is not yet fix'd, but is in the external. +Wherefore the Matter melts presently, and though it be clean, yet it is +not fix'd; wherefore give so gentle a fire to it, that it may not flux; +so keep it six weeks, then take out a little of it, lay it on a glowing +hot Plate, if it immediately melts and fumes, it is not yet fixed, but +if the Matter remain unmelted, the Sulphur is then fix'd which is +therein; then strengthen the Fire notably, till the Matter in the Glass +begins to look yellow, and continually more and more yellow, like to +powdered Saffron, then augment the fire yet stronger, till the Matter +begin to be red, then prosecute your Fire from one degree to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> another, +even as the Powder becomes redder and redder by degrees, so hold on your +Fire, till the Matter be red as a Ruby, then augment the Fire yet more, +that the Matter may be glowing hot, then is it fixt, and ready to pour +the curious Water of Paradise upon it.</p> + +<p>My Child must know, that there are two ways of pouring on the Water of +Paradise; I will teach you to make and prepare both, then may you take +which you will; for the one is half as good again as the other.</p> + +<p>My Child, you may remember, that I ordered you to reserve the one half +of the purified <i>Saturn</i>, which take and put into a Stone-pot, pour upon +it a bottle or more of distilled Wine-Vinegar, set a head on, distil the +Vinegar again from it in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> Bath, the head must have a hole at the top +to pour fresh Vinegar upon the Matter, and abstract the Vinegar again +from it, pour fresh Vinegar again on, and again abstract it, this +pouring on, and abstracting or distilling off must continue so long, +till the Vinegar be drawn off as strong as it was when it was put in, +then is it enough, and the Matter hath in it as much of the Spirit of +Vinegar as it can contain; then take the Pot out of the Bath, take off +the head, and take the Matter out, and put it into a thick glass which +can endure the Fire, set a head on it, put it in a Cuple with Ashes, +which set on a Furnace, first make a small Fire, and so continually a +little stronger, till your Matter come over as red as Bloud, thick as +Oil, and sweet as Sugar, with a Celestial Sent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> then keep it in that +heat so long as it distils, and when it begins to slack, then increase +your Fire till the Glass begin to glow; continu this heat till no more +will distil, then let it cool of it self, take the Receiver off, stop it +very close with Wax, take the Matter out of the Glass, beat it to powder +in an Iron Mortar, with a steel Pestle; and then grind it on a Stone +with good distilled Vinegar, put this Matter so ground into a Pot, poure +good distilled Vinegar upon it, that two parts be full, set the Pot into +a Bath with a head upon it, distil the Vinegar off, poure fresh Vinegar +again upon it, distil it off again: thus do so long, that the Vinegar be +as strong as it was when it was first poured upon it, then let it cool, +take the Matter out of the Bath, take the head off, take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> the Matter out +of the Pot, put it into a stronger round Glass which can endure the +Fire, as you did before, set it upon a Furnace in a Cuple with sifted +Ashes, set a head on, and a Receiver luted to it, then distil it, first +with a small fire, which augment by degrees, till a Matter come over red +as Bloud, and thick as Oyl, as aforesaid; give it fire till no more will +distil, then let it cool of it self, take off the head, break the +glass-pot, and take the Matter out, powder it again, and grind it on a +Stone with distilled Vinegar, put it again into the Stone pot, poure +fresh Vinegar upon it, set it into the Bath, and its head on, distil the +Vinegar from it, poure it on again as hath been taught, till the Vinegar +remain strong as it was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>Reiterate this distillation in the Bath until the Matter hath no more +Spirit of the Vinegar in it, then take it out, set it in a glass-pot, +distil all that will distil forth in ashes, till the Matter become a red +Oil, then have you the most noble water of Paradise, to pour upon all +fix'd stones, to perfect the Stone; this is one way. This water of +Paradise thus distilled, the Ancients called their sharp clear Vinegar, +for they conceal its name.</p> + +<p>My Child, I will now teach you other ways to make the Water of Paradise; +this is an easie way, but not so good, nor doth it that high projection +in humane Medicines, yet it cures all Diseases within and without, but +the other cures miraculously in a short time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><i>The second way of preparing the Water of Paradise.</i></h4> + +<p>My Child, if you would make it after this manner, you must take the half +of your prepared <i>Saturn</i> which I ordered you to keep, upon which poure +the half of your fix'd and prepared Water of Paradise, take the half, +put it into a Stone-pot, poure weak Wine Vinegar upon it, mix it well +together, then take two pounds of calcined <i>Tartar</i>, which is well +clarified by solution and coagulation, so that it leave no more <i>Fæces</i> +behind it, <i>Salt Armoniac</i> one pound, which is likewise so clearly +sublimed, that no <i>Fæces</i> remain after its sublimation, pound both +together to a Powder, put them speedily into a pot, and stop it close +immediately,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> or else it will run out; for so soon as the <i>Tartar</i> and +<i>Salt Armoniac</i> come to the Vinegar, they lift themselves up, and would +immediately run out of the mouth of the pot, wherefore stop the pot +presently, set the pot in a Vessel of Water, they will cool speedily, +otherwise if the cold and hot Matter should come together suddenly, they +would contest together, rise up, and become so hot, that the pot would +break for heat, if it were not set in cold Water; therefore take heed, +when you put the powders in, that you stop it immediately, and set it in +cold Water before you put the other Powder to it, then will they unite, +let them stand a day and a night in that Vessel, then take them out, set +them into a lukewarm Bath two days and nights,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> let it cool of it self, +take the Stopple off from the pot, and set a head on, set the pot in +sifted Ashes, upon a Furnace, distil with a small fire, and continually +greater till all the Vinegar be over, then augment your Fire notably, +till you see quick <i>Mercury</i> drop out of the Pipe, when it ceases to +drop, then augment the Fire by little and little and drive it so long as +it drops; you may observe when it will leave dropping, if in the space +of one or two <i>Pater-nosters</i> one drop doth fall, then augment the Fire +till the pot glow at the bottom, for twelve hours and when the <i>Mercury</i> +is over, then should the <i>Salt Armoniac</i> sublime up into the head, and +the <i>Tartar</i> remain with the Body of <i>Saturn</i> at the bottom of the Pot, +which take out, put it into a Linnen Bag,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> hang it in a moist Cellar, +the <i>Tartar</i> will dissolve, receive it in a Glass, the body of <i>Saturn</i> +remains in the Bag, take it out, and calcine it in a reverberating +Furnace three days and nights, with a great heat, as is taught +elsewhere, then extract the Salt out, as is taught in the Mineral Book. +You may make projection with the Salt, and coagulate your <i>Tartar</i> +again, it will be as good or better than it was, likewise take your +<i>Salt Armoniac</i> out of the Head, it is good again, and if you could have +no <i>Salt Armoniac</i>, then take three pound of calcined <i>Tartar</i>, likewise +so clarified, that it leave no <i>Fæces</i> behind, you then need no <i>Salt +Armoniac</i>, therewith may you likewise extract the <i>Mercury</i> out of +<i>Luna</i> and <i>Jupiter</i>, wherewith you may do wonders, as is taught in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> the +Miner. Book, where is spoken of the Quintessence of Metals.</p> + +<p>Now my Child must know, that this <i>Mercury</i> or Quintessence of <i>Saturn</i> +is as good in all works as the <i>Mercury</i> of <i>Sol</i>, they are both alike +good, and herein all Philosophers agree. My Child, take this <i>Mercury</i> +of <i>Saturn</i>, so drawn out of the Receiver, put it into a Glass Box.</p> + +<p>I have now taught you to make two sorts of the Water of Paradise; and +know, my Child, that the first way is the best; though it be made with +some danger, longer time, and more charge; for the Vinegar is all good, +yet the red Oil is the best; its time is alike unto the end, and though +it be more tedious before you obtain the red Oil, yet it fixes it self +in a short time, if it come to the Matter or fix'd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> Stone, into a simple +Essence in greater redness; but when the <i>Mercury</i> comes to the fix'd +stone, it holds on a long time in ascending and descending before it +die, and when it is quite dead, it makes the red fix'd Stone again into +a fixt colour, so covering the red stone with its coldness, that the red +stone becomes white again, then must you boil it again gently with a +small Fire, till it begin to be yellow, prosecuting the Fire from one +degree to another, as the Colour is higher and stronger, and that so +long till it attain to a perfect redness, which requires a long time +before it be done, which is not requisite in the red Oil; for the red +Oil dies or coagulates forthwith the stone, the one fixing it self with +the other into a simple Essence, in a short time. Therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> I tell +thee, my Child, that the time of the Oyl is alike long in the end, +though it appear to be of a shorter time with the <i>Mercury</i>, but it is +equally long at the end of the Work, therefore I tell you the Art of +both Works, that you may the better understand the Art to make the Oyl +from the innermost Nature of the Stone, which is found afterwards.</p> + +<p>The Oyl was unknown to the Ancients, for my Grandfather with his +Companions found it with great labour and length of time.</p> + +<p>So there are two ways to dissolve the Stone, and to poure upon it the +clear water of Paradise. Our Ancestors called the Oyl their sharp +Vinegar; therefore, my Child, keep the Name private, and I will teach +you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> first of all how you shall join the <i>Mercury</i> to your Stone, which +you extracted out of <i>Saturn</i>, to dissolve it; afterwards I will teach +you to bring over the helm that red Oil which you extracted out of your +prepared <i>Saturn</i>, into a fixt stone, to dissolve your stone.</p> + +<p>My Child, weigh your fixt stone, take half as much of your <i>Mercury</i>, +poure it upon the stone in the Glass, cover the Glass again with a +polish'd Glass which may just fit it, set it in a Cuple with sifted +Ashes, make a small Fire like the Suns heat at <i>Midsummer</i>, and give no +more Fire to it, until the Water of Paradise or <i>Mercury</i> become all a +dead Powder. And know, my Child, that the red or fixt Stone, which +before was darkned, when it hath drunk up the Water of Paradise,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> or +<i>Mercury</i>, or how you will call it, that it be a Powder between black +and gray, then augment the Fire from one degree to another, till the +Matter be perfect white, and when it is white, strengthen the Fire yet +more, from one degree to another, till it be of a dark yellow Colour, +then make it yet stronger, till it be of a perfect red; then rejoice, +for your Stone is perfect, and fluxible as Wax. Praise God, who gives +unto us part of his Miracles; and do good to the poor; you may see it +with your fleshly Eyes, and use Gods goodness miraculously in this +corrupt Life, for I tell you in good Charity, that if any one +principally attain to this Stone, that it is given, afforded, and lent +him from God. Whosoever hath this Stone, may live in a healthful state, +to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> last term of his Life, appointed him by God, and may have all +whatsoever he desires on Earth.</p> + +<p>He shall be loved and esteemed of all people, for he can cure them all +internally and externally of all Diseases which may befall them; but if +the Stone doth not so, it is false, and deserves not the name of the +Vegetable Stone, or Philosophers Stone.</p> + +<p>Therefore my Child, if God give you this Stone, look diligently to it, +that you keep your self from offending God, that you make not this Stone +on earth to be your Heaven; govern and rule your self to Gods glory and +to the comfort of poor people, that Gods praise may be augmented, to the +defence of the Christian Religion, and to the relief of poor exiled +Christians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> I tell you, my Child, if you use it otherwise, God will +leave you here a little while to your own Will, but afterwards he will +speedily send a punishment, either you shall be struck dead, or die by a +Fall; or die some other sudden death, and go Body and Soul to Hell, and +be damned eternally, for your Ingratitude to God, who so graciously +vouchsafed you so precious and great a Gift.</p> + +<p>Therefore, my Child, look carefully to it, so to govern your self to +Gods Glory, and the Salvation of your Soul, that the eternal Curse may +not fall upon you; and therefore I have left you this Writing as my +Testament. Enough hath been said to the wise, therefore look to your +self.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><i>The Multiplication of the Stone now perfected.</i></h4> + +<p>Now my Child, you may take the half of your Powder, put it into a Glass +and melt it, have in readiness a Mould made hollow, of Box-wood, great +or small as you please, it must be made smooth and even within with an +Instrument, anoint it with Oil Olive, and when your red Powder is +flux'd, poure it into the Mould, it will be a precious Stone, red as a +Ruby, clear and transparent, take it out of the Mould, and make +projection upon the imperfect Metals, and in the Body of Man.</p> + +<p>Take ten times as much of prepared <i>Saturn</i> as I taught you before, by +Coagulation and Solution,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> till it leave no <i>Fæces</i> behind, then take +your precious red Powder out of the Glass, that two parts be full, set +it into your warm Bath, and let it dissolve: when any thing is +dissolved, decant off that which is clear on the top into another Glass, +poure other Vinegar upon it, let it dissolve again as before, decant and +poure fresh Vinegar upon it so often, till all be dissolved into a clear +Water, which is done usually in ten or twelve days, then set all that +which is dissolved into a Bath, and a head upon it, distil the Vinegar +from it again, and coagulate the Matter so long till it be dry and +shine, then put it into another Glass, which set upon a Furnace in a +Cuple with sifted Ashes, laying a polish'd Glass upon the Mouth of the +Glass.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>My Child, know that your Matter is become fixt with the Stone in the +solution, make an indifferent hot fire in the furnace, so hot as the +heat of the Sun at <i>Midsummer</i>, or somewhat hotter; till the Matter +begin to be yellow, then go on with the Fire from one degree to another, +till you have a perfect yellow, then increase the Fire from one degree +to another, till you have a perfect redness, which is quickly done, in +half the time for the colour to come, and in the multiplication, but +operate as before in the beginning, and poure Paradise water upon the +Stone, as was taught you before in this Work, boil and mortifie it in +every point to a perfect redness as hath been taught.</p> + +<p>Then may you again take half of it out, and make projection<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> therewith, +and multiply the other half again in all points as abovesaid, so may you +always continue working.</p> + +<p>Now I will teach you the other way, and the best that is to water your +red fixt Stone or powder with the red Oil, that it be fusible; you must +know how much your red powder weighs, then take half the weight of your +red Oil, to the full weight of the Stone, and poure it upon the red +powder, and when the Oil is poured into the Glass, you may set a small +head on, upon a Furnace in sifted Ashes, joining a Receiver to the Nose +of the head, make a small fire under it, as the heat of the Sun in +<i>March</i>, and no hotter; for there is yet some moisture of the Vinegar in +the Oil, that it may be abstracted, continue it in that heat, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> can +perceive no moisture in the Head, then augment the fire a little, as the +heat of the Sun at <i>Midsummer</i>, and if there be yet more moisture in it, +you will perceive it in the head, but if you perceive it not in 6 or 8 +days, then take the head off, and lay the polish'd Glass again upon the +mouth of your Glass, increase the fire, that you can scarce endure your +hand or finger in the Ashes an <i>Ave-Mary</i> while, continue the fire in +that heat till the red Oil be all fixt with the Powder in the Glass, +which you may know thus;</p> + +<p>Take a little of the powder out of the Glass, lay it on a glowing Silver +Plate, if the powder melts as wax, and penetrates through the Plate as +Oil doth through a dry Leather, and makes it Gold throughout, as far as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +the powder went, then is the Stone finish'd, and if it do not this, you +must then let it stand in that heat till it do so without fuming.</p> + +<p>Now, my Child, when the Stone is finish'd, take half of it out of the +Glass, put it into a Glass melting-pot, and melt the powder gently, +which should be done presently, for it melts as Wax; and being melted, +poure it into the Mould of Box-wood as aforesaid, it will be a red stone +clear and transparent as Crystal, red as a Ruby, then make projection +therewith, and set the other half again to multiply.</p> + +<p>Then take in Gods Name twenty parts of <i>Saturn</i>, which is prepared by +Solution and Coagulation, till it leave no more <i>Fæces</i> behind, as hath +been said at the beginning. Dissolve these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> twenty parts of <i>Saturn</i>, +dissolve by itself in a Glass with distilled Vinegar; likewise dissolve +the powder of your Stone alone by it self in a Glass with distilled +Vinegar, and when both are dissolved into clear water, poure both the +Solutions together into a great Glass, set it into a Bath, a head on, +and a Receiver to it, distil the Vinegar from it in the boiling Bath, +till the Matter be dry, then let it cool of itself, put it into a Glass, +lay a polish'd Glass over the mouth of the Glass, and set it into a +Furnace in a Cuple with sifted Ashes, make a fire under it like to the +Suns heat in <i>March</i>, till the powder be perfect white, which is quickly +done.</p> + +<p>Then augment your fire from one degree to another, till the Matter +become yellower and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> yellower, to a perfect yellow; then increase it yet +stronger, from one degree to another, till it be redder and redder, to a +perfect redness; then poure your water upon the red powder with the red +Oil, or with the water of Paradise, or with the clear sharp Vinegar, or +call it how you will, doing in all points as hath been taught, till the +red powder flux like Wax upon a Silver Plate, without fuming, +penetrating it as Oil doth dry Leather, that it become good Gold within +and without; then render thanks unto God, be obedient to him for his +Gifts and Graces.</p> + +<p>You may again take one half out of the Glass, and make projection, +setting the other half in again, as hath been taught, so may you work +all your Life-time, for the poor, and perform other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> duties to Gods +Glory, and Salvation of your Soul, as I have said before; enough to the +wise.</p> + + +<h4><i>Projection upon Metal.</i></h4> + +<p>Know, my Child, how and in what manner you must use this Stone, which +makes projection upon <i>Mercury</i>, and all imperfect Metals and Bodies of +<i>Mars</i>, <i>Jupiter</i> and <i>Venus</i>, whereof make Plates glowing hot, whereon +straw the Stone, and lay Coals on for a season, that the Stone may +penetrate, but the Stones must be made quick with Gold, and <i>Jupiter</i> +also, which is very laborious, as is taught in the projection. But you +must project upon <i>Saturn</i> or <i>Luna</i>, which need not be made quick, only +flux them, and cast one part upon a thousand parts, it will be a +Medicine, cast one part of these thousand parts upon ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> parts, it will +be the best Gold that ever was seen on earth.</p> + + +<h4><i>Its Use in Physick.</i></h4> + +<p>This Stone cures all Leprous people, Plague, and all Diseases which may +reign upon Earth, or befal Mankind; this is the true <i>Aurum potabile</i>, +and the true Quintessence which the Ancients sought; this is what thing +whereof the whole Troop of Philosophers speak so wondrously, using all +possible skill to conceal its Name and Operation, as aforesaid.</p> + +<p>Take of this Stone the quantity of a Wheat-corn, lay it in a little good +Wine in a small Glass, half full, or a quarter full, make the Wine warm, +the Stone will melt like Butter, and the Wine will be red as Bloud, and +very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> sweet in your mouth, as ever you tasted; for to speak +comparatively, it is so sweet in taste that Honey and Sugar may be +compared as Gall to it; give this unto the Patient to drink, lay him in +Bed, but lay not too many cloaths upon him, the Stone hastens forthwith +to the heart, expelling thence all ill humors, thence dilating it self +through all the Arteries and Veins of the whole Body, rousing up all +humours, the party will sweat, for the Stone opens all the pores of the +Body, and drives forth all humours thereby, so that the Patient will +seem to have been in the Water, yet will this sweating not make him +sicker, for the Stone expels only what is adverse to Nature, preserving +what is consonant unto it in its being, therefore the Patient is not +sicker or weaker;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> but the more he sweats the stronger and lustier will +he be, the Veins will be lighter, and the Sweat continues till all evil +Humours be driven out of the Body, and then it ceases.</p> + +<p>The next day you shall take of it the quantity of a Wheat-corn, in warm +Wine again, you will go to stool immediately, and that will not cease so +long as you have any thing in your Body which is contrary to Nature, and +the more Stools the Patient hath, the stronger and lighter at heart will +he be; for the Stone drives nothing forth but what is adverse and +prejudicial to Nature.</p> + +<p>The third day give the like quantity in warm Wine, as aforesaid; it will +so fortifie the Veins and Heart, that the party will not think himself +to be a Man, but rather a Spirit, all his Members<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> will be so light and +lively, & if the party will take the like quantity of a Wheat-Corn every +day for the space of nine days, I tell you, his Body will be as +spiritual as if he had been nine days in the terrestrial Paradise, +eating every day of the Fruit, making him fair, lusty, and young; +therefore use this Stone weekly, the quantity of a Wheat-Corn with warm +Wine, so shall you live in health unto the last hour of the time +appointed for you by God.</p> + +<p>What say you, my Child, is not this the true <i>Aurum potabile</i>, and the +true Quintessence, and the thing which we seek? It is a spiritual thing, +a Gift which God bestows upon his Friends, therefore, my Child, do not +undertake this Divine Work, if you find your self in deadly Sins, or +that your intent be otherwise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> than to Gods Glory, and to perform those +things which I taught you before.</p> + +<p>I tell you truly, you may see the Work, or begin it, but I am certain +you shall never accomplish it, nor see the Stone, God will order it so, +it will break, fall, or some one Disaster or other will happen, that you +shall never see the Stone, or accomplish it. Therefore if you find +yourself otherwise, do not begin the work, for I know assuredly, you +will lose your Labour; wherefore deceive not yourself. Enough to the +wise.</p> + + +<h4><i>Its Use in External Diseases.</i></h4> + +<p>My Child, there are some people who have external Distempers on their +Bodies, as Fistulaes, Cancers, Wolf, or evil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> Biles, or Holes, be they +what or how they will, <i>&c.</i> give him the weight of one Wheat-Corn to +drink in warm Wine two days, as is taught before, the whole body within +and without shall be freed from all which is adverse to Nature, and you +shall deal with the open Sores thus;</p> + +<p>Take a Drachm of the Stone, seeth it in a pottle of Wine in a Glass, the +space of two or three <i>Pater-nosters</i>, that the Stone may melt, the Wine +will be as red as Bloud, therewith wash the Sores morning and evening, +laying a thin Plate of Lead over, in a short time, as in ten or twelve +days the Sores will be whole; and give him every day the quantity of a +Wheat-Corn, in warm wine till he be well. If they be Fistulaes or other +concave Holes, that you cannot come at them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> to wash them, then take a +Silver Syringe, and inject of that wine into them, it will heal home, as +aforesaid.</p> + +<p>And if one had a pound of the rankest Poison in the world in his Body, +and immediately drink a Drachme thereof in warm Wine, the poison shall +forthwith evacuate by siege, together with all the evil Humors in his +Body.</p> + +<p>My Child, here ends the most noble and precious Work which is in the +Vegetable Book; on whomsoever God bestows this Stone, needs no other +thing, in this World, therefore keep it as close and well as you can, to +Gods Glory, who grant that we may walk in his obedience, <i>Amen</i>.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4><i>God is blessed in his works.</i></h4> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>FINIS.</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Of Natural and Supernatural Things, by +Basilius Valentinus + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL THINGS *** + +***** This file should be named 26340-h.htm or 26340-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/3/4/26340/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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