be esteemed by thee as a thing of no price But contrariwise he that endeavours by riches to aspire unto that Art and labours to convert it to the pride and vanity of this world let such a one never perswade himself that he shall ever attain his wished end And therefore let thy mind and consquently all thy cogitations be estranged from all earthly things and be as it were created anew and given up to God alone For you must note this well that these three viz. the body soul and spirit are to be suitable and alike and t is necessary that they operate together for if the heart and mind of man be not so regulated after the like manner as the whole work is to be wrought thou O man wilt also wholly err from the Art So therefore maist thou in all things conform all thy actions suitable thereunto for the Artist hath nothing else here to do but to Sow Plant and Water or Moisten but God alone gives the encrease Therefore if God be against any one to him also nature is an enemy and contrarily if God be a friend then the heavens the earth and also all the elements are even constrained to come to thy help If therefore thou exactly considerest of this and hast ready to thy hands the knowledge of the true first matter which we shall hereafter speak of then mayst thou commodiously set about the manual operation and make a beginning of thy labour wherein likewise t is fitting that thou implore the grace and guidance of the Almighty in all thy purposes and actions And then thy affairs will not only succeed prosperously but will also obtain a true happy fortunate and desired end The 11. of Ecclesiast 18. He that abideth in the fear of the Lord and cleaveth to his word waiting upon his duty nor black nor white moves him He easily shall make silver and gold out of copper and tin And shall by Gods help do many more things But especially if Jehovah favours him he may then well make Gold of Clay and dirt THE Second Part The 28. of Isaiah v. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord Behold I lay in Sion a foundation stone a tryed stone a precious Corner-stone that is well founded He that hath it shall not be confounded THE Philosophers in their writings could never sufficiently praise this so-often spoken of and most noble Art both afore and after its perfection nor could they by any the highest and most excellent titles worthily enough extoll it Therefore they have generally called it the Stone of the Philosophers the most antient occult unknown natural and incomprehensible Stone yea they have called it the celestial blessed holy and triune universal Stone of the wise men But now the cause why they termed it a stone and why they compared it to a stone is amongst other reasons chiefly this when the matter thereof doth at the beginning come like a mineral out of the earth it is truly a stone and then again because this matter is hard and dry because also t is beaten and ground to dust like a stone but especially the reason is this if it be divided into the three parts which nature her self hath conjoyned then is it necessary that it itself be again digested in all the same parts and made of the nature of a constant wax-like flowing stone But as to the great concernment and necessity of such mens knowing the first otherwise or rather the second matter of this secret Philosophical Stone that endeavour the attainment thereof they viz. the aforementioned Philosophers could not sufficiently inculcate or too too much press them to understand a reason thereof nor enough exhort them thereunto the which matter is notwithstanding one only thing out of which only and alone this stone is necessarily to be prepared without any peregrine addition albeit it be called by a thousand names the quality species and property whereof they have wonderfully described and have happily described it after a compendious way and manner as followeth viz. That at the beginning t is conjoyned of three and yet notwithstanding is but only one likewise it is procreated and made of one two three four and five and is also to be found in one and two and is everywhere They also call it the Catholick or universal Magnesia or Sperm of the world out of which all natural things have their original Likewise that it is of a wonderful and singular birth and species or shape and that it hath an unknown and an unsearchable nature and that therefore t is neither hot nor dry like the earth but is a certain perfect preparation of all the elements that it is also of a certain incorruptible body which cannot be touched by any element and which may as to all its properties and in all respects be compared to the heaven which is above the four elements and the four qualities and as a Q.E. and what cannot be destroyed Likewise they have said that it is as to its external corporality figure form and shape a stone and yet notwithstanding is no stone because it may be compared with the white Gum they also call it the water of the Ocean Aqua vitae yea a most pure and most blessed water but yet notwithstanding it is not the water of the clouds or of any common fountain but a thick permanent saline or saltish water and according to the divers considerations of some a dry water that moistens not the hands or a certain pituitous or phlegmy water which ariseth out of the saltish fatness of the earth likewise they call it a twofold ☿ and Azoth whch is sustained by the supremest or highest and lowest vastness or of the celestia◠and terrestrial Globe the which also i◠not consumed in any fire for it hath in it self the universal and sparkling fire o◠the Light of nature and withall a certai◠celestial Spirit that penetrates all thing with which qualities it was animate by God at the beginning and according to the saying of the antient Philosophers blessed with and is by Avicen called the soul of the world who said viz. Even as the soul is to be found in all the members of mans body and doth there move it self so also is that spirit found to be and to move it self in all elementary creatures the which spirit is likewise the indissoluble conjunction of the body and soul and consequently a most pure and most noble essence wherein even all mysteries lie hidden t is also fully replenished with wonderful efficacy and vertue Moreover they ascribe thereunto an infinite power and divine efficacy and vertue for they say that it is that Spirit of the Lord that filled the earth and swim'd at the top of the waters They call it also the Spirit of truth which is hidden from the world and such as cannot be comprehended or obtained without the inspiration of the holy Spirit or the information of such as know it and yet
it and at last dyed on the Cross and many other afflictions and tribulations did he necessarily undergo in his life and at his death of which you may read more at large in the holy Evangelists And even as the Philosophers write viz. that that boiling and putrefaction in the afore-mentioned terrene work is usually made and perfected within fourtie daies So are there described and laid down to us in the holy Scripture a description of many and divers miracles that God hath done by that afore-mentioned number as for instance that of the people of Israel's when they aboad in the desart for fourty whole years and had the tryal of a very hard exile Psal. 59. Deut. 8. Likewise Moses his being in Mount Sinai Exod. 34. Also Elias in his flight because of Ahab 1 Kings 19. So Christ in the desart fasted forty daies and as many nights Likewise also he preached on the earth for fourty moneths and performed miracles He lay forty hours in the Sepulchre and fourtie daies between his resurrection from the dead and his ascention into heaven did he walk about and visit his Disciples and shewed himself alive unto them Acts 1. Likewise the City of Hierusalem was destroyed by the Romans and razed to the ground the fortieth year after the ascention of our Lord. But you must here principally note that the Philosophers call that putrefaction because of its black colour Cantic 1. I am black the head of the Crow Even so Christ himself Isa. 53. He had no form nor c. was wholly deformed as to his form and beauty the most vile of all full of griefs and sorrows and also was despised in so much that we even hid our faces because of him and esteemed him as a thing of nought Moreover himself doth likewise in Psalm 22. complain of that thing viz. he was a worm and no man the mocking stock of men and contempt of the People In like manner also this may not unfitly be compared with Christ. viz. As that Putrified body of Sol doth lie for a season like to ashes in the bottom of the glass and dead without any efficacy until by the addition of a stronger heat its soul doth again let down it self drop by drop and by little and little and doth again imbibe the sick and as it were dead body doth moisten it give it to drink and preserve it from a total destruction even so happened it to Christ when he was in the Mount of Olives and upon the Cross and was roasted as it were by the fire of the divine wrath Mat. 26. 27. he complained that he was wholly forsaken by his heavenly Father and yet nevertheless was he alwaies refreshed and strengthened Mark 4. Luke 22. and imbued as 't were and moistened and imbibed with the divine Nectar even as 't is wont to be in the terrene body by a daily airing for and refreshment yea also when in his most holy passion and mediating death his power and strength together with his Spirit was wholly withdrawn from him and he plainly or truly arrived or came to the lower and deepest parts of the earth Acts 1. Ephes. 1. 1 Peter 3. he was notwithstanding even yet conserved refreshed and again lifted or raised up by the vertue and power of the eternal Deity and thereby vivified and glorified Rom. 14. and here 't was that his soul and spirit did first of all procure or bring to pass a perfect true and indissolvable union with his dead body in the Sepulchre and by a most joyful and victorious resurrection and ascention to the heavens was it exalted through our Lord Jesus Christ to the right hand of his Father Mat. 28. Mark 16. with the which body he doth now by the efficacy and vertue of the holy Spirit as being a true God and Man in equal power and glory rule and bear command over all things Psal. 8. and by his most efficacious Word preserves and sustains all things Heb. 1. yea he vivifies all things Acts 17. The which wonderful union and also that divine exaltation cannot be well seen and much less considered of by Angels and men in heaven and on earth yea and under the earth Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 1. without fear and trembling Whose efficacy power and rosey-coloured tincture is able to transmute us imperfect men and sinners even now in body and soul to tinge and more then perfectly to cure and heal us concerning which we shall speak more anon Having now therefore briefly and plainly disclosed to you how viz. the Celestial Fundamental Corner-stone Jesus Christ may be compared with the terrene Philosophical stone of the wise men the matter and preparation whereof is as we have heard a notable type and lively counterpoise as 't were and resemblance of the divine assumption of humane flesh in Christ We therefore likewise judge it necessary that we also behold and learn his efficacy virtue and Tincture as also his fermentation and multiplication in us men who are destitute of efficacy and virtue and are as it were Imperfect mettals And albeit that God created man at the beginning above all his other Creatures and made him a most noble and most perfect Creature yea he made him after his own Image and breathed into him a living Spirit and an Immortal Soul Yet nevertheless after his fall was he transmuted into a deformed contrary and pernicions or mortal shape and form But now to restore again such a most noble Creature to his former brightness or lustre and perfection the Omnipotent God did out of his meer mercy ordain such a medium as his viz. mans restitution might be brought to pass by after the manner following viz. as we have afore said that the more then perfect stone or Tincture after this its perfection is to be in the first place yet further fermented augmented or multiplyed if at leastwise you would obtain its manifold profit and have its efficacy and operation beneficial Even so also Christ that heavenly blessed stone must according to his God-man perfection be yet moreover also further fermented and multiplyed as 't were with us as with his members that is we must be purifyed and united with him by his own saving ticture of a Rosey colour and be prepared and conformed to a pure unfermented and celestial body for as Paul testifies in Rom. 8. he is the first begotten among many brethren yea the first begotten before all other Creatures whatsoever Coloss. 1. by whom all things in Heaven and Earth are created and reconciled with God for if we who are naturally impure mortal and imperfect would be again made pure new-born or regenerate immortal and perfect then verily that cannot be done by any other medium Hebr. 13. then by that celestial fundamental corner stone only Jesus Christ who is alone holy yea the most holy Dan. 9. the new-born raised up and glorifyed heavenly King who both is and eternally remains God and man in one person Likewise even as the
the which doth especially teach viz. how the evil and impure is to be known and distinguished from the good and pure by which Prov. 2. the inbecillity and corruption of nature may be succoured and a right promotion or forwarding may be administred the which then in the augmentation and encrease of Mettals may be compared after such a like manner as the endeavours of them are that would afford help to the ripening of any fruit that by some accident or other hath been impeded from arriving to a just maturity or that obtain of one little grain or seed a manifold encrease and it may be done and perfected with a very mean price As for the other sophisticate and false-chymick Art I do not at all mean that nor understand it neither do I desire to learn it Eccles. 3. For albeit those kind of masters do therein prate of many a crooked way and do vainly promise meer golden Mountains which notwithstanding are haply far enough off from them yet that false Chymick art bestows nothing at all constant but is only wont to spend much charges and costs and procure rash labours and doth finally oftentimes waste away the body and life it self And therefore if there be some one or other of those kind of Chymists that thou maist meet withall who brag of the true Chymical Art and of such an Art as is agreeable to nature and would willingly teach it thee or any other body for the sake of money and pretend that themselves are not able to disburse the costs and charges that belong thereunto then be faithfully admonished that thou dost not trust such men too much for most times there lies a Snake in the grass Mich. 2. If I should be of an erring spirit c. Besides I can truly affirm that all the cost which haply is to be expended about the whole universal work setting aside the daily food and nourishing or sustaining of the fire doth not exceed the price of 3. Florins for the matter as we have heard above is partly vile or abject and by reason of that its vileness partly contemptible as it were and is every-where to be found more then enough for the supply of your necessity and that without much trouble So also the labour is easie and not very laborious or painful Briefly the whole Art is most simply and most easily comprehended by the pious and by such as are chosen by God thereunto Psal. 112. But 't is most difficult to the impious and wicked and in a manner impossible Prov. 3. And now that I may at length finish my Epilogue therefore I shall as for a farewel communicate this likewise unto thee viz. that if the omnipotent God shall bestow upon thee his grace in revealing to thee that pious and holy Art then must thou rightly use it and be a silent man and for the sake of that thing put a strong bolt before thy mouth Eccl. 23. O that I could keep c. v. 7. c. and shut it fast lest haply thy arrogancy and pride throw thee headlong as well by God as men into danger and loss and into temporal and eternal destruction And therefore have an especial care thereunto Whoever seeketh riches by this holy Art Let him be pious and simple silent and upright He that doth not thus shall on the contrary Be made poor beggerly bare and miserable All these things my beloved friend as well for admonitions as valedictions sake I would not have concealed from thee being fraught with an undoubted hope that thou hast sufficiently understood me in all points unless God hath barred up thine eyes and ears for verily I could not disclose it more faithfully and expresly nor describe it more manifestly with the keeping of a good conscience then I have done So therefore if thou art not able to understand or learn it from hence then verily I fear me that thou wilt most hardly comprehend it by any other institution The Appendix KNow likewise that if by reason of that gift vouchsafed thee by God thou hap to wax proud or to be covetous under the cover or excuse of a provident care of thy family and sparingness and dost hereby tempt thy self to a turning away from God by little and little then know for I speak the truth that that Art will vanish from under thy hands insomuch that thou shalt not know how thou didst it The which thing verily hath befallen more then one beyond their expectation In the Summary c. 't is written IF thou followest this my doctrine and beest pious And takest the matter that I have related unto thee If likewise thou preparest it after the accustomed manner Thou shalt have the treasures of the whole World But now if thy intention be good and that thou beest careful of good things the Omnipotent God may most graciously bestow upon thee his favour and divine blessing The which thing I pray God from the very root of my heart to bestow upon thee A Prayer O Omnipotent eternal God the Heavenly Father of Light from whom even every good and perfect thing proceeds We beseech thee of thy Infinite mercy to vouchsafe us rightly to know thine eternal wisedome which is continually about thy Throne and by which all things were created and made and are governed and preserved even to this very day send it us from thy holy Heaven and from the Throne of thy glory that it may be together with us and may assist us in our labour because it is the mistress of all Celestial and hidden Arts yea it also knows and understands all things Grant that it may in some measure accompany us in all works that so by the Spirit thereof we may certainly and without any errour learn the true understanding and infallible process of this most noble Art that is the miraculous Stone of the Wise men which thou hast hidden from the World and art wont to reveal to thine elect only and may then first begin rightly and truly that highest and chiefest work that we can here accomplish and may constantly proceed in that same labour and also at length happily finish it and may eternally enjoy it with rejoycing through that Celestial and from eternity founded miraculous Corner-stone Jesus Christ who together with thee O God the Father and with the Holy Spirit true God in one divine indissoluble essence ruleth and reigneth a tri-une God most worthy of praise for ever and evermore Amen Joshua 21. v. 43 45. And the Lord gave unto Israel all the Land which he promised to give unto their Fathers There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel all things came to pass Deut. 32. v. 3. Ascribe glory to our God only Amen FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the black-spred Eagle at the West-end of Pauls THe History of Diodorus Siculus containing all that which is most memorable and of greatest Antiquity in the first ages of the World until the war of Troy in folio Renodaeus his Dispensatory containing the whole body of Physick discovering the natures and Properties and vertues of Vegetals Minerals and Animals in folio Gadburies Doctrine of Nativities Doctor Pordages Innocency appearing through the Dark Mists of pretended guilt in folio Cornelius Agrippa his occult Philosophy in 3 Books in quarto Henry Laurence Lord President his book Entituled Our Communion and War with Angels in quarto Christopher Goad his Sermons Entituled Refreshing Drops and Scorching Vials in quarto Samuel Gorton his Exposition on the fifth Chapter of James in quarto Samuel Hartlib of Bees and Silkworms in quarto Williams his Book called the Bloody Tenet of Persecution for cause of conscience in quarto Doctor Gells Sermon Entituled Noahs Flood returning in quarto Several Pieces of Christopher Blackwood now publick Teacher in Ireland in quarto Jacob Behem his Signatura Rerum or Signature of all things in quarto His Epistles explaining many things written in his other Books in quarto Of Election and Predestination in quarto His Book Entituled Aurora or the day-spring lately printed in quarto Several Pieces of Isaac Penington Junior in quarto The Spiritual journey of a yongman a piece translated out of Dutch Biggs of the vanity of the Craft of Physick or a new Dispensatory in quarto Collier his Pulpit-guard routed in quarto His Font-guard routed in quarto Simon Hendon his key of Scripture Prophesies in quarto Mr. Parker his Answer to the Assembly in large octavo Several pieces of Thomas Collier in large octavo Tillom on the eleventh Chapter of the Revelations in large octavo Henry Laurence Lord President his Book of Baptism in large octavo Reeves Sermons Entituled the Strait-Gate in large octavo Several pieces of H. N. in octavo namely Prophecy of the Spirit of Love Revelatio Dei or the Revelation of God Introduction to the Glass of Righteousness Evangelium Regni a joyful message of the Kingdome Spiritual Tabernacle The first Exhortation The Apology for the service of Love all in octavo Samuel Hartlibs Chymical addresses in octavo Thomas Butler his little Bible of the Man or the book of God opened in Man in octavo Crooked Paths made strait or the wayes of God made known in lost sinners by A. Yeomans in octavo Laurences Gospel separation separated from abuses Simmons Saints like Christ in octavo William Sedgwick his eleven Sermons Intituled Some Flashes of Lightnings of the Son of Man in octavo A Word of Peace from the Prince of Peace by J. Hatch in octavo Mysteries unvailed wherein the Doctrine of Redemption by Christ is handled by Robert Gardner in octavo Parnel his good tidings for Sinners great joy for Saints in octavo Bâ—scos Glorious Mysteries in octavo The confession and Fame of the Rosie Cross by English Philolethes in octavo Peytons History of the Râ—se Raign and Ruine of the House of Stuarts in octavo Larkhams Sermons in octavo Bacons Catechâ—sm in twelves Corporations vindicated in their fundamental Liberties by Charles Hotham in twelves John Saltmarsh his book of Free Grace in twelves And his book Intituled Sparkles of Glory or some beams of the morning Star in twelves Dawnings of Light in twelves
XII Of the Arcanum of Vitriol and the Red Tincture to be thence extracted VItriol is a very Noble Mineral amongst the rest was alwayes of very much admiration with the Philosophers because the most high God hath adorned it with wonderfull endowments They have vailed over its Arcanum with aenigmaticall figures as thus viz. Thou shalt vifit the inward parts of the earth and shalt find by rectification the occult stone a true medicine By the earth they understood the Vitriol it self and by the Inward part of the Earth its sweetness and redness because in the occult part of the Vitriol a subtile noble and most fragrant juice and pure oil lyes hid The manner of drawing it forth is not at all to be attempted by Calcination or distillation for it must not at all be deprived of its greeness for assoon as ever t is rob'd thereof the Arcanum of it also is gone and so necessarily it must want its vertues Verily t is to observed here in this place that not only the Minerals but also the Vegetables themselves and such like that outwardly shew a viridity or greeness contain an Oil within them as red as blood the which is their Arcanum Thence t is evident that their ridiculous distillations of the Apothecaries are vain and foolish and of no moment because they do not at all know how to bring forth the bloodlike redness of the Vegetables Nature it self being wise turns the waters of all Vegetables into a Citrine Colour and from thence afterwards into a most red Oil like blood Now the cause of its coming to pass so slowly on is the too much headlongness of the ignorant distilling operators whereby the Viridity is absumed They have not learned to corroborate Nature in its virtues whereby the noble virour or greeness ought to be rectified into a redness per se For example sake White wine digests it self into a Citrine colour and in success of time the Green colour of the Grapes themselves is turnned per se into a red lying hid under the Sky Colour The greeness therefore of the Vegetables and Minerals being lost by the sluggishness of the Operators the essence of them and the spirit of the Oil and most noble balsome of Arcana's is also lost CHAP. XIII Of the Process of Vitriol for or to the red Tincture VItriol contains in it self many dirty and viscous or slimy imperfections therefore its greeness must be often extracted with water and rectified until it hath put off all the Impurities of the earth All which rectifications being finished there must be much care taken that the matter lie not open to the Sun because it will turn the greeness thereof into a paleness and together therewith swallow up the Arcanum Let it be kept covered over in a stove that no defilement come thereto then afterwards let it be digested in a glass shut for the space of some moneths or so long untill there appears various colours and the highest redness But yet you must not think that by that process the redness is sufficiently fixed but must be farther purged from the Interiour accidental defilements of the earth and that on this wise T is to be rectified with Acetum untill the earthly defilment be wholly removed and the feces separated This now is the true and best rectification of its Tincture of which the blessed Oil is to be extracted From it then being diligently shut in a glass and an Alembick speedily set thereon and the joints done with bitumen or luted that the spirits exhale not in the distillation of its Oil the spirit is to be drawn forth with a sweet and gentle fire This Oil is much more delectable and sweet then any dispensatory Aromatical balsome whatsoever and is void of all other acrediny or sharpness Now in the bottom of the Cucurbite there will reside a certain most white earth bright aud shining like Snow the which keep charily from all dust and filth That same earth is wholly separated from its redness From thence now follows the greatest Arcanum viz. a Super-celestial marriage of the soul most highly purified and washed by the blood of the Lamb with its own bright lustrous and purified body This is the true super-celestial matrimony whereby the life is prolonged even to its last appointed time after this manner therefore the soul and spirit of Vitriol which are its blood are coupled with their own purified body that they may be eternally inseparable Take therefore this our foliated earth in a glass phial pour thereto its Oil by little little the body will in a moment receive and embrace its soul for as much as the body is most earnestly affected with the desire after its soul and the soul doth most perfectly delight in the Embracements of the body This conjunction therefore of them being put into a furnace of secrets continue it there for fourty dayes which being over thou shalt have a most absolute oil of a wonderfull perfection wherewith Mercury and all the other imperfect mettals are turned into Gold Now wee 'l speak a word or two of the multiplication thereof viz. Take corporal Mercury the proportion of two parts the which wet over with three parts of the like weight of the said Oil and let them remain together for forty dayes By this proportion of weight and by this order the multiplication may be made to Infinity CHAP. XIV Of the Secrets and Arcana's of Antimony as to the red Tincture for transmutation ANtimony is a true Bathe for Gold But the Philosophers have called it their Examinator and Stilanx or The Poets say that in that bath Vulcan wash't Phoebus and purged him from all filth and imperfection T is born of a most pure and most Noble Mercury aud Sulphur under a Vitrioline stock or kind in a mettalline form and splendour Some of the Philosophers have called it the white lead of the wise men or simply Lead Take therefore Antimony and that the very best as much as thou wilt this ♀ being dissolved into its own Aq. fort let be cast out into Cold water adding a very little Crocus ♂ that it may fall into a sediment at the bottome of the Vessell for otherwise it will not put off its feces Now then after t is thus dissolved it will acquire a most high fairness Put it into a Glass fenced all about with a most compact Lute or into a stone Bocia or bolt-head and let be admixed thereto of calcined Tutia sublimed to the perfect degree of the fire and diligently beware of Liquefaction because it breaks the glasses by the overmuch heat from one pound of this Antimony is a perfect sublimation to be had in the space of two dayes This sublimate being put in a phial that a third part may touch the water and the Vessell Luted that the spirits fly not away let it be hang'd over a Tripode of secrets and let the work be urged at first with a gentle fire like to the
and Azoth may suffice for the fire alone is the whole work and the Entire art Moreover as many as do build up their fire with coals do err containing the Vessel in that heat some have in vain attempted with the heat of horse-dung they have with the fire of Coals without a medium sublimed the matter but not dissolved it Others have caused an heat with their Lamps affirming that to be the secret fire of the Philosophers for the making of their Stone some have placed it in a Ball but first in an heap of Ants Eggs others in Juniper Ashes some have sought the fire in Calxvine in Tartar Vitriol Nitre c. Others in Aq. ardens as Thomas Aquinas falsely speaking of this fire saith that God and the Angels cannot want this fire but do use it daily What a blasphemy is this Is it not a most manifest Lye that God cannot be without the Elemental Fire of Aq. ardens All those heats with those mediums spoken of that are excited by the fire are altogether unprofitable for our work Take heed thou beest not seduced by Arnoldus de villa nova who wrote of this fire of Coals for verily he will deceive thee herein Almadir saith that the invisible rays alone of our fire are sufficient another brings in as an example that the Celestial heat doth by its reflections make for the Coagulation and perfection of Mercury as also for the Mettallick generation by its continued motion again the same saith make a vaporous Fire digesting and cocting or ripening continual yet not flying or boyling shut close compassed about with ayr not burning but altering and penetrating Now I have truly told you all the manner of the fire and of the heat to be stirred up if thou art a true Philosopher thou wilt well understand thus much he Salmanazar saith Our fire is a corrosive fire which spreds as 't were ayr-like a cloud over our Vessel in which cloud the rays of this fire are hidden Now if this dew of the Chaos and moisture of the cloud fail an error is committed Again Almadir saith unless the fire doth heat our Sun with its moisture by the dung of the mountain in or with a temperate ascending we shall not be partakers either of the white or the red Stone All these things do openly demonstrate unto us the Occult Fire of the Wise men Briefly this is the matter of our Fire viz. that it be kindled by the quiet Spirit of the sensible Fire the which drives upwards even as the heated Chaos directly opposite or under and above our Philosophick matter which heat glowing above or below our Vessel doth after the manner of a perfect generation constantly urge or press onwards temperatly and without intermission Thus I. CHAP. XX. Of the ferment and Weights of the Philosophers THE Philosophers have very much laboured in the Art of Ferments and Fermentations the which art seems to be the chiefest of all others concerning which also some have made a Vow to GOD and to the Philosophers that they will never manifest the Arcanum of that thing either by similitudes or parables Whereas notwithstanding Hermes the Father of all the Philosophers in the Book of his 7. Treatises doth most clearly lay open the Ferments saying that it consists of nothing else but its own paste and more largely saith that the Ferment whitens the Confection and hinders adustion and doth wholly keep back and retard the Flux of the Tincture doth comfort bodies and encrease union Also he saith that this is the Key and the end of the Work concluding that the Ferment is nothing else but the paste as the Ferment of Sol is nothing else but Sol and of ☽ 't is nothing else but Lune others affirm that the Ferment is the Soul the which if it be not rightly prepared according to the Magistery it will effect nothing Some Zealots or zealous men of this Art do seek the Art in common Sulphur Arsenick Tutia Orpment Vitriol c. but in vain because the substance which is sought after is the same with that from which it must be drawn forth T is therefore to be noted that the Fermentations thereof and of that kind do not succeed as these Zealots would have it but as appears by the thing spoken of above only in natural successes or progress But now at last to come to the weight 't is to be observed in a twofold manner the first is natural but the other is artificial The natural obtains its effect in the earth by nature and concordancy Of the which Arnoldus speaks If there be more of less earth added then nature endures or can bear then the soul is choaked and no fruit perceived thence-from nor fixation The same thing is to be considered of as to the water viz. If more or less thereof be taken then 't will bring as inconvenient a loss for the superfluity thereof will render the matter beyond measure moist and the defect thereof will render it dryer and harder then is just If there be too much ayr then is there an impress of too much tincture if too little then the body becomes pallid Likewise if the fire be too vehement the matter is burnt up if too remiss it hath not the power of drying up nor of dissolving nor of heating the other Elements in these things doth the Elemental weight consist But the Artificial weight is most occult for it is shut up in the Magical Art of Ponderation or weights Now the Philosophers say that between the Spirit Soul and Body the weight consists of Sulphur as the Guider of the work for the soul doth greatly desire Sulphur and doth necessarily observe it by reason of or in relation unto the weight Understand it thus our matter is united to a red fixt Sulphur to which Sulphur a third part of the Regiment or Governance is committed even unto the ultimate degree that it may perfect even to infinity the operation of the stone and may therewith persist or abide together with its fire and may consist of a weight equal with the matter it self in all and through all without the variation of any degree of permutation or change Therefore after that the matter is fitted and mixed in its proportionable weight 't is to be excellently well shut with its Seal in the Philosophers Vessel and be committed to the secret Fire in the which the Philosophical Sun will arise and spring up and will enlighten all things which expect its Light and do with exceeding much hope desire it Thus in these few words we will conclude the Arcanum of the Stone which is not maimed or lame in any one point nor defective for the which we give God immortal praises and thanks Now wee 'l unlock to you our Treasure which all the riches of the whole world is not able to buy The Treasure of Treasures by Theophrastus Paracelsus NAture hath produced in the bowels of the earth one kind of Mineral the
sufficiently rude or rustical to treat or write of so great a mysterie Yet nevertheless seeing that by the Grace of the most glorious great God I have made such a progress that I may so speak without vain-glory as but few yea many innumerable thousands of men have not at all arrived unto and besides that that talent which is most mercifully bestowed by the omnipotent God upon me an unworthy Tenant may not lie wholly buried with me I will therefore shew as far forth as lawfully I may from a faithful heart a short Compendium and Declaration of all that whole Art to all the Lovers of the same and also by what means that art is to be attained unto and I will discover to thee the sure infallible yea the most certain and most right way that so haply the eyes of some may by divine grace be opened and that they may be drawn from their afore-conceived false opinion and be led into the right Path and also that this divine miracle may be thereby so much the better revealed But for the better and easier understanding and remembring thereof I will divide this Treatise into four Parts In the first Part I 'le shew the beginning and the way of the entrance of that art and how a man must prepare himself thereunto In the second shall be shewed according to a Philosophical description and instruction how the matter of this Art is to be gotten and known and moreover the manner of the whole preparation and the institution of the regiment thereof shall be demonstrated In the third we shall speak of the most plentiful profit and benefit of that Art of the high and unspeakable efficacy and vertue thereto given and attributed In the fourth Part shall follow the Spiritual Allegory the which may in all things be compared with this magistery it being a true painted Idea of the true celestial everlasting blessed most high Corner-stone wherein shall be described briefly and plainly for I do not much mind many curious and beauteous circumstances the true and right golden Leadings as 't were by the hand thereunto appertaining THE First Part Psalm 25. v. 12. Who is he that feareth the Lord him shall he direct in the best way FIrst of all Every Godly Chymist that truly fears God and is a Philosopher of that Art must above all things consider that this Art and Arcanum is to be accounted as not only the highest and greatest but likewise as an holy Art for the highest good and stamp of the most holy celestial Omnipotent God is imprinted therein and painted thereon if therefore any one thinks to attain to that high and unspeakable mysterie let him know that such an Art is not in the power of man but consists in the most gracious will and pleasure of God and that it is not the Will or Desire but the meer Mercy of the Almighty that helps man thereunto T is very expedient therefore that above all things thou beest Pious and that thy heart be lifted up to him alone and that thou askest that gift of him alone by a true most ardent and undoubtful praying for from him alone it is to be obtained and by him alone is given If therefore the Omnipotent God who is the most certain Searcher of all hearts perceives and finds that thou hast in thee a right and faithful mind void of deceit and that thy endeavours in the search and learning thereof are for no other end but the praise and glory of God then without all doubt he will also according to his promise hear thee and will so guide thee by his holy Spirit that thou mayst commodiously arrive by mediums to some beginning of which verily thou never hadst a thought and shalt moreover thy self perceive in thine own heart how the most merciful God hath most graciously heard thy prayer and will even as 't were forthwith exhibit thee a revelation and shew thee an happy entrance Then after this prostrate thy self upon thy knees and with an humble and a contrite heart give unto him due thanks praise glory and honour for the hearing of thy prayers and withall beg and entreate him again and again that he would vouchsafe also to propagate by his holy Spirit that grace he hath begun to shew thee and which thou hast perceived in thine heart and that he would so guide thee as rightly to use so high a mysterie if it be now perfectly revealed unto thee and that thou mayst so mannage it that it may be wholly directed to the only glory and honour of his most holy blessed name and to the benefit and succour of thy needy neighbour Besides thou must consider and then duly advise with thy self that thou never revealest that mysterie to the wicked and unworthy one much less communicate it or make him a partaker thereof for fear of the loss of thine eternal health and happiness Briefly do not at any rate abuse it but convert it as we said but now to the glory of God only and not to thine own proper praise Furthermore thou must likewise consider and believe that except thou doest thus thou maist haply run much hazard in the running of thy race and God will not leave thee unpunisht and then it would have been a thousand times better for thee never to have known any thing thereof These things being well weighed and having as 't were devoted thy self to God therein who will not be mocked having prefixt to thy self on this account a good scope and aim then at length first of all begin to learn how the Triune God did from the beginning ordain an universal nature then learn what that is what it can do and how it operates even to this very day after a certain manner in all things invisibly and consists in the alone will and pleasure of God and hath its aboad there For without the true knowledge of nature thou canst hardly begin that work without rashness and danger But the quality and property of nature is viz. that it be one only true simple in its own perefect essence and moreover that a certain occult Spirit be shut up and hid therein If therefore now thou wouldst know her then its behovefull that thou beest even as Nature her self is viz. true simple constant patient yea pious and no waies hurtful unto thy neighbour but briefly such an one must be a new and regenerated man If therefore thou knowest thy self to be thus qualified then nature will presently suit it self to nature and there will necessarily follow to thee an evident unspeakable benefit both of body and soul. For the diligent Search and Speculation of that Art will be so very exceedingly profitable and assistant unto thee that provided thou rightly knowest the principles therein they will as it were violently draw and lead thee to the knowledge of divine wonders in so much that in comparison of it every temporal thing and what is most highly valued by the world will
notwithstanding is in every thing and in every place to be found but as to its potency t is in this only alone and altogether or wholly perfect Briefly they say that it is such a spiritual substance as is neither celestial nor infernal but an aereal pure and excellent body which is posited as a medium betwixt the highest and lowest t is likewise the most choice and most precious thing under the whole heaven Contrariwise it is esteemed by such as understand not the thing or are new beginners to learn it for a most vile thing and most abject or base as 't were yet notwithstanding though many a wise man seek after it there are but a few that find it it is to be considered of or be beheld afar of and is to be taken near at hand and besides it is to be seen of all yet is known but by a few as is to be seen in this here-following verse viz This precious good is divided into three and yet is but one T is what the world cares not for but disesteems it It hath it in its sight carries it in its hands yet is ignorant thereof for it passeth away with a sudden pace without being known Yet these treasures are the chiefest and he that knows the Art the Expressions and hath the medium will be richer then any other A Philosophical Enigma IN which the first material subject of the Art of the wise men otherwise called the Phenix of the Philosophers being wholly divided is to be triplicitly or threefold wise found The Enigma Philosophical IF I tell thee of the three parts of every thing thou hast no cause to complain for I tell thee the truth Thou needest the three-leaved grass sue to Jehovah by thy prayers Seek for one in three and thou shalt have one out of three T is called by a thousand names t is a body soul and spirit Is beautified with Salt Sulphur and an heavy Mercurie Trust me if thou understandest the three-leaved grass and knowest the Voice and Song then art thou a wise Artist Another Enigma much more plain THere is one thing in this world is everywhere to be found and that as it were accidentally or casually without care of a grayish and greenish colour and of a wonderfull power In this thing is both a white and red colour It flows hither like a swift stream and runs away like a river It wets not and is made of an heavy weight light I could give it a thousand names but thousands know it not T is common to be seen but the Art of it is difficult He that dissolves it by a medium and finisheth it the third time is a wise man and rightly hath this noble subject Another Enigma THE place of the birth of this stone is everywhere its conception is in the deep its birth in the earth it finds life in the heavens it dies in time and then at length obtains everlasting blessedness If therefore any one hath ready at hand this thus-mentioned matter that is so vertuously endowed the which is partly celestial and partly terrestrial and is at the beginning a right confusion or commixtion or a certain mixt essence worthily so called whose colour is not to be named or which hath no proper colour to be named by and doth know it rightly and well the which knowledge hath been accounted at all times by the Philosophers for a principal member of this work then must all such things as are requisite thereunto and which are required in the preparation thereof be with the greatest study and diligence performed But yet notwithstanding afore that the singular manual labour therewithall be undertook t is very necessary that every pious Artist do again recall to his mind with much diligence the doctrine aforesaid and that withall he be faithfully admonished not to infold as 't were himself with that secret work and that unsearchable Spirit that lies hidden thereunder except he shall first have diligently searched it in its profound qualities and proportion and according to the requisite conformity to nature even as some of the Philosophers do admonish us concerning that thing and say See thou hast no commerce with this Spirit except thou first hast an exact knowledge and understanding thereof For God is wonderful in his works and his wisdom is without number and as is aforesaid he will not suffer himself to be mocked Verily here might be some examples produced viz. of many that have too too slightly infolded themselves as t were or intermedled with this Art and having adventured thereon their successes have been very bad insomuch that some have been found dead in the work it self or else most grievously wounded by some other unfortuate mischance for t is not a thing of such a small concernment as many dream and imagine because the Philosophers compare it to boies play and womens work and that they are able to do the same The Philosophers intention was otherwise then so for they meant the following and successive labour of this work which is in it self easie enough and utterly as t were void of any great moment and they accounted it as simple and easie to such only as were ordained by God thereunto and were endowed with the knowledge thereof Beware therefore beware I say and take heed to thy self that thou dost not over-rashly involve thy self in danger but much more rather begin thy purposed work with prayers poured out to God for divine help as we have at the beginning faithfully admonished thee and then shalt thou fear nothing at all nor haply shalt thou be subject to any danger If therefore now thou hast employed thy self with much diligence in thy Oratory and hast the known matter at hand then mayst thou commodiously apply thy self to a studious diligence in thy Laboratory and apply thereto a convenient Manual Labour and so make a beginning First of all therefore it is necessary that above all things you dissolve that so oft spoken of first matter or first Ens which the Philosophers likewise have called the highest good of nature then is it to be purified from aquosity or its waterishness and its terrestreity for it doth at first appear to such as behold it an earthy grave heavy gross pituitous and as it were a kinde of cloudy and aqueous body and its darkish and gross cloudy shadow wherewith it is shadowed must be removed by thee that so by this means its heart and inward soul that lies hidden therein may likewise and next that precedent purifying be by a more ample sublimation divided thereout of and be reduced into a sweet and pleasant Essence But now all this may be done by the great and excellent Catholick or Universal water the which by its most swift and as 't were flying course and passing to and fro doth moisten and make fruitfull the whole circuit of the earth and is indeed done so sweetly fairly clearly brightly and splendidly that the splendor thereof
there sublimes nothing up nor ascends aloft any more or until the congelation and fixation doth rightly and perfectly shew it self in the said work according to what is afore mentioned As for its following fermentation and multiplication we shall speak more thereof in the third part where we treat of the utility and profit thereof Besides as to the time thereto requisite as to the time of dispatching each Act or Scene here should be somewhat spoken a little more largely but yet as to this there can be no certain bounds prescribed or set time mentioned for those aforesaid Philosophers are of different opinions as may evidently be seen in their writings for alwaies some have obtained their end afore other some But we have formerly admonished and told you that nature is to be well observed in all things even as it represents it self in all things The which if any one doth do and diligently observe that I have said and doth likewise in every thing observe a right medium he may the sooner be able with such a work or proceeding to arrive to the perfection But I do exhort and withall inform thee as to this thing that as to the entrance upon or beginning the former or latter labour thou doest not exceed or outstrip as 't were in thy calculation this character X its middle or point but divide it justly and then moreover with the half part of this character that is V must you go backwards or retrograde in the composition of this work The which being done then afterwards if thou joyntly recollectest or unitest it again and rightly numberest up XX being the part or product thereof in that number or time if no farther obstacle intercede mayst thou attain to the end of thy work Be therefore content with such a time or calculation for if thou covetest the finding out a somewhat nearer end t is rashly done of thee and presently succeeds an errour for verily one onely hour may drive thee back an whole moneth whereas about such a time as I have hinted thy progress may lead thee to hit the mark But note well that thou dost not too too closely or niggardly as 't were contract this calculation Or as I informed thee but now at all exceed it for shouldst thou do so thou wouldst have an abortive For verily many by their as 't were abreviating hastiness and unskilfulness do instead of their hoped for Elixir obtain and get a certain Nixir And whereas in this thing much of concernment is placed as to this Magicall Science I was the rather willing thus briefly to describe it to the sons of wisdom that they may consider and judge thereof more deeply An Enigma THere are seven Cities and seven mettals so counted There are seven daies and a seventh number Seven Letters and seven Words in order There are seven seasons and so many places Seven Hearbs seven Arts and seven little stones Divide seven with three with much wariness Let be no coveting to precipitate the half or rashly to shorten the time Briefly all things do quietly rest and prevail in this number The process of the whole work is here briefly declared The first or former Labour DIssolve the matter and also Putrifie it Afterwards let it be distilled and then Coagulate it The second or Latter Labour COnjoyn two things Putrifie them then blacken them Digest them till it become whitened by thy Art Then at length rubifie it to the highest Coagulation is a thing Profitable to this Art This done fix it and thou shalt be a great man And if thou shalt after all these things ferment this thou hast luckily finished the whole work of the Art Circularly Then hast thou solemnly atchieved such a noble portion as will suddainly multiply for thee a thousand-fold riches Or thus more briefly SEek three in one and again seek one in three Dissolve and conclude or congeal and thou shalt be sure of the Art An Enigma wherein also the Process is described THe Spirit it self is given to the body for a time or in time and that refreshing or cheering Spirit washeth the soul by Art That Spirit suddenly draws or marries the soul to it self and then nothing can dis-joyn or separate it from it self Then do they consist of three and yet abide in one seat until the body be dissolved which is a noble work and doth putrifie and die and sepraate from them But then after some time the spirit and the soul do come together in the extream or utmost and last heat and each possesseth its proper seat with constancy Then an intire sound state and perfection is at hand And the work is made renowned and attended on with great joy Proverbs 23. My Son give me thy heart and let my waies be delightful to thine eyes THE Third Part Eccles. 43. v. 31 32 33. Who can magnifie him as he is and tell us how high he is We see but the least of his works and much greater things are hid from us for the Lord made all that is and makes them known to such as fear the Lord. AS to this so oft-spoken of highest Art or profoundly comprehensible Philosophers-stone provided it be brought to the desired end The Philosophers could never sufficiently write enough nor worthily enough proclaim and celebrace its praise vertue efficacy and unspeakable benefit for first of all they esteemed it as the highest and greatest felicity in this earth without the which none can arrive to perfection in this world for Morien saith he that hath this stone hath every thing nor needeth any other help for there is in it all temporal felicity bodily health and all fortune or wealth and riches Moreover they have so commended that same stone unto us because the spirit and efficacy thereof which lies therein hidden is the spirit of the Q. Ess. which spirit is under the circle of the Lunar brightness yea they have called it the supporter of the heaven and the mover of the Sea and besides have said that it is a chosen or choice spirit above all the other spirits that it is a most subtile a most noble and a most pure spirit the which all the other Spirits are obedient unto as to their King and which likewise confers upon mâ—n all health and prosperity heals all diseases bestows upon the pious temporal honour and long life but as for the evil ones who misuse it it subjects them to eternal Punishment Now in all those aforesaid things t is found to be proved or experienced perfect and infallible Upon which account Hermes and Aristotle call it viz. true without lies certain yea of all the most certain the secret of all secrets of a divine efficacy concealed and hid from fools Briefly they bave termed it the very utmost and chiefest thing that can be seen under heaven and the wonderful epilogue and conclusion of all Philosophical operations Therefore some pious Philosophers are wholly of the opinion that it was revealed from
edge to knowledge but do not at all bestow the knowledge for as for that It must arise from within from a knowledge and discerning understanding of those colours So likewise if any do desire from thee a material external fire or a Light or kindling out of a Pyrite or fire-stone wherein the fire or the light is hidden then t is expedient to make it manifest and extract as 't were out of the stone that same occult and secret fire and not to bring it into the stone the which is to be done by a steel as appertaining hereunto and by it the occult fire in the stone must be excited or stirred up the which fire must notwithstanding be received by a well prepared sutable firing or fewel and so blown up unless you 'l intend to have it vanish and be extinguished The which being so done you shal have a right shining brightsom fire and as long as you preserve and cherish it you may do therewith what you please according to your desire Even so likewise after the same manner is it with that divine Celestial hidden Light in man the which as we have said before doth not come into a man from without but rather proceeds from within outwards Now this may at the beginning be made bright by a true faith in God and then furthermore by mediums as reading hearing preaching and also afterwards by the holy Spirit which Christ hath restored unto us and hath promised to give us John 14. No man comes unto the Father but by me this may I say be enkindled in the obscure and darkish but yet glowing heart which is as 't were a prepared fire and be again rightly breathed on and made shining for in such an heart God will afterwards operate and work In such an ones heart as believes and in that one Light to which none can attain doth he desire to have his abode And although no man ever saw God with his external bodily eyes nor indeed can see him yet nevertheless may he be seen discerned and known by the internal eyes of the heart Moreover although that that clear Light hath sent forth its brightness into the whole world and doth as yet daily enlighten all men without any difference yet for all that the world because of its corrupt and depraved nature cannot or will not rightly see it much less know it and therefore also are there so many erroneous waies and dangerous opinions vented thereabouts The which is in this thing to be well considered of heeded and observed viz. That God hath not in vain and casually placed two eyes and as many ears in the top part of the body for he would thereby hint unto us viz. That t is expedient for a man to learn and give good heed unto a twofold sight and hearing viz. internal and external and by the internal to judge of spiritual things and the external is to perform its part 1 Cor. 2. The which distinction also in the Word of the Spirit and of the Letter is to be most diligently observed for the sake whereof even I also am willing here by way of admonition briefly to discover and in a few words only to the more simple sort whereby they may the better be informed and attain to the better and more commodious or profitable knowledge of the triune stone in which the very top of the thing lies Now even as the matter of the terrene Philosophical stone is of no value or esteem with the world but is rather wholly rejected as it were even so likewise Christ the eternal Word of the Father the most noble and celestial proved triune stone is dis-esteemed by the greater part of men in this world and is as 't were cast out of our sight and indeed to speak the truth there 's almost nothing more unworthy more vile and abject then the saving Word of God it self and therefore in 1 Cor. 3. it is accounted especially by the wise ones of this world for foolishness Nay it is not only so disesteemed and slighted but also condemned as Heretical and cast forth to banishment the which to hear it being so great a blasphemy is to a godly heart the highest grief But however be it as it will t is behoveful that the right believers be thereby tryed and that consequently the afore-mentioned testimonies be yet rightly fulfilled the which also John in his first Chapter testifies saying It viz. the Word was in the world and the world knew it not Likewise he came unto his own propriety and yet was not received by his own Even as also the Corporal and Terrene Water-stone of the Wise men whose vertue and efficacy is unsearchable is in reference to its matter called by the Philosophers by sundry names So likewise that Deity and that only light whose vertue and Omnipotency is in like manner unsearchable hath many various titles and names in the holy Scripture the chiefest of which we shall here orderly reckon up on both hands The stone of the Philosophers is called the most antient the hidden or unknown the natural incomprehensible celestial blessed consecrated stone of the wise men t is also called true without lyes the certainest of things most certain the secret of all secrets a divine vertue and efficacy hidden from fools the highest and the lowest that can be seen under heaven the wonderful Conclusion or knitter up of all Philosophick works t is likewise called a fit and perfect Agreement of all the elements an incorruptible body that can be touched by no element 'T is moreover called a Q. E. a double or twofold and vivifying ☿ which hath in it self a celestial Spirit the healing of all the sick and imperfect mettals the eternal light the highest medicine for all diseases the noble Phoenix the highest and most noble treasure or choicest good of nature the universal triune stone which is by nature conjoyned of three and yet nevertheless is but onely one yea t is generated and ingendred or effected out of one two three four and five Likewise 't is called the Catholick Magnesia or Sperm of the world and by many other such names and Titles as are to be found amongst the Philosophers all which titles may not unfitly be reckoned up and comprehended in the highest and most perfect number viz. a thousand Even as therefore now this terrene Philosophical stone I say hath as in reference to its matter many and divers yea almost a thousand titles as we have said and is therefore now and then called wonderful Even so likewise these and such like other afore-mentioned titles and names may be much rather and that also in the highest degree said or published of God the Omnipotent Good for verily God yea the Word of God his eternal Son is the right eternal precious and tryed corner-fundamental-stone which the builders rejected and banisht Isaiah 28. Psalm 118. Mat. 21. Acts 4. Rom. 9. 1 Pet. 2. He is the true the antient yea
the most antient who was before the foundations of the world were laid yea even from eternity Isaiah 45. Daniel 7. Esay 43. Psalm 90. He is the right the hidden and unknown God supernatural incomprehensible celestial blessed and most praise-worthy Mark 16. the alone Saviour and consequently the God of all Gods Deut. 10. He is certain and true and cannot lye Numb 23. Rom. 3. yea the most certain of all and doth even what pleaseth him and is the alone Potentate Genes 17. Ephes. 3. He is the most secret or unknown and eternal in whom all the treasures and mysteries of wisdom lie hidden Rom. 16. Col. 2. The alone divine vertue and omnipotency which is hid from and unknown unto fools or the wise ones of this world He is the right the alone and perfect agreement of all the elements from whom and by whom all things proceed and in whom all things are Rom. 11. James 1 viz. of an incorruptible essence which no element can dissolve or separate Psalm 16. Acts 2. 13. Likewise he is the Q. Es. yea the essence of all essences and yet notwithstanding is properly no essence he is the true and right duplicate Mercurie or the Gyant and Champion of a twofold substance Matth. 26. Even as t is sung of him in the Hymn or Song viz. By nature a God a man a worthy c. who hath in himself a Celestial Spirit who also vivifies all things yea is the life it self Wisd. 7. Esai 42. Joh. 14. He is the alone only perfect Saviour of all the imperfect bodies and men the true heavenly Physitian of the soul the eternal Light that enlightens all men Isa. 60. John 1. the highest medicine for all diseases the right Spiritual Panacaea Wisd. 16. The noble Phoenix that doth again refresh and quicken with his own blood his own chickens as are wounded and slain by that old Serpent the Devil Yea he is the choicest treasure or highest good in heaven and earth Psalm 83. Wisdom 7. The triune universal essence which is called JEHOVAH Deut. 6. and is of One viz. the divine essence then of two God and man then moreover of three viz. Persons also of four viz. three Persons and one divine essence So likewise of five viz. three Persons and two essences viz. divine and withall humane Besides God is the right Catholick Magnesia or universal Sperm of the world John 1. of whom and by whom and in whom all both celestial and terrestrial creatures have their essence motion and original Gen. 1. Iohn 1. Acts 17. Rom. 11. Heb. 1. and briefly he is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord who is who was who is to come the Almighty Rev. 1. But now even as in the afore-mentioned Philosophical work it is not sufficient to know the matter only and to receive or acknowledge it for a triune essence and to learn the Quality and Property thereof But t is moreover necessary that you know how to obtain it and how to be made a partaker of the benefit thereof the which cannot be done by any other means then as we have said above viz. those three things are to be first dissolved and putrified whereby its darkish shadow and hairy rough essence wherewith it was at first shadowed over and was consequently beheld and visible in a deformed and inhumane or ungentle shape may be again taken off then also even as by a further sublimation its heart and internal soul that lies hid therein is to be again drawn out of it by the universal pleasant and fire-like-shining Sea-water and reduced into a certain corporal essentiality Even so and indeed much less able are we to know that triune divine essence which is called JEHOVAH unless it be first of all in relation to us even as it were dissolved and putrified and the veil of Moses and the wrathful visage or shape the which shape is naturally to us all an impediment or hinderance and a terrour be took away therefrom and that the heart and inward soul which lies hid therein that is his Son who is the Lord Christ be by the help and assistance of the holy Spirit the which doth likewise purifie our hearts like to clear pure water Ezek. 36. Esai 44. yea doth also like to the divine fire enlighten us Jerem. 23. Mat. 3. and doth fill us with a sweet and pleasant comfort Iohn 16. Ephes. 4. produced thereout of and learned and be furthermore converted or turned into an humane God or God-man But now even as in the Philosophick work the matter being dissolved into its three parts or principles must be congealed with its own proper salt and reduced into one only essence the which is afterwards called the Salt of wisdom So likewise is it with God and his heart that is the Son must be united to the Father by their proper Salt the which Salt is in like manner essentially implanted in God and must necessarily be believed and acknowledged for one God and not be accounted as two or three Gods and Essences If therefore thou hast by this means known God by his Son and as it were separated them and hast again notwithstanding coupled and conjoyned them by the Spirit of divine wisdom and the bond of charity or agreement Then behold the invisible and unknown God Isa. 45. is made visible knowable and intelligible who doth no more appear then as afore so wrathful and so displeased but appears after a most courteous gentle and most friendly way and manner and doth then suffer himself to be felt beheld and seen by thee whereas formerly God afore that his Son Christ was formed and fashioned in us Gal. 4. was much rather a terrible God Deut. 7. 18. yea a consuming fire and is so called But yet notwithstanding the knowledge of that divine triune essence is not as yet sufficiently and fortunately or blessedly enough used or conceived of except thou makest a further progress in the knowledge of him especially of his heart and so growest more and more on for even as the abovesaid and hitherto prepared subject in the Philosophical work is without further preparation rather hurtful then profitable to thee in medicine for the body even so also is Christ 1 John 4. whom unless thou knowest better and more perfect he is but very little as yet conduceable or availeable for a spiritual medicine for thy soul but will much rather turn to thy condemnation and therefore also if thou wouldst be made a partaker of him and of those celestial gifts and treasures and enjoy them prosperously then is it necessary that thou proceedest on farther in the personal knowledge of him and not set him before thee and conceive of him as pure-meer-God but well to observe that fulness of time appointed by God Gal. 4. wherein he received his additional that is God and man together yea he was made the Son of man For even as in the Philosophick work it is again said
that if you would bring your work to its effectual power and make your tincture to perfect the other simple mettals then 't is expedient that you put to your first matter and unite therewith a certain other metallick highly dignified body of near affinity to the aforesaid Prima materia and such as is most acceptable and grateful thereunto and you must reduce them into one body Even so is it here in the Theological work of the divine nature of the Son of God if we should well enjoy it and be made partakers thereof 't was behoovful that as it were another mettalline body that is flesh and blood the humanity or the humane nature which also is amongst all the highest dignified creatures of God in the earth the one that is nearest akin is also the most acceptable and the most grateful and besides is created after his nature adjoyned and united it self therewith and consequently 't was fitting that both were reduced and united into a certain undissolvable body But even as t is chiefly to be noted and observed in the aforementioned Philosophical work as we then informed you that even as this common or vulgar body of gold is not in the least agreeable or convenient for that work but because of its imperfection and many other various defects that it is subject unto is unprofitable and is to be accounted of as a dead thing and that likewise for that same reason there must be produced such a body as is clear and pure and without mixture and such as was never falsified by any deceit but is free from all impurity and without defect and what was never as yet debilitated in its eternal Sulphur Even so much less can there be or ought there to be any universal humane nature such as is conceived in sin polluted with original transgression and is daily falsified and defiled with real sins and preternatural infirmities under which all men do generally lie accepted of imputed to and incorporated with the divine essence of the Son of God but only the unmixed pure and perfect humanity void of all sin for if the earthly Adam who was but a creature only was afore the fall without sin and was an holy and perfect man how much more then is that celestial Adam which the only begotten Son of God hath in himself And therefore the celestial eternal fundamental and Corner-stone Jesus Christ according to the description of the Philosophick is and ever will be according to both his natures of a most highly admirable birth and rise and consequently of an unsearchable nature and property According or in relation to his divinity he was from eternity of the alone divine essence of his celestial and eternal Father true God yea the Son of God whose out-going as the Scripture testifies thereof was from the beginning and eternal Mich. 5. Psal. 2. Mat. 16. Col. 1. But as in reference to his humanity he was born in the fulness of time without sin and fault Isa. 53. John 8. according as the Scripture testifies a true and a perfect man with a body and also a soul Mat. 26. so that now he is of an indissolvable personal and God-man essence that is a true God and true man in one only person indissoluble to all eternity and must and ought to be so acknowledged and worshipped as God Omnipotent But yet notwithstanding it could be wished that the eyes of the greater part of the imaginary learned men were better opend and their dark spectacles and their sophistical vizards that hang before them were removed and that at length they might yet once recover their lost sight Luke 10. But especially all the Aristotelians and the sophisticate blind-sighted purblind as 't were in divine works amongst whom there have been so many various and divers disputations even to this very day in divine things too too unchristianlike nor is there any end at all of the manifold distinctions divisions and permixtions concerning the highly venerable Article of the union of natures and community as 't were of Idioms in Christ so well founded in the holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. But now if they will not believe God or his divine Word they may yet notwithstanding by the conjunction made of the said Chymicall work as afore-mentioned and by the unition of the two waters viz. of ☿ and ☉ know the essence and be able to feel him as it were with their fingers But alas the highest Scholastick art of their Ethnick or heathenish philosophy so little or meanly founded in the holy Scripture or in Christian Theologie and their fundamentals and Aristotelian precepts of no value or moment about substance and accidents and many other more devices do not at all lead them to the attainment thereof little considering that Tertullian that old man hath not in vain written That these Philosophers are the Patriarchs or chief Fathers of the Hereticks But we conceive it no waies worth our while to discourse more largely of this thing And moreover even as in the Philosophick work that said composition the two essences being conjoyned now together must be placed over the fire and be putrified ground or broken and be well boiled in which putrefaction and boyling there do until it be rendred more then perfect in the mean while manifold and various acts or scenes fall in between and divers colours do shew themselves about which you may find more written in the description of the terrene work Even so this God-man and man-God person Jesus Christ so appointed by God his heavenly Father in this world was cast into the firie furnace of tribulation and was therein well boyled as 't were that is he was encompassed with various troubles reproaches the Cross and tribulation and was changed and transmuted as 't were into various shapes that is he suffered hunger Mat. 4. then presently upon his receiving of baptism and after his devoting himself to the ministry of the preaching the holy divine Word he was by the impulse of the holy Spirit in the desart and there tempted by Satan and must there necessarily undergo with him a triple combate for a testimony and witness to all bought and purchased Christians as having entred upon Christianity and professing the faith of Christ are tempted by the Devil and are by various temptations again sollicited and enticed to a falling off from Christ. Likewise he was wearie in John 4. also he cryed and wept lamentably Luke 19. 41. also he trembled and was sore amazed Mark 14. he combated with death and sweated a sweat of blood was likewise taken and was bound Mat. 26. was smitten on the face by the high Priests servant was mocked derided spit on whipt crowned with thorns condemned to death and then fastned to the Cross which himself carried Joh. 19. betwixt two thieves had Gall and Vinegar given him to drink Psalm 69. and cryed out with a loud voice and commended his Spirit into the hands of God his Father expired
stone of the Philosophers and Chymical King doth by its tincture bestow this benefit and doth also comprehend in it self by its perfected process this efficacy and virtue as to be capable of transmuting and tinging the other imperfect simple and disesteemed mettals into pure gold So also yea and much more rather doth that heavenly King that fundamental corner stone Jesus Christ only and alone purify us by his blessed tincture that is by his blood of a Rosey colour and cleanse us sinners and imperfect men from our innate adamical defilements and dregs yea he doth more then perfectly cure and heal us 1 John 1. and as the Scripture speaking thereof doth testify that there is no other salvation nor medium either in the Heaven or the Earth whereby we may obtain everlasting blessedness and perfection but only the name of Jesus Acts 4. For albeit that the blind and mad world hath by the cozenage and deceit of Satan sought after many and various mediums and wayes of obtaining everlasting happiness and perfection and have earnestly busied themselves thereabout yet notwithstanding Christ Jesus is the only and alone Saviour and Mediatour in whom and by whom we are justifyed and blessed before God and are again purified from the Spiritual Leprosy of sin even like unto the one only terrene Saviour and Chymical King by whom all the imperfect mettals do purchase and obtain their perfection and moreover by it are cured all diseases but especially the incureable and corporal Leprosy So therefore all the other mediums and those arts that are studyed and contrived by men themselves viz. such as the Jews Turks Heathens and other hereticks have published and are as yet defended and maintained as necessary mediums are to speak properly thereof much rather void of Spirit are false and Sophisticate Alchimy Col. 2. Beware least any one c. by which we men are not purifyed but are hindred are not vivifyed or enlivened but weakned yea are at length wholy mortifyed like to the falsely so called Alchimy which hath found out many and diverse tinctures and colours by which men are not only deceived but likewise as too toomuch misery it is daily experience doth more then enough testify they are oftentimes cast into the peril and danger of their goods and corporal life But now if we men would be again purifyed from our impure filths and feces viz. from that Adamical Original sin wherewith the whole nature of man was at the beginning corrupted as if it were with some destructive poyson inspired or breathed into our first parents by the devil and in which we are all conceived and born Psal. 51. Job 15. and would be again made perfect and happy John 3. then it must be done by a new regeneration of the holy Spirit yea by water and the spirit even like as the Chymical King also is regenerated by water and the spirit and doth thereby obtain its perfection in which new and spiritual regeneration 1 Pet. 3. the which is accomplished from above in the holy Baptisme by the water and the spirit must we be washed and purifyed by the blood of Christ and so be made one body with him and cloath our selves with him as 't were with a garment as Paul saith in Col. 3. and Ephes. 5. for even as the Philosophers stone doth aftetwards unite it self by its Tincture with the other Mettals and is together with them reduced into a perfect and indissoluble body so also Christ as being the head of us all 1 Cor. 4. doth even unite himself with his members by his rosey coloured tincture and reduceth and perfects it into a perfect body and building Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Ephes. 5. which is created according to God in Joh. 3. right and true Justice and holiness Eph. 4. And verily that regeneration of man which is performed by the holy Spirit in holy Baptism is properly no other thing than a certain inward spiritual renewing of fallen man with God and Christ 1 Cor. 12. In so much that whereas afore we were carnal in relation to the birth made by our father and mother and were by nature enemies to God and sons of wrath Rom. 2. Eph. 2. we are now by means of the second and spiritual birth in holy Baptism made friends and sons yea heirs of God and coheirs with Christ Heb. 3. For for this reason Christ also dyed and rose and revived Rom. 14. that by this his process that is by his Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension we might have an entrance into an holy place or house not made with hands and that he might prepare for us the way to an everlasting Country And therefore also is it necessary that we likewise as his brethren and sisters Math. 12. Ephes. 5. and Psal. 22. do follow him in sufferings Math. 8. and grow up and increase in an acceptable humility Luke 12. and in other virtues and moreover that we be altother conformable and suitable to or for his body that so at last even we also who have followed him here in the regeneration and are dead and mortifyed in him may likewise live with him and enter into his glory The which spiritual exhortation and Christian imitation of our celestial King his life and deeds comes not from our worth merit or proper and peculiar pleasure for the natural man is together with all his faculties blind deaf and dead in spiritual things but meerly and only 1 Jo. 5. by the efficacy and operation of the holy Spirit which is effectual and powerful in us by the blessed washing or bath of regeneration and baptism after the same sort is it with minerals and Mettals which being in themselves dead Hebr. 10. and rusty as it were and cannot possibly purify or amend themselves are even by the help of the spagyrical spirit purified renewed dissolved and perfected If therefore now we are again as we have heard regenerated by the water and the spirit 2 Cor. 5. that is by the blessed baptism and by the red fountain or stream tincted by Christ and incorporated with the Lord Christ our heavenly King 1 Cor. 3. and are washed with his blood from our hereditary sins and are purified and are made partakers of the first fruits of his holy Spirit Then is it expedient that we be fed and that we drink at the beginning a little and a little according to the saying of St. Peter with pure and wholsome milk like new born babes yea like infants in Christ until at length we becoming like living Apoc. 1. and ripe stones are built up to a spiritual house and high Priest-hood and made fitting to offer up spiritual Sacrifices such as are well pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ for verily a Christian man regenerated by the water and the spirit doth not comprehend all at once nor is able to apprehend all but 't is needful that he grow up and increase day by day and by little and little in the
that he should doubt of the Word of God and of his most merciful and gracious promise pretending that God was not his friend thus to suffer him to endure hunger so long in the desart But now if this temptation doth not worâ— with Christians then this enemy sets upon men with anothet temptation on the other side or extream and would have them to rely upon God for more then he hath promised them in his Word Deut 10. for so he endeavoured to perswade even Christ himself viz. that he should cast himself down Math. 4. from the highest top of the Temple for God will sufficiently protect and defend him But now if this will not do he will yeâ— shamelesly have a third temptation and this is by promising Riches viz. that for mony and temporal honours sake he should depart from God from his Divine Word and become an Idolator and fall down and worship himself viz. Sathan Thus feared he not boldly to wrestle with Christ himself and to drive him to a fall The which also the faithfull God and Father in Heaven Job 2. doth out of his peculiar Counsel and for certain causes sometimes permit such a thing to be done against his own people that so they may by this means grow and encrease in faith hope patience in a true and right invocation or prayer unto God and may by those rudiments or beginnings and exercisings of the Cross well prepare to themselves the way to the last conflict viz. of death which our old man must necessarily undergo and that they may by this means obtain an eternal victory against that enemy the which will come to pass if they first know all his tricks and most crafty snares and do then valiantly and stoutly accomplish that as by the divine grace meets with and opposeth him For whereas we are to fight and strive not with flesh and blood but with Principalities and Powers as Saint Paul speaks viz. with the chiefest of this world who rule in the darkness of this world and with the evil Spirits under heaven therefore we are not in the least able to resist them or their spiritual temptations by our own proper strength and power but here we must according to the example of Christ our Saviour and standard-bearer lay hold on spiritual weapons and with them and the Word of God as with the sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6. in or by Faith are those our spiritual enemies to be smitten and overcome And to this purpose 't will seem necessary for us to do as that Christian warriour Saint Paul the Apostle in Eph 6. commands to be done viz. We must betake our selves to the armoury or store-house of the holy Spirit and there 1 Tim. 6. take the iron breast-plate of God and put it on and our loins must be girt with truth and we must be clad with the breast-plate of righteousness and our feet must be shod or harnessed as ready prepared for the Gospel of peace and le ts take the sword of the Spirit the which as we said before is the Word of God But above all things let us take the shield of faith by which we shall be able to blot out and quench all the fiery darts of the devil for the faith in Jesus Christ is a most firm buckler the which the Devil can never perforate nor possibly wound the heart through it Moreover whereas the regiment of the fire also in the Philosophick work is to be heeded with the greatest diligence and must necessarily be administred and attended on in the coction or digestion of the matter without ceasing and even as we have afore briefly mentioned the Philosophical fire by which the whole business is chiefly to be perfected vâ—z what it properly is and how called viz. an essential a preternatural and a divine fire that lies hid in the compound and unto which must be afforded or administred an help and stirring up with the terrene material fire 1 Tim. 1. Even so likewise is the pure Word of God or which is the same the Spirit of God which is also compared with a fire Jerem. 23. and is so called hidden in us men forasmuch as it was indeed implanted in us by nature but by the corruption thereof was again blotted out and made dark Phil. 3. And therefore must there be an helping and succour exhibited after such a manner by as 't were a certain other external fire that is by a continual and daily use and exercise of Piety and Christian Vertues in the time of joy and sadness as also by a diligent consideration of the pure divine Word if at least we would have that internal light of grace that is granted unto us and the Spirit of God to operate and work in us and not be plainly extinguished Eccles. 10. and with this aid and assistance must it be continually blown up and incessantly quickned without wearisomness and desistency As for instance t is wont thus to be done in earthly things for if a workman strongly files Iron which in it self is cold it will by the continuance of that motion become hot So a Light or Lamp Col. 3. unless it be continually nourished with supply of oyl 't will at length fail and be extinguished Even thus it is with man as to his internal fire except it be daily and without wearisomness and tediousness exercised as we said above it doth by little and little decrease until at length he be deprived wholly thereof Upon which account the Word of God as we have often informed you and as an important necessity requires it is to be diligently heard well considered of and to be exercised without ceasing And what we have here spoken as to hearing thereof the which is not to be done only with the external and beastlike eyes but with the internal eyes of the mind 1 Tim 1. the same is to be understood of the sight after the same manner But that you may the better understand my meaning know that I speak of the right and pure Word of God and not of those humane glosses or expositions of either the Antients or Modern nor of the Pharisaical Ferment and Leaven of the Scribes Rom. 16. which with grief be it spoken is now adaies preferred before the divine Word or at leastwise though it be but as it were mouse-dung mixed with pepper is earnestly prest upon men to be heard and accounted of as the preaching of the word of God But I mean no such thing in the least Those kinds of trifles and such Sermons as fill the ears of men only I value not a rush nor do I here speak of such but I speak according as we have mentioned it in its proper place of the true and clarified Word of God Psalm 19. 119. that passed out of the mouth of God Deut. 8. Mat. 4. and is even yet to this day preached by the holy Spirit 1 Cor. 1. the which is not only as some do reproachfully
and sottishly speak thereof a meer empty sound but is Spirit and Life and the saving Power of God John 6. to all such as believe therein Concerning which hearing the Kingly Prophet David doth thus speak Psal. 64. I will hear what the Lord will speak in me Out of the which internal and divine hearing the Word of God as out of a certain spring or fountain a true vivifying faith which is efficacious by or through charity Gal. 5. doth take its original for as Paul saith Rom. 10. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God 2 Pet. 2. So therefore now if the Word of God be pure and clear then may the hearing be also pure and clear Luke 21. and so consequently that faith which as 't were flows out of that hearing will be pure and uncorrupted and is effectual by charity and shews it self as towards God in an humble obedience to his holy Precepts and Will and also in praying in praising and in giving of thanks and as towards ones neighbour in a well-minded loving exhibition or doing of divers good Works insomuch that Charity is not the least but as Paul saith the highest vertue of all others So likewise Christ himself in his long fare-well Sermon at his departure Ioh. 13. doth with much dilgence exhort unto that exercise of Charity and left behind at that time this lesson as a fare-well saying This is my Commaudement that ye love one another even as I also loved you for so shall all men know that ye are my Disciples Likewise in 1 Iohn 2. He that saith he knows God and yet doth not keep his Commandements is a lyar and there is no truth in him But he that keepeth his word in him verily the Charity or Love of God is perfect And besides in 1 Iohn 4. God is Charity or Love he that abides therein abides in God and God abides in him Col. 1. By all this 't is evident how that Charity is the true bond of Perfection by which we are incorporated into Christ himself So that he is in us and we in him 2 Iohn 3. he in his Father and his Father in him and this is his will The which Christ himself doth also testifie in that place aforementioned where he saith If any one keepeth my saying he it is that loves me and I will love him and 〈◊〉 will come unto him and make our abode with him Iohn 5. he saith If ye shall keep my Commandements ye abide in my love concerning the which Charity and how it relates to our neighbour 't is elegantly described in 1 Iohn 4. If any one saith Iohn doth say that he loveth God and yet hateth his Brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how shall he love God whom he hath not seen And this command have we from him that he who loveth God do love his brother also But as to the property of that Love what it is Saint Paul expresseth it in the following words 1 Cor. 13. Love saith he is long-suffering and kind envieth not vaunteth not it self neither is it puffed up nor is it weary of doing good to its neighbour T is therefore easie to be seen and understood that viz. there can be no true and right Love or Charity which doth not serve its neighbour with good and charitable works Col. 3. and yet indeed there are many of such as call themselves Christians that do rashly boast thereof Moreover t is evident that good works as are pleasing unto God do not precede faith but is as it is with fruits which follow or succeed the stock and tree the which if it be good doth also bring forth good fruits and for this cause works do not make faith but faith makes works good grateful and acceptable Ierem. 5. Upon this account therefore the which is the chiefest thing here we are justified by faith alone and obtain life eternal thereby If therefore now the regenerate man doth so Christianly and piously behave himself after the aforesaid manner in his life and in all his actions then also will he not in the least want his fruits Such a man now is like unto the composition in the terrene work he is placed by God in the fornace of tribulation and is so long pressed with straights of all kinds and with various calamities and troubles until he becomes dead to the old Adam and flesh Eph. 4. and be like a truly new man which according to God is created in a right and true justice and holiness and is again risen up as Saint Paul in Rom. 6. doth testifie where he saith We together with Christ are buried in death by baptism for even as Christ is risen from the dead so let us also walk in newnesse of life If this now be done and that a man doth daily cease to sin that so by this means sin may bear no more rule over him then doth the solution of the adjoyned body of gold as in the terrene work take its original in him and as we have afore said the putrefaction so that he becomes as 't were wholly dissolved ground destroyed and putrified after a spiritual manner the which solution and putrefaction notwithstanding is wont to be sooner done with one then another but however t is fit that it be done even in this temporal life That is such a man is so well digested boiled and mollified in the fire of tribulation 1 Pet. 4. that he even despairs of all his own power and strength and seeks for his comfort in the alone grace and mercy of God 2 Cor. 4. in the which fornace of the Cross and continual fire the man like the terrene body of the gold obtains the right black head of the Crow that is he is made altogether deformed and as to the world Wisdom 5 Iob 30. is only derided and mocked by it and that not only forty daies and nights or years but oftentimes also for his whole life time insomuch that he necessarily undergoes many a time more grief of heart then comfort and gladness and more sadness then joy in this life-time And here then by this his spiritual death his soul is wholly taken out and is as 't were carried up on high that is he is as yet with his body on the earth but with his Spirit and soul which lives no more now to the world but unto God nor takes delight in earthly things but placeth his highest comfort in spiritual things 2 Cor. 4. he tends upwards to an eternal Life and Countrey and doth so institute and order all his actions that they are not earthly but as far forth as may be done in this time or place are heavenly and now he lives no more according to the flesh but after the Spirit not in the unfruitful works of darkness but as in the day-light in the works that abide the tryal all being done in God The which separation of the
body and soul of man is done as is said afore in spiritual dying to sin and not in the corporal dying of the sinfulâ— flesh For even as it is with the solution of the body and soul in the Philosophicalâ— or terrene work where indeed the body and soul are separated as it were the one from the other yet nevertheless have a most streight or close coherency in the glass and abide conjoynedly or together and moreover the soul doth daily refresh the body and preserve it from final destruction and do even to the time appointed by God 2 Cor. 5. remain as yet inseparable Even so also the wither'd and as it were dead body in man 1 Peter 3. is not it this its School of or exercise with the Cross even wholly forsaken by the soul but is daily if the fervency of the tribulation exceeds measure moistened by the Spirit from above with the heavenly dew and divine Nectar is imbibed comforted and preserved thereby thâ— which is a celestial refreshment and recreation of the deadened terrene body in men For our temporal death which is the wages of our sins Rom. 6. is not a right death but a natural solution of body and soul and is much rather a kind of a gentle sleep yea now 't is truly an indissoluble conjunction understand in the godly of the Spirit of God and of the soul and so remains Besides 't is very fitly compared with that wonderful ascending and descending in the terrene work as to its number which happly is wont to be done seven times for there are to be found six thousand years troubles and tribulations viz. as long as the world shall endure In which such men as are void of all comfort are at all times in their crosses calamities and diversities of troubles plentifully erected comforted and strengthened again by the Spirit of God And this praise and glory be to God for it is even yet daily so done and likewise will be so long done until the great universal Sabbath and day of rest of the seven thousandth year shall take its beginning and there then that spiritual refreshing or cooling shall in that change or time only cease and shall obtain its so long-wished for end and in the room thereof when God shall be all in all 2 Tim. 4. shall that eternally abiding joy and rejoycing be begun But during that digestion and coction of the spiritual dead body in man there will also after such a like manner as is to be seen in the terrene work many divers colours and signs that is miseries and troubles and tribulations of all kinds the chiefest of which is that afore mentioned temptation which is done and caused by the devil the world and our flesh shew and represent themselves all which do notwithstanding betoken a good beginning viz. that such a well vexed or digested man will in the end obtain an happy blessed and wisht-for issue whereof the Scripture likewise is a witness in which in 2 Tim. 3. and Acts 4. 't is written viz. that all those as will live happy in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and that we must necessarily enter into the Kingdom of heaven through many tribulations and streights To which end also Saint Anstine saies thus Do not wonder my Brother if when thou shalt be made a Christian a thousand troubles do beset thee round on every side for Christ is the head of our faith and we are his members and therefore we must not only follow him but also imitate his life Now the life of Christ was encompassed with all kinds of tribulations and extream want be was derided by the Scribes and Pharisees and was finally delivered up to a most shameful death for us miserable sinners Hence maist thou easily conclude that if God vouchsafe thee such a life and chastise thee with such a like persecution he intends to bring thee into the number of his Elect for we cannot possibly come unto God without those persecutions and tribulations For such as endeavour to enter into Paradise must necessarily walk through the fire and water though it be Peter to whom the keyes of heaven are delivered Or Paul a chosen Vessel and Armour of God Or John to whom all the secrets of God are revealed For all must necessarily confess that by various tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Thus much Saint Austin saith Moreover this likewise is to be well heeded viz. that the Chymical Philosophers have stamped or signed Antimony with this same Character or Mark by or through which â™ as we have said in the Chymical preparation the following fermentation must be done or pass and that afore it be put to the obtained elixar or chymical King or must undergo the sudatory or stoving bath with the old white or grey-headed Saturn The which may verily be accounted of as a kind of miracle and mysterie and is to be so lookt upon for even that form or figure is to be found also amongst us Christians and is made use of and set down almost in a like concealment or secret hiding for there was a mast or piece of straight wood with a cross piece at the top delivered into the hands of our chiefest Captain and Emperour of the whole Christianity and by it is hinted unto us that he afore he could arrive to a peaceable and quiet Possession must necessarily be well tryed by the Cross miseries and other calamities of this world and be as 't were tossed therewith and be by them exercised and proved the typical prefiguration and signification of which those said Philosophers as lived in those antient times did not perhaps rashly and casually only signifie by such a sign or character and that even in the Chymical work which requires also such a Process All which things may not unfitly be referred to the aforementioned School or Lesson of the Cross and the tribulations and persecutions of Christians viz that they also afore they can enter into that everlasting rejoycing and rest must be constrained to lead and run their race through the burdensom and difficult course of the world or to undergo the School of conflicts or striving and the sweating-Bath with the old inimicitious Saturn that is with the old Adam and Satan Job 26. Now according to those afore mentioned tribulations and calamities there are many and divers signs and miracles and also great changes here and there in the world that are well to be observed and diligently considered of and weighed for there 's mention made of wars and rumours of wars various sects the plague and scarcity of corn all which things are true fore-runners and messengers as it were of our redemption and its being very near at hand Briefly when the universal resurrection of the dead shall be at hand then at first those men that have overcome by the blood of the Lamb for the former new regeneration made in baptism is the beginning only of this second right
and now first of all perfect and new regeneration in life eternal shall quicken and rise up to that new and never fading life their soul and spirit being again so united with the body and again reduced into an indissoluble or inseparable eternally abiding copulation or conjunction So that we shall be made by the vertue and efficacy of the Omnipotent heavenly King Christ with whom we shall be by faith really truly and efficaciously coupled above the reason of all men glorified with a pure spiritual and wonderful vertue strength agility and glory and excellency yea shall be made transparent excellent and more then perfectly happy Isaiah 26. The which wonderful unition of the body soul and spirit and likewise its divine glorification and this exaltation of the elect may as 't is in the terrene work be considered of by us in this life but not without amazement and trembling much less be seen without much terrour And therefore for this cause even the very Angels themselves are as 't were ravished into admiration and desire to peep into all these things Where we shall then raign with Christ our eternal Prince of heaven and with all the Angels and ministring Spirits in eternal joy and glorious majesty and bear rule over all things for evermore Gal. 6. And that we may at last conclude even as in the Chymical work Philosophical we added after the beginning a short but yet necessary correcting of or way to amend the neglected or corrupted composition viz. how it may be commodiously holpen in time where we likewise have orderly shewed the whole Process together with the suitable means thereto appertaining even so likewise must be here considered in the Theological work and that very diligently the correction or amending and the restitution of a miserable spiritual sinner as for instance if haply either one or two or the first and second defects do shew themselves in any man that he falls into sin by the permission of God and by the impulsion of the abominable Satan of the wicked world and of his own flesh and should slip either through pride and arrogancy the which are innate in us all and may be compared with the dangerous sublimation or redness which we have termed the first and second defect in the terrene Kingdom Or else should because of his enormious grievous and corporal sins that he hath committed at length despair of the mercy of God or should by reason of the overmuth heat of tribulations rise up against God his Creator and impatiently undergo the Cross which said two defects have a resemblance with the third and fourth errours Then must such a miserable and infected man be like as t is to be done with the terrene composition that you put in and spoiled be again dissolved in the first place that is after the acknowledgement of his excess he is to be again absolved and purified by the solutory or dissolving key of holy solution as oft as he shall need it from his sins and daily defections Then moreover must he be necessarily fed his thirst quenched be refreshed and comforted in the holy Supper of the Lord with the pure and heavenly milk 1 Cor. 3. and with the true sweat of the celestial Lamb 1 Joh. 5. as if 't were with blood and water yea with water and the fountain of life and even as it were with the fat feast of pure wine and marrow Isaiah 25. Apocal. 19. and that publick proffer of the fountain of grace Zach. 13. the which like to the Mercurial water in the Chymical work is to the unworthy and wicked ones the highest poyson until at last as 't is with the terrene body or work he arrives to a final congelation and plenary fixation that is to a perfect and abiding perfection of eternal happiness The which two most wholsom mediums for the curing and healing of a poor miserable sinner viz. The holy absolution and the holy Supper the Faithfull and Omnipotent God hath appointed for the benefit of man and hath delivered and committed them to his most beloved Church to be administred and communicated in a time of necessity For we are there by the now spoken of absolution or as 't is called the office of the keyes a true repentance going afore pronounced free and absolved or else if we remain impenitent and boldly persevere in our sins then are we by the Christian key of cursing and excommunication which doth likewise appertain to that office tyed in our sins and delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord 1 Cor. 5. The Epilogue or Conclusion THus hast thou my friend and curteous Reader a brief and simple demonstration and declaration and withall an infallible counterpoise and allegorical comparison of the terrene Chymical and the true Celestial stone Jesus Christ by whom thou maist attain to a certain happiness and perfection not only here in this earthly life but also in the life eternal Now although this comparing might have been more accurately perhaps and more copiously handled in the afore mentioned Theological work yet you are to know that I am no Professor or Teacher of the Scripture or any Aristotelian Thelogist or Divine according as the custome of the World is now a dayes but that I am a citizen and a private person for as for that knowledge vouchsafed me by God I obtained it not by study in any of their famous Academies or Universities but in the Universal School of nature Job 12. and out of the great book of Miracles in which all the God-learned did for many ages past exercise themselves did I likewise learn And therefore I have directed that description of mine not according to the decked and as 't were foot and half or lofty letter and expression but as I said afore according to simplicity and plainness Besides 't is not my office or function to set down here any more plentiful and larger treatise or Commentary about Theological things but that which I have done I did it as much as concerns me for such as have not as yet made such a large progress to them was I willing to prescribe some short delineation whereby they may make an higher search thereinto For it seems to be the duty of every lover of the truth by no means slightly to pass over the wonders of God nor to wrap them up in a perpetual silence but to celebrate amplify and magnify them Moreover I could willingly make a publick confession of my faith viz. what I think or believe of the Articles of the Christian Religion But alas alas the case stands thus at present that many pious Christians Psal. 116. are proclaimed for hereticks by the rash judgments of most slanderous lying back-biters unless they sing their song and are prosecuted with a bitter hatred and are suspected of heresy The which wicked blasphemies of the world and their rash judgments do not in the
knowledg of God and Christ. For even as in the Philosophers work 't is to be seen how that at the conjunction of the two matters of the Wise men Cant. 3. It was but a little that I passed from them c. viz. of the terrene gold and of the watery matter prepared as it were after a celestial manner when at the beginning they are put in a certain dissolving dish or vessel and reduced into as it were a dry liquour and ana All is not put to the composition together and at one time but one part is added after another and that by little and little and at certain diverse times Even so yea and much more rather ought this to be done in the Theological work for assoon as the conjunction and spiritual union is made of Man with Christ in Baptism and that we are so reduced as we said afore into one body with him so soon also or then must such a man learn the Christian faith by little and little and comprehend one Article after another until at length he be altogether confirmed in them and attain to a perfect knowledge Therefore also the Christian faith Phil. 3. is like as is done with the terrene watery prepared matter of which we have made mention in its proper place divided in twelve Particles or short Articles according to the number of the 12. Apostles and further is then again distributed into 3. principal Articles as 1. Concerning our Creation 2. Our Redemption 3. Our Sanctification the which 't is expedient that a man propose to himself to learn one after the other But yet it must be done by little and little and at divers distinct times and seasons least he should be burdened more then is fit and be as it were wholy overwhelmed with his learning of them by which he mought haply be a loather thereof and be plainly alienated from the faith To prevent which even the third Article concerning our Sanctification may be divided into 7. diverse members or particles see in the Communication of the book of the infallible Epilogue or conclusion Amen and may be prest upon men to learn at seven distinct times according to the information given in the terrene work the which being done and the faith being thus fully comprehended from part to part then the chiefest and most necessary thing is that a man doth most diligently preserve in himself that knowledge of the faith that he hath so comprehended by the grace of God and most cautiously beware that he neither falsify it or lose it And even as as we have before told you in the said Philosophical work you are to take for that fermentation and multiplication of the only terrene King or meer and pure tincture three singular parts or Particles of the best pure yea the most purified Gold purged by â™ not because of any defect in the stone or imperfection of its Tincture but because of the impotency and weakness of the Mettals themselves And that you may the better understand my intention know that although the tincture or stone be perfectly prepared in it self yet nevertheless the gross and imperfect Mettals cannot by reason of their natural infirmity and weakness draw to themselves and apprehend that as I may so say Angelical perfection and subtility of the stone or Tincture unto it self except a commodious and requisite medium be also taken by the which they will be transmuted the more easily Even as therefore it is and ought to be so done I say in the Chymical work even so in like manner must there be had a very special care here in our Theological work Phil. 2. of the spiritual renovation and Celestial regeneration of man for although that our Celestial King Jesus Christ hath perfectly freed us from all impurities by that plenary obedience of his which he performed to his heavenly Father in our stead and hath made us sons and heirs of God yet nevertheless we cannot in all things and wholy comprehend and receive that saving and plainly divine tincture of himself neither his other treasures and great benefits because of our innate infirmity and weakness 2 Cor. 4. nor can we firmly apply it to our selves unless we do thus viz. we must if we would rightly pertake of him come yet a little neerer and must have added those three saving singular parts reckoned up and mentioned by God himself which parts are thereto requisite and they are chiefly termed Eph. 2. 1 His holy Word the which is pure yea purer then Gold and Silver that hath been seven times tryed in a fornace of earth Psal. 12. and 18. Yea it is to be loved more then thousands of golden wedges 2 A saving faith the which is a singular gift of God Joh. 6. 2 Thess. 3. and ariseth by the Word of God Rom. 10. and doth also unite the hearts of men Acts 5. and is tryed in the fire of tribulation Gal. 3. 3 A plain-hearted love to God and ones neighbour the which likewise is the gift of God and the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. yea 't is God himself and so is it called 1 Joh. 4. chap. by which singular and principal parts viz. the word faith and charity Eph. 5. if they be exercised and made use of after an orderly way and manner then first of all the Lord Christ can rightly operate in us simple and imperfect mettals or men and make a perfect projection and have a saving ingress with his divine tincture and heavenly Unction for without this aforesaid medium 't will be most difficult for us to lay hold on him or to be made rightly partakers of his tincture For presently that terrible and lying false Chymist Sathan doth there shew himself and doth daily lay snares and gins for the new and regenerated Men and Sons of God especially if they accomplish their covenant made with Christ in the holy Baptism and do as St. Paul bids to be done viz. to fight a good valiant fight to keep the faith and a good conscience and endeavour by his faithful or trusty helpers 1 Pet. 5. â— such as are our flesh subject to sins James 3. and the wicked seducing world to draw and headlongly to thrust them into his dangerous net and also which grief be it spoken he doth most oftentimes by Gods permission for in Prov. 24. even the just man falleth seven times a day bring many a one to a headlong fall Even so he attempted vehemently to insnare and intrap the Lord Christ our head and Captain and earnestly tempted him presently upon his Baptism and at his entrance upon his holy ministry and as he did then so likewise after the like manneâ— doth he evidently shew and discover aâ— all times and seasons his secret fly tricks subtilties and deceits against the Christian Church even to this very day Now first he busied himself to tempt Christ by telling him of the great penury or want tribulations and various streights he was in and