which is wonderfull and twofold and this is to be found in sundry places of Europe The best that ever came to my hand and that was proved so by experience of or according to the figure of the greater world is in the East of the Astrum of the Sphear of the Sun the other doth consist in the Meridional or Southern Astrum in its first budding forth it is the Viscus or gum of the earth produced or brought forth by its own Astrum into light and is in its first Coagulation adorned with a redness in it are included all the flowers and colours of the Minerals of the which much hath been spoken by the Philosophers And as to what appertains to the cold and moist nature it hath been by a kind of comparison adapted or suited to water But verily the perfect experimental knowledge thereof hath hitherto lain hidden from very many yea almost all the Philosophers that have afore my time hitherto shot their Arrows towards the Mark and having used vain Attempts have most widely declined and erred from the true and compleat scope They have thought that Mercury and Sulphur are the mother and father of all Mettals but verily they have not remembred or minded the third yea which is more there 's none of these that could yet take or get that Net pertaining to this Fishing into their hands because this net is agreeable to or resembling a true Water the Mother of Mettals the which water being separated by a Spagyrical Artifice lays open its Fishes but such Fishes as neither the Galenical Fishing nor Avicens broken and torn net can ever be able to catch or lay hold of Should I but demonstrate to our Modern Physitians even the bare name only of the Conjunction Solution and Coagulation which Nature it self in the beginning of the World hath laid open and demonstrated in this its own created Subject a year would hardly suffice no nor all the Paper that can be got would be enough to instruct or inform them Verily I say that in this Mineral there are three substances to be had as Mercury Sulpur and a Mineral Water of which three it is composed and being separated Spagyrically is dissolved in its Own proper and not yet ripe Liquor and is hidden as a Pear in its proper Tree The hider of the Pear is the Tree upon the which as the Stars and Nature do agree and work together it gives forth green bows and afterwards in March yields Buds and manifesteth Flowers and so proceeds on even to the production of the fruit of the Pear then at Autumn the fruits depart or are ripe Not unlike hereto is is to be considered of as to the Minerals in the bowels of the earth which are thrust or brought forth by the Astrum's or Stars the which thing those Alchymists must chiefly consider of that breathe or pant after the Treasure of Nature The manner of which Artifice as to its beginning middle and end I shall lay open in the following Treatise and also its Water Sulphur and Balsom By the Solution of which three and their Conjunction again into One is the whole business of the thing finished after this manner Take the Mineral of Cinnatre the which wash and purge with a Celestial Water for three hours then strain it and dissolve it in Aq. Regis made of Vitriol Salt-Peter and common Salt Let it be abstracted by an Alembick be again poured on and care taken by Cohovation that the pure be separated from the impure as followeth beneath Let it putrifie in Horse-dung for a moneth then afterwards let the Elements be separated and when they discover their Signs let them be distilled by an Alembick in a fire of the first degree whereby the water and the ayr do ascend first and then the fire and that is done by the other degrees of the Fire the which may be discerned by an expert Operatour In the bottom of the Vessel remains the earth in the which lyes hid even all that which many have sought for and but most few have found This earth thou must shut up in a Reverberatory and Aritificially Calcine it proceeding from the first to the fifth degree and in each degree the space of five hours by this 't will come to pass that thou wilt have a Volatile Salt exceeding subtle like an Alcool and the Stable and constant Astrum of the Fire and the Earth the which thou shalt separate by the Elements of the water and the ayr which thou keptst afore Then put it in digestion of a B. M. for eight hours and thou shalt see that which is hitherto unknown unto and not at all considered by many Alchymists Separate them or it according to thy experience artificially and after a Spagyrical manner the earth it self will be rendred white in a wonderful manner out of which the Tincture hath been extracted Conjoyn the Element of the Fire with the Alcolizated Salt of the earth by digestion and a Pellicanick Artifice then that substance will yet again put down another Sediment the which thou shalt separate from the pure Then at length take the Pellicanated Lyon which at the beginning was sound out and obtained And when thou seest the Tincture thereof and the Element of the Fire above or at top of the water ayr and earth separate it by a Tritory or Separating-glass and strain the Sun thereof by inclination for it is Aurum potabile Moisten it over with the sweet Alcoole of Wine and let it be again abstracted until the Acuity and sharpness of the Aq. Reg. be no more perceived Separate this Oil of Sol and put it in a Retort closed with an Hermetical Seal for its elevation that is its exaltation that it may be doubled in its degree Take this Glass thus shut and put it in a cold place it will not be there dissolved but will be Coagulated this is to be repeated three times by Solution and Coagulation By this Artifice the Tincture of the Sun is perfected in its degree Then at length take twice as much of this Verus most highly prepared after a Spagyrical manner to which pour the elements of the Water and Ayr which thou keptst dissolve and putrifie it for a moneth as afore And when 't is come to its perfection thou shalt see the sign of the Elements separate the one from the other for there will be an ocular appearance viz. of the red secret from the white This then thou shalt separate from the white for it is the red Tincture so potent that it can tinge all white bodies into redness or red bodies into whiteness which is very wonderful urge this Tincture by a Retort thou shalt see a blackness to arise up the which urge again by a Retort and that so often untill it be white Prosecute this thy work neither despair in thy minde because of the very much labour Rectifie it so often until you see the green Lyon true and clear ponderous and
by all of them he is stirred up to a greater malice and is rendred more lively and is rather brought to a greater impurity then to any perfection So then the Philosophers matter is not to be from thence sought for for that it viz. ☿ is an imperfect somewhat the which to bring to perfection will be very difficult yea impossible for any Sophisters progress for there 's nothing therein that can be stirred up or compelled into perfection Some have taken Arsenick often sublimed and many times dissolved with the Oil of Tartar and Coagulated the which they have pretended to fix and by which they would turn Copper into Silver but yet even that is nothing else but a meer Sophisticate whitening for verily Arsenick cannot at all be fixed except the workman be an Artist and doth well know its tinging Spirit in which verily all the Philosophers have slept vainly attempting to effect any thing thereof Whoever therefore is ignorant of this spirit cannot have any hope of fixing it or of giving it that Virtue as may make it capable of the Virtue of transmutation Wherefore I make known to all that the whitening whereof I spake but now is grounded on a false foundation and that thereby the Copper is deceitfully whitened but not changed Now Sophisters take the Copper thus counterfeited and mix it with twice its weight of Lune and sell it to the Gold-smiths and Mint-men And at last they transmute themselves into false Coyners not only they who sell but such also as buy it Some Sophisters instead of white Arsenik do take red and with this they fall upon some false art because however t is prepared it affords nothing but a whiteness Some again have gone further and dealt in common Sulphur the which being so yellow they have boiled in Vinegar Lixivium or most sharp Wines for a day and a night untill it became white then after this have sublimed it from common Salt and the Calx of Eggs and boyled and sublimed it and that many times yet for all this it hath been alwayes combustible although white Now with this they have notwithstanding endeavoured to fix ☿ and turn him into Gold but in vain yet indeed thence doth come the most excellent and fairest Cinnaber that ever I saw This they suppose to fix with the oil of Sulphur by cementation and fixation it gives somewhat of shew or appearance but falls out otherwise then desired Others have reduced common Sulphur into the form of a Liver boyling it in Vinegar with an admixtion of Linseed Oil or Oil of Tiles or Oil Olive Afterwards have poured it forth into a marble stone aud made the form of a Liver The which they have distilled into a Citrine Oil first with a gentle fire but they have to their loss tried that they could not do ought as to the transmutation of Lune into Sol as they supposed and as there is an infinite number of Minerals so also is there much variety of their preparation the which to make any farther mention of in this place I shall forbear because they require a peculiar Treatise beware also of Sophisticate Oils of Vitriol and Antimony Likewise of the Oils of the Mettals imperfect or perfect as ☉ and ☽ because although the operation of these be most potent in the nature of things yet the true process is known but to a very few even to this day You are also to abstain from the Sophistical preparations of common Mercury Arsenick Sulphur and such like viz. by sublimation descention fixation with Vinegar Salt-peter Tartar Vitriol Sal Ammoniack in that way and manner which the books of Sophisters do teach Likewise avoid the Sophisticate Tinctures taken from Marcasites and Crocus ♂ and of that Sophistication called by the name of a part with a part and of fix Lune and such like trifles For although they have some superficial appearance of truth as the fixation of Lune by little labour and industry yet the progress of the preparation thereof is of nought and invalid Being therefore moved with compassion towards the good Operators of this art I am willing to lay open the very whole foundation of Philosophy in 3. particular Arcanums viz. in one by Arsenick in a second by Vitriol and in the third I shall explain it by Antimony Out of or from which I will teach the true projection upon ☿ and the imperfect mettals CHAP. XI Of the true and perfect particular Arcanum of Arsenick for the white Tincture SOme have written that Arsenick is compounded of Mercury and Sulphur others of earth and water and most say t is of the nature of Sulphur But whatever matter t is of the nature thereof is such as to transmute Copper into whiteness Also it may be brought to that perfection of preparation that it may truly and perfectly tinge But not by that way which evil Sophisters teach as are Geber in the summ of perfection Albertus Magnus Aristotle the Chymist in the book of the perfect Magistery Rasis and Polydorus for those writers be they never so many do either err or write false things out of envy and propose receipts because they are even ignorant of the truth Arsenick contains in it self three natural spirits the first is Volatile adustible Corrosive and penetrating all mettals This spirit whitens Venus and after some dayes makes it spongious The which artifice pertains only to those who exercise the Caustick Art The second spirit is Chrystalline and sweet The third is a tinging spirit separated from the others aforesaid The true Philosophers have searched after or found these three natural proprieties in Arsenick for the perfect projection of the Wise men But the Barbers who exercise Chyrurgery do desire that sweet and Chrystalline nature separated from the Tinging spirit for to use in the cure of wounds and for Bubo's Carbuncles Anthrax and such other filthy Ulcers not cureable but by a mild artifice or remedy But as for that Tinging spirit except the pure thereof be separated from the impure the fix from the Volatile and the secret tincture from the combustible it will not at all answer your desire in projection upon Mercury Venus or any other imperfect mettall All the Philosophers have hidden this Arcanum as a most excellent Mysterie This tinging spirit separated from the other two as above thou shalt conjoyn to the spirit of Lune and digest them together for the space of thirty two dayes or untill they have put on a new body After that at the fortieth natural day it shall be kindled into inflammation by the heat of the ☉ the spirit appears in a bright whiteness and is endued with a perfect Tingeing Arcanum Then t is at length fit for projection viz. One part thereof upon sixteen parts of an imperfect body according to the acuity or sharpness of the preparation From thence then appears shining Lune or Silver and as excellent as what comes out of the bowels of the earth CHAP.
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
heat of the Sun in the midst of Summer then at length on the tenth day let it be a little augmented For by too much heat the glasses break and sometimes also the furnace leaps a pieces Whiles the Vapour ascends various colours appear Let the fire be moderated and governed so long untill the matter be seen red Afterwards let it be dissolved in most sharp Vinegar and cast away the feces Let the Vinegar be abstracted and let it be again dissolved in common distilled water which must be again abstracted and the sediment be distilled with a most vehement fire in a glass most accurately shut then the whole body of the Antimony will ascend into a most red Oil resembling the colour of a Ruby and will flow down drop by drop into the receiver of a most fragrant Odour and most sweet Savour This is the highest Arcanum of the Philosophers in Antimony the which most of them make or place amongst the Arcana's of Oils Then lastly let the Oil of Sol be made after this manner Take of the purest Sol as much as you will the which you must dissolve in rectified spirit of Wine Let the spirit be sometimes abstracted therefrom and be again so often dissolved Let the last Solution be kept with the spirit of wine and circulated for a moneth Afterwards let the the Volatile gold be distilled and the spirit of Wine by an Alembick three or four times that it may fall down into the Receiver and be brought into its highest essence To half an ounce of that dissolved gold let one Ounce of the oil of Antimony be added This Oil doth presently embrace the other in the heat of a B. So that it doth not easily let it go from it self although the spirit of Wine be abstracted By this way shalt thou have the highest mystery of Nature and an Arcanum which cant be equalled by any thing in the nature of things These two Oils thus united after the manner thus spoken of are to be shut up in a Phial and hanged up in a Tripode for a Philosophical moneth and to be cherished with a most gentle fire Although if the fire be tempered after a due proportion this work will be finished in one and thirty dayes and brought unto perfection whereby Mercury and all other Imperfect mettals do acquire the perfection of Gold CHAP. XV. Of the Projection to be made by the Ministry and Arcanum of Antitimony THere can be no weight assigned in this work of projection although the Tincture it self may be drawn from some subject by or in a certain and sure proportion and fit instruments for that medicine doth tinge sometimes thirty or fourty sometimes sixty eighty and an hundred parts of imperfect mettal so that the chiefest knack or art in this business is about the mundation or cleaning of the medicine and in the industry of the operator also according to the greater or lesser cleaness and purity of the Imperfect body used hereabouts For example One Venus is purer then another ♀ from whence it comes to pass that a determinate weight in projection cannot be had This only is worth the noting that if it chanceth that the Operator hath taken too much tincture he may correct this error by the addition of more imperfect mettal But if there be too much of the subject whereby the virtues of the Tincture are rendred too weak this fault may be remedied easily by the Cineritium or Test or by Cementations or by ablutions with Crude Antimony as to this part of work there 's nothing that may hinder the Operator only he 's to set that before himself which is omitted by all the Philosophers and of purpose concealed by some viz. in projections the revivification of imperfect bodies is necessary that is the Animation or as I may so call it the spiritualization of them concerning which some have said that their mettals ate not the vulgar because they live and have a soul. The Animation is thus done TAke Venus reduce it into thin Plates as much as you will ten twenty or forty pound let them be incrustrated or smeared over with a pulse made only of Arsenick and calcined Tartar and let them be calcined in their Vessel for the space of four and twenty hours then at length let the Venus be beaten into powder be washed and cleansed exceeding well Let the Calcination be repeated together with the ablutions three or four times By this way it becomes purged and cleansed from its gross viridity and its unclean Sulphur Verily yon must beware of the Calcinations that are made with common Sulphur for it doth wholly deprave all the good is in a mettal and renders that which is evil worse Now to ten Marks of that putged Venus let be added one of pure Lune But that by the projection of the medicine the work may be the sooner accelerated and hastned and that it may the more easily penetrate the imperfect body and expell all such parts as are contrary to the natute of Lune that very thing may be easily done by the medium of a perfect ferment For the work is defiled by an unclean Sulphur so that there will be as t were a cloud stretched over the superficies of that which is transmuted or the mettal will be mixed with some of the Offals or Scoria's of the Sulphur and be cast away with them But verily if you would project of the red stone for the red transmutation it must first fall or be projected upon Gold and afterward upon Lune or upon any other purged mettal as we have declared above then from thence doth come most perfect Gold CHAP. XVI Of the Vniversal matter of the stone of the Philosophers AFter the mortification of Vegetables they by the concurrence of two Minerals as Sulphur and Salt are transmuted into a Mineral nature so that at length they become perfect minerals for in the Mineral holes and dens and wide fields of the earth are found Vegetables which in long success of time and by the continued heat of Sulphur do pu◠off the Vegetable nature and put on a Mineral And that doth chiefly happen where the appropriate nutriment is taken away from these Vegetables whereby they are afterwards constrained to take their nourishment from the Sulphurs and Salts of the earth so long untill that which was afore a Vegetable do pass into a perfect Mineral And thus out of this Mineral condition a certain perfect Mettallick essence doth sometimes arise and that by the progress of one degree into another But to return to the stone of the Philosophers the matter whereof as some have mentioned is a most difficult matter of all others to be found out and abstruse for the understanding Now the way and the most certain rule of the finding out of this as well as of all other things what they contain or are able to do is a most diligent examination of their Root and Sperm whereby knowledge is attained
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
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
appears much fairer then Gold or Silver or the brightness of the Carbuncle or Diamond and is admirable to behold the which blessed water doth hold or cover over that said matter conjoyned with and also inclosed therein It viz. the water extracts the heart soul and spirit then moreover it is to be distilled with its own proper Salt the which Salt is implanted therein by the aforesaid means and also in a peculiar way and is as to its internal colour red or blood-like but at its preparation white clear bright and transparent or resplendent and is therefore called by the Philosophers the Salt of wisdom and be congealed that it may be again reduced into one only thing And thus by this thy process thus far exercised and used which is called the former Work thou hast now first of all separated the pure from the impure or thick and gross and from the rough or austere part the which is not any more so rough or austere so grievous so discourteous as 't were and inhumane as it was at the beginning but is most brightsom and of a most savoury odour and of an aereal kind or nature in so much that were it but freed from its Eni its evident and apparent that it would of it self seeing thar notwithstanding it is in it self just or right and perfect betake it self to the wing and flie and vanish away For which reason the Wise men do also call it a Mercurial water or the ☿ of ☉ and also their own ☿ Now if you would use that subject in the aforementioned Species or Form for Medicine without any further preparation of the same thou wilt reap but little help therefrom but it would much rather contrariwise become a poyson unto thee And therefore if thou wouldst enjoy that as a most plenteous rich gift and blessed profitableness and utility then must thou make a further progress and by other singular mediums attempt something else But yet notwithstanding t is necessary that thou beest admonished to be very studious and diligent as to thy operation in heedfully observing the way of nature viz. how she in success or length of time shews her self in her operation that by this means thou mayst direct all this thy labour according to her way So then if thou knowest that thing then take of the aforesaid prepared aqueous or watery matter twelve parts and then again afterwards Make three diverse or distinct parts of them the two former parts of which thou must preserve and keep very heedfully Then again add in the first place to the former third part a certain other material matter the which is the body of Gold being also a most elegant highly gifted Creature by the pleasure of God the which said body is neerest of kin to the first matter and also is most gratefull and acceptable thereunto this I say shalt thou place and appoint for the first Fermentation computing one part to a twelfth and shalt conjoyn it therewith for both the parts being as 't were the forme of the Spiritual prepared watery matter they I say and this earthly body of Sol must be conjoyned and reduced into one bodie But yet you are to note that common Gold serves not for this affair or business but is to be adjudged as unfitting and as it were dead and although it be so dignified by the Omnipotent God as that it is the most elegant and most precious of all the other Mettals yet nevertheless whilest it lay in the Mines it was even there impeaded or hindred in its growing on in or to its perfection Besides its inward vertues that is its Sulphur and Soul are much weakened by the daily using thereof and then 't is daily also mixed with unlawfull and unlike things such as have not a suitability or harmony therewith is united with and defiled by them and is thereby daily rendred more and more unfit for this Work Therefore make it thy chiefest study and care to provide thee of pure Gold such as hath in it self a living Spirit and such as is not debilicated in its Sulphur as we said afore nor falsifyed with any deceit but is found to be wholly pure such as hath passed through ☿ or through the heaven sphear of ♄ hath thereby purified it self from all its defilements for otherwise the other matter cannot with its spirituality vertue and efficacy enter thereinto For this Work doth in all things require a pure body nor can it ever endure or brook ought of impurity with at or about it self If therefore now these unequal or unlike parts viz. of the water and of the Gold for they are of very great unlikeness both as to Quantity as well as Quality for the first of them when 't is prepared is light thin subtle and soft but the other is very heavy firm and hard when these therefore are conjoyned in the Solutory Vessel or Dish and are reduced as it were into a dry Liquor or Amalgama then leave them at first for six or seven days in a luke warm heat that it may only have a kinde of small warmth Then again take out one Part of the three former aforesaid parts of the water and put it in a round Glass Vessel like to a Phial or Egg as was never used put the temperate liquor into the midst thereof and then again leave it so for six or seven days and the body of ☉ is dissolved by the water by little and little This being done here begins the Conjunction of these two and there is such a sweet and dainty entrance of the one into th' other and such a mixtion as is like to Ice in warm water And therefore the Philosophers have diversly described it and have compared it to a Bridegroom and his Bride as Solomon in his Canticles hath done NOW when this is done then add likewise the first reserved third part unto the others but yet do not put it in all at one time or in one day but at seven divers turns for else the body that you have put in will be rendred over moist and being at length drowned would be wholly corrupted or destroyed For even as no seed when 't is at first cast into the earth can if it hath over much water rain or moisture thrive and bring forth fruits but as for instance the Husband mans Corn is drowned and choaked even so may the Comparison hold with this same thing But now having in like sort done this then Seal up your Glass or little Glass Vessel most diligently or else Conglutinate or Lute it up lest haply the Composition you put therein be rob'd of its odour and lest it flie away Then moreover put on your Alembick or over and sub-minister or put thereunder a Fire of one or the first degree let it be gentle continual aereal and vaporous the heat whereof is to be compared with or to imitate the heat of an Hen sitting upon her Eggs. Note THE Philosophers have
delivered various Writings concerning the vaporous Fire the which they call the Fire of Wisdom and withall amongst other sayings do affirm that it is not an Elemental and Material Fire but an Essential or preternatural Fire the which is also properly called a Divine Fire that is the water of ☿ which is to be incited and stirred up with the common-Common-fires help and by Art at the beginning you must gently digest and concoct it and must be most especially careful and diligent that nothing thereof sublime up or to use the Parabolical Philosophick expressions that the Wife doth not rule over the Man nor the man abuse his Authority over his Rib or Wife c. and then it doth of its own self perfect its process in a continual order without any other labour thereto belonging save only the care and administration of the fire viz. that first of all the terrene body of the ☉ here added is to be wholly dissolved ground destroyed and putrified and so consequently be spoiled or devested of all the vertues and power that it hath for verily at first it brings forth a darkish colour and then afterwards a perfectly black dark colour and is therefore by the Philosophers called the head of the Crow and is usually done in fourty days time and so furthermore in them the soul thereof is likewise put off or loosned from it and is carryed up aloft and is wholly and altogether separated where for some space of time it sticks without any vertues and the body is just like to dead ashes in the bottom of the glass But the true time and space being over if your Fire be encreased one degree more and it be digested without wearisomness or ceasing it doth then again let down it self by little and little and drop by drop and imbibes moistens gives to drink and doth so conserve the body that it be not at all combust nor pine or wither away Then again it lifts up it self upwards and aloft then again presently it lets it self down and thus it will do perhaps the seventh time and then again the fire is to be made one degree stronger but yet not for this intent to have thee make haste with thy Work for verily the mediocrity and Regiment of the Fire is to be most carefully and diligently administred for in it is placed very exceeding much But now in the interim there will appear various signs and colours in the Glass or Vessel the which colours are to be especially observed and well noted for according to them is your direction to be taken and framed So then having seen an orderly succession of them 't is a good testimony that a most happy event will follow First of all there shew themselves granes like the eyes of Fishes then appears a Circle about that matter the which is as it were red then shortly after whitish then moreover it becomes green and yellow like the Peacocks tail then afterwards most white and then red and shining then after a certain time when a greater Fire is administred and the extream or last heat given thereto the Soul and the Spirit is again perfectly united with its own body lying in the bottom into a certain dissoluble and indissoluble Essence the which Union and Conjunction then because of the unspeakable admiration thereof cannot be seen and considered of without fear and trembling and then is seen and beheld the new raised up body living perfect and glorified the which hath in it self a most elegant redness of a purple colour and like a Crimson or Scarlet dye the tincture of which doth also transmute tinge and heal all the imperfect bodies of which we shall speak more hereafter The Work therefore being happily brought to an end by the help and assistance of the most great and blessed God and the Phoenix of the Wise men being beheld then upon thy bended knees and with a devout heart give thanks to the Omnipotent GOD who hath been the chief Guider of all this whole Work for those his especial benefits that he hath vouchsafed thee so graciously And then further see that thou managest it well to his praise and glory and for the benefit of the needy Members and do not abuse it See therefore thou hast in these words the true information of the whole Process whereby this noble Art high Work and Philosophers Stone like as the Philosophical Egg may be opened prepared and finished For a Conclusion for t is no ways expedient slightly to slip this over observe that if haply any mischance or errour or any misapprehension which may easily happen and so vehemently impede the perfection should be committed or intervene then must a seasonable remedy be sought after and the evil or errour must be remedied If therefore you perceive in the first place that before dissolution and liquefaction any thing sublimes it self up and ascends or if there swim at top of the matter a red oil as 't were which is a very evil testimony And Secondly If it begins to become red either together with or before the white or if after the whiteness it be red afore its time Or Thirdly If it will not in the end give it self forth as 't were or not suffer it self to be rightly Coagulated Or Fourthly if the matter be so changed and inverted by the greatness of the heat that it will not when 't is taken out presently melt upon a red hot Iron like to Wax and tinge and paint or colour the Iron and if afterwards it be found not abiding the firie tryal All these things I say are remarkable signs by the which it may be gathered That this work is not rightly ordained and instituted but that it hath been neglected through want of diligence and care All which defects notwithstanding and all these erroneous waies if not too too strong and powerful and if in time lookt unto may be easily met withal and may be well corrected and restored But the highest diligence of dealing here with them is requisite and consequently artificial manual apprehensions or operations and ordinary or orderly mediums which are necessarily to be known to a skilfull and experienced Artist But yet notwithstanding for the sake of the Tyroes or young beginners that are Lovers of this Art and disciples thereof for their sake I say I will orderly recite those mediums very briefly as for example if it chance to happen that one or more of those aforesaid errours should come to pass then must you again take out of the glass the whole composition that you did put in and again dissolve it and imbibe it with the aforesaid water of ☿ which the Philosophers also call Lac Virginis or the first matter also the milk the blood and the sweat thereof also an indestructible fountain or Aqua vitae the which notwithstanding contains in it self the greatest venom and moisten it and so render it efficacious and then again digest and boyl it so long until
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
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