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cause_n	efficient_a	form_n	matter_n	3,803	5	6.2043	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43280	One hundred fifty three chymical aphorisms briefly containing whatsoever belongs to the chymical science / done by the labour and study of Eremita Suburbanus, printed in Latin at Amsterdam, Octob. 1687 ; to which are added some other phylosophic canons or rules pertaining to the hermetick science ; made English and published ... by Chr. Packe ...; CLIII aphorismei chemici. English	Helmont, Franciscus Mercurius van, 1614-1699.; Packe, Christopher, fl. 1670-1711.; Helmont, Jean Baptiste van, 1577-1644.	1688 (1688)	Wing H1392; ESTC R9172	18,316	72

Imprimat Aphorism Chymic Th. Witherly Praeses Coll. Med. Lond. Censores Pe. Barwick Jo. Elliot Rob. Pitt Joh. Bateman One Hundred Fifty Three CHYMICAL APHORISMS Briefly containing Whatsoever belongs to the Chymical Science Done by the Labour and Study of Eremita Suburbanus Printed in Latin at Amsterdam Octob. 1687. To which are added Some other Phylosophick Canons or Rules pertaining to the Hermetick Science Made English and published for the sake of the Sedulous Labourers in true Chymistry By Chr. Packe Philo-Chymico-Medicus London Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by W. Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain and D. Newman at the Kings-Arms in the Poultry 1688. To all the Lovers OF THE CHYMICAL ART Gentlemen ABout a Month since I received among some other things those 153 Chymical Aphorisms from Amsterdam where they had been newly printed in Latin for which end they had been lately transmitted from Vienna as appears by the Author's Epistle to his Friend When I had perused and well-weighed them with that little Judgment I could I thought that I could do nothing more grateful to the Sons of Art than to Publish them in English which I have done with all the care and exactness I could The other 157 Phylosophick Canons I have taken from Bernardus G. Penotus a portu Aquitano where they are inserted with 115 famous Cures of Paracelsus together with Pontanus his Epistle and some other Phylosophick things and printed in the Year 1582. Which together make up a Compenatum of the Chymical Art and may serve the Studious for a vade mecum or small pocket Companion with which he may converse in his retirements That it may be both pleasant and profitable to the Disciples of Hermes is the only desire of Gentlemen Your ready Servant Chr. Packe From my House at the Sign of the Globe and Chymical Furnaces in the Postern-street near Moorgate Decemb. the 8th 1687. The AUTHOR TO HIS FRIEND YOV see here my highly-esteemed Friend part of a certain Excellent Writing digested into brief Aphorisms as a Compendium of all those things which Phylosophers are wont to observe about the great Work of their Stone Not that all things are here expounded which belong to the Compleat Description of the Physical Tincture for there are more things yet behind with which the Author intends to adorn it inasmuch as he hath determined to fortifie these Aphorisms which he hath here emitted from the Authority of the Principal Phylosophers in which Work he will accurately explain the Similitudes Figures and other obscure and confused manners of speaking which every where occur in the Writings of Phylosophers That so at length those things which hitherto have been delivered too intricately and confusedly by most Writers may appear in some Methodical Order Nevertheless the principal scope of this Author is not so much to expose or set forth his own Inventions as to reduce the valuable Sayings of others into order which he willingly submitteth to the Judgment and Examination of those who have made a greater Progress in the Art than himself But although I know this to be the purpose of the Learned Author nevertheless I chuse rather to transmit this little work to you imperfect as it is that you may weigh it and cause it to be printed then that the Sons of Art should any longer want this small help that it may give a light to those who err and go astray in the midst of darkness And that the Author may judge from the event of this his labour whether it will be worth his Pains to emit the whole Work to the World. Farewel my good Friend and let me continue to have a place in your Favour Dated at Vienna the 2d of Septemb. 1687. CLIII Chymical Aphorisms To which ●ay be Commodiously referred whatsoever belongs to the Chymical Science Aphorism I. ALchymy is the perfect knowledge of whole Nature and Art about the Kingdom of Metals Aph. 2. Which by reason of its ●●cellency is called by many other ●ames Aph. 3. And was first invented by ●●e Alchemus as some think Aph. 4. And in all times hath bee● so highly esteemed by Philosophers by reason of its great Utility Aph. 5. That the Adepti being moved with Pity would not altogether conceal it Aph. 6. Nevertheless they hav● delivered it but confusedly enigmatically and under Allegories Aph. 7. Lest it should fall into the hands of the unworthy Aph. 8. But that it should be known to its own Sons only Aph. 9. With which Sophisters should have no Commerce Aph. 10. Wherefore this Scienc● is the Gift of God which he bestoweth on whom he pleaseth Aph. 11. Either by the Revelatio● of a faithful Friend or by illuminating the Understanding of the Enquirer Aph. 12. Who seeketh it by Prayer diligent Reading profound Medtation and assiduous Labour Aph. 13. Therefore it behovet the Studious of this Art to be of a ●ure heart intire manners stedfast to his purpose and a Religious keeper of Secrets Aph. 14. And moreover that he be indowed with a good Wit health of Body and a plentiful Fortune Aph. 15. Because this Art requireth the whole Man being found out possesseth him and being once possessed freeth him from every long and serious business causing him to disregard all other things and to repute them as forreign and strange Aph. 16. The parts of Alchym● are two viz. The Theory and the Practice Aph. 17. For seeing that Art can do nothing about Metals except it imitate Nature Aph. 18. It is necessary that the Knowledge of Nature should precede the Knowledge of Art. Aph. 19. Alchymy therefore in respect of the Theory is a Science 〈◊〉 hereby the Beginnings Causes Properties and Passions of all the Metals are radically known that those which are imperfect incompleat mixt and corrupt may be transmuted into true Gold. Aph. 20. Seeing that the final cause in Physick co-incideth with the form the Principles and Causes of Metals are their matter form and efficient cause Aph. 21. The Matter of Metals is either remote or proximate Aph. 22. The Remote is the Rayes of the Sun and Moon by whose Concourse all Natural Compounds are produced Aph. 23. The Proximate is Sulphur and Argent vive or the Rayes of the Sun and Moon determined to a Metallick Production under the form of a certain humid unctions and viscous Substance Aph. 24. In the Union of this Sulphur and Argent-Vive consisteth the form of Metals Aph. 25. The which seeing that it is various according to the various manner of the mixture and the degree of Decoction hence arise various Metals Aph. 26. Nature only effecteth this Union in the bowels of the Earth by a temperate heat Aph. 27. From the Union of this Water immediately flow forth two Properties or Passions common to all the Metals viz. Fusibility and Extensibility Aph. 28. The Causes of a Metallick Fusibi●ity are Argent-vive as well fixed as volatile and a volatile Sulphur not fixed Aph. 29. The cause

Fire and Water Aph. 140. The Combustible an● Volatile parts are separated by Fire Aph. 141. But the Earthy and Feculent by Water Aph. 142. In the said Phylosophic● Sublimation of the Mercury and it● union with Gold by various Solutions and Coagulations the Practice of Alchymy consisteth Aph. 143. That thence may result 〈◊〉 Catho●ick Medicine most potent in perfecting the imperfect Metals and in restoring of all diseasy bodies whatsoever Aph. 144. Which Medicine is commonly called the Stone of Phylosophers because it resisteth the Fire Aph. 145. And for other reasons it is also called by other various Names Aph. 146. From the Premises the Chymical Excellency is rightly defined to consist of Metallick Principles exalted by various Phylosophick Solutions and Coagulations unto the highest degree of Perfection Aph. 147. For seeing that Nature alone in the Mineral Kingdom proceedeth no further than the perfection of common Gold Aph. 148. It is to be assisted by Art that it may render it more than perfect Aph. 149. Therefore the Practice of Alchymy in general consisteth of two Operations to wit the preparation of the Mercury of Phylosophers and the Composition of the Elixir or Medicine Aph. 150. Which although the are not very difficult Aph. 151. Nevertheless they ar● not alwaies without their perils an● ill success Aph. 152. Not to be avoided bu● by Industry and an expert couragiou● and prudent Artist Aph. 153. Nor do the said Operations require any great Charge o● Cost To the Lovers of Hermetick Studies ALL the Books of Phylosophers which treat of the abstruse Hermetick Medicine are nothing but a Spagyrical Labyrinth in which for the most part the Disciples of Art fall into various Ambages and Deceits so that even to this day there are but very few who have found a true end For if in this Labyrinth some easie Way hath shewed it self to the Erring and Straying which seemed to extricate and lead them out presently some impassable corners have occur●ed which keep them in a perpetual Imprisonment So if in the Writings of Phylosophers manifest and easie Ways sometimes offer themselves which at the ●irst sight seem to the Searchers to be plain according to the Letter presently unwary Operators being deceived by the open ●ords of Phylosophers are involved in ●nnumerable Deceits To this may be added That many Pseudochymists deceive many by their specious Frauds an● Cheats dispersing and selling up an● down lying Operations and Processes i● which they promise Golden Mountains 〈◊〉 the Credulous sowing Tares and bidding them expect Wheat Wherefore I being moved with Compassion have here offer●● these Rules which are full of Physic● Reasons and Truth in which you ha●● the whole Art perspicuously depicted as 〈◊〉 a Writing-Table Examin and wei●● them throughly fence your Opinion w● firm arguments and then you cannot e●● For he that without judgment believe● every Sophism is willing to be deceived 〈◊〉 The true Art is hidden under many Co●rings by which the unwary are easily c●founded Therefore before you begin 〈◊〉 work weigh well and prudently consi●● the natural Causes of things or else●ter not upon the matter It is better 〈◊〉 imploy your time in diligent Meditat●● and profound Judgment than to under 〈◊〉 the Punishment of a foolish and incons●rate Temerity Farewell B. D. P. Some Phylosophick Rules or Canons concerning the Stone of Phylosophers What we seek is either here or no where Canon I. THat which is nearest to Perfection is the more easily brought to Perfection 2. Things Imperfect cannot by any Art put on Perfection except they be first purged from their feculent Sulphur and earthy Grossness which is mixed with their Sulphur and Mercury the which a perfect Medicine performeth 3. To render the Imperfect fixt without the Spirit and Sulphur of the Perfect is altogether impossible 4. The Heaven of Philosophers resolveth all the Metals into their first matter that is into Mercury 5. He that endeavoureth to reduce Metals into Mercury without the Philosophick Heaven or Metallick Aqua-vitae or their Tartar will be greatly mistaken because the Impurity abounding in Mercury from other Dissolutions is even discernable by the Eye 6. Nothing is perfectly fixed which cannot be inseparably joyned with that which is fixed 7. Fusible Gold may be change● and turned into Blood. 8. To render Silver fixt it is neither to be resolved into Powder o● Water for that is radically to destroy it but it ought necessarily to be reduced into Mercury 9. Luna cannot be transmuted into Sol except it return into running Mercury but by the physical Tincture the same is to be judged o● the other Metals 10. The imperfect Bodies together with Luna are brought to perfection and converted into pure Gold if they be first reduced into Mercury and that by a white or red Sulphur by the vertue of an appropriate Fire 11. Every imperfect Body is brought to perfection by its reduction into Mercury and afterwards by decocting with Sulphurs in an appropriate Fire For of those are generated Gold and Silver and they are deceived and labour in vain who endeavour to make Gold and Silver after another manner 12. The Sulphur of Mars is the best which being joyned to the Sulphur of Gold bringeth forth a certain Medicine 13. No Gold is generated but what was first Silver 14. Nature compoundeth and cocteth her Minerals by a gradual process and so from one Root only procreateth all the Metals even to the Ultimate end of Metals which is Gold. 15. Mercury corrupteth Gold resolveth it into Mercury and maketh it volatile 16. The Stone is compounded of Sulphur and Mercury 17. If the preparation of Mercuries be not taught by some skilful Artist it is not to be learned by the reading of Books 18. The preparation of Mercury for the Philosophick Menstruum is called Mortification 19. The Praxis of this great Work exceedeth the highest Arcanum of Nature and except it be shewed by Divine Revelation or the Work it self by an Artist it is never obtained from Books 20. Sulphur Mercury are the matter of the Stone therefore the knowledge of Mercuries is necessary that a good Mercury may be taken by which the Stone may be the sooner perfected 21. Indeed there is a certain mercury hidden in every Body being fitted without other preparation but the Art of Extracting it is very difficult 22. Mercury cannot be converted into Sol or Luna and fixed but by a Compendium of the Abreviation of ●he great Work. 23. To congeal to fix is one Work of one thing only in one Vessel 24. That which congealeth and fixeth Mercury that also tingeth the same in one and the same praxis 25. The degrees of Fire to be observed in the Work are four In the first the Mercury dissolveth its own Body in the second the Sulphur dryeth up the Mercury in the third and fourth the Mercury is fixed 26. The matters being radically permixed in their profundity through their most minute parts are afterwards made