shall be to shew which are false books and which are true ones to the end that every student in this excellent Art may trouble himself with fewer books till he hath made a Concordance and hath gathered the same out of the aenigmatical discourses and hieroglifical figures wherein this Art is hidden and never to be found in plain terms nor written plainly in any receipt Well for the first Caveat that no man needs to be damnified above 20. s. to know whether he be in a right way or not let him be pleased to consider that without putrefactio unius there can be no generatio alterius as in all other sublunary bodies as well Animals as Vegetables right so in Minerals and Mettals Therefore he that cannot take one ounce of the filings of copper or any other base Mettal and by an ingenious addition of a Mineral moisture of the same kind putrefie the same in a few moneths and make it totally volatil except a few faeces of no considerable weight then he is out of the way and is not to meddle with gold or silver or any thing of great price for he shall never obtain his desire though he spend his whole life time and estate Also he that hath not gathered a Concordance by reading of books which cannot be controlled by humane wit is not fit to begin to practice this noble Art and not in one part thereof but in six several parts which are these that follow First it is clear that he must have a Mineral spirit before he can dissolve a Mineral body or else he will work out of kind and if he think that Quicksilver which is sold at the Apothecaries shops is this Mineral spirit then he is deceived and will find it to be so but the truth is that if nature had not created quick-silver this Art could never have been found not that it can be made the Philosopical dissolvent by any preparation whatsoever but without it the first dissolvent for there are three cannot be gotten for it onely hath power to separate this Mineral spirit from a crude Mineral taken from the mine which the fire hath never touched and no other thing under heaven can do it else no more than any creature besides a Bee can extract hony out of a flower Secondly that he must know the secret of dissolution which is not by the common way used by Alchymists but by the way meant by Bernardus Comes Trovisanus where he saith hujus dissolutionis via paucissimis est nota and I know not one Alchymist this day nor ever did to whom if I should have given him the true dissolvent in one hand which is a ponderous bright water and the dissolvend in the other hand which is a powder or filings of mettal ye he knew not how to dissolve it Thirdly he must know what is meant by the hollow Oak a comparison not very unfit for the furnace wherein this secret of dissolution is to be accomplished Fourthly he must know the reason and manner of refixing his bodies when he hath made them volatil by this secret way of dissolution Fifthly he must know the secret of projection which hath beguiled many when by their great charges study and labour they have made the Philosophers Stone so that they could make no use it For when it is mingled with the imperfect mettals yea though prepared philosophically not vulgarly yet there is another thing to be done before the mettal transmuted goeth to the test or else all is lost and if any one will not believe me let him read the books of Raymundus Lullius and he shall finde in three several places in several books that after projection the matter must be put in cineritio in vasi longo but he saith also non intelligas quod ponas plumbum in cineritio for there is somthing to be separated by the Art of the Philosopher before the lead come to do its duty or else all will be gone according to the saying totum vertitur in fumum quicquid ineptus agit Sixthly he must know the fire and the regiment thereof and also the nature which is to be gentle continual compassing round about the matter and not burning it And now that I have shewed what an Artist must know or else all his labour and charge is lost I wish every man to consider what a hazard he undergoeth if he meddle without the knowledge of these six secrets for so much as he may very well faile though he have them I mean though he have the Theorick yet he may fail in the Practick Therefore if any smoak seller or wandring Alchymist shall come to any ingenious Gentleman that studieth this Art though he bring with him a recipe that promiseth golden mountains and maketh affidivit I mean that searcheth never so deeply that he hath done it or seen it done which is a common trick amongst wandring Alchymists believe him not unless he can satisfie you concerning all the six former mentioned secrets for if you do believe him having not that knowledge I will give my word for him that he shall cozen you For there is but unica via unica operatio to accomplish any work in Alchymie which is as hard to be found as the way to heaven in this world where there are an hundred Religions or rather an hundred Sects of Religion wherein the true Religion is smothered and bemisted even as the way to make the Philosophers Stone is by the idle conceits of men that are ruled by opinion more than by knowledge As for example on Petrus Bonus ferrariensis a great learned man and a Doctor of the chair of an University wrote a book called Margarita Pretiosa and penned it most admirably concerning the Philosophers stone and the way to make it and when he had done confessed that he never had made it yet he guessed indifferent well but all his directions are not worth a button I would give an impression of his books away freely that I had his School-learning but as for his knowledge I would not give two pence whereby it may be seen how easily wise men may be deceived and therefore let fools look about them before they attempt this noble science Also one Gaston Dulco Clâ—vens a great Champion that quarrelled with all opposers of this sacred Art and wrote a book which is greatly esteemed by Alchymists and seemeth very rational to all those which have not the practick wherein he defendeth the truth of this Art by 32 Arguments and many experiments which are all false upon my certain knowledge and if my purse could speak it should swear it And many others have written upon this subject which knew nothing but what they had collected out of books to what end I know not unless it were to draw other learned men unto them thinking to gain some knowledge by their conference Also another whose name I have forgotten for it is a great while since I read any
books wrote a book intituled De interitu Alchymie which is as foolish as any of the other unless that when all his hopes were at an end he thought that some man would have come unto him and confuted him by shewing him the experience of it Well thus much for false books now as for true ones I could name many that could not be written but by those that had made certain trial of the work but for brevity sake and to keep this book within the price promised viz. two pence I will name onely four viz. The Compound of Alchymie written by Georgius Ripleus Anglus The Hierogliphical Figures of Nicholaus Tilamellus whose body lieth buried in Paris The works of Raymundus Lullius The two books of Bernardus Comes Tievisanus These four men shewed by their actions that they had the Art of the transmutation of Mettals For Georgius Ripleus Anglus maintained an Army of souldiers at Rhodes against the Turks at his own charge Nicholaus Tilamellus builded up seven Churches and seven Hospitals at Paris and endowed them with good revenues which may be easily proved Raymundus Lullius made gold in the Tower of London to furnish an Army to go against the Turks Bernardus Comes Trevisanus recovered his Earldome again which he had formerly spent in the seeking of this Art And now me thinks I hear every one demanding how shall we do to find out this grat secret But Geber an Arabian Prince and a famous Philosopher shall answer in his own words viz. non per lectionem librorum sed per immensam cognitionem per profundam imaginationem per assiduam praxim and when all this is done he concludeth that est donum Dei Altissimi qui cui vult largitur subtrahit Well now me thinks I hear the cousening Alchymists saying what shall we do now we have no other living To which I answer that I would gladly rid the world of cheaters if I could but if they must needs couzen then let them trade with those that have so little love to art that they cannot afford to read this book to defend themselves and that will improve the wits of the world very much so that it may possibly do more good than hurt for the truth is that the world is unhappy only for want of wit which I have demonstrated in a little book lately printed which sheweth how any Kingdome may live in great plenty prosperity health peace and happiness and the King and Governours may live in great honour and riches and not have half so much trouble as is usual in these times and if any one shall be cheated and lay the fault upon me for discovering of cheats in this book I cannot help it for he that is willing to do good must needs do some hurt unless men were Angels But in this case I see not but my action is justifiable for first I have given every one an antidote against cheating and if they will not take it let them be cheated and then I will shew them a way to recover their losses by an experiment tryed upon my self for till I was soundly cheated of divers hundred pounds I thought my self to be a very knowing man but then I found that I was a fool and so disdained not to learn wit at any bodies hands that could teach me whereby I attained a considerable quantity of knowledge which I will not give or change for any mans estate whatsoever but though I sped so well by being cheated yet I wish all others to take heed for fear least that their fortunes prove not so good as mine The second Chapter WHereas I have professed my self to be an Anticheator it behoveth me to discover the several ways whereby the world is so universally cheated by the cosening Alchymists and therefore though I could discover fourscore cheats yet at this time I will onely discover fourgrand ones and so conclude The first shall be to discover the knavery of Kelly the grand Impostor of the world whom the Emperour of Germany kept prisoner in a Castle and maintained him honourably thinking either by fair means or by foule to get the Philosophers Stone out of him who God knows had it not but made divers cosening projections before great men which by the report thereof have caused many to spend all that ever they had and it cannot be well estimated how many hundred thousand pounds have been spent in Europe about it since that time more than before And thus one of his projections was made before three great men sent over by Q Elizabeth to see the truth of the business He gave order to them to buy a warming panne which they did accordingly and brought it to him he took a pair of compasses and marked out a round plate in the middle of the cover thereof and with a round chisel he took out the piece then he put it in the fire and when it was red hot he put a little pouder upon it which flowed all over it and made it to look like to gold which is an easie matter to be done but when he came to fit it to the hole he had a piece of good gold taken out of a plate of gold by the compasses not altered and this by a trick of Legerdemain or slight of hand a thing common for I have known a Porter that could have done it he conveyed into the place and delivered the warming panne â—nto the hands of the spectators who brought it into England and the noise thereof made almost all mens ears to tingle and their fingers to itch till they were at the business and raised the price of Alchymie books fearfully Now if he had meant plain dealing he would have given them some of his pouder home to their lodging that they might have done the like again themselves at home but he neither offered it neither did they desire it at which I marvel for if he had denyed that as it is like that he would then the knavery had been presently discovered so that this false news had not been brought into England whereby many men have received great loss Some have reported that he clipped out a sheard with a pair of Goldsmiths sheers and then he took a little more time and cast one of gold like to it which is easily done whethersoever he did the whole scope of the business argueth cheating and his meaning was nothing else but by either of these wayes to make the spectators to be less suspitious like to a jugler that foldeth up his sleeves for the like purpurpose But admit that he had the true Philosophers Stone and that the body of a Mettal might be altered by it and turned into true gold without reduction of it to the first matter which is altogether unpossible yet he was a detestable villain to publish it in such manner to the great dammage of so many men as were thereby irritated to undoe themselves and not to give them some Advertisements
into the quicksilver and the grain of red pouder and set it into the fire and by degrees melt it down the Goldsmith did so when it was melted he bid him set it by to cool and then break it then he lay down in his bed and after a little while he asked the Goldsmith what he found in the bottom to which the Goldsmith answered that he found a little lump of gold as good as ever he saw so he prayed him to help him to money for it for his money was almost all spent that I will said the Goldsmith presently and went home and weighed it and brought him nineteen shillings in silver and was desirous to know how that red pouder was made he said it was an extract out of gold which he carried with him in his long travels for ease of carriage and that there was no other grain in it or else he would tell it him So the Goldsmith asked him how much he would have again of his half crown and he should have all if he please for he was well enough paid for his work in seeing that rare piece of Art no said the Alchymist take it all and I thank you too so the Goldsmith took his leave with great respect then he laid down in his bed a little while and by and by he knocked for his Hostess who came immediately and he prayed her to call for a porter whilst that he wrote a note she did so when the porter came he sent him to his fellow cheater who lay in the other end of the Town who presently brought him a letter formally framed betwixt them upon the reading whereof he called for his Hostess again and desired her to fetch the Goldsmith again she did so when she brought him he was rising and gruntled and groaned and told the goldsmith that though he was not well yet necessity forced him to go about earnest business and shewed him the Letter and prayed him to read it whilst he put on his cloaths and when the Goldsmith had read it he said you see what a strait I am in for twenty pounds can you furnish me and to morrow or next day you shall work for me and pay your self and I will leave you my box in pawn which now you know how to make five hundred pounds of it as well as I the Goldsmith answered it shall be done and went down and told the Hostess all things and also told her that the Gentleman was in great distress for twenty pounds and that he had promised to furnish him instantly but he had but ten pounds by him if she pleased to furnish him with the other ten pounds she should be sure enough to have it with great advantage for so short a time for saith he we shall have his box in pawn and will make bold with twice as much of his pouder as our money comes to and besides that he will pay us royally I warrant you and all the while I can do the work so well that I should be glad never to hear of him more so she agreed and they brought him up twenty pounds presently whereupon he delivered them the box and made a motion to have it sealed up but at length he said that because they had furnished him in his necessity and because he esteemed them to be honest people in regard of his Host he would not stay to seal it and so took his leave and prayed the Goldsmith to be ready within a day or two to help him to work but from that day to this they never saw him so when he came not again vvithin a vvek or a fortnight they concluded that some misfortone had happened to him or that he had taken cold by going abroad so hastily being not well and so was dead for else he would have sent about it before that time if he were but sick so they resolved to make use of it and fell to work with great alacrity but when they could make no gold their hearts were cold and they found themselves to be miserably cheated The fourth Cheat. This Cheat is described in old Chawcer in his Canterbury Tale but because everyone hath not that book I will relate it briefly and those that would see it more largely described shall be referred to the said book And thus it was done The Cheater took a charcoal about two inches long and one inch thick and did cleave it through the middle and made a little concavity in the middle thereof and put in a little ingot of gold weighing an ounce into the middle of it and glewed it up again so that it seemed to be nothing but a very coal then before the cheated he put in one ounce of quicksilver into a crucibâ—e and a little red powder with it and bid the cheated to set it into the fire and when it began to smoak oh saith he I must stir it a little to mingle the pouder with the Mercury or else we shall have great loss so he took up a coal from the heap with the tongs like to his coal which he had prepared and let it fall out of the tongs by the side of the heap and dropped down his own coal by it and took it up in room of the other and stirred the quicksilver and the pouder together with it and left the coal in the pot and then bid the cheated to cover the pot with charcoals and to make a good fire and after a little space to blow it strongly with a pair of good hand bellows til it was melted for he assured him that the quicksilver would be fixed and turned into gold by the vertue of that small quantity of pouder which the cheated found by expeperience as he verily thought and so was earnest with the cheater to teach him his Art but what bargain they made I have forgotten for it is twenty years since I read Chawcers book Now whereas I have received the reports of some of these Cheaters in divers manners yet I am sure that they being wrought according to my prescription will cheat almost any man that hath not read this book or Chawcers unless a man should happen upon one that knoweth the great work which is hardly to be found in ten Kingdoms for he knoweth that none of these things can be done unless they be meer albifications or citrinations but are nought else but sophistications and delusions and will abide no triall unless it be the eyes of an ignorant man that hath no skill in mettals Well now I will adde some more Caveats to fill up my book and so make a short conclusion And first To sum up all Let men beware of all books and receipts that teach the multiplication of gold or silver with common quicksilver by way of animation or minera for they cannot be joyned inseparably by any medium or means whatsoever 2. Let all men beware of any books or receipts which teach any dissolutions into clear water like
unto gold or silver dissolved in aqua fortis or aqua regis or spirit of salt made by any way whatsoever or any dissolution whatsoever which is not done cum congelatione spiritus according to the manner used in the great work 3. Let all men take heed of books that teach any operations in vegetable or animals be they never so gloriously penned for it is as possible for a bird to live in the water or for a fish to live in the air as for any thing that is not radically mettallical to live in the lead upon the test And lastly let all men beware of his own conceit of wisdom for that hath undone many a man in this Art Therefore let every one take notice that though it be a thousand to one odds that any seeker shal not obtain his desire that is because many men being unfit and not quallified sufficiently to take in hand this great business let these remember what Solomon the wisest of men saith into a wicked heart wisdom shall not enter and he saith not great wisdom nor much wisdom but ordinary wisdom then how can any wicked or foolish man hope to find out this great secret which being the most sublime knowledge that God hath given to men requireth the greatest wisdome to accomplish it that God hath bestowed upon men Therefore if any man attempteth this Art which hath not attained to such a perfection in the knowledge of nature especially in minerals that by his own speculation and practice without the help of books he can write a rational discourse of either animals vegetables or minerals in such a solid way that no man can coÌ„tradict it without shame upon fair tryal the questions being rightly stated then his labour and charge is the cause why so many men fall and undo themselves in this Art for if the searcher be quallified sufficiently then it is ten to one odds that he speedeth But to draw to an end What should I say more Oh if any man either in England or beyond the Seas shall trouble himself to write to me he shall be sure to have an answer if he come to me he shall be sure to lose his labour if he think to win me by rewards though never so great he shall be sure to get nothing but a Jeer for I did not write this book with an intent to teach the Art absolutely but onely to preserve men from undoing themselves foolishly which if it be well considered of will be found to be large charity for but that I know where I am to wit in a free State where the subjects know so well their own Liberties and Priviledges that they will never suffer any Tyrannical Government to prevail in this Nation I should have been sure to have lost my liberty by this single action But now I have been a Petitioner to the High and Honourable Court of Parliament that I may demonstrate my ability to do the the Common-wealth of England service which service consisteth in three things principally to wit to shew how the husbandry of this Land may be so improved that it may maintain double the number of people which now it doth and in much more plenty also to shew how the Art of Physick may be improved and lastly to shew the Art of the transmutation of Mettals if I may have a Laboratory like to that in the City of Venice where they are sure of secrecy by reason that no man is suffered to enter in unless he can be contented to remain there being surely provided for till he be brought forth to go to the Church to be buried Geber an Arabian Prince and a famous Philosopher being overjoyed when he had found out the Philosophers Stone breathed out these words in the end of his book Benedictus sit Deus sublimis gloriosus omnipotens benedictum sit ejus nomen in secula seculorum But I having not onely found out the Philosophers stone but also a sure and infallible way to make England and so the world happy by it which is ten thousand times better than it will exalt the praises of God in the superlative degree and conclude thus benedictissimus sit Deus sublimissimus gloriosissimus omnipotentissimus benedictissimâ—m sit ejus Nomen in secula seculorum A CONFERENCE Concerning this QVESTION Whether or no each several Disease hath a particular and specifical remedy THe first man said that men following the order of nature alwayes seek the neerest way which hath caused them to make Maxims of all things whereas in truth there is no Maxim of any thing for by the most certain of all Rules there is no Rule so General but it hath some exception nay there are so many exceptions that we have often cause to doubt on which hand the Rule is And yet nevertheless men make Axiomes in all Sciences but chiefly in Physick which taking upon it the Government as it were of nâ—ture wraps up in general Laws all diseases with their Causes Symptoms and Remedies although as in the Law so likewise in Physick there never happen two cases alike And when these Rules come to be applyed to practice every one confesseth that he doth not find that power of those Laws which he had imagined to himself But this is chiefly to be understood of particular and specifical diseases such as the Pleurisie the Cataract and the Gout For general diseases and such as meer distempers may be cured by as general remedies that is by such things as have contrary qualities The second said That specifical is that which is determined to one and hath above it Generical and below it Individual Now the question is Whether there be any remedies so determined to one species or sort of disease that they are fit for none else I do think that seeing there are diseases of the whole form or frame of Man as are pestilent venomous and malignant diseases so there are likewise as general remedies And experience shewes as in divers admirable cures that there are remedies the effects of which do not depend upon their first qualities As in Rheubarbe to be purgative in Mugwort to be good against fits of the mother and in Bezoar to be Cordiall comes not from being cold or hot in such a degree for then every thing of the same temper with them would be purgative good against fits of the Mother or Cordial which is not so But there is no reason why the same Remedy may not be fit for one particular disease by its occult qualities and yet good for others by its manifest qualities as food also is medicinal The third said That this question depends upon another namely Whether mixt bodies work onely by their tempers and first qualities or by their substantial forms and specifical vertues For if the working of every thing do not depend upon its whole form and substance then Medicines cannot cure by their qualities of heat and cold but by a particular
cannot be done without projection of the Elixar or Quintessence upon Metals Hence proceedeth the study of all the Philosophers to make their miraculous stone which I confess is very pleasant and full of expectation when a man seeth the true and perfect transmutation of Metals Lead and Iron into Copper the Ore of Lead into Quick-silver or Mercury with a small charge to a very great profit as it hath been made for me untill the maker of it died within three months after he had made almost four thousand pound weight as good as any natural Mercury could be and that in six weeks time To return to our Philosophers concerning the essence of metals they have been transcended in the knowledge thereof for they shew the generation of Sulphur and Mercury in this manner The exhalations of the earth being cold and dry and the vapours of the seas being cold and moist according to their natures ascending and meeting in a due proportion and equality and falling upon some hilly or mountainous countrey where the influence of Sun and Moon have continual operation are the cause of generation or properly from it is Sulphur ingendered penetrating into the earth where there are veines of water and there they congeal into Gold or Silver or into the Ores of Silver Copper and all other metals participating or holding alwayes some little mixture of the best or being in nature better or worse according to the said accidental causes So that they do attribute the generation to the operation of the influences of the Sun and Moon where the Book of God sheweth us the creation of all things in heaven and earth and the furniture thereof The earth being the dry part of the globe of the world did appear and was made the third day containing in it the Ores of all Metals and Minerals whereas the Sun and Moon were created afterward on the fourth day whose operation was incident to the things created but not before In like manner say they are Diamonds Rubies and other pretious stones ingendred according to the purity of the matter and the proportionable participation of every element therein if the exhalations being subtill do superabound and prevail over the vapours then hereof is Sulphur ingendered and if this subtil exhalation be mixed with the moist vapours and wanteth decoction as being in a very cold place it becomes Mercury or Quick-silver which can endure no heat or fire at all The first Metal mentioned in the holy Scripture is Gold which was found in the river Pison running through the Garden of Eden into the Countrey of Havilah where Gold doth grow and this was in the East According to which observation all the veins of Mines run from East towards West with the course of the Sun as shall be more declared To this argument appertaineth the Philosophical study of Prima Materia to be found out by experience for the great work of La pis Philosophorum by the operation of the Sun in seven yeares The practise whereof was made about forty yeares since by a German Doctor of Physick at Dansick in the East Countries as I have been informed by a friend of mine who was also a Physitian and was done in this manner according to the bigness of the body of the Sun being 166 times bigger than the whole Globe of the earth and water making the circumference of the world Whereupon he took 166 vials or glasses wherein he did put of all the Ores of Metals and Minerals and other things which had any affinity with Minerals and some of them mixed and calcined all of them and closing or nipping up all the glasses by fire he did expose them to the Sun in an eminent place for and during the said time of seven yeares and found thereby as it was reported Prima Materia which was reduced to seven glasses howsoever it was certain that he grew very rich bought above an hundred houses in the that City befor he died Which was an occasion that my friend imitating him did likewise place not far from London seven glasses with calcined Metals and Minerals upon a house top against the back of a chimney where the repercussion of the Sun did work upon them which was admirable to behold from six moneth to six moneths not onely by the sublimation of colours very variable and Celestial but also of the rare alteration of the stuffe being sometimes liquid another time dry or part of it moist ascending and descending very strange to behold as my self have seen divers times from year to year Some had been there two three four five and one almost seven yeares the colour whereof had been yellow then white in the superficies then as black as pitch afterwards dark red with stars of gold in the upper part of the glass and at last of the colour of Oranges or Lemons and the substance almost dry Many were the questions between him and me but he was confident that there was the Eliâ—â—r howbeit very doubtful that he should never enjoy the same and it came so to passe for after a long sickness he died of a burning Ague and a Gentleman gave a sum of mony to his wife for that glasse whereof I have not heard any thing these seven yeares In this glass he would shew me the working of this Quintessence according to the description of Ripley who he was assured had the Lapis and so had Frier Bacon and Norton of Bristol Kelley had by his saying some little part to make projection but it was not of his own making The charge to make it was little or nothing to speak of and might be done in seven moneths if a man did begin it on the right day The twelve operations of Ripley he declared unto me were but six and then it resteth for saith he all Philosophers have darkened the study of this blessed Work which God hath revealed to a few humble and charitable men Calcination Dissolution and Separation are but one and so is Conjuction and Putrifaction likewise Cibation and Fermentation then followeth Congelation and at last Multiplication and Projection which are also but one For mine own part seeing that no man can be perfect in any one Science I hold it not amiss for a man to have knowledge in most or in all things for by this study of Alcumy men may attain to many good Experiments of distillations Chymical Fire-works and other excellent observations in Nature which being far from Merchants profession I hope shall not give offence to the Reader of this book seeing it is but in one chapter accidentally handled Neither will I crave pardon of the Muses as it were insinuating to the world to have a far greater knowledge in these trials or conclusions But to satisfie the curiosity of some that it maybe with a gaping mouth expect to understand somewhat of the Stuffe put into these glasses I may say as I was informed That in some was the calcined Ore of Silver and
Gold in some other Mercury calcined and Sulphur in some other Arsenick for the air Sulphur for the fire Mercury for the water and Sea-cole for the earth were put all together as the four elements In some other Glass was Vitriol and Orpiment and what more I do not now remember concluding That where Nature giveth ability Art giveth facility I have read all the books of Paracelsus that I could find hitherto and in his Book De Transmutatione Rerum I do find to this purpose the Observations following concurring with my friends opinion concerning Ripleys 12 Divisions comprised into six and the seventh is the matter it self and the labour or working resteth wherewith I doe end this chapter and proceed to the surer grounds of the Mines of Metals Omne quod in Frigore solvitur continet Aerum spiritum Salis quen in sublimatione vel distillatione acquirit assumit Omne quod in Frigore vel Aere solvitur iterum calore Ignis coagulatur in Pulverem vel lapidem Solutio vero Caloris solvit omnia pingua omnia Sulphurea Et quicquid Calorignis soluit hoc coagulat Frigus in massam quicquid calor coagulat hoc soluit rursus Aeer Frigor Gradus ad Transmutationem sunt septem Calcinatio Sublimatio Solutio Putrifactio Distillatio Coagulatio Tintura Sub gradus Calcinationis comprehenduntur Reverberatio Cementatio Sub Sublimatione Exaltio Eleâ—â—â—iâ— Fixatio Sub Solutione Dissolutio Resolutio Sub Putrifactione Digestio Circulatio qui transmutat Colores separat purum ab impuro purum superius impurum inferius Sub Distillatione Ascentio Lavatio Fixatio Coagulatio est duplex una Aeris altera Ignis Tintura tingit totum corpus est fermentum massae farinacea panis Secundum est Quod calidius liquescunt eo celerius Tintura transcurrit sicut Fermentum penetrat totam massam acetositato inficit c. Sequitur Mortificatio Fixatio Sulphuris in Libro de Resuscitatione Rerum Reductio Metallorum in Mercurium vivum A Translate of the ELEVENTH CHAPTER taken out of a Theosophicall German Treatise printed in the year 1655. under the Title of Postilion or a New Almanack being an Astrological Prophetical Prognostication Touching the end of the present Warres and Power of Rome and that there are many Calamaties yet to come after which there shall be an everlasting Peace and a new World and likewise what unheard of Miracles and such as were never known before shall happen and what shall be the State of the World from this time till the coming of Christ and likewise every Mans Nativity is here cast and his Fortune foretold him THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER A Prognostication of what shall happen to Physitians Chirurgeons Apothecaries and their dependants and Alchymists and Miners WHat Griefs Calamities and Miseries all Men are troubled with from their coming out of their Mothers wombs till their going into their graves none do feel so much as they that are afflicted with diseases and sickness and to recover and preserve the health of such is the business of Physitians and Apothecaries with their dependants nor is there any Calling or profession on earth more usefull for men than is that of Physick next to the Apostolical and Propheticall Calling For if a man were Master of the World and yet had not health what were he the better for all other things Indeed this profession of Physick hath excellent testimonies not onely in the sacred Scripture but also from Experience Now though this be so yet nevertheless shall there be an end put to the business of Physitians Apothecaries and Chyrurgeons and they shall be eased of all their pains and care and let them know this Prognostication that from my watch tower I have heard though not yet seen that within a short time we shall have an universal Medicine which will not onely recover the sick and keep them well but also take away death and for ever swallow it up Can there be any thing more acceptable to Man seeing that death masters every Man though Christ dyed and rose againe and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Majesty of God What a great comfort was it to wretched men in the times of Christ and his Apostles that they were cured of divers diseases and for this reason did Christ and his Apostles and Prophets follow this profession and therefore it is the most honourable of all next to that of Prophesying so that it is a wonder why the uncivil Civilians should take place of the Physitians but perhaps these wise men know not that health is better than all the goods and riches of the World But least you should think I tell you a Fable I would have you understand my Prognostication of the true universall Medicine which shall serve not onely Men but also all Flesh namely that there growes in Paradice a Tree which is and is called the Tree of Life which in the glorious and long expected coming of Jesus Christ our God and Saviour shall be made manifest and then shall it be afforded to men and the fruits of it shall be gathered by which all men and all flesh shall be delivered from death and that as truly solidly and surely as at the time of the fall by gathering the fruit of the forbidden Tree we together withall flesh fell into sin death and all ill And this glory and great joy hath God reserved for Us that live in these latter dayes and hath kept his good Wine untill now Therefore as in these times shall be made manifest whatsoâ—ver hath been hidden hitherto and even those things which are kept most secret so now shall the way to the Tree of Life be laid open which time the Apostle Peter hints at when he speaks of the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord and of thâ— times of restitution namely of that good which was lost and taken away in Paradice and the Prophet Daniel 9.24 Of the great Apostle Paul we read that he was rapt into Paradice and heard words not to be uttered or which it was noâ— fit for a man to tell and of this I will glory saith he What do we believe those words were wretch that I am I am farre beneath Paul for what should this be or how should such thoughts arise in my heart but this I may say in the fear of the Lord that what I tell you I have heard of the glory of the Sons of God which is revealed to me which every Creature shall enjoy with Us having hitherto expected it with long desire and grones But when Elias who was with Christ in the Mount shall come he will declare more to you of these things So I tell you what I have heard of the Tree of Life which hath been sealed up hitherto and no man hath dared to break up the seal nor indeed could because a Fiery Mountain is