the Regions above but truly by forbearing to Flie. Salmon In this our Art are two Principles which spring from one Root and which are the subject of our Stone viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur of which the one is Volatile and superior the other fixt and below from the Conjunction of which often repeated is made the true and Philosophical sublimation and fixation And that is the fixation when the Body receives the Tinging Spirit and takes from it its Volatility this is done by frequent Reiterations till a Calx of perpetual duration is produced and will remain for ever in the Fire But in the very beginning of this work the substance of the Stone which in it self is most fixed by a Spirit not fixed or Volatile as Sea Water acetum radicatum and such like is to be made Volatile And by this means it will be more fit to be cleansed of its Filth or Rust which in metals is a most certain sign of Imperfection V. Hermes If therefore you shall deliver it out of its Imprisonment or Cage or Straights then afterwards you shall Order and Govern it according to the number of days I shall note to you according to Reason and then it shall be a Companion to thee and by it thou shalt be made great and powerful Salmon That is the fixed Body is to be lifted up by sublimation and to be so often repeated till the Volatile is made fixed or fixed with it But this is not to be done hastily or all at once but by little and little and by degrees Lest by too great a haste you break the Vessel or come to some other hurt God himself made all things in Number Weight and Measure that is in due and just proportion as well in respect of Time as Matter If you proceed wisely in this Case you will receive the fulness of your expectations VI. Hermes Extract from the Sun Beams the shadow and the sordid Matter by that which makes the Clouds hang over it and Corrupts it and keeps it from the Light because by its Torture and Red Fiery Heat or Redness it is Burned Salmon The shadow always goes along with the Body walking in the Sun Now that a clearer Light may appear through the Body without any shadow the Body must be opened made thin and dissolved which is the Patient by the Spirit or Sun-Beams which are the Agent the living Fire by whose Power it is brought to a Calx and the Corruptible part is Burnt up and destroyed or made fit to be separated VII Hermes Take this Redness Corrupted with the Water which resembles the Matter holding the Fire as in a live Coal from it As often as you take this Redness Corrupted in Water away from it so often you have the Redness Purified then will it Associate it self viz. become fixed and Tinged in which 〈◊〉 it will rest for ever Salmon That is Our Magnesia which is sown in our Philosophick Earth is to be Corrupted or Putrefied and then to be Digested Coagulated Sublimated Incerated and Fixed This Magnesia or Redness is thus made pure by separation and then it becomes Dissolved Digested Coagulated Sublimed Incerated and Fixed and Tinged being first lift up into the highest Heavens and then Buried again in the deepest Earth that therewith it may arise and in the same have a Habitation and be fixt for ever The Water is the Spirit the Redness is the Soul or Tincture and the Earth is the Body Now the Spirit is the Life of the Soul as the Body is the Clothing or Habitation thereof so that the Body is a substance fixed dry and containing both the Spirit and the Soul The Spirit Penetrates the Body the Body fixes the Spirit the Soul conjoyned Tinges of its own Color whether it is White or Red. VIII Hermes Return the Coal being extinct in its life to the Water in the thirty days I note to thee so will you have a Crowned King resting upon the Fountain or Well but drawing it from the Auripigment and wanting the Humour or Moisture Now have I made the Hearts of the attentive who hope in thee glad and their Eyes beholding thee in the hope of that which thou possessest Salmon The Life of the Coal is Fire which being removed from it is like a Dead Body nor in a Coal only but in all other things it is Fire that excites or stirs up the Life comforts it and conserves it Yea the Essence of Life is nothing else than Pure Naked Unmixed Fire not that which is Corrupting and Elementary but that which is Subtil Coelestial and Generating all things This in Metals is the Aqua Philosophica Oleaginosa Sulphurea and in this the Earth is to be raised up in the space of 30 days which is a certain Number for an uncertain By the Crowned King is meant the perfection of the Tincture The Well is the Fountain of the Philosophers inexhaustible out of which it draws the Auripigment or eternal Tincture but wanting indeed its moisture or Running-Water which is for so long time to be Digested and Boiled with Fires c. IX Hermes Now the Water was first in the Air then in the Earth restore thou it then to the superior places through its own meanders or passages and not foolishly or indiscreetly change or alter it and then to the former Spirit gathered in its Redness you must carefully and leisurly joyn it Salmon Convert the Elements and you shall have what you seek The Earth which is Cold and Dry agrees with the Water in one quality which is cold The Air which is Hot and Moist participates with the Fire which is Hot and dry and consequently the Earth with the Fire because of its Driness The Earth is the only true and first Element of the Stone which by a Philosophical Calcination is to be Burnt up and Rarified afterwards to be Dissolved in a Moist place into a Ponderous Water This by Sublimation is made more subtil and converted into Fire This Oyl by a most strong Fire into Ashes or a Red Rubicund Earth Thus the Dragon devours his own Tail and the Pelican with her own Blood nourishes her Young ones The Blood of the Pelican is this Red Spirit Now nothing is joyned together with it but that which before was separated from it This Mixtion of the Elements is not Corporeal but Spiritual not with Hands done but the work of the Metalline Archeus or Spirit which you ought well to know and then you will not long err from the Truth CHAP. V. A Dialogue between Hermes and his Son I. HERMES Know thou my Son that the fat of our Earth is Sulphur that Sulphur is Auripigment Siretz or Colcothar of which Auripigment Sulphurs and such like some are more vile or mean than others in which there is a difference or diversity Of this kind also is the Fat of Glewy substances to wit of Hair Nails Hoofs and Sulphur it self Oyl of Peter and the Brain or
Marrow which is Auripigment Of the same kind also is the Cats or Lyons Claw which is Sirezt The Fat of the White Bodies and the Fat of the two Oriental Argent Vives which Sulphurs are caught hold of and retained by the Bodies Salmon All these are only Various Names by which the Philosophers call the one thing and under which they Cloud it But the most Acute Ripley saith it is Argent Vive but not the Vulgar that without which nothing that exists is able to be If therefore there be nothing under the Sun in which this Argent Vive is not Our Hermes has not done absurdly to call it by these Names tho' possibly there may be some one thing which may contain more of it that which is more pure also generous and more ripe or perfectly digested than all the other things besides Authors say it is chieflly found in the Roots of Metals which Roots are in the Air and the Tops of the Mountains It behoves you therefore to have a perfect and solid knowledge of this Argent Vive before you attempt any thing in this Art And this is to be Communicated only to the Faithful Disciples of this Science Be diligent with your whole mind consider think ruminate volve and revolve meditate and reason with your self concerning it and through the Divine Assistance you will certainly attain to the knowledge there of II. Hermes I say more that this Sulphur does Tinge and Fix and is contained and held by the Conjunctions of the Tinctures Fat 's also Tinge but withal they fly away in the Body which is contained which is a Conjunction of Fugitives only with Sulphurs and Aluminous Bodies which also contain and hold the Fugitive Matter Salmon He distinguisheth here between the true and Philosophick Tincture and the Fictitious or Sophisticate The true is made of a Fixt and Incombustible Sulphur for which Cause also the Bodies are rendred fixt and Incombustible for every Transmutation is made subject to the nature of the thing Transmuting and not of the thing to be Transmuted it is needful therefore that you make choice of the best Sulphur for this Work The Vulgar is Forreign for that it is deficient Blackens and Corrupts having also a double superfluity viz. an Inflamable substance and an Earthly Faeculency Therefore you must find out another which is a simple Fire and Living and is able to Revivifie Dead Bodies to bring them to the highest perfection and to perfect them with the ultimate maturity Such a Sulphur saith Avieenna is not to be found upon Earth except in the Bodies of Sol and Luna In Sol indeeed is the highest of Perfection because it is more digested and decocted when therefore the Tincture is prepared with this Sulphur down below in the Bottom of Obscurity it is carried Gradatim up for the highest Glory with the greatest splendor of spirituality so that any Body whatsoever being melted with the Fire it Tinges and so firmly adheres to it that it cannot for ever be any more separated therefrom But the Sophisticate Tincture which is made from the middle Minerals from burning Sulphur Arsenical Aluminous and such like are not able to defend either Bodies upon which they are projected nor yet their own proper substance from the violence of Fire but together with the Bodies they flie away and by the force of Fire Vanish into Air. III. Hermes The order method managment and dis position of the Matter sought after by the Philosophers is but one in Our Egg. Now this in the Hens Egg is in no wise to be found But lest so much of the Divine Wisdom as is seen in a Hens Egg should be distinguished we make in imitation thereof a Compositum from the four Elements joyntly fitted and compacted together Salmon The Description of the Philosophick Egg is various which the Philosophers divide into four parts according to the number of the four Elements 1. Putamen the Shell which they make the Earth 2. Albumen the White which is Water 3. Pellicula the Skin which is Air. 4. Vitellus the Yolk which is Fire Some make only three parts thereof 1. Vitellus the Sulphur 2. Albumen the Mercury 3. Putamen the Salt Some again will have the Yolk to signifie Mars Sol and Venus and the White Saturn Jupiter Mercury and Luna and the Shell the Firmament and Earth or Combustible Ashes but to speak plainly the Shell represents the Philosophick Glass wherein the Skin the White the Tread and the Yolk answer to the four Elements Fire Air Water and Earth Or rather the Tread Yolk and White to the three pure principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury or Spirit Soul and Body that is Fixity Tincture and Subsistence IV. Hermes Now in a Hens Egg there is the greatest help that may be for herein is a nearness of the Matters in their Natures a spirituality and gathering and joyning together of the Elements and the Earth which is Gold in its Nature Salmon The Ovum Philosophorum or our Mercury has in it self whatever is necessary thereto We call it Our Mercury because it is reduced into one pure Homogene Body where is 1. A Propinquity of Natures as Earth Water Air and Fire or Salt Sulphur and Mercury 2. A Spirituality which is the formative faculty the hidden Work-Master which brings the Stone to perfection 3. A gathering together of the Elements for that the Earth is made Water and Air and Fire by Sublimation and they are made Earth again which Earth is Gold in its inward principle or Nature V. Hermes The Son saith to him the Sulphurs which are convenient or fit for Our Work are they Coelestial or Terrestial Heavenly or Earthly To whom Hermes answers some of them are Heavenly and some are from the Earth Salmon This is a short Dialogue between the Father and the Son Hermes makes answer to his Son concerning the Sulphurs that they are not of one or the same kind but that some are of a Heavenly and some are of an Earthly Nature yet he confesses both to be Sulphurs by the Heavenly is meant the Solar Sulphur and by the Earthly the Sulphur of Luna For Sol is a Body Masculine hot fixt red and incombustible which perfects Luna who is Feminine Cold Volatile White and Combustible exalting her to his own Glory and Splendor VI. Hermes The Son saith Father I think the Heart in the Superiors to prenote Heaven in the Inferiors the Earth To whom Hermes saith It is not so the Masculine truly is the Heaven of the Feminine and the Feminine the Earth of the Masculine Salmon The Heaven is the Masculine of the Earth and Earth is the Feminine of the Heaven Heaven or Sol which is pure fixt and incombustible Sulphur is the generating Seed and Mercury which is the Magical Earth is the Womb or Feminine principle receiving the Seed in which the Seed is keept nourished digested and brought to the Birth or Perfection Even that in which it obtains Spirit Blood
and Flesh viz. Fixity Tincture and Substance The Earth or Mercury is the subject or receptacle of all the Coelestial Radiations VII Hermes The Son saith Father which of these is more worthy one than another whether is the Heaven or the Earth The Father answers Both want the help of one another but a Medium is proposed by precepts But if thou shalt say that Wisdom or the Wise Man does Rule or Command among all Mankind to this Hermes The indifferent or ordinary things are better with them because every Nature delights or desires to be joyned in Society with its own kind We find even in Wisdom it self that equal things are joyned together Salmon If by a Magical Matrimony the Heavens and the Earth are Conjoyned neither seems to be more worthy for as the Earth cannot Generate without the Heavens so neither can the Heavenly Influences multiply themselves without the Earth But there is a mean proposed which he explicates in the following Paragraph which is the making the one equal with the other viz. by bringing forth a new Off-spring out of both which shall excede Sol himself in perfection because it is more than perfect and able to make the imperfect Bodies or Metals perfect which Sol himself cannot do and is also able to make the most imperfect Bodies more than perfect by multiplying their Tincture a thousand times more than what they had Originally by Nature which is performed by Precepts saith Hermes that is by Art And since every Nature Delights to be joyned with its own kind you must be sure to joyn Metalline Bodies only with Metalline Principles for Water joyned with Water cannot be separated no more can Silver being joyned with Silver or Gold with Gold that is to say their Seed VIII Hermes The Son saith But what is the mean among them To whom Hermes answers To every thing in Nature there are three things from two 1. The Beginning 2. The Middle 3. The End viz. First the profitable and necessary Water Secondly the Fat or Oyl Thirdl'y the Foeces or Earth which remains below Salmon By the Beginning he me ans the Deundation of the first Principles for the Prima Materia must be prepared and made fit for the Operation the Middle which are the Operations of the Work from the Beginning to the End the End which is the Perfection or consummation of the matter these are the three things from the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury Or possibly by the three things from the two he may mean the Spirit Soul and Body i. e. Fixity Tincture and Substance from the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury being in Conjunction Other Interpret it thus by the two things he means Heaven and Earth which cannot be Conjoyned without a Medium which is the Air no otherwise than Soul and Body which cannot be Conjoyned in one Body without the Spirit to Unite them The Spirit then is the Legitimate Mediator of the true and perfect Conjunction whether Natural or Supernatural By the Heaven is understood the Soul By the Earth the Body By the Spirit the Uniting Principles these indeed are the three things from the two i. e. the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury the Spirit being Latent in them both But however Our Hermes lest he should not be understood has explicated them himself viz. the profitable Water the Fat Oyl the Foeces or Earth By the Water is meant the Mercury by the Fat or Oyl the Sulphur which by the Mediation of the Internal or Latent Spirit are United into one Body and make the Foeces or Earth IX Hermes But the Dragon dwells in or Inhabits in all these things And his Houses are the darkness and blackness in them and by them he Ascends into the Air from his rising which is their Heaven But while the Fume or Vapour remains in them they are not perpetual Permanant remaining or fixt Take but away the Fume or Vapor from the Water and the blackness from the Fat or Sulphur and Death from the Foeces and by Dissolution you shall possess a Tryumphant Gift even that in and by which the Possessors Live Salmon We have spoken now concerning the Heavens and the Earth and their Matrimonial Conjunction by a Medium viz. the Air or Water which we also call the Spirit for the Water is nothing but the Air Coagulated and the Air is the Vital Spirit running through and peircing all beings giving Life and Consistency to every thing the very Agent which Ties the Particles of all Matter and Bodies together and without which every Body and Metal would fall to pieces and become nothing but Dust and Ashes even the smallest of Atoms And this Spirit is that which moves and sills all things It is the Philosophick Heaven which in its prime Resolution or putrefaction is wonderfully defiled so that like the most Poisonous Dragon or Serpent it destroys all things it touches from whence it is said to have its House in Darkness and Blackness and to possess Blackness and Clouds and defilements and Death it self So long therefore as the Heaven shall be thus infected it is impossible for it to return to its Pristine Nature Simplicity Purity Fixity and Permanency By the Dragon then is signified this Black Matter Ascending into Air which is difficultly done by Reason of its thick glutinous and Ponderous Body which would not tend upwards unless it be first resolved by Force and Power of the Fire in a Philosophick Glass into an Aereal and Vaporous substance being thus Dissolved by a frequent Ventilation of the Air or Spirit it will be perfectly purged and recover its Primaeval Nature of Heaven which is the thing sought after CHAP. VI. The Several Operations by and Various Matters of which the Stone is Composed I. HERMES Now the temperate Fat or Sulphur which is the Fire is the Medium or Middle Nature between the Foeces and the Water and the through Searcher of the Water The Fat 's are called Sulphurs for between Fire Oyl and Sulphur there is so little difference that there is a propinquity or nearness because as the Fire does Burn so also does the Sulphur Salmon He here makes the Fire to be the Medium between the Sulphur and the Mercury which Fire we have before declared to be both Internal and External The first is Innate in the Principles and Essential the latter Elemental and Accidental it is the through Searcher of the Water that is the stirer up of Internal Life and Efficacy so that the Internal Fire may properly be called the Spirit of the Matter which disposes the Particles of it to their Change But the difference between this Fire or Spirit and Oyl or Sulphur is so little that we want fit Words to express it but it is like the Spirit to the Soul which are inseparable But this is to be understood that of Sulphurs such only are to be chosen which are the more near in their principles the Sulphurs of Minerals are
an homogene and uniform nature Then we take the moist part and reserve it a part to a farther use This Earth or Ashes which is a very fixed thing we put into a very strong Earthen Pot or Crucible to which we lute its Cover and set it in a calcining Fornace or Reverberatory for 3 days so that it may be always red hot Thus we make of a Stone a white Calx and of things of an earthy and watery nature a fiery nature For every Calx is of a fiery nature which is hot and dry XXXVI We have brought things to the nature of fire we must now further subtilize the four Elements we take apart a small quantity of this Calx viz. a fourth part The other we set to dissolve with a good quantity of fresh Mercury even as we had done formerly in all the Processes of the aforegoing Paragraphs and so proceed on from time to time till it is wholly dissolved XXXVII Now that you may change the fixt into a Volatile that is Fire into Water know that that which was of the nature of Fire is now become the nature of Water and the fixt thereby is made volatile and very subtil Take of this water one part put it to the reserved Calx and add to it as much of the water as may over top the Calx 2 or 3 Inches making a fire under it for 3 days thus it congeals sooner than at first for Calx is hot and dry and drinks up the humidity greedily XXXVIII This Congelation must be continued till all be quite congealed afterwards you must calcine it as formerly being quite calcined it is called the quintessence because it is of a more subtil nature than fire and because of the Transmutation formerly made All this being done our Medicine is finished and nothing but Ingression is wanting viz. that the matter may have an Ingress into Imperfect Metals XXXIX Plato and many other Philosophers began this Work again with dissolving subliming or subtilizing congealing and calcining as at first But this our Medicine which we call a ferment transmutes Mercury into its own na-nature in which it is dissolved and sublimed They say also our Medicine transmutes infinitely imperfect Metals and that he who attains once to the perfection of it shall never have any need to make more all which is Philosophically to be understood as to the first Original Work XL. Seeing then that our Medicine transmutes imperfect Metals into Sol and Luna according to the nature and form of the matter out of which it is made therefore we now a second time say That this our Medicine is of that nature that it transmutes or changes converts divides asunder like fire and is of a more subtil nature than fire being of the nature of a quintessence as aforesaid converting Mercury which is an imperfect substance into its own nature turning the grossness of Metal into Dust and Ashes as you see fire which does not turn all things into its nature but that which is homogene with it turning the hetero gene matter into Ashes XLI We have taught how a Body is to be changed into a Spirit and again how the Spirit is to be turned into a Body viz. how the fixed is made volatile and the volatile fixed again How the Earth is turned into Water and Air and the Air into Fire and the Fire into Earth again Then the Earth into Fire and the Fire into Air and the Air into Water and the Water again into Earth Now the Earth which was of the nature of Fire is brought to the nature of a quintessence XLII Thus we have taught the ways of transmuting performed through heat and moisture making out of a dry a moist thing and out of a moist a dry one otherwise Natures which are of several Properties or Families could not be brought to one uniform thing if the one should be turned into the others nature XLIII And this is the perfection of the matter according to the advice of the Philosopher Ascend from the Earth into Heaven and descend from the Heaven to the Earth to the intent to make the body which is Earth into a Spirit which is subtil and then to reduce that Spirit into a Body again which is gross changing one Element into another as Earth into Water Water into Air Air into Fire and Fire again into Water and Water into Fire and that into a more subtil Nature and quintescence Thus have you accomplished the Treasure of the whole World XLIII Ingression Take Sulphur Vive Melt it in an Earthen Vessel well glazed and put to it a strong Lye made of Calx vive and Pot Ashes Boyl gently together so will an Oyl swim on the top which take and keep Having enough of it mix it with Sand distil it through an Alembick or Retort so long till it becomes incombustible With this Oyl we imbibe Our Medicine which will be like Soap then we distil by an Alembick and cohobate 3 or 4 times adding more Oyl to it if it be not imbibed enough XLV Being thus imbibed put fire under it that the moisture may Vanish and the Medicine be fit and fusible as the body of Glass Then take the Avis Hermetis before reserved and put it to it Gradatim till it all becomes perfectly fixt XLVI Now according to Avicen it is not possible to convert or transmute Metals unless they be reduced to their first Matter then by the help of Art they are transmuted into another Metal The Alchymist does like the Physitian who first Purges off the Corrupt or Morbifick Matter the Enemy to Mans Health and then administers a Cordial to restore the Vital Powers So we first Purge the Mercury and Sulphur in Metals and then strengthen the Heavenly Elements in them according to their various Preparations XLVII This Nature works farther by the help of Art as her Instrument and really makes the most pure and fine Sol and Luna for as the heavenly Elemental Virtues work in natural Vessels even so do the artificial being made uniform agreeable with nature and as nature works by means of the heats of Fire and of the Bodies so also Art work 〈◊〉 by a like temperate and proportionate fire by the moving and living virtue in the matter XLVIII For the heavenly virtue mixed with it at first and inclinable to this or that is furthered by Art Heavenly Virtues are communicated to their Subjects as it is in all natural things chiefly in things generated by putrefaction where the Astral Influences are apparent according to the capacity of the matter XLIX The Alchymist imitates the same thing destroying one form to beget another and his Operations are best when they are according to nature as by purifying the Sulphur by digesting subliming and purging Argent Vive by an exact mixtion with a Metalick matter and thus out of their Principles the form of every Metal is produced L. The power and virtue of the converting Element must
Sybills said that the Son of the Virgin be exalted from the Earth and that the white Quintessence after its rising out of the dead Earth be raised up towards Heaven the gross and thick remaining in the bottom of the Vessel and of the Water II. Afterwards the Vessel being cooled you will find in the bottom the black Faeces scorcht and burnt which separate from the Spirit and Quintessence of Whiteness and cast them away III. Then will the Argent vive fall down from our Air or Spirit upon the new Earth which is called Argent vive sublimed by the Air or Spirit whereof is made a viscous Water pure and white IV. This Water is the true Tincture separated from all its black Faeces and our Brass or Latten is prepared with our Water purified and brought to a white Colour V. Which white Colour is not obtained but by decoction and coagulation of the Water Decoct therefore continually wash away the Blackness from the Latten not with your Hands but with the Stone or the Fire or our second Mercurial Water which is the true Tincture VI. This separation of the pure from the impure is not done with hands but Nature her self does it and brings it to perfection by a circular Operation VII It appears then that this Composition is not a work of the Hands but a change of the Natures because Nature dissolves and joyns it self sublimes and lifts it self up and grows white being separate from the Faeces VIII And in such a Sublimation the more subtil pure and essential parts are conjoyned for that with the fiery nature or property lifts up the subtil parts it separates alwaies the more pure leaving the grosser at bottom IX Wherefore your Fire ought to be a gentle and a continual Vapour with which you sublime that the matter may be filled with Spirit from the Air and live X. For naturally all things take Life from the inbreathing of the Air and so also our Magistery receives in the Vapour or Spirit by the sublimation of the Water XI Our Brass or Laten then is to be made to ascend by the degrees of Fire but of its own accord freely aand without violence except the body therefore be by the Fire and the Water broken or dissolved and attenuated until it ascends as a Spirit or climbs like Argent vive or rather as the white Soul separated from the Body and by sublimation delated or brought into a Spirit nothing is or can be done XII But when it ascends on high it is born in the Air or Spirit and is changed into Spirit and becomes Life with Life being only Spiritual and Incorruptible XIII And by such an Operation it is that the Body is made Spirit of a subtil nature and the Spirit is incorporated with the Body and made one with it and by such a sublimation conjunction and raising up the whole both Body and Spirit are made white CHAP. XX. Of Digestion Sublimation and Separation of the Bodies for the perfection of the Work I. ERgo necessaria est haec sublimatio philosophica naturalis quae componit pacem inter corpus spiritum quod est impossibile aliter fieri nisi in has partes separentur II. Idcirco oportet utrumque sublimare ut purum ascendat impurum terrenosum descendat in turbatione maris procellosi III. Quare oportet decoquere continuò ut ad subtilem deducatur naturam quousque corpus assumat attrahat animam albam Mercurialem quam retinet naturaliter nec demittit eam à se separari quia sibi compar est in propinquitate naturae primae purae simplicis IV. Ex his oportet per decoctionem separationem exercere ut nihil de pinguedine ani mae remaneat quod non fuerit elevatum exaltatum in superiori parte sic utrumque erit reductum ad aequalitatem simplicem ad simplicem albedinem V. Vultur ergo volans per aerem Bufo gradiens per terram est magisterium VI. Ideo quando separabis terram ab aqua id est ab igne subtile ab spisso suaviter cum magno ingenio ascendet à terra in coelum quod erit purum descendet in terram quod erit impurum VII Et recipiet subtilior pars in superiori loco naturam spiritus in inferiori verò naturam corporis terrei VIII Quare elevetur per talem oporationem natura alba cum subtiliori parte corporis relictis foecibus quod fit brevi tempore IX Nam anima cum sua adjuvatur socia per eam perficitur X. Mater inquit corpus me genuit per me gignitur ipsa postquam autem ab ea accepi volatum ipsa meliori modo quo potest fit pia fovens nutriens filium quem genuit donec ad statum devenerit perfectum I. THIS Philosophical and Natural Sublimation therefore is necessary which makes peace between or fixes the Body and Spirit which is impossible to be done otherwise than in the separation of these parts II. Therefore it behoves you to sublime both that the pure may ascend and the impure and earthy may descend or be left at bottom in the perplexity of a troubled Sea III. And for this reason it must be continually decocted that it may be brought to a subtil property and the Body may assume and draw to it self the white Mercurial Soul which it naturally holds and suffers not to be separated from it because it is like to it in the nereness of the first pure and simple nature IV. From these things it is necessary to make a separation by Decoction till no more remains of the purity of the Soul which is not ascended and exalted to the higher part whereby they will both be reduced to an equality of Properties and a simple or pure Whiteness V. The Vulture flying through the Air and the Toad creeping upon the Ground are the Emblems of our Magistery VI. When therefore gently and with much care you separate the Earth from the Water that is from the Fire and the thin from the thick then that which is pure will separate it self from the Earth and ascend to the upper part as it were into Heaven and the impure will descend beneath as to the Earth VII And the more subtil part in the superior place will take upon it the nature of a Spirit and that in the lower place the nature of an earthy body VIII Wherefore let the white property with the more subtil parts of the body be by this Operation made to ascend leaving the faeces behind which is done in a short time IX For the Soul is aided by her associate and fellow and perfected by it X. My Mother saith the Body has begotten me and by me she her self is begotten now after I have taken from her her flying she after an admirable manner becomes kind nourishing and cherishing the Son whom she has begotten till he comes to
Soul and that by the help of art it is made to grow into a true and pure Tree to spring up and bud forth abundantly and afterwards to send forth infinite little Springs and Branches III. O Noble and Blessed Green saith the Rosary which produces all things and without whom nothing can Increase Vegetate nor Multiply IV. The three Persons rising again cloathed in Sparkling White represent the Body Sonl and Spirit of our white stone V. The Philosophers do commonly use these terms of Art to hide the Secret from Unworthy Men. VI. They call the Body that black Earth which is obscure and dark and which we make white VII They call the Soul the other half divided from the body which by the purpose of God and work of Nature gives to the body by its Imbibitions and Fermentations a Vegetable Soul viz. a Power and Vertue to bud or spring increase multiply and become White like a naked shining Sword VIII They call the Spirit the Tincture and dryness which as a Spirit has power to pierce all things IX It would be too tedious to tell you how great reason the Philosophers had to say always and in all places Our Stone hath answerable to human kind a Body a Soul and a Spirit X. I will only inculcate to you that as a Man endued with Body Soul and Spirit is notwithstanding but one Man or substance So likewise in this your white Compositum you have but one only substance yet containing a Body Soul and Spirit which are inseparably united XI I could very easily give you most clear Comparisons and Expositions of this Body Soul and Spirit not fit to be divulged but should I explicate them I must of necessity declare things which God reserves to himself to reveal to a select choice of such as fear and love him and therefore ought not to be written XII I have then caused to be depicted here three persons all in white as if they were rising again thereby typifying forth this Body Soul and Spirit to shew you that Sol Luna and Mercury are raised again in this Operation viz. That they are made Elements or Inhabitants of the Air and Whitened XIII For we have before called the blackness Death and so continuing the Metaphor we may call Whiteness Life which comes not but with and by a Resurrection XIV The Body To explicate this more plainly I have made to be painted The Body lifting up the Stone of its Tomb wherein it was inclosed XV. The Soul This because it cannot be put into the Earth it comes not out of a Tomb and therefore I only depicted or placed it among the Tombs seeking its Body It is in the form of a Woman having her Hair dishevelled or hanging about her Ears XVI The Spirit This neither can be put into a Grave and therefore I depicted it like a Man coming out of the Earth but not from a Tomb. XVII These are depicted all in White thereby signifying that the blackness which is Death is conquered or vanquished and overcome and being whitened they are brought into a state of Life and made thenceforth incorruptible XVIII Behold and lift up your Eyes on high and see the King Ascended who being raised again by the power of Life and Crowned with the Glorious Tincture has overcome Death the Darkness and Moisture XIX And as our Lord and Saviour shall eternally unite unto him all pure and clean Souls and separate from him all such as are impure unclean and wicked as being unworthy to be united to his Divine Nature XX. So also our White Elixir will from henceforth inseparably unite unto its self every pure Metalick nature into its own fine pure and fixed Silvery nature but reject all that is Heterogeneal or strange and 〈◊〉 XXI Thanks be given to God who thus bountifully has bestowed his Goodness upon us and has given us Hearts fit to consider the Philosophical Mystery of this most pure and sparkling White more shining and perfect than any compounded matter XXII And more Noble next after the Immortal Soul of Man than any substance whether having life or not having life For it is a Quintessence most pure Silver having passed the Coupel yea all assays and in the words of David the Royal Prophet It is fine Silver seven times refined XXIII What the 2 Angels playing on Instruments over the heads of them which are raised signifie is needless here to be declared They are Divine Spirits singing the Wonders of God in this Miraculous and Admirable Operation XXIV The like may be said of the three Angels over the head of the Picture representing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the one of which Crowns him and the other two assisting say O Pater Omnipotens O Jesu bone Rendring unto him Immortal Praise with Eternal Thanksgiving CHAP. XXXIII Of the Field Violet and Blue with the two Angels of an Orange Colour and their Motto's I. THe Violet and Blue Field shews forth that being to pass or to be changed from the White Stone to the Red you must imbibe it with a little Virgins Milk of Sol that these Colours may come forth from the Mercurial Moisture which you have dryed upon the Stone II. In this Work of Rubifying although you do imbibe you shall not have much black but Violet Blue and the Colours of the Peacock's Tail III. For this our Stone is so absolute and triumphant in dryness that assoon as your Mercury touches it the nature thereof rejoycing in its like nature it is joyned unto it and drinks or swallows it up greedily IV. And therefore the black that comes of Moisture can shew it self but a little and that under the Colours of Violet and Blue because that Dryness as is said does in a very short time govern absolutely V. I also caused to be de picted two Angels with Wings to point out to you the two Substances of our Matter or Compositum viz. The Mercurial and Sulphurous substance and the fixed as well as the Volatile which being perfectly united together do also flie together within the Vessel VI. For in this Operation the fixed Body will gently ascend up to Heaven being wholly spiritual and from thence it will descend unto the Earth even whither soever you please following the Spirit every where which is always moved by the fire VII Whereby at length they are made one and the self same nature the Compositum or Body being made wholly spiritual and the spiritual wholly Corporeal so much has it been ground or subtilized upon our Marble i. e. decocted in our Fire by the precedent Operations VIII The Natures then are here transmuted into Angels viz. they are made til and spiritual and so are become the true Tinctures IX Now you must remember to begin the Rubifying by the apposition of the Citrine Red Mercury but you must not pour on much only once or twice according as you shall see occasion X. For this Operation ought to be done by
Calces of all Bodies may be so depurated and Citrinated that thereby they may become most pure Gold IX When also Argent Vive is dissolved then dissolve in it a little of the aforesaid Red Ferment and so put all into Kemia or a proper Vessel which firmly close up with a Philosophick Seal Then with a continual and easie or gentle Fire draw out the Charriot of the four Elements through the Depth of the Sea until the Floods being dryed up there appears in the Matter a bright shining substance like to the Eyes of the Fishes X. For by this Operation if you keep your Temperate Fire continually alive the Floods shall dry up with an exceeding drought and the dry Land or Earth shall appear as in the days of Noah the waters were dryed up from off the Earth and behold the Face of the Ground was dry And by lifting up the Rod of Moses and stretching out his hand the waters were dryed up and the dry Ground appeared in the midst of the Sea for so says David He Rebuked the Red Sea and it was dryed up he led them through the Depths as through the Wilderness XI And then by the Space of Forty days following it shall be Rubified as the Philosophers Demonstrate by the help of a Vehement Fire as the Nature of it requires continuing and remaining in the same strong Fire till it melt and flow like Wax whereby it will be able to transmute all Bodies into pure fine Gold XII And thus the White and Red Medicines are multiplied with their own proper humidities viz. only by the solution of the White Medicines in their own proper White and Red humours and by their Coagulation again of the same as necessity requires Thus have we explicated with singular plainess of Speech the Elixiration of Mercury per se or Argent Vive alone CHAP. LXVIII The second of the former Elixirs with Mercury and the Body Alchymick I. TO Elixirate with Mercury and the Body Alchymick Take One part of the most pure Kibrick quod est pater Mercurij omnium Liquabilium Sea water twelve parts in which dissolve the Kibrick being dissolved strain the water through a Linnen Cloth and what remains undissolved which will not go through put into the Vessel called Kemia set it over a gentle fire as it were the heat of the Sun untill there appears on the Top a Red Color II. Then put to it a quarter more of the Sea-water aforesaid being kept in a very clean Vessel set it on a very gentle fire and dry it up again as you did before by little and little at a time III. For in this Work by so much less there is put of the Spirit and more of the Body by so much the sooner and better shall the Solution be made the which Solution is made by the Congelation of its water IV. And therefore as the Rosary saith you must beware that the Belly be not made over moist for if it be the water shall not receive or attain to its dryness V. This manner of Imbibition must be Observed and continued so long till the whole water by several Imbibitions shall be dryed up into a Body VI. This done let the Vessel be firmly and Philosophically Sealed up and placed in its proper Fornace with a mean or gentle fire which must not wax cold from the first hour you begin to set the same into the Fornace till you have made an end of the whole work VII And when the matter is sublimed then let it be made to Descend by little and little without Violence the fire being Artificially made or set over it which done let it be again sublimed as before VIII And so let the Soul of the Sun of the Vulgar the which Soul is Our unclean Oyntment the Spirit not yet conjoyned with the Body Ascend from the Earth to the Heaven and again make it to Descend from Heaven to the Earth till all becomes Earth which before was Heaven IX To the end there may be made a substance not so hard as the Body nor yet so soft as the Spirit but holding a mean disposition standing fixed and Permanent in the fire like a White peice of melted Wax flowing in the bottom of the Vessel X. The which White substance of a mean or middle consistency must be fed and nourished with Milk and Meat till the quantity thereof be increased according to your desire XI This Medicine being Fermented to the Red with a portion of Sol Dissolved in the water of the Sea by reason of separating the first the form from the Matter to the end that it may be in a more noble form than it was before when the first qualities did remain undivided and that it may be brought into a Purple Colour by the help of a strong and continual fire whereby is made the true Elixir both for the White and Red Work XII Now this Elixir be it White or Red shall be increased an hundred fold more both in Virtue and Goodness if its Quintessence be fixed with it and that then afterwards it be brought and reduced by the Fire of Nature into a thin Oyl the which must be done in a Circulatory Vessel for truly then the least drop thereof does Congeal a thousand drops of Mercury into the very greatest Medicine CHAP. LXIX Of the Vegetable Stone I. THe Vegetable Stone is gotten by Virtue of the Fire of Nature of the Composition of which fire we now intend plainly to treat and of the way how to work with it in every respect II. Its Composition is of four things as Raymundus saith in his Book of Quintessences It is a Composition of Sal Amarum which is Ignis adeptus a fire that is gotten without Wood or Coal and by an easie working does work against all manner of sharpness of Action of the Visible Fire like as if it were the fire of Hell and therefore altho' Wine be hot yet this water of Mercury is hotter for it is able to dissolve all Bodies to putrefie and also to divide the Elements which neither common Fire nor Wine can do III. Some think that this Fire of Nature is extracted or drawn from Wine according to the common way and that it must be rectified by often Distillations until its Flegm is wholly abstracted which hinders its Heat Virtue Strength and Burning But this when it is done to all advantages and its highest perfection which Fools call the pure Spirit and then put to the Calx of the Body never so well prepared yet will it be weak and ineffectual to Our purpose for Dissolution Conservation c. IV. The true and Pure Spirit is Our Silverish Spirit of Wine which is our Vegetable Mercury and the true water of the Philosophers Concerning which see in Ripley's secret Concord V. Wherefore since the vulgar Spirit or Wine is such it is evident that there is an Error in choosing of this Principle for the true Principle which is
Universal Medicine drawn which as well as for Metals is made most effectual to conserve Humane Bodies in a State of Health and to root out all sorts of Diseases whether accidental after the Birth or Hereditary by Propagation restoring the Sick to their pristine Health and Integrity This Sulphur is not taken from Suets Grease Hair Verdigrease Tragacanth Bones c. But under these and other the like Names our Hermes by a Philosophick Liberty has vailed the Verity from impious and unworthy Men. IV. Hermes But the Fat 's which contain the Tinctures which coagulate the Fugitive and set forth or adorn the Sulphurs it behoves us to explicate their disposition more fully hereafter Salmon Here in more words Hermes explicates the Condition or Qualities and Properties of the true Balsam of Nature or Philosophick Sulphur 1. He says it contains the Tinctures 2. It Coagulates Fugitive Substances 3. It exalts the Power of the Sulphurs by fixing the Volatile and making Bright and Shining the things which were Dark and obscure The Volatiles of this kind are nothing else but all the inferior and imperfect Metals which by this 〈◊〉 or Sulphur are 〈◊〉 into the best and 〈◊〉 Silver and Gold Now this hidden Sulphur dwells in the Bodies just as Fire in a Coal or Natural Heat in a Humane Body or the Vegetative Life in the Spring time in Herbs Plants and Trees which in Process of time makes them bring forth Buds Leaves Flowers and at length perfect Ripe Fruits and Seeds Or like Heat in the inward parts of the Earth and Bowels of the Mountains where the most simple Bodies of things or Elements are first mixed and produce Metals Minerals Stones c. according to their several varieties and kinds So this our Sulphur of Nature contains in it self the true Tinctures which by the revolution of time it explicates making ripe the unripe purifying the impure fixing the Volatile and ennobling the Ignoble and Vile V. Hermes And to Unveil the figure or form from all other Fat 's or Sulphurs which is the Hidden and Buried Fat or Sulphur which is seen in no disposition but dwells in its own Body as fire or heat in Trees and Stones which by the most subtle Art and Ingenuity it behoves us to extract without Burning Salmon 4. It unveils the Figure or Form distinguishing it self from all other Fat 's Balsams or Sulphurs He calls it Hidden and Buried because it is not Vulgarly known but only to such as are Adepts And Buried because it lies Centrally in the Bodies of Sol Luna and Mercury as a thing Buried in the bowels of the Earth It is seen in no disposition but dwells in its own Body that is it is not perceptible in any of the imperfect Metals because they have not Bodies able to hold it till by it they are made pure and fixt where they may become as its own Body is and so takes up its habitation and dwells in them as Heat does in Trees in the Spring time when the External Heat of Sol stirring up their internal or Mercurial Heat latent within them makes them bud and bring forth Leaves Flowers Fruits and Seeds and that to perfection This Sulphur saith Hermes it behoves us to extract without Burning for in the Mercury it is yet Volatile and therefore by subliming of it more and more it must be exalted till at length it is fixt but with great care and industry lest you err in the Degrees of the Fire which if it be too great it burns or breaks our Body or Vessel which in this place we call the Matter it self and is the Domicil in which this Celestial and Astral Spirit and Sulphur dwells and so makes it Vanish and Fly away Now it is said to be Volatile only in respect to the Body which holds it in Sol and Luna it is absolutely fixt but in Mercury this same Sulphur seems to be Volatile not that it is Volatile in its own Nature but is only contained in a Volatile Body which is Immature and Weak and cannot hold it This Body therefore must be maturated and strengthned and made fixt by Virtue of this inherent Sulphur being digested and Decocted in it with an Idoneus or fit Heat for a certain Revolution of time VI. Hermes And know that the Heaven is to be joyned in a mean with the Earth But the Figure is to be in a middle Nature between the Heaven and the Earth which thing is Our Water Salmon Here he speaks of the Three parts of the Stone 1. Heaven which is our prepared Gold 2. The mean or Medium of Conjuction which is our Aqua Philosophica 3. The Earth or Foeces which is Gold it self Now wonder not that Gold is here converted into Foeces and is esteemed more vile than the Heaven and the Water But this is not spoken of Vulgar Gold but of that which is Philosophick which while it lies in Putrefaction seems to be a vile thing now that it contains in it self all Bodies both perfect and imperfect precious and vile Gold and Lead i. e. Plumbum Philosophicum Aurum Leprosum Imperfectum Plumbum Fixum Perfectum but this is said to be in a mean that is tho' it may have the Color and Weight of Gold and other properties yet it may be made much more Spiritual and Excellent and Efficacious almost infinitely exceeding the Virtues and Excellencies of the Vulgar or Common Gold and this by the help of a middle Nature which is not so Volatile as Mercury nor so Dead as common Gold which middle principle is Our Water VII Hermes Now in the first place of all is the Water which goes forth from this Our Stone The second is Gold But the third is Gold in a mean which is more noble than the Water and the Foeces Salmon The three parts of the Stone are here more plainly exprest 1. The Water which is our Mercury 2. Gold which is Sulphur 3. The mean or almost Gold which is Our Salt or Philosophick Earth and is more worthy than either the Water or the Foeces by which Vulgar Gold may by projection be tinged and made more than perfect This is that pretious Stone in comparison of which Gold it self the most pure Gold is esteemed but as a little Sand and Silver as Clay in respect thereof This Gold in a mean is Gold in a middle principle that is Essential Gold in the Root of the Aurifick Agent which is in the possibility of augmentation or encrease even as a very little Plant which becomes a great and mighty Tree now this third principle which he calls Gold in a mean is the very Soul it self which makes this our Philosophick Plant to grow giving it form and Beauty and making it become a Golden Tree of a vast and almost infinite magnitude VIII Hermes And in these three are the Vapors the Blackness and the Death Salmon That is in one only Subject composed of three Spirit Soul and
superiour part The matter generated of Sol and Luna ascends i. e. the thick Terrean substance thereof is converted or resolved into Heaven 〈◊〉 into a subtile substance like to Heaven he demonstrates the Spagyrick solution by what Instrument and Artifice it is done then he teaches the Fixation It Decends again to the Earth as if he should say after its substance is dissolved and made to Ascend under the Obedience of the Internal Celestial Virtues or Powers standing there the determined time of its Maturity it returns again or descends that is to say the Spirit is made Corporeal which was before a Body or made from a Body Spiritual which is nothing but the Philosophick Riddle Fac Fixum Volatile rursus Volatile fixum totum habebis Magisterium And by this means it will obtain the Virtues of the Superiour and Inferiour Powers i. e. the Heavenly and Volatile Power to penetrate grow increase or multiply and the Earthly Power to give Substance Corporeity and Fixity VII Hermes In this Work you acquire to your self the Wealth and Glory of the whole World Drive therefore from you all Cloudiness or Obscurity Darkness and Blindness Salmon Possessing this Stone thus perfected you possess all the Wealth and Treasures of the World so that you may live free from Care and Trouble from Discontent and Fears from every Sickness and Disease It is a Remedy for all Diseases both of Body and Mind It strikes at the root of Infirmities and destroyes that which would destroy or undermine the Health and Prosperity of the Humane Body This Stone this Wealth this Treasure though it be but like to a Grain of Mustard-seed yet it grows to be the greatest of all Trees in whose Branches the Birds of the Air make their Nests and under whose shadow the Beasts of the Field dwell VIII Hermes For the Work increasing or going on in Strength adds Strength to Strength forestalling and over-topping all other Fortitudes and Powers and is able to Subjugate and Conquer all things whether they be thin and Subtil or thick and Solid Bodies Salmon There is no Comparison of the Powers of other Natural things to the Power of the Stone for it is able to overcome and master all other Powers it can convert common Quick Silver into a Congealed substance and Transmute it into fine Gold or Silver and it can Penetrate and Peirce through all other hard solid or compact Bodies and strike them with a never fading Tincture so firm and fixt which the Power and Strength of the Strongest and most Violent Fire can never conquer or overcome This is as much as if he should say it is the compleat Virtue of total Nature the Power Efficacy and Potency of all things and even as it were above Nature so that it may not improperly be said to be a Work Metaphysical for that it seems to act above or beyond Nature It overcomes or conquers all things that is it makes all subtil and thin things as Quicksilver thick and coagulates them and on the contrary it Penetrates all thick and solid things i. e. It makes every hard Metal whether Perfect or Imperfect as Sol Luna Saturn Jupiter Mars and Venus subtile and thin and brings them to the greatest Perfection expelling all the Malign and Dark Spirits possessing them and giving to them Tincture and Fixity by its Subtility and Spiritualty IX Hermes In this manner was the World made and hence are the wonderful Conjunctions or Joynings together of the Matter and Parts thereof and the Marvellous Effects when in this way it is done by which these Wonders are Effected Salmon The Creation of the World he brings as a Prior Example or Exemplification of the VVork of Our Philosophick Stone for as the VVorld was Created so is Our Stone composed As in the beginning the whole VVorld and all that is therein was a Chaos or confused Mass but afterwards by the Virtue VVord Power or Spirit of the Great Creator a Separation was made the Elements were divided and rectified and the Universal VVorld was produced and brought forth Beautiful and Perfect in Number Weight and Measure So also in this our work we separate the Elements which we divide and rectifie by many sublimations depressions and precipitations whereby the perpetual and wonderful conjunction is made which is the product of the prime matter and the root of the Golden Kingdom in which power is produced into Act. X. Hermes And for this Cause I am called Hermes Trismegistus for that I have the knowledge or understanding of the Philosophy of the three principles of the Universe My Doctrine or Discourse which I have here delivered concerning this solar Work is compleat and perfect Salmon Hermes Trismegistus signifies the Thrice greatest Hermes for that he had the knowledge of the three Principals of the Universe viz. Salt Sulphur and Mercury answering to the Body Soul and Spirit Mineral Vegetable and Animal of which he had the true Knowledge he knew the way how to seperate them and conjoyn them again to make the fixt Volatile and the Volatile fixt to take away Tinctures and restore better again all which are contained in Our Philosophick Mercury which is the VVomb in which Our Philosophick which is the true Gold is Generated It is said to be perfect because 1. It contains all the Principles 2. From its never fading Coler 3. Its never perishing Body It is resembled to a grain of VVheat which unless it Dies it brings forth no Fruit but if it Die and is Putrefied passing through Death and Putrefaction or Dissolution to Life and Heaven there by perfecting its Nature it is infinitely profitable VVhat he has delivered concerning this Matter viz. of the three Colers Black White and Red of the three Principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury of the three Subsistences Body Soul and Spirit of the three Operations Volatilization Tincture and Fixation of the three States Imperfection Anihilation and Perfection he declares to be True and Compleat and that the Stone thus Generated existing and being in one only thing viz. the Philosophick Mercrry by a series of Natural Operations is Perfect and Intire wanting nothing Libri Hermetis Primi FINIS THE SECOND BOOK OF HERMES TRISMEGISTVS CHAP. XV. The Enterance into the Work beginning with Argent Vive I. HERMES the Wise saith if you Conserve a third part of your Camels viz. of the swift or Volatile Matter or that which must bear the Bur then and Consume the remaining two thirds you have attained to the thing desired you have perfected the Work II. In like manner you must be careful of your Argent Vive for the black Matter does Whiten the Flesh and the Work is perfected by the Fire of the Wise. III. And the Work is to be performed by a Spiritual Water in which the blackness is washed away and by that Instrument in which the Foundation of the Work is laid and in that time and moment in which the Clouds appear IV.
operation viz. after the Conjunction with Sol it is augmented This is then the beginning and the end Salmon Here Hermes eludicates the Philosophick Work by a most familiar Example of the Phases of Luna and so it is the Mineral Process in this Philosophick Work exactly answering to that Parallel in Heaven Some divide the Operation of the Stone into two parts viz. the former and the latter The former Hermes explicates by the notion of Decoction which does diminish the matter dissolves it as it were destroys it but being thus Dissolved and Corrupted it is through Regeneration by the Medium of perfection restored again This done then follows the latter part of the Operation by means of which the Virtue and Power of the Stone is made wonderful brought to its highest perfection and multiplied as it were in infinitum In these few words of Hermes are comprehended the whole Work and in them it is plainly laid open from the beginning to the end In a word it is like the Husbandman Sowing his Seed in the Ground which must first Die be Corrupted and Putrefied before it can be possest of a new Life by which it must arise and yeild its Hundred Fold Increase the first Life the first Birth the first Body must Die and give place to the second CHAP. II. The First Exposition of the Matter I. HERMES Behold I have Exposed to you that which was hidden and the work is both with you and for you that which is within is quickly taken out and is Permanent or fixt and you may have it either in the Earth or in the Sea Salmon This secret Work commends it self to its Children and the series of the Operation demonstrate that the Regenerating Spirit is within the Matter but adhears to it invisibly In Elementary and Gross Bodies it is not manifest except they be reduced into their first Essential Nature or Being for so this Spirit of Regeneration which is the Seed of the Promise the Heaven of the Philosophers out shining the Glory of the Stars is brought forth to View That which is Sown is not quickned except it Die it is Sown in Corruption it Rises in Incorruption it is Sown in Dishonour it is Raised in Glory The Sea is the Aqua Philosophica which entring into and Opening the Terra Philosophica brings forth the Gold bearing Vine of the Philosophers II. Hermes Keep therefore your Argent Vive which is prepared in the innermist Chamber of the Bridegroom in which it is Coagulated for that is the Argent Vive it self which is spoken of the remaining Earth Salmon Argent Vive is indeed the Prima Materia of the Philosophick Work but say the Philosophers beware that you use not the Vulgar Argent Vive or Quick-Silver for if you do you will be deceived Our Silver is not Vulgar for that is Dead and unfit for Our Work you must have that which is Living which is rightly Prepared by Art for the perfection of Nature Our Mercury is Philosophick Fiery Vital Running which may be mixed with all the other Metals and separated again from them It is prepared in the innermost Chamber there it is Coagulated Now where Metals grow there they must be found If you have found this Argent Vive the residence of the Philosophick Earth keep it safely for it is worthy If you have brought your Argent Vive to Ashes or Burnt it by the Power of the Fire you have an incomparable Treasure a thing much more Pretious than Gold This is that which Generarates the Stone and it is Born of it it is the whole Secret which Converts all the other Metalline Bodies into Sol and Luna making Hard Soft and the Soft Hard putting Tincture and Fixity upon them III. Hermes He therefore that now hears my Words let him search into and inquire from them it is not for the justification of the Work of any Evil Doer but to give to every good Man a Reward that I have laid Open or Discovered all things which were bid relating to this Science and Disclosed and made Plain and Open to you the greatest of Secrets even the Intellectual knowledg Salmon The Philosophers ever Discourse in Parables and Figures nor is it fit that all things should be revealed to every Body the matter is to be enquired after and diligently Searcht into without Labour and Pains nothing is to be obtained but Wisdom enters not in to profane Souls nor dwells in a Body subject to sin as the Wise Man affirms And altho' Hermes has spoken in this Book many things concerning this most noble Arcanum and has over-past nothing yet he has not spoken so plainly as that every profane and unworthy Person may understand it but has left the Mystery to be unfolded by the Sons of Wisdom IV. Hermes Know therefore ye Children of Wisdom and ye seekers after the Fame thereof that the Vulture standing upon the Mountain cries out with a great Voice saying I am the White of the Black and the Yellow of the White and the Citrine of the Yellow and behold I speak the very Truth Salmon The Mountain upon which the Vulture stands is a fit Vessel placed in a well Built Fornace encompassed with a Wall of Fire at the foot of which Mountain is a watchful Dragon who is full of Eyes and can see before him and behind him who is Vigilant and Careful in keeping the Entrance or Passage into the Mountain lest the unworthy should Ascend to the height theirof where is hid the Secret Stone of the Philosophers It is unpossible for any to enter here unless the Dragon be laid a Sleep Hoc opus hic Labor est to find out the means how this is to be done how this Beast is to be circumvented that we may obtain this so desirable Treasure is the Work of the Philosopher Three things are commended for this purpose first Crude Argent Vive made into Pills and Gilded with Gold Second a Sulphur of Mars extracted with Sol. Third The water of the Philosophers These things being rightly given will so lay him a Sleep that Night and Day you may continually have Egress and Regress Being once entred and Ascended the Mountain the Vulture or Crow will shew you the way where the Colors appear 1. Black which is the beginning of the Art 2. White which is the middle 3. Red which is the end of the whole Work V. Hermes Now the chief principle of Art is the Crow which in the Blackness of the Night and Clearness of the Day flys without Wings From the bitterness existing in the Throat the Tincture or Tinging matter is taken But the Red goes forth of its Body and a meer Water is taken from its back parts Salmon The Vulture and the Crow are both but one thing but in differing States it is the Vulture while it is Active and devouring and the Crow when it lies in a more passive Nature The Vulture is the Mercury of the Philosophers prepared by
Body these three Vapor Blackness and Death are latent which three are also one The Caput mortuum must be dissolved for except the Body be dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits for the Solution of the impure and vaporous Body induces and brings forth more pure and Noble Spirits indued with a mighty Strength and Power And by means of this Solution a more perfect mixtion is made as of Water with Water which cannot be separated not like that of Sand with Sand whose Superficies only touch one another which is indeed no true mixtion And thus by making a dissolution of the Metalline Principle that which is not Metalline nor will dissolve nor mix with the dissolved Matter as the Vapor the Blackness and the Death or Putrefaction comes to be separated and removed whereby the Dead comes to Live and that which was in Captivity and Chains comes to be made free delivered and set at Liberty IX Hermes It behoves us therefore to chase or drive away and expel the Superexistent Fume or Vapor from the Water the Blackness from the Fat And the Death from the Foeces and this by Dissolution By which means we attain to the knowledge of the greatest Philosophy and the sublime Secret of all Secrets Salmon In these three that is in the One Composed of the three lie these other three the Fume the Blackness and the Death that is the want of Ponderosity of Tincture and of Fixity both which threes in their own principles are also but one thing to wit the Caput mortuum which is depurated and revived by Dissolution only And except the Body is Dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits as we have said before And therefore if you would remove the Fumes you must dissolve the Fumous or imperfect Body that it may mix with the Ponderating Spirit The Fat or Sulphur is cleared from the blackness by manifold Sublimations bringing forth the pure Philosophick White and Red Flowers which are the Tincture And the Death is expelled by the Mercurial or Metallick Spirit which gives the Eternal fixity CHAP. XII The Praxis exemplified from the Nature of Leven and Paste I. HERMES Now there are seven Bodies of which the first is Gold the most perfect the King and the Head of them which the Water cannot alter nor the Earth Corrupt nor Fire Devastate because its Complexion is Temperate or in a mean and its Nature direct in respect of Heat Cold Moisture or Dryness nor is any thing that is in it Superfluous Salmon The seven Bodies are the seven Metals the first of which is Gold and the most perfect of them Now tho' it be all that can be or is requisite to be in a Body truly perfect yet something more than perfect is designed by our Tincture For Sol of him self cannot tinge nor melio rate any other Body nor bring it to his own perfection therefore he is to be made more than perfect by Virtue of this Philosophick Tincture which opening his Body shall exalt it a thousand fold beyond the degree of its perfection making him able to transmute other Bodies into his own form fixity and likeness The other six Bodies are Silver Tin Copper Iron Lead and Quick Silver which last is also among the number of Spirits Now there is a difference between the Common and Vulgar Gold and our Gold say the Philosophers Ours 〈◊〉 the AEs or Electrum Minerale whose Composition comprehends in it self all the Metals according to this saying Omne Aurum est AEs sed non omne AEs est Aurum This AEs or Aurum is rightly compared to Sol who by the Testimony of Hermes next after God governs the World and Illuminates all things both Animate and Inanimate of whom well Sung Palingenius O Sol qui tempora mutas Et cum temporibus quicquid generatur in Orbe And as the Stars and all the other Planets receive their Light and Virtues from the Sun so also do all the other six Metals and Minerals receive theirs from Our Gold almost in like manner by the Emission of its Rays or Beams which is indeed its tinging Sulphur and multiplying and fixing Spirit All that is perfect 〈◊〉 Sol is its Viridity 〈◊〉 eternally generates 〈◊〉 multiplying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ferment of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Elixir saith the Rosary the compleat Medicine the most depurated and digested Substance more than perfect and perfecting all other bodies whether perfect or imperfect making those that are perfect much more than perfect This is the true Philosophick Gold i. e. Gold in a mean or Gold after a manner more worthy more Noble and more Pretious than Vulgar Silver or Gold or any Gem or Pretious Stone Many have sought this AEris Viriditatem in Vitriol and Copper or Vulgar Brass but they erred and were deceived following the literal Discourse of the Philosophers and not their Sense For they ought not to have contemplated the Metals as they are Bodies but as they are redu-Ced into a most Subtil Spirituous and Celestial Substance II. Hermes Therefore the Philosophers bear up and magnifie themselves in it saying that such Gold in Bodies is like the Sun among the Stars most Light and Splendid And as by the Power of God every Vegetable and all the Fruits of the Earth are perfected so by the same Power the Gold and the Seed thereof which contains all these seven Bodies makes them to spring to be ripened and brought to perfection and without which this Work can in no wise be performed Salmon As Sol is among the Stars and other Planets and Vulgar Gold among the other Vulgar Metals and Minerals so also is our Gold which is the true Philosophick Tincture among the other Metals or Bodys reduced to a Spirituality and pure Tincture And as Sol in the Heavens is the Medium that perfects all Sublunary or Inferior things by his Beams Light and Heat So also Our Sol the true Seed of Gold and the Seminal Power of the Aurifick Principle is also the Medium which makes all the other seven Bodies not only perfect but more than perfect that they thereby may perfect other quantities of their own kind yet lying in imperfection viz. wanting Purity Tincture and Fixation All which is done by Virtue of its subtle Spirit Tincture and Fire Therefore say the Philosophers Our Gold is not Corporeal but a depurated substance in the highest degree and brought to an Astral or Heavenly Nature This is the Ixir Elixir or Fermentum the true Tincture and Spirit tinging and fixing all other Bodies and without which they cannot be perfected III. Hermes And like as Paste or Dough is impossible to be Fermented or Levened without Leven so is it in this case without the proper Ferment you can do nothing When you sublime the Bodies and Purifie them separating the filthiness and uncleanness from them or from the Foeces you must conjoyn and mix them to gether and put in the Ferment making up the Earth
And Gold is our Earth of all which we make Sericum which is our Ferment or Ixir Salmon He here divides the great Work into two parts viz. Vegetable and Animal which is a Philosophical fiction But the true Work is but one consisting of an equal and temperate mixtion of the Elements to a perfect fixity The Foundation 〈◊〉 this Work is laid in the Earth of the Gold of which 〈◊〉 Ixir Elixir or Ferment is made which is two fold 1. For Luna 2. For Sol. By the Ferment of Sol is understood the Seed of the Male and by that of Luna the Seed of the Female of these there must be made 1. A Conjunction 2. A Generation The Ferment of Sol is from Sol as Leaven is made of the substance of the Bread and as a little Leaven Ferments or Leavens a great quantity of Paste at least 〈◊〉 times its quantity so likewise a little Portion of this our Earth suffices to nourish and perfect the whole Stone The Ferment saith Avicenna reduces the Matter to its own Nature Color Sapor and Form reducing Power into Act. For it Whitens the Confection Multipies it makes it Spiritual Strengthens it makes it resist the Fire makes it contain the Tincture that it shall not fly away opens the Bodies and makes them with it to enter one into another and to be perfectly 〈◊〉 as Water with Water which cannot be 〈◊〉 and is the end of the Work Without this Ferment no Elixir can be made no more than Paste or Dough can be Levened without Leven And this Elixir is the Ferment of Ferments and the Coagulum of the Coagulum For it not only Ferments the Inferior and imperfect Bodies but also Gold it self making it from a perfect Body much more than perfect It is the most 〈◊〉 Mother which by how much the 〈◊〉 it is impregnated by so much the more it conveives and brings forth propagating its Off-Spring to an 〈◊〉 of Generations It is the only Key which opens and shuts the Gates leading to the Kingdom of the Mineral Treasure the Golden Mountain the Gardens of the Hespenides where all the Trees perpetually bear Golden Fruit. Without this Key it is not possible for any Man to attain to the perfection of this Art CHAP. XIV The Smaragdine Table of Hermes I. HERMES This is true and far distant from a Lie whatsoever is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below By this are acquired and perfected the Miracles of the One Thing Salmon That is to say the truth of this our Art is confirmed by Experience we know it to be truth by very matter of Fact and notwithstanding all the Sophisms and Logomachia of the Schools there is no Argument can stand against Experience The Waters of the Cataracts of Heaven above are like to the Waters below when the great Fountain of the deep is broken up and the Waters below are like to the Waters above There are two parts in our Stone a Superior part that ascends up and an Inferior part which remains beneath and yet these two parts agree in One. The inferior Part or Earth is called the Body or Ferment The superior part or Spirit is called the Soul or Life which quickens the Stone and raises it up The first must be dissolved and made Water like the Superior and the Superior must be coagulated and made Earth like the Lower that they may be united and become the Miracle of the one Thing then will it be evidently demonstrated that whatsoever is below is like that which is above and contrarywise Nor do they differ one from another but by Accident as Corruptible and Incorruptble Pure and Impure Heavy and Light Clear and Opake Agent and Patient Masculine and Feminine c. all which are Accidents not Substances Heaven or that which is above is Incorruptible where the pure Elements are made from a Corruptible matter elevated or lifted up in the Concavity of which Firmament the Body or Substance of Luna is Graduared Hence it is apparent that this our Medicine must resemble Heaven it self in Activity Penetrativeness and Incorruptibility nor must it work as the Elements in Natural Bodies which are as it were Dead and destitute of any Power or Action II. Hermes Also as all things were made from One by the help of One So all things are made from One thing by Conjunction Salm. That is as all things were made or came from One Confused Chaos by the help of One Omnipotent or Almighty God so Our Stone is born or brought fourth out of one Confused Mass by the help of one particular Matter or Thing which contains in it four Elements Created by the determination of God Here Hermes points forth the Universal Medicine in imitation of the Worlds Creation which is performed by one Universal Spirit and so by a Supernatural Experiment points forth this Our Natural Work It is the Opinion of many Philosophers that the Spirit of Natural things or the Spirit of Nature is the Medium between the Soul and the Body as being that which makes the absolute and firm Conjunction But the Opinion of some is though the Spirit may be said to be the more subtile Subsistance yet it can be no more separated from the Soul than Light from the Sun III. Hermes The Father thereof is the Sun and the Mother thereof is the Moon the Wind carries it in its Belly and the Nurse thereof is the Earth Salmon As living Creatures beget their Like or Kind so Gold generates Gold by the Virtue of Our Stone The Sun is its Father that is Our Philoso phical or Living Gold And as in every natural Generation there must be a fit and convenient receptacle with a certain likeness of kind to the Father so likewise in this Our Artificial Generation it is requisite that the Sun or Our Living Gold should have a fit and agreeable Receptacle or Womb for its Seed or Tincture and this is Our Philosophical or Living Silver i. e. Mercury which is the Mother thereof What Sol and Luna are in the Heavens above the same are Our Gold and Silver in Our Heavens below The Universal Masculine Seed is the Sulphur Nature the first and most Potent cause of all Generation And if Sol does Live it is necessary as Paracelsus saith to live in some things viz. in its own Radical Humidity and most pure and simple Air which contemperates the heat there of by its Humidity The Wind is the Air and the Air is the Life and the Life is the Soul which quickens the whole Stone And therefore the Wind Air Life or Soul must carry the Stone viz. bring forth Our Magistery which being brought forth it must be nourished by its Nurse which is the Earth for The Earth saith Hermes is its Nurse The Wind Carries it in its Belly by which the Universal Inferior and Feminine Seed is dilated through the Air and joyned to the Universal
said subtil and thin Oyl of Sol and Luna the said substances of other Bodies be made fixed and to flow like Wax VII With which flowing substance you shall not only congeal Argent Vive into perfect Sol and Luna according as you have prepared your Medicine but you shall also with the same fluxible and flowing substance transmute and change all such other imperfect Bodies as they were whose Calces were so sublimed and from whom at their first subliming or lifting up they took their beginning into Sol and Luna aforesaid VIII And this thin and subtil Oyl being put into Kemia its proper Vessel first sealed up to putrifie in the Fire of the first degree being moist it becomes as black as liquid Pitch The fire may then have its Action in the Body to corrupt it the same Body as before so opened IX Therefore it grows first black like melted Pitch because the bear working in this moist Body does first beget a blackness which blackness is the first sign of Corruption and since the Corruption of one thing is the generation of another therefore of the Body corrupted is generated a Body Neutral which is certainly apt declinable and applicable unto every Ferment whatsoever you please to apply it to X. But the Ferment must be altered together with the Alchymick Body and the whole substance of our Stone or Elixir must partake of the Nature of the Quintescence otherwise it will be of no effect XI And between the said sign of blackness and perfect whiteness which will follow the said blackness there will appear a green Color and as many variable Colors afterwards as the mind of Man is able to conceive XII When the present White Color shall begin to appear like the Eyes of Fishes then may you know that Summer is near at hand after which Autumn or Harvest will happily follow with ripe fruit which in the long looked for Red ness This is after the Pale Ashy and Citrine Color XIII First the Sun does perfectly Descend by its due Course from its Meridional height and Glory through its gross and natural solution into an imperfect Pale and Ashy Color shining in the Occidental parts of the West which is somewhat of a yellowish or Brick dust Color from thence it goes to the Septentrional parts of the Earth being of a Variable watrish blackness of a dark cloudy alterable putrefactive watrishness XIV Then it Afcends up to the Oriental parts shining with a more perfect Crystalline Summer-like and Paradisical White Lastly he Ascends his Fiery Chariot directing his Course up again to his Meridional Life Perfection and Glory there to Rule and Shine in fire brightness splendor and the highest perfection even in the highest most pure and Imperial Redness XV. When this aforesaid simple Oyl of the altered Body being in its Vessel duly sealed is by the Fire thus disposed what is there more than one simple thing which nature has made to be generated of Sulphur and Mercury in the Bowels of the Earth XVI Thus it is evident that our Stone is nothing else but Sol and Luna Sulphur and Mercury Male and Female Heat and Cold. And therefore to be more short when all the parts of our Stone are thus gathered together it appears plainly enough what is our Mercury Our Sulphur Our Alehymick Body Our Ferment Our Menstruum Our Green Lyon And what Our White Fume Our two Dragons Our Fires and Our Egg in which is both the Whiteness and the Redness XVII As also what is Man's Blood Our Aquae Vitae Our Burning Water and what are many other things which in this Our Art are Metaphorically or figuratively named to deceive the Foolish and unwary XVIII Also there is a similitude of a Tri-une shining in the Body Soul and Spirit The Body is the substance of the Stone The Soul is the Ferment which cannot be had but from the most perfect Body and the Spirit is that which raiseth up the Natures from Death and Corruption to Life Perfection and Glory XIX In Sulphur there is an Earthiness for the Body In Mercury there is an Aerealness for the Spirit and in them both a Natural Unctuosity for the Soul or Ferment all which are inseparably United in their least parts for ever From this Fermental Body the Stone is formed and without it it cannot be made XX. It is the peculiar property of Sol and Luna the which property appertains to the Stone it self to give the form of Gold and Silver And therefore the Elixir whether it be White or Red may be Infinitely augmented with the Fermental Oyl if you do cast the same upon Mercury it shall transmute it into the Elixir which Elixir must be cast afterwards upon the Imperfect Bodies XXI Moreover the said White Elixir is augmented with Mercurial Water and the Red Elixir with the Mercurial Oyl the which two viz. the Mercurial Water and Mercurial Oyl can only be had of Mercury dissolved of it self XXII See what the Scripture saith He stroke the Stone and Water flowed out and he brought forth Oyl out of the Flinty Rock We may Note the whole composition of the Elixir in these four Verses following XXIII He stretched forth the Heavens as a Curtain The Water stood above the Mountains This is the Water which does cover Our Matter and performs the dissolution thereof causing a cloudy Ascension That does walk upon the Wings of the Wind. This figures forth the sublimation of ourStone XXIV Who makes his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of Fire By this is shadowed forth the rectification separation and disposition of the Elements Who has founded the Earth upon its Basis so fixt that it shall not be moved for ever Under which is described the fixation of the Elements and the perfection of the Philosophick Stone CHAP. LXVI Another way of Elixirating Gold by the Fire against Nature I. ANother way by which the Body of Gold is Elixirated by the power of the Fire against Nature through the help of the Operation of the Fire of Nature which is thus Dissolve the Body of pure Gold in the Fire against Nature the same fire being well rectified Arsenick Mercury sublimate as the manner is from which Gold being so dissolved into a Citrine clear and shining Water without any Heterogenity or Sand remaining let the water be abstracted till the Body does remain in the bottom of the Glass like a fixt Oyl II. Upon this Oyl affuse the said Water or Fire against Nature again and abstract again and this work so often repeat till the water or fire against Nature have no more sharpness upon the Tongue than common Well-Water III. This done draw such another new water or fire against Nature which Affuse upon the former Oyl and abstract in all respects as before is taught then Affuse upon this Oyl the water or fire of Nature well rectified and let it be double in quantity or proportion of the said Oyl of the Body so
frequent Coagulation thereof you will augment it and so you may Multiply it till it increases in your Glass into the form of a Tree and which Hermes calls a Tree most Beautiful in Aspect Of which one Grain may be Multiplied to an hundred if you know how wisely to make your Projection XLVII Our Elixir the more fine and subtle it is made so much the more compleatly it tinges and disperses its Tincture Let your Fire be kept equally close Evening and Morning so much the longer you keep the Fire so much the more profitable it will be and Multiply more and more in your Glass nourishing your Mercury in its enclosure whereby you will have a greater Treasure than you could desire XLVIII 13. De Projectione If your Tincture be true and not Variable you may prove it in a small quantity thereof either in Metal or Mercury It cleaves thereto as Pitch and so Tinges in Projection that it is able to endure the strongest Fire But many through Ignorance destroy their work by making Projection upon an impure Metal XLIX See that you Project your Medicine upon your Ferment so will that Ferment be Brittle as Glass Project that Brittle Medicine upon pure Bodies so have you Silver or Gold enduring the severest Test. L. Give not liberty to the Reins left you sin but Religiously Fear and serve the Lord your God think your self alway before the Tribunal of the most high the great Judge and Rewarder of Mankind who will return to every Man according to his works LI. 14. Recapitulatie Take head diligently to the Latitude of our Stone and begin in the Occident where the Sun sets where the Red Man and White Wife are made one conjoyned and Married by the Spirit of Life that they may live in Love and Quietness LII The Earth and Water are joyned in a fit proportion one part of Earth or Body to three of Spirit which is 4 to 12. and is a good proportion you must take three parts of the Female to one of the Male by how much less there shall be of the Spirit in this Dispensation Conjunction or Marriage by so much the sooner will the Calcination be Absolved LIII The Calcination performed then you must dissolve the Bodies divide and Putrefie them and all the Secrets of our other lower Stars will have a perfect Coherence and understanding with the Poles of our Heaven and will appear with inexplicable Colors of Light and Glory Transcending in Lusture and Beauty all other things in the World and all this before the perfect Whiteness LIV. And after the perfect Whiteness you will have a Yellow the false Citrion Colour afterwards the Blood Red unchangable for ever will be be manifest so have you a Medicine of the third Order in its kind which may continually be Multiplied But this you must not in the least be Ignorant of that the RED MAN does not Tinge nor yet his WHITE WIFE till they themselves are first Tinged with our Tincture or Stone LV. When therefore you prepare your Matter by this our Art hide your Bodies all over an I lay open their Profundiries or In-sides destroy the first quality of all your Materials and the more excellent second qualities which in these you must separate and in one Glass and by one Government and Order convert the four Natures into one LVI The Red Elixir must be divided into two parts before it be Rubified which put into two Glasses and if you would have a double Elixir one of Sol and another of Luna do thus LVII With Mercury multiply presently theMedicine into a great quantity if you have at first only so small a quantity as a Spoonful then may you multiply them together into a White and Red Medicine which by Circulation you must convert into a perfect Oyl according to our directions and this Multiplication from your first small quantity may be continued should you live a thousand Years These Oyls will fix Crude Mercury into perfect Sol and Luna LVIII This pure and fixed Oleaginous substance Raymundus calls his Basillsk whose Explication is so easie to be understood that it needs no more Words LIX For our Metals are nothing else than our two Minerae viz. those of Sol and Luna as Raymundus wisely Notes The Splendor of Luna and the Light of shining Sol. In these two Minerae the Secret dwells tho' the Splendor may for a while be hid from your Eyes which by the help of Art you may easily bring to light LX. This hidden Stone this one thing purifie it wash it in its own Liquor Water or Blood till it grows White then prudently Ferment it so have you the Summ and Perfection of the whole Work FINIS