Eagle Sulphur W. C. Regeneration Redemption Glorification No Man's happy before his Death MerCVry's BIrth 's best after 's Death MerCVrI's LIfe VVas pVrg'D by strIfe All 's in Mercury that the wise men seek If thou dissolv'st the Fixt and mak'st it fly And mak'st the flying fixt live safe thereby Dissolve Congeal and Fix which being fixt will fix And so being fusibly Ting'd will Tinge and Mix. If Wind be made of Gold 'T is worth a hundred fold The Wiâ—d blow th where it list th Receiv't they that can Laurum Amice Eligis Rus. Signaculum Mundi Pythagoricum IEHOVA FECIT OMNIA EX NIHILO 〈…〉 SECVLA SECVLORVM AMEN AMEN Bonum Infinitum I MVNDVS ARCHETYPVS DEVS IEHOVA Bonum Finitum II ANGELICVS III ETHEREVS IIII ELEMENTARIS HOMO COELVM 1 Mercurius 4 Stellae 6 Angeli AQVA 2 Sal 5 Metalla 4 Pisces TERRA 3 Sulphur 5 Lapides 6 Bestia AER 6 Meteores 4 Aues 5 Plantae Malum V IGNIS INFERNALIS SATAN Ignis Procellae Inane Tenebrae Abijss CHAOS CHAP. I. A plain and full explanation of the aforesaid Epitaph Scutcheons and Motto's of W. C. As well for the Philosophers Stone as his own Tomb-stone THis Epitaph is literally the work of Philosophers and yet may revive the old useful Adigy and Motto upon this Authors Tomb-stone to remember thy end For as this flourishing signifies this Author W C. being a Mercurialist tired of all worldly Inquinaments So it illustrates all the â—lanets and their Mercury and the universal Spirit and Mercury of the World and the specificks of Nature and no less the true Mercury of Philosophers for this work free from all filthy corruptions well fitted and put naked without Garb or any strange thing into its Glass and private Philosophical Nest or Vessel as into a Grave and Coffin with constant vapourous heat for Putrifaction and its true preparation rectification and perfection orderly through its progression of Colours till it come to the true Sulphur of Philosophers which in the interim makes good that Philosophick saying â—st iter ad Coelum sed me gravis impedit Aer Et me perfudit qui me cito deserit humor Huic mihi sunt Lachrymae sed non est causa doloris c. Englished thus It tends to Heaven but the gross Air hinders And moisture falne quickly turns to Cinders Hence comes these Tears though there 's no cause of grief For they but nourish th' Earth gave them relief And though Worms feed upon my Carkass here My Soul 's in Heaven with my Saviour Dear Thus it may appear double you see or one in two Male and Female Superiour and inferiour Gross and Subtil Coelestial and Terrestrial Sulphur and Mercury Water and Earth Corruptible and Incorruptible or Spiritual And so the parts also are three Body Soul and Spirit Sal Sulphur and Mercury ☉ ☽ ☿ Calx Ferment and Tincture and the very Mercury may be termed threefold preparing prepared and essential and according to Ripley and Raimund calcining reviving and essential So likewise it may be termed four for the Water and Earth which are two visible Elements comprehend Fire and Air which are the four Elements which are turned inside outward whereby they shew their effects and properties Thus Terra Stat. unda Lavat pyr Purgat Spiritus intrat The Earth fastens Moist washeth Fire purgeth and Spirit enters In and for which also there are four Fires used Natural against Nature Innatural and Elemental all which at the last will make a fifth Essence and so by a perfect Ternary Quadrate and Quintessential Process from one two three four and five It returns again into one most perfect spiritual sub â—ance and so is Reunited and raised to a perfect Circular Centre a fixt fusible and incorruptible Medicine to make the true Elixir of Philosophers opening and shutting â—t pleasure giving the â—eys of happiness to all that shall enjoy it to enter to a Kingdom of Health Wealth and Honour and shutting out all ignorant dark Bodies and Spirits Thus then at last this Medicine may obtain the name and number intimated by W. C. which as it is this Authors name who is but one in Person and in Figures twice five hundred so is the Medicine but one in substance and in virtue twice five hundred or a thousand For this cause the Jews thought Christ to be John Baptist risen from the Dead and therefore did such mighty works And this we know saith St. Paul that such as he is such like shall we be at the Resurrection if we have his Spirit and follow him in pious Obedience Patience and Humility So that in this Epitaph as well as by the said Scutcheons and Motto's is plainly set forth the divine and natural Stone of the Wise-men with their Sulphur and Mercury though to be understood with a grâ—in of Salt and likewise the Moral Natural and mortal fate of Man The whole Art therefore of this Philosophy is to begin where Nature ends and to take what you find most ready and perfect in Nature and that which is nearest of kin and intirely separate the Heterogeneal gross parts and congregate the Homogeneal make them Essential and separate the Elements kill the Quick and quicken the Dead and Circulate Fix and Ferment all to the highest degree of Exalâ—ation and Philosophical Sublimation and Perfection As Ripley saith Kill the Quick and to the Dead give Life Make Trinity one without any Strife Thus opening and shutting by Ixions Wheel in heavenly mansion both in a natural and artificial vessel till it come to the greatest perfection and number if not Infinite And now note though most Philosophers in their Writings have concealed their true privy Mercury Fire Vessel Time and Bath Yet here thou maist easily find all the Secret If God have ordained thee to be helpful towards the Redemption of his poor Creatures groaning under their burdens of Oppressions and Mortality Now as this Epitaph doth thus set forth the true Elixir of Philosophers and mans Mortality so likewise these Scutcheons or Hyeroglifical Figures you see do the same in the honourable Pedegree of the Philosophick true Medicine or Golden fleece as well for the Life and Health of mans Body as Metalls both in the Elements and Principles of the said Elixir and in its Coelestial and Terrestrial parts proceeding from their Saline Chaos or first mercurial matter and their glorified Sulphur to their Coelestial Sphears of Multiplication Fermentation and Projection and so they and their Motto's agree sincerely with all the Philosophick sayings and intentions namely thus Some Philosophers would have it one thing and affirm that the Salt of Metals is the Philosophers Stone Others say all 's in Mercury that the Wise-men seek and again others do teach that the whole Art depends in and upon the true preparation of their Sulphur as being the most perfect of the three principles whose Orbs must be thrice turned about as in my three Figures and Coelestial Wheels
and some would have it one thing comprising the nature of two as a Hermophradite or Embrio moreover some would have it absolutely two things as Male and Female Fire and Water or Water and Earth Sulphur and Mercury or Heaven and Earth Some likewise would have it consist of three Salt Sulphur and Mercu y ☉ ☽ ☿ Body Soul and Spirit Others would have it the four Elements and say the Conversion of them is the whole work And some again would have it a fifth Essence and Quintessential Spiritual Body and say their Mastery and Mistery consists in these five numbers 1 2 3 4 5. as in my said Epitaph and Circular Scutcheons appear thus comprehended in and by the Chaos and Products The Chaos in th' Excentrick Centre still Hath death's Heads Ternary Crows or owly Bill Whose square Face under Times confused Glass Of Fire and Water six days Angles pass Within the Spiny Bush Expansion till A Sabatean Rest makes all stand still After each Colour fram'd to th' owners praise Then all things multiply to the end of days The two in number are but one in kind And four in Nature three in one do bind And then the Quintessence wheels thrice in'ts Sphear To conquer all the Mortals every where Which Waters thus takes name from Icarus the lofty Eaglâ—s Son and Dedalus Philosophers true Sulphur and Mercury their uâ—ctuous Tincture and their water Dry. The Owl appears in darkness Yellowish Red And white are seen upon the Gooses Head The Bird of Paradise and Phoenix fly Which Starry brightness in th' Adeptists Skye Through Milkie Paths up to the Moon and Sun To multiply till the Adept have done Then each that 's worthy come and Feast you here With Apollo Hermes and â—inervah s Chear For here is Nectar and Ambrosia still Vnder these Hyerogliphicks take your fill All which nevertheles I acknowledge is really but one onely thing or Essence in the Root viz. the Philosophers ☿ although out of two or three particulars or more in kind and one operation of several parts as in my said Epitaph and Circular Figures comprised Nay indeed may be but one onely particular thing and one continued simple and single operation when duely prepared and superfluities removed But if one onely thing be taken then it is divided into several parts or if several things be taken they are brought to one and so may it be said of the Operation which all being but one the Philosophers nevertheless are pleased to distinguish it by its several Progressions Colours and Properties intimated by and within the said three figured Circles and their Titles all agreeing with this old Aenygma of Vitriol which being in many of the Metallick kind is and hath but one thing or substance and although but one yet may be opened divided and have several parts and being done be brought to one again in one single and simple operation of Nature Thus V. I. T. R. I. O. L. V. M. Visitabis Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam Visit the interiours of Earth Rectifying And you shall find the hid Stone and true Medicine And like it agreeing with this work of Palyugenius which hath two Hunc Juvinem Arcadium Insidum nimiúmque fugacem Prendite immersum stygiis occidite Lymphis Post Hiales Gremio impositum Deus excipiat Quem â—emnia Terra colit sublatumque in Cruce figat Tunc sepelite utero in calido dissolvite putrem Cujus stillantes Artus de corpore nostro Spiritus egrediens penetrabit ordine miro Paulatim extinctum nigâ—is revocabit ab umbris Aurata indutum Clamydâ—n Argentoque nitentem Projicite hunc demum in prunas Renovabiter alter Vt Phoenix quae tangit perfecta relinquit Corpora Naturae leges faedera vincens Mutabit species paupertatemque fugabit Englished thus Take this Arcadian slippery â—ad who 's apt to fly And in the Glittering Stygian Lake drown'd let him dye When Hiâ—ls juices in his breast God saves him from loss Whom Lemnian Earth doth nourish lift up fix t' a Cross Then in a warm Cave buried dissolve what 's Rotten From whose Synews drops of this our Body 's gotten Spirits will Piâ—rce and orderly from shades bring out This Offspring cloth'd with Gold and Silver round about At length project this on live Coals and you 'l soon see Another Phoenix like thereby renew d to be Which with its onely touch perfects all Bodies here Past the strict bond and laws of Natures Sphear And will change the Species to a higher degree Whereby all Grief may cease and Poverty shall flee And yet understand me rightly concerning the said work and matter of Philosophers that Gold for certain is the principle of Gold-making powder be it in what subject or appearance it will even as Fire is the principle of Firing For nothing can give what it hath not In Auro semina sunt Auri. As Augurellus and others testifie In Gold is the seed of Gold And even the same may be said of Lune when 't is a Masculine And their Mercury is the ground of both and contains all three and is the Earth in which it is sown and from whence it takes its original and is of their own Nature But this must be living Gold or Silver and not the common Gold or Silver which are Dead or the common fowl Quick silver And indeed these are more universal cheap common and easie to be had then most men even some Philosophers do think which caused Ingenious and Learned Taulodanus to write against the Subject of that worthy old Philosopher Bracescus though both true Philosophers and their several Subjects true and this made Claveus in his Chrysopeia and Argyropeia to doubt of some of Lullie's Processes For these Principles are to be found in one subject and in divers having a Golden Nature as Dunstan Arnold Guido Ripley Raimund Glauber and others do testiâ—e and more ways are to the Wood then one For out of every or any particular Metallick or Mineral Species may by due Philosophick preparation be extracted the subject for the Philosophers Stone and every Chymical work called particular may by purification good preparation sutable fixation volatisation and exaltation be made a universal work for Multiplication Nay out of every Element and Principle of and in Nature and almost every abject thing whatsoever may be extracted a Sulphurous Sol Lune or Mercury enlivened for the Philosophers work And St. Devogius affirms that the said first matter of Philosophers is easier to be touched with the hand then discerned or found by subtilty of Wit or Sophistick imaginations and saith he told it the Process literally to some who nevertheless had not confidence therein for the meanness of the same and therefore left it without trial And certainly the Antecedent and Primordial Ens Auri is in every Element and Principle the which are never so simple but out of each the other may
Souls and Life out of Nature and that from Heaven through the Wind and Air from which all that hath breath doth live und feed as through the forth-going breath of the VVord contained in the second Principle for the word of God feeds every Spirit Life and Body with its breath or blowing upon because Life is in the word which beareth all things by his power even as it hath Created all things Now as all things consist of Body Soul and Spirit so they have three sorts of food to their ilfe substance the bodily food to the body out of the Elements as from that which cometh out of the waters and out of the Earth whence also the body doth come is taken and is made The soulish food to the Soul Life in every thing out of Nature through both the Elements of VVind and Air from whence also the Life and Soul doth bome The Spiritual food to the Spirit and that from God at from whom the Spirit is namely each Spirit according to its measure and to the Spirit in every way this food cometh from Heaven through the Spirit and Light as from the three Spiritual Elements from whence also the Spirit did come Nature doth assemble it self in her Spirits Life and body to the wind Air and water The Angelical world in its body is no earth as the Elementary is but it is the right body of the water out of which it subsisteth and that body is here beneath with us ICE but above it is an Angelical earth like unto a Christal And in a word it is a most noble Salt of Life fertile or constant or firm over all and is the Paradise in it self It is an Angelical Air which doth not fetch breath there as the living Soul for the Life of Nature is Eternal in regard of the end but it liveth and moveth in the Virtue of Gods word Eternally sine respiratione or without breathing Therefore death cannot Reign in the Angelical world over the Nature and over the Tree of Life but is rather overcome by it how much more by God for the Tree of Life stands unmoveable Therefore by the breaking of the fruit of this Tree at the glorious coming of Christ all shall come from death to life and shall be freed and redeemed from death Devil and Curse Lastly in its Spirit also it is of an Angelical Spirit by the power of the word and Testimony of God Thus namely that the Dragon hath no power over it but is conquered by the Spirit of the same is cast out and quite extruded and cast away How much more thâ—n by God Therefore seeing the Nature in her Spirit is the wind of the Almighty and a going forth of the Light in which God dwelleth and cannot come to that evil one or may not fall into an evil neither may it be blasted or poisoned by the breath of the old Serpent The Divine world in its being is compared to the most noble body of the water and earth as it were to a Heavenly body which is and are an Essential Spiritual Salt as the most noble and pure Gems precious stones and glistering Gold In its Life it is the breath of the Almighty a Soul and Life proceeding out of the mouth of God in and to an Eternal Life and in its Spirit the Spirit of the Lord it self who is God praised for ever God is the Spirit the Nature is the Soul or the Life and the Elements are the Body But be it known that each world hath its proper Nature and Element and that the one world is never changed into the other neither can it be altered nor one Principle general into another Now each Principle hath its proper Spirit Life and Body CHAP. V. Of the third general Principle namely of the Element GOd himself is all in all out of him are all things according to the Spirit by him are all things according to the word and to him are all things according to the Providence or Confidence Rom. 11. 36. Wisd 1. 7. Chap. 12. 1. Gen. 1. John 1. Psal 104. 27 28. 136. 25. 145. 15 16. The nature is all but not in all because she is not in God who hath his own Nature and the Elements also are not all but something only which is a Salt This something is from God after the Spirit from Nature after the Life and Soul and from the Spiritual water after the body And again the water out of the Salt each world is and doth flow out of the other The Nature stands to the Angelical world and is a flowing out of the divine world and the Elementary world is an overflowing of the Nature and Angelical world Lastly Man cometh forth out of the three worlds and is the concentred or conjoyned Centrum of all the worlds There are seven Elements or Powers of the world as Spirit Wind Air and Water Light Heaven and Earth and are such by which in and through which this world consists and subsists and without which it cannot subsist These seven Elements are Created out of such a one which in the Elementary world are all in all and are incorruptible namely Salt which is an excretion of Nature Execrementum quasi sobriè sumptum whereby in this world all things bodily subsist and are preserved Now there is a threefold Salt namely a Spiritual soulish and a Bodily and Palpable The Bodily is fixt and permanent both in Water and Fire Whence we know out of what wherein and whereby all things stand firm and constant both in the Water and the Fire that they may not be drowned and wherewith they are closed up The Soulish Salt is flying because life and Soul is in it and the growth of all whereby all things receive both body and life but when it cometh down again and turneth to the fixed Salt again then they receive Life But the Spiritual Salt is a right true essence and in this world the most noble Being of all Being Spiritus universi the Spirits of the Elements and their Light and Heaven in its Essence The Spiritual Salt dwelleth in the Spirit Light and Heaven and giveth to the body of the Resurrection as Spiritual from the Spirit Light and Heaven The Volans or flying Salt dwelleth in the Wind Air Rain and Dew this giveth out of wind and air to the body after death The fixed Corporeal Salt dwelleth in water and earth out of which this our body doth subsist But Salt is the right fixed Salt and the right water of Life which is a dry water and together water and Earth in which the air and wind is secretly hid and also the Heavens Light and Spirit in its depths which are then the seven Powers of the Element and world and all seven may easily undeniably and manifestly to the eye be demonstrated if the same be Anatomized This only Element of all Elements is a Power of all Powers in this World The Salt is an Excrement
of Nature by the Word of God and is bodily a seed of the water and all Elements from whence the water did spring or proceed or flow by the breathing of the Spirit of the Lord for a seed to all the world and abundantly increased by the moving of the Spirit of the Lord so that the whole Earth is formed out of it The fixed Salt is threefold as in the Earth in the Water and in Heaven The flying Salt also as in Rain Water and Dew Air and Wind. The Essential also is threefold as in the light Spirit and upper water The waters supplie three places or degrees for out of them them the world did subsist which is remarkeable always the one is hid in the other The flying Salt is the Key and openeth with it descending in the Spring that every thing raiseth from the dead greeneth and groweth and with its ascending in the Harvest shutteth them again The Elements are threefold namely Spiritual Soulish and Bodily There are three of the Spiritual Elements as bodily the Heaven Soulish the light and Spiritual the Spirit The Soulish are twofold as Wind and Air. The bodily also as Water and Earth Always the one is hid in the other and the one always comprehends the other six in it and always the one of them is bodily manifest visible and knowing or palpable but the other six are hid in it Each Element also in it self is threefold as spiritual soulish and bodily The spiritual earth is and are the Precious stones or Jewels and that is the body of the Spirit The soulish earth is the gold the spiritual water bodily are the Pearls the soulish is the Amber afterwards the Corals bodily In all these dwell many Powers especially if out of water and spirit by means of the Fire they are made new and spiritual All Elements are in the one with all their Powers which is a spiritual Rock out of which the water of Life doth spring to all Creatures and ebbeth and floweth in the whole world and filleth up Elementarily all in all And when in the end of the world this one is taken away from them then all the Elements are consumed in and by the fire CHAP. VI. Of the three special Principles Spirit Wind and Water THe three special Principles as far as they are Principles come according to their Original as the spirit from God the wind from the Nature and the water from the Rocks and Wells of the Element Every body in the Elementary world is out of the water even also Heaven and Earth All living soul and breath is from the wind in all bodies and all spirits are from the spirit The spirit hath by it the light and Heaven the wind the air the water the earth Now as every thing hath its original so it is of the same fed nourished and thither it returneth again Now the water is a gathered concentred and bodily palpable air The air is a soft sensible bodily gathered wind And the wind is a living gathered spirit But the spirit is such an out-spoken word which Createth and maketh some living thing so that it stands there essentially where it was before Psal 104. 29 30. In the beginning of the Creation the spirit moved on the water by which moving is understood the wind by which the spirit hath breathed on the waters and made them fertile for the Creation of the world All things that are move and have a Being have their original from the one infini eternal Father EHEVE JEHOVAH and JESSE which is the essential self-subsisting living word which is and was in the beginning and remaineth everlastingly to which word all other things are just nothing Through it all things are Created are preserved nourished and fed in their spirit and life as through the breath of the Almighty 4 Esd 16. 13. Heb. 1. 3. Mat. 4. 4. Now by the three special Principles as spirit wind and water which are Elements also all Creation is finished not only because they are the means by which the general Principles do work but also because they contain in them the right seed of all things and the same in the only true Element of which we made mention afore For these three bear in their body all Salt and feed fixed and flying and essential as also Heaven and Earth with all that is therein and bring forth into the world each to its proper self-subsisting or substance Now as all is produced out of the special Principles according to the Creation and Nativity But the sin with the curse and corruption hath made all evil so must all that is born anew return to water wind spirit and out of the spirit and spiritual water must by the wind be born anew to the Image of the Coelestials yet so that in their glory they be no other then Angelical and divine and bear the Image of the Coelestials This new birth goeth out of the upper waters and out of a Coelestial earth to speak Elementarily and are nothing else but salt There is another birth also that goeth out of the fire and is done in pain and torment The new birth out of the water and through the water is done in drowning by water to death That out and in the earth is done through death and Corruption The birth out of the fire as a contrary element is done in and through the fire in Hell Every new birth and regeneration is done through the spirit as also every Creation and alteration The new birth out of the water is done when water is to be poured upon that which shall be new born which the bad contrary elementary doth drown kill and reduceth to nothing And on the contrary stirreth up the good draweth it out and maketh it glorious and distinguisheth the good from the bad rejecteth the bad and chooseth the good and keeps it The new birth out of earth is done when a thing is reduced to its proper earth dyeth and putrifieth therein then afterward cometh forth again and riseth out of the earth with a new and spiritual body and parteth with the naughty and corrupted The new birth in the fire is done when all is cast into the fire and that which doth not hold fire is consumed by degrees and only that which is spiritual remaineth and is saved and then afterward the new birth with a spiritual body cometh forth 1 Cor. 3 13 14 15. 1 Pet. 4 6. Although we speak here Physically and Elementarily yet understanding men will judge Theologically and the Wise may search Physically how every thing hath its true Earth Water and Fire and so mark and observe this mystery Now is the Spirit Wind and Water by which all things in the world are effected These the word sendeth forth to all Creations Births and Alterations These are never quiet for they are by and with the Word the Perpetuum Mobile as above was mentioned and co-operate continually into the Light Heaven Air and
Earth which four Elements stand still unmoveable into which the three special Principles do overflow with their body soul and spirit as to the Water Wind and Spirit and work out all and finish the same The water is as it were the Element the Wind is like as Angelical and the Nature and the Spirit is Divine CHAP. VII Of the particular principles Body Soul and Spirit Wâ—th those are the Principles inclosed and consists in a threefold Trinity and always one produceth another and stand always orderly in their subordinates and agree together that they make up a true and whole Harmony and are enclosed at last in the Light Life and Love The body of all them is and consists out of the water also the Earth the Water out of the Wind the Wind out of the Spirit and the Spirit oâ—t of God There is a threefold body namely a sensible or palpable out of Water and Earth a Soulish out of Wind and Air and a spiritual out of Heaven Light and Spirit So is an Elementary hody an Angelical and a Divine very well to be distinguished on man Further the Soul is corporeal out of the Air from whence it is fed also and soulish out of the Wind and Spiritual out of the Light The Spirit is Corporeal out 〈◊〉 from the Heaven Soulish out of the Light and spiritual out of the spirit of the Elements out of the Nature and of God according as the Creature is Out of these three general Principles Man hath also a threefold spirit according to his measure and is the perfectest creature Always one body dwelleth in the other and as soon as one body is dissolved and broken in the same moment another and more noble body is manifest and that in all things If now the body becometh nobler needs must the Spirit be more noble high and glorious But this is the body after which the wise do seek Namely the Salt which containeth all in it self This body they drown in a Water which floweth out of the Centrum of the Vegetables and draw out all vertues which afterward come together in a celestial spiritual body and afford that precious jewel All things that are killd and dye naturally are drownd in a cold Saturnine Water for all natural death is done by coldness but what is kill'd in the Fire without a Saturnine Water is not fit to Nature for a better state Only the Salt we seek in the fire and then through the Water and afterwards cleanse and purifie it with the Baptism of Fire and of Water We should therefore six our thoughts on the water and use the fire very carefully because it is a contrary Element before which nothing can subsist but only the Salt This is the true body of all Elements and of all things in the whole world if that be taken away thâ—â— all perisheth quickly and the Gold it self also in the Fire This is the right Heaven wherein dwell all powers and is in all things in the whole world their Heaven and is compared to the Tree of Life in Paradise Now the soul according to the highest degree is out of the nature According to the second degree from the Light and according to the third degree out of the Wind. These are the Principles of the living soul soul and spirit are distinct as God and Nature Spirit and Wind as Angel and living soul yea as spirit and breath The middle Principle among the three Principles is always instead of the Mother as the Nature Wind and Soul The body is the Child which the spirit â—s a Father begets through the soul Out of the spirit cometh the soul he lets it out as his breath and from both these the body The firm soul and spirit as the true life and spirit which is like unto the Angelical world is always in the right body of all things that is in the Salt when it is opened then they come forth in a great clearness as in an Angelical glory At last the spirit of all things is out of the three general Principles in each according to their portion and measure Now the spirit affords the right inward essence the forma essentialis differentia specifica abstractum essentiae and nothing else From the same the body and soul also receive their essence whereby the one from the other essentially and properly are distinguished as man from beasts a beast foul fish vermin c from others and so one thing from another All Creatures are distinguished chiefly into three as into Animalia all living souls into vegetabilia all that grow and spring out of the earth and into Mineralia things that grow under the earth and are digged out and so in the water also These are distinct as the three Principles and in our wisdom always a fair harmony doth represent it self All living souls consist out of Water and bloud in their seeds through a moist warmth and a warm moistness each in its mother All growing things consist in their seed out of a slimy water through the Salt which is fixed in the root flying in the herb leaf and grass and essential in the flower and all three concentre at last in the seed All Minerals Metals and what belongeth to it grow out of a fat earth which the Salt of the earth doth hatch and do coagulate through a cold fire which is a Saturnine Water that is a fiery water and a waterish fire that doth not burn Even as upon earth all things grow by rain and dew as also in the earth it raineth thaweth and is misty thereby grow the Minerals Metals and the like and all this from the salt fixed flying and essential The flying Salt begets Sulphur the essential begets Mercury Among the Vermin the chiefest is the Viper with her brood and kind and is Mercurial Among the Vegetables is the Vine a channel out of which come three sorts of water and also a noble Mineral and is the Centre of the Vegetables Among the Mineral is the Gold yea the Salt Of all these three the Concentred Center is man above all that is created CHAP. VIII Of the Elements and contrary Elements in the Creation THe seven Elements or Powers of the world do rest only upon one which is a right well of all Elements in our thoughts because it containeth all An Element is such a thing out of which and in which the world and all doth consist without which nothing can subsist Again a contrary Element is such whereby the world and Elements are altered and corrupt and at last must quite perish thereby Now all things are Created out of three Principles Materialiter namely out of the word as out of a spiritual out of nature as a soulish and out of the Elements and contrary Elements as an incorporeal-corporeal and Corporeal-incorporeal that is out of the Elements after something and out of the contrary Elements according to nothing The word is the all the Elements are the
also what Scha Ma Jm is of which is written in the book of the Creation that God Elohim in the beginning have Created Scha Ma Jm which the Interpreters have rendred Heaven and Earth which runnneth contrary to the Text and against the order of the Creation Who can tell us what Scha Ma Jm properly is True we cannot speak with Tongues for we are more taken up with Prophesying according to the grace bestowed upon us Therefore we will give the interpretation of it to others to let them search to learn what Scha Ma Jm meaneth So much is known that out of Scha Ma Jm all other things are come as also the water out of which Heaven and Earth in the beginning of the Creation were Created for it is not enough that we know how that the world was Created out of the water but we ask also from whence came that water then out of which the world was made For the wise go after wisdom even to her depths and give not over till they find the bottom and all Principles The book of wisdom saith Chap. 11. v. 23. The whole world is before thee God as a moment of the little Tongue in the Weights and Scales and as a drop of the Dew that falleth in the mornings upon the Earth It is manifest that all Water and Dew before it is a bodily Water is first a Vapour But how and out of what and from whence and whereby that Vapour ariseth must be searched into And in our opinion it is nothing else but such a bodily spirit who in himself incloseth all in all and yieldeth and giveth all to all and at last gathereth all to himself Out of which now the world is Created that same is also in all things and without it there is nothing no where and when that is taken away from it again then it can be no more of a being That we may set out the depths of the Creation out of which it was produced these are threefold First the Word of God in which is Light through which all things were made and that which is in all things is instead of the spirit according to the highest degree in the Creation of the world and this is the true spiritual Seed of all things without which nothing is neither can be Afterwards is the Soul of all the world and is distinguished from God as the breath from the spirit and is the breath of the speaking Word of God and instead of the soul is the true life of all things according to the highest degree and is the soulish seed of all things in the world Lastly the salt is the body and bodily seed of all things and of the whole world in which dwelleth and resteth the Word and the Spirit of God These three hatch from themselves a water which is a Scha Ma Jm out of which the whole world hath its original according to the middle degree but the lower degrees are the elements These three give and set down the three general Principles for the Creation as God the Nature and the Elements And again these three the Spirit Wind and Water and at last in these three every Creature and all is inclosed totally in the Light Life and Love The word is God and God is the word the Spirit is the Nature and an out-breathed breath of God and the Nature is the Spirit and Soul of the World The Salt is an element of all elements and the elements in their glory are nothing else but a Salt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Out of these three consists Scha Ma Jm and the whole Creation of the world in each and all their true Principles In all Creations the word is the beginning the spirit the middle and the salt is the end In the beginning of the Creation Scha Ma Jm was unfashioned and unframed there were also darknesses over the face of the depths and there was a Chaos or confused being But the spirit of the Lord moved upon the water thereby it became seedy and the first thing that was Created in it was Light but was comprehended of the darknesses so long till God said Lehior come forth thou light and come before the day and make a day that it may be Light And presently light parte◠from the darkness and is according to its body and being an essential most refined spiritual salt which not otherwise but by the eye may be brought to the sense The darkness containeth in it Fire and the light was parted from darkness and the fire lay secretly hid therein which afterward by reason of sin broke forth to be visible and is called not Or Light but Vr Fire After the the Light was Created the Heaven a Firmament out of the water as Ice and Chrystal In which the flying soulish salt of life became fixed an firm and Heaven it self is such a salt in which dwe◠all the powers of life and of the soul and from thenc◠from above are poured forth into the nether world through the Spirit Wind and Air whose body i◠the water into which the flying salt is carryed After the Heaven was Created the Earth the bodily Centre of the world a gross body which containeth in it self the fixed salt into which earth all the elements do incenter The light is compared to the divine world the Heaven to the English and the earth to the elementary Above the Heaven and the Firmament are the spiritual above the waters into which nature doth pour forth it self which above the upper waters have their world and the true Paradise where there is meer light and no darkness Which world in these last times is made manifest in which the Nuptial of the Lamb and his Bride and the great true Supper will be kept Those that in the first Resurrection and Change at the coming of Jesus Christ have part shall meet the Lord and taken up into the Air to go with him into Paradise and shall thus be with the Lord always The whole Sphere of the world of earth and water are carryed and held up by the air even as a body is kept and held up by the spirit and breath that it may not fall CHAP. XIV Of the particular Creation THe Creation in its order is threefold First General in the Scha Ma Jm which was the first Materia and is yet out of which corporally all things are Created into which all Principles come together and are concentred Afterward Special on and in the Element as Lights Heaven Earth and Water Spirit Wind and Air are contained in Scha Ma Jm. Lastly Particular as in all these things which out on in and by the Elements were Created produced and made The first that was made in the particular Creation were the Vegitables all growing things on earth as Grass Herbs Trees amongst which the Vine Tree is the chiefest Now every thing hath its proper seed in it self Therefore here ceaseth Creation and Conception
of the changing at the coming of Christ and according to the Jewel of the Heavenly calling all these that are partakers of it receive an An elical body life and spirit therewith they enter into Paradise and the Angelical world and will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like to the Angels Mat. 22. 30. Mark 12. 25. Luke 20. 36. Each body of man also the soul and spirit are nourished and preserved from that from which they come and are taken as the Elementary body out of Water and Earth the soul out of Wind and Air and the spirit out of Heaven and go again into the same when they are dissolved According to the Elementariness there is a threefold body in man whilst he liveth out of Water and Earth when he is dead out of wind earth till the Resurrection when he riseth out of Spirit Light and Heaven and know that every Element hath its proper body life and spirit Further Gods Holy ones rest after they depart in the Elementary part in the Earth Grave or where they are deceased So Samuel was heard out of that place of his Grave where he deceased to pronounce a ruine to the rejected King Saul According to the Angelical part they rest in Abrahams bosom which are the Chambers of the Just in the high Heaven But according to the divine part they are in Paradise of all three the Scripture testifieth clearly Lastly Infidels come to Hell and Prison with all except the dead body But those that have sinned against the Holy Ghost and have no pardon for it neither in this nor in the other world are buried in the Death because they have committed a deadly sin All the dead rise incorruptible that is in a Spiritual and Coelestial body But what glory or shame every body shall receive shall be known after the general judgment is past CHAP. XVIII Of the Image of God after which Man is Created THat man is Created after Gods Image is manifest out of Scripture Gen. 1. 26 27. Jam. 3. 9. But only this is the question what this Image is after which Man is Created Every Creature or Beast are made after their own Kind and Image but Man only after Gods Image This Image is Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 essentially bodily the Image of the invisible God Col. 5. 15 For God is a Spirit and and may not be felt nor seen unless it be in his essential substance and substantial essence Even as Man in his true Manhood after which he is distinguished from all other living Souls a Spirit or Spiritual in and on his Spiritual Soul and Mans Spirit cannot be seen felt or known otherwise then in his body in which he dwelleth with all his fulness So the invisible God who is a Spirit cannot be seen or known but in Christ and his substantial body as in which God the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost together with the whole fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily John 14 9. 1 John 1. Col. 2. 9. And this is the Spiritual Adam a quickening Spirit the Heavenly Man the Lord out of Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 45 47. The Image of God is threefold Namely 1. the Image of the Essence essentially after man is his own Image in his own proper Essence and Body So Christ also is the essential and bodily Image in God even as Mans body in Man and so is God in Christ as Man is in his body his own essential self-subsisting bodily and personal Image 2. The Image of that form on the outward appearance of that form Face and Members 3. The Image of the living properties Power or what name soever it may be called Here is manifest the Mystery of the Image of God and that God in Christ and Christ in God was much sooner a Man then we for we are in all things fashioned after him and so his counterfeit Christ the Image of God and Man who is out of Gods Image and honour are thus distinguished Namely 1. As the Image and Essence 2. As Essence and Essence 3. As Spiritual Heavenly and Divine and as Soulish Terrestrial and from beneath that is as Adam and Adam Man and Man and as above and beneath The Soulish Adam is not an Image of God after the Essence as Christ Reason because his Essence is Terrestrial and from beneath but in and on that Terrestrial body only that Image in that manner as a counterfeit and that in a Terrestrial soulish Essence from beneath out of the Earth So is the Soulish Adam and Terrestrial Man an Image of the Spiritual Adam and Heavenly man as a stony wooden or Image of Wax of a living mans Image is not in humane Essence on the Flesh and Bloud but in another being Now as Essence and Essence are one distinct from another so is frame and frame 1 The inward form of God is the most holy Godhead which with all fulness dwelleth bodily in Christ Of this form man hath received the Breath of the Almighty in a Heavenly Soul to his inward essential form and true Manhood 2. The bodily visible palpabl and personal form of God essentially in which God personally appeared and personally was made manifest is the flesh of the word the body of Christ After this man hath a body of flesh bloud and bones but not Divine Spiritual and Heavenly but Soulish Terrestrial and from beneath 3. The manifest face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and looks and presence on the head body and all Members and their Powers and strength After this also is Man framed and thus to be looked on in which consideration many Mysteries may be observed although the spirit of Errour saith as if God had no Head Eyes Ears Face Nose Mouth no Hands nor Feet because he is a Spirit which rather befalls those Spirits of Errour he hath Eyes and seeth not neither acknowledgeth the Image of God in Christ and in Man hath Ears and heareth not and a Heart and understandeth nothing Further Man is made after Gods similitude and is like unto God Namely 1. on the Heavenly Soul Eternal and Immortal and thence he is of God 2. Like in Power that he can do much namely after his part measure and weight 3. Like in Glory as a God over all other Creatures a Lord and Ruler Good Reader here you must know and observe that this great Mystery doth manifest here and Bringeth along the right Jehior let it be light the day of the Revelation of the Son of Man of which Christ saith expresly Luke 17. 22. c. On which the the Son of man is revealed and that this is the Revelation and appearance of Jesus Christ of whom the Holy Apostles have prophesied 1 Pet. 1. 7. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 14. 16. ◠Joh. 2. 28. Tit. 2. 13. 2 Tim 4. 8. 2 Thes 2. 8. Thus The Revelation or appearance of the coming is clearly distinguished Mal. 3. Mat. 24. 30. And chiefly Rev. 12. He that hath Eyes let
and birth begins out in and by his own seed but at first all things were brought forth out of the earth on Grass Trees and Herbs through the Word Spirit and Salt The Salt hath given to the Grass Herbs and Trees their bodies which they all have in them The Spirit hath given them Power and Virtue especially for Physick but the Word giveth the blessing to it The true Physick Virtue and Blessing may be sought and gathered out of the salt of the earth and of every Herb and be made Corporeal and at the time when it doth greeny that the essence may be extracted and reduced to a Spiritual and Coelestial body which cometh forth green and yieldeth power to Physick Christ saith unto his Disciples Mat. 5 13. Ye are the Salt of the Earth The Reason because thereby the whole world was seasoned and made fertile that it did grow up to everlasting life and happiness But now all Salt is become unsavoury the Reason because there is no Spiret nor Word of Life in it Therefore it is cast upon the Dunghill and trampled upon And behold the Lord will Create a new one Amen Halelujah The particular Creatiâ—n hath begun from and on the lower and went upwards As now the earth is adorned with Grass Herbs and Trees So had God on the fourth day adorned the Heaven and Firmament with Lights Sun Moon and Stars which came forth and grew out of fixed flying and flying-fixed Salt of the Heaven and are even as the precious stones of the earth They are fixed in their Heavenly body and at the highest temper but they are flying in their course although some of them do stand still The chief Lights of Heaven are the seven Planets Saturn is the highest and belongeth to the earth and standeth to the earth who knoweth whether he were the highest at the beginning or whether he came to be the highest after the fall and that Mercury was to give place to him Many things are to us hid and much of mystical secrecy is in them For Saturn eateth all and is Death and domineers over all But Mercury maketh alive and growing Of all much were to be said but Sapienti satis Therefore we must take good heed to the contrary elements which over the fall ruled over all But we must be careful and witty to rule over them that death may be drowned and swallowed up in victory On the fifth day God Created out of the Waters all things that live therein and also the Birds out of the flying salt in the water Hence it is that they are so flying and these have their particular consideration by reason of the flying salt and in their Feathers they are Physical in flying Mercurial diseases as in the Falling sickness Madness Giddiness for these diseases have their original from the Spirits through Gods permission and must be cured with a flying Salt which is reduced to the highest degree Be it known also that there is great Virtue in Precious stones as in Pearls Amber Coral namely when they are first baptized with a Coelestial water which be altogether Spirit The Load-stone also hath its mystery And who can tell all We may well say Great are the works of the Lord He that observeth them taketh delight therein and to them they are propounded On the sixth day God Created all the beast of the earth and the Worms and at last man with him he closed up the Creation Among the â—ermius or Beasts the Serpent is the Center in the beginning she did not creep upon her belly and did not feed upon earth but that was laid on her as a Curse from God Whether she had Wings we will not deny There is great subtilty in her and a Mystery hidden therein At the beginning she was not venomous and among all the Beasts she was the next by and about Man as she will also be the next about him in the new world when that enmity is at an end Isa 11. 8. No Creature is so bodily fair and subtil as the Serpent Now because she was at first always about Man therefore the Devil did perswade her to perswade Man that he should break of the Tree of Knowledge and eat of the fruit thereof Because the Serpent is Mercurial and flying and is the Center of all Beasts therefore needs must there be a great mystery in her for Physick if rightly prepared for the Mercurial diseases especially being full of bones Therefore God hath finished the work of Creation on the sixth day with and on men of whose Creation hereafter and on the seventh day the Lord did rest and blessed that same day The six days bear a Curse by Reason of sin but the seventh day that now truly cometh that bringeth blessing and rest Joy Honour and Glory which joyful day of our Redemption we through the spirit of Prophesying do annunciate to all Creatures under Heaven in an everlasting Gospel and a very joyous Message which to annunciate is given to us from the spirit of prophesying CHAP. XV. Of the Mystery of the Word II is known out of the Holy Scriptures that all things are made and Created by the word and that yet all things are made by the word and are preserved through the word But here we will not speak Theologically but only naturally according to the Creation Neither do we speak Theosophically of the depths of God both which we save till another time and place The word of Creation is the general power of God out of which in which and by which all things are subsist and will be This general power of Almighty God every Creature makes use of for its best good But only Man abuseth it as also do the Devils and Spirits by Gods permission Hence it cometh that men must give an account of every idle word because they have abused the breath of the Almighty and use it to sin Oh that I could lay a Lock to my mouth that I might not transgress with my Tongue Because now all Mysteries are hid in the word therefore the same also performs all things in the world Therefore we will say that hence ariseth a three fold Magick through faith that is a power to know something to bring it to an effect First there is a Natural Magick which cometh out of Natural Faith wherein there is such a Magnet or Load stone that it can draw all things to it This faith is gotten in Man either of nature in his Spirit which is the true and right ascendent namely the spirit of man and by no means this or that Astre or Constellation as the ignorant do imagine which is only in signam ascendentis c Or this faith through the art and instruction of the natural Magick is wrought in man so that his spirit receiveth the ascendent and rejoyceth in the same As the ascendents in an may very well be transmuted transplanted and altered by the spirits Of his natural Magick without
Vegitals with various motions But in Minerals more opprest with matter less apparent and seeming slain by congelation especially taken out of their Mines and Mechanically used and so onely preserves its bodily Being till Revived with new Ferment and Matter whereby the Body is opened again to manifest its living essential Moisture hid in the Centre wherein the seed and spirit of Life is placed as Fire and then revives and restores new operations in the new adjoined nourishment or matter And thus Nature by help of Art may transcend and as it were go beyond its self and so the Seed will still extend its power and Life as long and often as it be thus opened and fitted with new matter and Ferments For Form is Light the Source of central Heat Which cloth'd with Matter doth a Seed beget Wherein Life like Fire seeks it self t' increase And Eâ—ernize if Fuel ne're do cease Helmont in Butler and Sendivogius in his new Light partly testifie the same Now this Seed is no sooner produc'd but it assaies to change the matter and stamps its Character therein and so presently the Matter lives and the matter then Coworks together with the Form to attain that end to which the Seed implanted doth intend For all things live according to their kind Their Life is Light as therein you may find Quantum quidque habet Luminis tantum habet Numinis saith one And thus much for Form and Seed in general Know further now That Metals in the Mineral Kingdom are thus produced Their Sulphur unctuous Coagulates and fixeth a fluent moisture mineral called Mercury the which is a dry humidity that flows yet wets not hands its parts are so Homogeneal that the very Fire its self doth not easily separate them It is of waters Progeny yet far exceeds it in weight and firm composure which properties come not by chance but by Gods Decree Providence and Power from its Specificque Seed and its hidden inward Agent Form and Life from Anima Mundi which the Water before had not neither yet hath it parts dissimular hand or foot head or eye as Animals or otherwise as Vegitables but is all homogeneal and of most firm parts and Root Now Mercury hath most affinity with Gold known by their equal weight purity firm composure and easie mixture next with Silver then Jove Saturn Venus and last and least with Mars which is a Secret to understand and though Mercury may be mixt and made amalgame with all or any yet it will not enter into any in the Root without fit preparation and great Art but drive away one from the other in the Fire which is another secret now the reason is for that it and they are Dead or their Life hid imprisoned and Dormant within their Bodies as is said and the Sulphur fixt and sealed in the perfect Metals and earthly Fowl or Crude in the impersect which Mercury abhors and rejects or cannot Cope with being its self also in Fetters bound to his good behaviour and if you separate the fâ—ces of the latter which are imperfect yet you have but a fluid Mercury from them like the common and a Crude Sulphur too remote to join with Gold for Gold having passed its Enchantments and Câ—udities scorns to be defiled therewith any more wherefore common Crude Sulphur will easier join with other imperfect Mettals then with Gold but pure and fixt Sulphur sooner and better with Gold then with the rest and therefore if you would make use of the Sulphurs or Mercuries of the imperfect Metals or the common They must be each prepared and fitted with a living power and so acuate as to become a fiery quickning Agent before it can reincrudate open and enter the body of Sol whereby it s own Water may appear and its fiery Seed and Spirit of Life issue forth and be made active to work upon and in the said Female living Mercury it being Sols own Essence Flesh and Bone and its proper matter Earth and Matrix as is said wherein Seed will then quickly fructifie and increase for Sol though pure perfect and full of virtue in its self bodily must be Reincrudate Crucified and die to Nature that its Virtue and Tincture lockt up and onely single in its self Bodily might become exalted with its body and spiritually living and fixt together in heavenly mansions and so extend and communicate more largely its powerful Virtues and Tincture to imperfect Bodies and Spirits to redeem them from Thraldom Corruption and Fire by imbracing one grain of his bounteous pure Spirit and so be raised at last to him for Eternity For so Death and Destruction of outward Form will be but as a Back-door to the Soul and Spirits true Birth and its Bodies eternal Life and Union till it come at last to the highest perfection by its fulness of Tincture Thus is the Philosophical Corner-stone made a true Medicine though rejected and scoffed at by many And these are the effects hid from the voluptuous Covetous and Worldly-wise-philosophers and revealed to Solitary meek humble Spirits who forsake outward pomp and vanities to embrace the fruits of Piety and Wisdom Now observe further that every thing that is convertible into Gold hath its Mercury and Sulphur which either is or may be acuate and made fiery and living for a Philosophical preparation of and with Sol and so both the common and Metallick Mercury may be thus fitted and prepared to wed with Sol. All which Mercuries as is said beforehand in themselves are dead for Mercuries preparation is thus viz. By a mineral with sable silver Veins which is the Dragon born in Saturns Den devouring Cadmus with his Earthly Men. First then this Dragon double strengh ' to Mars Must be yet pierc't by him being God of Wars Then both will Perish and become a Star Where the young King is Born who is Solar Then wash equal Venus in 's Blood and let Them joyn till Vulcan take them in a Net Which Mercury gently on his Wings must bear Till he steals their Wealth and Sols body tare Wherein then Sol will freely shed his Seed And this is all whereof we stand in need Which ordered right you cannot choose but speed If you can prepare your Mercury better Do 't freely and care not for this Letter For all Sulphurs and Mercuries may serve your turn If pure and living join'd t' Earths will not burn CHAP. III. Of the Subject and Marks of the immortal Liquor Alchahest HEre Reader make a little pause and take this short hint for thy true instruction of the Alchahest and Macchabean Fire burning in Water and as a Serpent or Latex lying hid in the Cavernes of the Earth and in other things and places being nevertheless but one Anomolous Balsammick Salt passing through the world which almost every man knows and needs though he observes not the marks to be that thing I say it is the Primum ens Salium and hath a mark or cross affixt
same upon me if it be but as much as a Coriander or Hemp Seed only to transmute four grains of Lead into gold Elias I confess an honest good man first shewed me the possibility and then the art and manner to prepare the Medicine but to give thee any of this Medicine is not lawful though I had for it as many Duckets as would fill this room not for my esteem of the matter which is of no price at all but for other private considerations and to make it so appear I would now through all into the fire to be consumed if it were possible for the fire to destroy fire Be not therefore covetous for thou hast seen more then many Kings or Princes that have sought for it But I must now depart and purpose to come again at three weeks end and then if not hindred or forbid I will abundantly satisfie thy curiosity to see transmutation in the Interim I warn you not to tamper with this dangerous art least you lose your fame and substance in the ashes Physitian Sir What shall I do if it be not lawful for you to bestow so small a part of your tincture because of your Philosophical Oath taken at your drinking the dissolved Silver in the rain water Yet know I do eagerly desire to learn this and I believe Adam thrown out of Paradice for eating an Apple would again desire this golden Fruit out of Atlantas Garden though to hazard the destruction you premonish And though I have not yet seen transmutation from you I thank you for your great friendship in forewarning me of the dangers and shewing me what I have seen and till your return I shall delight my self with what is discovered both of your Medicine and Person But I fear Sir if any King Prince or Potentate should know the same which God forbid they would perchance imprison and torture you till you should reveal all the art to them Elias I never shewed the Stone to any in the world but to you except one aged man and henceforth shall not to any but if any King or other which I hope God will not permit should Rack me to pieces or burn me alive I would not reveal it to them neither directly nor indirectly as many circumferanious Physitians Mountebanks Vagabonds and others pretend to do Phisitian Good Sir tell me in the Interim who are the best Authors in regard by experience you are best able to judge Elias Indeed Doctor I have not read many books but amongst those I have read none more curious then Cosmopolite Sendivogius The Dutch Borger Derwerel and Brother Basilins 12 Keys I can lend thee Sendivogius at my return in whose obscure words the Truth lyes hidd even as our Tincture lyes inclosed in the minerals and Metallick bodies Phisitian Sir I give you most hearty thanks for your exceeding kindness and love Believing that marvellous and efficacious Essences and Tinctures lies hid in Metals and Minerals under the external rinds and shells of their bodies though I find few so expert in the Fire to know how to pick out their Kernel Philosophically for as Isaac Holland writes the outward body of every Animal Vegetable and Mineral is like to a Terrestrial Province within which excellent spiritual essences do retire and dwell Wherefore it is needful that the sons of art should know how by some saline fit sutable Ferment pleasant and agreeable to the Metallick Nature to tame and subdue dissolve separate and concentrate not only the Metallick Magnetick virtue wherewith to Tinge but also Philosophically to multiply the same in their golden or silvery Homogenity For we see that the bodies of all creatures are not only easily destroyed but as soon as they cease to live they hurry to their graves in putrefaction viz. to their old Chaos and darkness of Orcus wherein they were before they were brought to light by Creation in this World But alas who or what man can or will shew us this Art in the Metallick Kingdom Elias Sir I confess you judge right of the natural destruction of things and if it be Gods pleasure he can as to me send one sooner then thou hopest to shew thee the manner to destroy Metals and Minerals in a true Philosophical manner and to gather their inward souls In the mean time implore the blessing of this great God who doth all things as he pleaseth To whom I recommend thee whose watchful eyes are always open over all his regenerated Sons in and through Christ Jesus So be sure I am your friend and once more Farewell THus my Friend Elias taking leave left me three weeks and to this very day nevertheless as a Spur he impressed all these things deep in my mind and Paracelsus confirmed them saying That in with of and by metals spiritualized and cleansed are perfect Metals made and also the living gold and Silver of Philosophers as well for humane as metallick bodies Wherefore if this guest my Friend had taught me the manner of preparing this Spiritual and Celestial Salt he spake of by and with which I might as it were within their own matrix gather the spiritual Rays of Sun or moon out of the Corporal Metallick substances Then truly from his own light he had so enlightened me that I should have known how Magnetically by a Sympathetick power in other imperfect corporeal metals their internal souls might be Clarified and Tinged so that their own similary bodies being of like kind might be transmuted into Gold or Silver according to the nature of red Seed into a red body or of the white Seed into a white and pure body For Elias told me that Sendivogius his Calybs was the true Mercurial Metallick humidity by help of which without any Corrosive an Artist might seperate the fixt rayes of the Sun or Moon out from their own bodies in a naked Fire in open Crusible and so make them Volatile and Mercurial fit for a dry Philosophick Tincture as he partly communicated and shewed me before he went to transmute the Metals For all learned Chymists must consent that Pyrotechny is the mother and Nurse of many noble Sciences and Arts and they can easily judge from the Colours of the Chaos of metals in the fire what metallick body is therein And truly every day metals and transparent stones are yet so procreated in the bowels of the Earth from their proper noble vapourons seed with a spiritual Tingent Sulphurous Seed in their divers Salty Matrixes for the common Sulphur or the Sulphur of any pure or impure metal whilst yet conjoyned with its own body being mingled only with Salt-Peter in the burning heat of Fire will be easily changed into the hardest and most fixed Earth And this Earth is afterwards easily changed by the air into most clear water and this water after by a stronger fire according to the nature of either pure or impure metallick Sulphur admixed is turned into Glass coloured with various and very beautiful
of the Sand or Stones then you may draw forth the sand and water with a Scoop or Bowl proper for this use with holes in the bottom and a wooden basket strainer thereupon and so the impregnated water or Menstruum with the Gold may pass through and leave the sand or stones behind in the scoop or bowl with the strainer then pour on more warm water on the said sand to wash out the remaining Gold and Tincture and after all is washt out throw the said sand or stones quite away as useless 3. My third compendium is to pour upon the said clear Menstrum which hath the Gold or Tincture another singular sort of water of small price whereby all the said Gold and Tincture at such a height and quantity in the solvent will be precipitated to the bottom and so the clear solvent being freed from the Tincture must be Canted off to serve again for the like use as preserving still its own strength and virtue without any abatement or diminution whatsoever either by the said water precipitating or by any other ways whatsoever and if any be lost or spilt by the usage it may be easily repaired by getting more of the same without much trouble or charge Now if any should mix any precipitating Lixiviat Liquor or Lees with the said solvent contrary to its Nature and thereby mortifie the solvent by precipitating the Gold which is done in other processes and is used in and by my former experiments and trials in this Books about the white sand and stones c. what dammage and loss would come thereby for every time there is occasion to use it our dissolvent should be destroyed and the extraction thereby become very troublesome and chargeable especially being done in Glass or Earthen Cucurbits or bodies but this way all things cost almost nothing and may be done in greater Vessels and cheaper and the said waters be without loss And this kind of extraction may be compared like the making of Salt-Peter where the workman having extracted the Salt-Peter throws away all the ashes and dirt and puts more matter into the Cupam Tubs or Bowls for â—he like common water to extract more 1. Our fourth Compendium is that precipitated Calx of Gold after the filtration in a bag is taken â—ut dried and by a good cheap and singular good matter flux it is reduced to a body and so â—o part of the said Gold will be lost or diminishâ—d In these four Compendiums for the extraction of Gold will come profit but not so much other â—ays Now let none marvel why I reveal not here any of â—â—ese four Compendiums I have been enough bitten â—y the envy of other men For where they could not â—nderstand my writings by their own dulness though â—ad plainly enough expressed the matter and so could â—ot perform the same they then publickly brought scandal on me and reported that whatever I writ were lyes Nay some others have seen the thing performed and yet afterwards for hatred and envy have slighted it and me But however whilst I live by Gods Grace and Providence I shall be helpful to my neighbour by using my Talent to serve them and like a most bright shining Light will shew the wonderful great mystery of God to the Ignorant and simple people against the will of all the enemies of Truth though they fret and vex never so much at it I have resolved so to do Yea behold though my adversaries should all conspire and wholly devour me alive they should swallow but a mean or lean Morsel of Earth for Glauber should be and remain Glauber still till the consummation of the World or Ages now if these men were of the ancient stamp and frame of faith and virtue they would not detract and scandalize their Innocent neighbour without deserving ill at their hands Let these things be sufficient at this time concerning the extraction of Gold out of Sand Stones and Flints Now further I say although every one should use this Extraction of Gold for their Imployment or Trade yet the one would not be a hindrance to the benefit of the other by reason Stones and Sand are obvious to every body in all Countries as also the Salts that are useful to extract the same are plentiful so that nothing is wanting but a lover of the work to set his hand unto it Paracelsus in his book of vexation of Alchymists saith That more Gold and silver is found upon the Earth then in the Bowels thereof and that often times a Countrey Clown throws a stone at a Cow which is worth more then the price of the Cow and it is most certain true and will remain true for a lye cannot degenerate or exalt it self to a truth but in its time hereafter shall be punisht in eternal darkness with the Devil as the father and original of all liers without doubt Democritus his Laughter and Heraclitus his Weeping came from the contemplation of mortal mans eager pursuit after Gold and Silver through great Anxities Labours and Troubles with loss of health and hazard of Soul and Body sailing many times through the vast Ocean for it and tearing open the earth to rush and sink down therein to fetch out Gold and Silver which is so plentifully and easy to be had upon the superficies of the Earth in every Region and Countrey as that its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abundance may be had Solomon writ not from the purpose saying that great virtue was in Herbs Woods and Stones For that which is fixt in Stones is Volatil in Herbs As in my little Treatise Printed 1663. demonstrated although the first Ens of Gold whence Gold may be made be in both We read also in Esdras there is much Earth to Vessels or Pots but a little pouder or dust to make Gold And all sorts of Earth are not so rich to gain by Extraction of Gold nor it is to be thought that all Stones and Sand and every one are so rich in Corporal Gold as to yield any profit yet they still contain the first Ens of Gold or yield such a Calx by which or the help thereof good Gold may be made the which Calx or Pouder if we knew how to extract and order we would make greater accompt and esteem it more then of Gold it self Now since such an Aurifying or Goldmaking Pouder is so largely extended and diffused in Stones and Sand c. Yet it is not easy to beat it or force it out with a Hammer but only by a peculiar Art is to be extracted and perfected thereupon the blind multitude of covetus Gold hunters will not believe it no more then Ignorants who knows nothing of the Art and yet this art hath been always esteemed amongst Philosophers as their greatest Secret of Secrets and so hath been preserved amongst them Also where Paracelsus writes of the first Ens or Essence of Gold he tells us it may be drawn forth by sublimation and
he that desires to know God must learn to know him in his image and that perfectly which perfect knowledge is this That God is man and that he is true man who is of God and God is in him This is the wisdom that is mystical hitherto and yet is manifest but only to the wise and is called Theosophia because God doth no where so clearly manifest himself as in man who is his image or honour or glory 1 Cor. 11. 7. Therefore man needs not to go far but only into himself to learn the true knowledge of God and to seek after God in himself and himself in God If he do not thus all is vain and no where else any wisdom to be found Acts 17. 27. Luke 17. 21. Seeing the three other books proceed only from the one Book as the world of God therefore all three do testifie unanimously of this book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely each in its letter wisdom and testimony but none so clearly as man doth This is that great whole and perfect Library of wisemen wherewith in justice and equity they may be contented All wisdom and knowledg with their mysteries in these books we may not learn any where else but only through the same Spirit who himself hath penned these books made and testified He therefore who is desirous to study these books must from the bottom of his heart acknowledge and confess his own blindness folly and ignorance and must pray unto the Father of Lights for illumination wisdom and understanding that he would send his holy spirit which may lead us into all truth and take us away from all foolishness and falshood and may bring us to the Light of Gods glory Which may not be done by any other means then through a love to God and to mans own salvation and through a holy life without all Hypocrisie and through the Light that commeth from above and not from beneath from man and his wisdom which all those must learn to deny that desire to learn the wisdom of the holy ones We will speak thus That hitherto all these books were sealed up but are now opened in the end of the World according to the Prophecy 4 Esd 6. 20. Dan 12. 9. Zach. 14. 7. And if wise worldly men are offended at this they betray themselves that the wisdom of the holy one is not in them The books of wisdom testifie unanimously of the word by which all things are created and in which only all wisdom doth rest and which is the beginning of all beginnings in which is all and without which nothing is which is all in all God blessed for ever Amen CHAP. II. Of those principles and beginnings of all things as also of God himself and of all whatsoever it be THe Principle of all Principles and beginning of all beginnings as also of God himself is only the word according to the testimony of the divine truth and word it self John 1. Now the word may not be defined otherwise then that it is a Spirit breath or voice of God yea God himself in such a subsistence essence and being as namely How the image of God doth represent us according to the similitude which is man as that he is a quicâ—ning spirit a spiritual Adam and heavenly man which is God the Lord glorined and magnified for ever Amen Now we hold altogether that this is the proper definition of God and no other which the holy writ clearly signifieth 1 Cor. 15. 45 47 48. who according to his Image and Similitude hath created a spiritual Adam and Terrestrial man when God said Let us make Adam or Man after our image after our Similitude Gen. 1. 26 27. Now the word being the Beginning of all Beginnings there is contained in the same the Light Life and Love The Light affords the Revelation of God for God is Light and dwelleth in Light and is the Father of Lights Life is the virtue and power of God and a quickning Spirit who hath createth and preserveth all Love is a Testimony of God in which is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost in one word which is called Jesus Christ the spiritual Adam and heavenly Man Messias who is Essential Alpha and Omega All in All the Beginning and the End the First and the Last Blessed and Praised for ever Amen Rev. 1. 22. Now the word being the true Principle in God himself then consequently all proceedeth from the word out of which do chiefly manifest themselves three general Principles in which Principles with and through which all things are contained and are these namely God Nature Element Now these three general Principles afford also a threefold world namely a divine uncreated from Godflowing world from Eternity then an Angelical world which proceedeth or lighteth forth or shineth forth out of the Light in which God dwelleth and lastly an Elementary world whose Original came out of the water After these three general Principles proceed also three special Principles namely Ghost Wind and Water Now every world hath its proper Ghost Wind and Water in their Kind and Nature All things Created out of the divine world from above are Created out of Water and Spirit from above through the wind and breath of the Omnipotent God for to the Divine world is properly competent the Spirit to the Angelical is properly competent the wind and to the Elementary world is water proper After these special Principles follow lastly particular Principles each of which hath its proper Being out of which in which and from which it consists But these three Principles proceed from the former and are Spirit Soul and Life and Body All bodies are out of the Water All Life and Soul out of the Wind And all Spirit out of the Spirit But concerning the Angels their Body is out of the Wind of the Angelical World their Soul and Life a Fire-flame and their Soul a â—ight of which elsewhere These are our Principles in the Wisdom out of which all things have their Original Whether other Principles may be shewed unto us we do much doubt The Primum mobile first mover of all things is the Word for in it is the Life The Secundum mobile Second mover of all things is the Spirit through which all things are Created The Tertium mobile Third mover is the Wind and these three moving Principles are the Perpetnum mobile everlasting mover of all things by which all things move live and have their Being But these three do rest upon the Water bodily out of which the World is and all things are And in the Air according to the Life wherein all things are And in Heaven from which all things come from above after the Spirit but the Spirit from God from which he cometh and returneth thither John 1. 4. Psal 104. 30. Acts 17. 28. Eccles 12. 7. But all these come together on and in the Earth as in the heart of the world Wisd 1. 7. In these
Principles out with and through the same subsist all things And without these nothing can subsist that is or hath a Being and are Light Life and Love God Nature and Element Spirit Wind and Water Body Soul and Spirit and that in the Word CHAP. III. Of the first Principle of all things which is God GOd being the beginning of all Beginnings as from which all things proceed then his beginning is from no other He is without a beginning because he is not from another yet though he hath his beginning from no other he representeth in himself his beginning to all This beginning of God is not a beginning to God himself but to us for he himself is all in all Now that he might shew himself to us men to testifie and instruct us of him therefore God sheweth himself in his beginning which is the Word which is God himself Now through this VVord is shewed to us testified and taught that and what God is and who he is But without word or speaking may be neither Doctrine nor Testimony nor a presentation as Reason doth make it manifest Therefore the VVord is the beginning of God to us out of which all Testimonies Names and Relation of God do proceed as out of the depths of God which consist in their own proper Spirit wind and water The name of God is but one according to the Essence which no man knoweth but only he upon whom he is written with the living Letters of the Spirit of God and his VVord Essentially which is Christ and those that are of his Being These are they in whom the VVord dwelleth Essentially and that see his Glory in a Light and Eye that no body else can see All the names of God come together only in this one name For the whole fulness of the Godhead dwe leth in him bodily who is called Alpha and Omega Zach. 14. 9. Col 2. 9. He that seeth him seeth also God and the Father and the living Word and the quickning Spirit John 14. 9. 1 John 1. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Even so he that seeth man seeth also with the Body the Soul and the Spirit which are in their Nature invisible The Testimony of God consisteth in three Namely in three witnesses which are the Father the VVord and the Holy Spirit Now as the name proceeds from the word so doth every Testimony of God and resteth only upon the dear and true witness that is called Amen which is the beginning of Gods Creatures Rev. 3. 14. And the Testimony of God stands thus God Father Word Holy Ghost Amen which is Christ Now because no body can testifie of God but he himself alone and all Testimonies of Truth must be justified by three Therefore God also testifieth of himself by three but they are not three persons But one onely person and one only God even as in one Earthly mans Body Soul and Spirit cannot be three distinct persons so in God are not three persons But this is the Testimony of God to us in the Name non in Nominibus sed in Nomine of the Father Son and Holy Ghost which consist in the word which three are one thing and one But this Testimony none acknowledgeth save he that hath it within himself Essentially that is that hath the Spirit out of God and is annointed and sealed with it This is the Testimony of God with one word through which we are Sons and Heirs of God Rom. 8. Lastly The Revelation of God consists in seven Powers which are the seven Spirits of God Rev. 1. 4. Chap. 4. 5. Chap. 5. 6. Zech. 4. 2 10. And rest upon him who is called and is Jesse who is of no other but out through in and of himself is is self subsisting in whom is all who hath all Also the fulness of the Godhead Rev. 3. 1. Isa 11. Col. 2. 9. For through him all things are Created in Heaven and in Earth and by him all things are preserved by him also all is Redeemed and reconciled He Reigneth over all and hath all under his Power through him all lost things are restored at his glorious coming He also holdeth Judgment over all flesh over quick and dead And lastly he will make old things new and will abandon and put away all old things Everlastingly Therefore the Mystery of God consists in One Three and Seven and according to this Mystery all other things are Created and consist in One out of Three through Seven and are therein testified learned manifested or justified nothing at all excepted whatsoever it be and that for this Reason That God in his mystery may be learned and glorified in and on all his Creatures Herein consists now the Mystery of the VVisdom in its measure number and weight as in One Three and Seven whereby all things are numbred measured and weighed so perfectly that nothing can be added to it or diminished from it For all the works of God are perfect and testifie of the Creator according to the Mystery of the wisdom namely that by the works may be known Him that made them that what and who he is in his Mystery CHAP. IV. Of the Second Principle viz. Nature NAture is the second Principle and beginning of all things and stands betwixt God and the Elements through which God worketh into the Elements at through and by means and is in its consideration even as Angelical whose beginning is out of God a forth-blown Breath VVind and Air of the Almighty in which consists the Soul and Life of all Created things and every living Soul and is concentred and fastened together essentially bodily and self-subsisting in the Tree of Life even as God in Christ and the whole Elementary world in Man This second Principle is not everlasting according to the beginning yet eternal according to the end even as the Angels are It is not Created out of nothing as this world but proceedeth from God even as the Life from the Spirit as a Breath VVind or Air doth proceed and is also the breath of Gods VVord in which is Life thus that the speaking of the word is a living Eternal Breath and is distinct from God as a living breath or Soul from the quickening Spirit The living breath Soul or Life of all things iâ— according to its Original out of the Nature but the Spirit out of God namely after his measure and the body out of the Elements The Spirit as the Soul or the Life are distinct thus As God who is Eternal Life and the quickening Spirit himself and hath Life from no other because himself is the Spirit And as the living Soul having her Life not out from and by or through it self but out of the Spirit which maketh things alive whose breath is the Life Now that is soulish which hath its Life not from it self but from the Spirit and which is not a Spirit but only a breath All things whatsoever are in their Being have the food of thir