Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	effect_n	natural_a	nature_n	4,625	5	5.6875	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76996	Paracelsvs of the [brace] chymical transmutation, genealogy and generation [brace] of metals & minerals. Also, of the urim and thummim of the Jews. With an appendix, of the vertues and use of an excellent water made by Dr. Trigge. The second part of the mumial treatise. Whereunto is added, philosophical and chymical experiments of that famous philosopher Raymvnd Lvlly; containing, the right and due composition of both elixirs. The admirable and perfect way of making the great stone of the philosophers, as it was truely taught in Paris, and sometimes practised in England, by the said Raymund Lully, in the time of King Edw. 3. / Translated into English by R. Turner philomathēs.	Paracelsus, 1493-1541.; Turner, Robert, fl. 1654-1665.	1655 (1655)	Wing B3543; Thomason E1590_3; ESTC R208833	78,745	173

Ark which gave light to all living Creatures therein This the greatest Carbuncle could not do nor any precious Stone that is only natural But the Universal Spirit fixed in a transparent Body shines like the Sun in Glory and gives sufficient Light to all the Room to read by therefore it is most probable this was the Light that God commanded to make to give Light to all living Creatures for it is of perpetual durance And whereas Tubal-Cain is said to be a perfect Master of every Artificer in Brass and Iron which some hold doth contain the whole and perfect decoction of the Metallick Vertue wherein the Central Vertue is most abundant and makes the happy more admired who walk in the midst of the Stones of Fire Ezek. 28.16 For where there are two things of one Nature the chief is to be understood Therefore in the mention of Fires pure Fire is preferred The Scarlet Veil in the Temple seemed ever moving and signified pure Fire generative and fixed in cleer Bodies as Vrim and Thummim Although Essences are not without great difficulty made manifest in themselves yet the cleer Vision thereof makes the possibility unquestionable as at Elisha's Prayer his Servant saw the Chariot and Horses of fire about his Master which before he saw not so are they apparent when the invisible is made visible Some think Exod. 18.30 that Urim and Thummim were not Artificial because they are said in the Text to be put in the brestplate but not to be made but this point may be cleared by observing the several kindes of making as betwixt those things made with hands and those things that are only made visible by effect for where natural and habitual Vertue do meet together the perfection is more absolute by a kinde of new Generation as the pure Sulphur of Metal by an inward power doth purge it self by ebulition not by the first and remote causes but by the second and neerer whereof the Philosophers say The secret of all secrets is of such a disposition which cannot be perfected with hands for it is a transmutation of natural things from one thing to another Also it is said The Artist takes impure Spirits and by Sublimation Nature and Art cleanseth them into bodies pure and fixed so that the bodily Nature doth eternally predominate and being more then perfect doth give perfection to other things Now that these perfections have their beginnings from two Lights both the Text and the antient Philosophers make plain but ignorance and the matter of the Elements are the Iron Gates which must be cut in pieces before the invisible be made visible For the natural Urim and Thummim the Philosophers affirm what they have seen and done and that they did nothing save that they did before and knew so that a perfect knowledge is especially requisite to make a perfect Art therefore we are to consider the means to attain to this end The Lord gave Bezaliel Wisdom Understanding and Knowledge Exod. 31.3 4. these are the means for Gold is dissolved by Wisdom in Contrition Assation and Fire The end is directed to invent works in Gold Silver and Brass which is not to be understood according to the found of words but according to the intent of all Distillation to extract the inward part and manifest the central vertue for where the perfection of the matter is glorious the perfection of the form is more glorious The Sun and Moon are as the Parents of all inferior bodies and things which come neerest in vertue and temperature are more excellent The Sun's Motion and Vertue doth vivifie all inferior bodies and those things which come neerest in vertue and temperature are more excellent the Sun's Motion and Vertue doth vivifie all inferior bodies and the pure form of the terrestrial Sun is said to be all Fire and therefore doth the celestial Sun communicate most vertue therefore the incorrupted quality of pure Sulphur being digested in external heat hath also regal power over all inferior bodies for the Sun doth infuse his influence into all things but especially into Gold and those natural bodies do never shew forth their virtues till they be made spiritual One of the Rabbins saith They made in the second Temple Urim and Thummim to the end they might make up all the eight Ornaments although they did not inquire by them because the Holy Ghost was not there and every Priest that spake not by the Holy Ghost on whom the divine Majesty resteth not they enquire not by him so it is with Sacramental Bread which hath no signification before Consecration But these men had the spirit of Bezaliel and made these natural spiritual Bodies which soveraign Tincture some say So purifieth and causeth the radical humour so to abound that the Children in the fourth Generation yea as some say in the tenth shall perceive the effect of such perfect health of their Ancestors Others say That if they have once finished this Art and should live a thousand yeers they might give what they will and when they will without danger of diminution as a man that hath Fire may give to his Neighbour without hurt to himself Marcus Vasso said There was much more mysteries in the Flamines Ceremonies then they understood Vesta signified pure Earth and internal Fire of which it is said Vesta is Earth and Fire Earth undergoeth the name and so doth Fire Vesta is both Thus is shewn forth in a work done by Fire The mighty Vesta and her pure Attire Philosophy is nothing but the study of Wisdom considered in a created Nature as well subject to sense as invisible and consequently material and Wisdomes central Body is the shadow of Wisdomes central Essence and the moral Interpretation can never exclude the real effects from ocular demonstration but where Reason hath experience Faith hath no merit and without Faith there is no knowledge of any excellent thing for the end of Faith is Understanding The Rabbins hold every natural beginning to be either matter or cause of the matter viz. the four Elements But here beginnings must be well understood for there are beginnings of Preparations and beginnings of Composition and beginnings of Operation for the Artist was commanded to devise work in Gold that is from the object to the possibility for if the matter be glorious the form must be more glorious and though the spiritual Nature be more operative yet the bodily Nature must predominate eternally so that to make the corporal spiritual and the spiritual corporal is the whole scope of the intention yet the spiritual is not first but the natural for corruption must put on incorruption and mortality immortality for that which is of greatest durance and most abundant in vertue doth most excel in Glory and Beauty and so fittest to make Vrim and Thummim for power and honour are in his Sanctuary But because the greatest things are not done by strength or habit of fingering as also

will force them stand before 'um And bring them up in Cavea stultorum But princely Nature from his boundless store Provides a Salve for every dang'rous sore And thus hath made our Authors happy Pen The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of good to unlearn'd men Go on good Friend to other things for we By this thy Book are able to foresee Great Paracelsus Learning Hermes Skill Shall English speak by thy ingenious Quill John Gadbury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paracelsus Paracelsus OF The TRANSMUTATION OF METALS CHAP. I. Of the Scale of Transmutation TRansmutation is an alteration or changing of the forms of natural things into other forms as of Metals or Wood into Stones or Glass the changing of Stones into Coles c. It hath been found out That Metals that have been first coyned into Money have been by Nature changed under the Ground into a stony substance and yet have retained the impression of the Image that hath been stamped upon them and That the Roots of Oaks being smitten with Thunder or some other influence of the Stars have been turned into true Stones There do also arise Springs of Rivers in many places that by a certain natural poperty do transform all things whatsoever are cast into them into hard Stones These and such-like works of Nature wise men have contemplated and have thereby learned likewise to do the fame things by Art by observing the same Order which Nature teacheth by her Instruments This we see frequently done in many Mountains That Coles are generated of Stones naturally by a certain Aetnean fire of which Carpenters have frequent use So that this last kinde of Transmutation is done by Fire in the Earth the other before spoken of by Water and Air These are the Instruments of Nature and they are for the Matter the Motion for the Form What therefore if a natural Composition may be made Earth by Fire and that made Water by Air and this made Fire by Fire and that again descending may be made Air by Air and then this be made Water by Water and at last that may be reduced into Earth by Fire what Transmutation I pray do thou think will come thereof if you were expert you would know it The vulgar and ignorant see not these things and that for no other cause but because they do not consider the secrets of Nature Whosoever therefore together with them is ignorant of or denieth these things which Nature hath set before the Eyes of all how learned or wise soever he would seem to be he is not worthy of the Name of a Philosopher nor Physitian Whence hath Physick her first Foundation out of the appearance onely or manifest superficies of natural things Nothing less but out of the most occult and hidden secrets of Nature compared to the most manifest effects Wherefore as Nature her self is undiscernable by every sence no otherwise are all her Operations Who ever saw a Tree to grow or the Sun or Stars move No body But that the Trees have grown and the Sun and Stars have been moved by a space of time who knoweth not Therefore Operations in Physick do more chiefly consist in the Understanding rather then in the Eyes or the other Sences although they in their courses are the Directors unto us that we may make further progress otherwise between the Philosopher and the Clown there would be no further difference But to return to the purpose The Scale or Ladder of Transmutation hath seven Steps or principal Degrees which are Cascination Sublimation Solution Putrefaction Distillation Coagulation and Tincture Under Calcination are contained these his Members Reverberation Cimentation and Incineration wherewith in all Operations all things are turned into Chalk or into Ashes Therefore in the first Degree of Transmutation the elementative natural bodies are converted into Earth with a middle Fire as the Instrument And here first of all is to be noted the difference between material Elements and instrumental of which by the way we shall speak for these are external but the other are internal as when the first Operation is compleated whether it be by Calcination or Reverberation Cimentation or Incineration Sublimation succeedeth out of the order of Preparations which Earth now being calcined is converted either into Water or into Air according to the Nature and property of the thing so to be converted for if it be of dry things then chiefly is to be used the elevation of the Volatile parts from the fixed Wherefore Sublimation is convenient for things of that Nature But if there ought to be made a separation of moist things as of Vegetables or Animals then it is convenient to use Sublimation thereof in the fifth Degree to wit Distillation But because in this place it is chiefly intended to treat of dry things as Metals and Minerals the order congruent to their Natures is likewise to be observed Therefore the Volatile part is to be sublimed as in moist things by Cohobations that is by re-conjoyning of the parts separated and by iterating or separating them over again until they become fixed and remain within with the parts fixed and ascend no more but remain consisting in the substance and form of Oyl of or a Stone for with Solution by the Air they are turned into Oyl and with Coagulation by Fire into a Stone Let Sal Armoniak be an example for every Metal for that in Sublimation successively becomes Stone By this Operation of Sublimations many corrosives are dulcified and mollified and on the contrary with the addition of another substance Also many sharp things are sweetned and many sweet things on the contrary are sharpened somtimes by themselves or with other things prepared after this manner Afterwards happens the third Degree to wit Solution and that is twofold the one of cold the other of heat Salts Corrosives and whatsoever things are calcined are coagulated by Fire and then by the coldness of the Air are resolved into Liquor Water or Oyl in a moist place as a Cellar or in the Air being placed upon a Marble-stone or Glass But fat and sulphureous things are dissolved by the heat of the Fire and that which the Fire dissolveth by heat the same is coagulated by the coldness of the Air On the contrary that which is dissolved by the coldness of the Air is coagulated by the heat of the Fire Note here the Reason wherefore we call the Air cold which seems to oppose and contradict the Opinion of some Philosophers for they will have it to be hot and moist but they consider not whereof the Air consists doth it not consist of Fire and Water for what else is the Air but Water dissolved by Fire Wherefore from one part thereof to wit the Fire it borroweth heat and driness and from the other part the Water coldness and moisture for they are the two chief qualities thereof and the other two are her Ministers for there is nothing hot by Nature which is not also

produce their like without the mixture of both their Seeds so in like manner our Male Sol and his Female Luna cannot conceive nor bring forth any Generation without their Seed and Sperm From whence our Philosophers have gathered That there is a third thing necessary to wit the Animate Seed both of the Male and Female of the Chymists without which they judged their whole work vain and ridiculous The Sperm hereof is Mercury which by a natural Conjunction of both bodies of Sol and Luna receiveth and uniteth their Nature into himself Then at length and not before is the matter apt for the congressive Work and Generation by the Masculine and Feminine force and vertue This hath moved our Philosophers to say That this Mercury is composed of Body Soul and Spirit and to assume unto it self the nature and propriety of all Elements Wherefore they have asserted their Stone to be an Animal which also they called their Adam who beareth his occult and invisible Eve in his own body from which moment they are united by the power of the Great Maker of all things For which cause it may worthily be said That the Mercury of the Philosophers is nothing else but an abstruse composed Mercury and not that vulgar Mercury Therefore they have wisely said That there is in Mercury whatsoever the wise men do seek after Almadir the Philosopher saith We extract our Mercury out of one perfect Body with two perfect natural and incorporate conditions This extrinsecally produceth his perfection whereby he resisteth the force of the fire and by this his perfection is extrinsecally and intrinsecally defended from all imperfections By this place of the acute Philosopher the matter of the Stone is understood to be Adamical the Microcosmical Garment the Homogeneous and united matter of the Philosophers These Sayings of the Philosophers which before we have made mention of are meerly Golden and to be had alwayes in great esteem because they contain in them nothing superfluous nothing invalid Briefly therefore The matter of the Philosophers Stone is nothing else but a fiery and perfect Mercury extracted by Nature and Art that is artificially prepared and is the true Hermaphrodite Adam and Microcosme This the wisest of Philosophers Mercurius Trismegistus asserting calleth the Stone an Orphan Therefore our Mercury is he which contains in himself the perfections power and vertue of Sol and runneth through the Houses of all the Planets and in his Regeneration acquireth the vertue of the superiors and inferiors and by the Matrimony thereof he appeareth cloathed in their candor and beauty The Arabians Greeks Persians and Egyptians have kept these Mysteries secret and abstruse denoting them by certain occult Characters and Figures Some have called this The Secret of the Philosophers and Pythagoras The Philosophers Stone Whosoever have attained to the knowledge hereof have adumbrated and shadowed the same with various enigmatical Figures and deceitful Similitues and Comparisons and feigned Words that the Matter thereof might remain occult to Posterity so that little or no Knowledge thereof might be found out But nevertheless some have sufficiently detected this matter and the knowledge thereof with its preparation to the ingenious but notwithstanding in Parables and under Enigmatical Words and Figures that they might expel the unworthy from attaining to such a mystery of Art and Nature Nevertheless some few and such who are apt to apprehend this Art have sought out the perpetual Balsome of Nature and the true Stone but with exceeding great labour and intricate difficulty which every where occurreth in the investigation hereof And hence it appears why the sluggish and slothful mindes never attain to this work CHAP. VII Of the Preparation of the Spagyrick Matter in general NAture first requireth of the Artist that the Philosophical Adam be brought into a Mercurial substance and at length to be regenerated into the Oriental Sol and Lunary Stone Moreover it s to be noted That those common Preparations of Geber Albertus Magnus Thomas Aquinas Rupecissa Polydor and the like are nothing else but particular Solutions Sublimations Calcinations least of all pertaining to our universal Secret which wanteth onely the most secret Fire of the Philosophers The Fire therefore and Azor are sufficient for thee The Philosophers make mention of other Preparations as Putrefaction Distillation Sublimation Ceration Fixation c. which you are to understand onely to be certain universal Operations to compleat Nature in the said matter and not onely a working in the Philosophical Vessel with the like Fire and not with common Fire For the white and the red proceed both from one Radix without any mean it is dissolved in it self and copulated by it self made white and red black yellow by it self it despouseth it self and is conceived in it self it is decocted and infunded ascendeth and descendeth all which Operations are made by the Fire alone Yet some Philosophers have dissolved the Body of Sol by the strong essence of Wine and made it Volatile that it would ascend by an Alembick thinking this to be the true Volatile matter of the Philosophers whereas it is not although it be a secret not to be despised to reduce a perfect Metallick Body into a Volatile and spiritual substance yet they erre in the separation of the Elements for they thought by this way to separate Gold into a subtil spiritual and elemental vertue and after their separation by Circulation and Rectification again to copulate them into one but in vain For although one Metal may be separated from another in some sort nevertheless every Metal thus separated may be separated again into another which parts afterwards by a Pellicanical Circulation or Distillation can in no wise copulate into one but will alwayes remain a certain Volatile Matter and Aurum Potabile as they call it The cause why these can never attain to their intentions is this Because by this way Nature will not be extracted nor separated with humane dis-junctions as by terrene Glasses and Instruments That onely hath known its Operations and the weight of the Elements whose Separations Rectifications and Copulations are executed without the help of any Operator or Manual Artifice whilst the matter is contained in the secret Fire and in the occult Vessel This is the Opinion of the Philosophers That when they have placed this matter into their secret Fire it is cherished round about with this Philosophical hear that beginning to transite into corruption it waxeth black This Operation they call Putrefaction And this Blackness The Head of the Crow They call the ascending and descending of this matter their Distillation Ascension and Descension they call Exsiccation Coagulation and Dealbation Calcination And because by a continual hear the matter is made soft and fluid they make mention of Ceration But when it ceaseth to ascend and remaineth liquid in the bottom they call it Fixation After this manner therefore are the Apellations of the Philosophical Operations to be understood and