Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A46731
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The works of Geber, the most famous Arabian prince and philosopher faithfully Englished by Richard Russel ...; Works. English. 1678
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Jābir ibn Ḥayyān.; Russel, Richard.
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1678
(1678)
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Wing J54; ESTC R9945
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131,274
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320
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THE WORKS OF GEBER The Most Famous ARABIAN PRINCE AND PHILOSOPHER Faithfully Englished By Richard Russel a Lover of Chymistry Ait iste Libellus Magnus quidem non sum sed inest mihi maxima Virtus Licensed Jan. 28 1677 8 Ro. L'Estrange LONDON Printed for N. E. by Thomas James Mathematical Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty at the Printing-press in Mincing-lane and are to be sold by Robert Clavel at the Peacock in St Pauls Church-yard and other Booksellers 1678. THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER THe Eminency and Worth of this Author need no Apology his Works sufficiently commend Him who in his Writings as the present Book clearly shews used no Tautologies Circumlocutions or fruitless Ambages but like a good Master intending to inform not to perplex the Minds of his Disciples so succinctly speaks of all Things as is rarely seen in any other Author The End why he Writ in his Time was as himself declares not only to Teach and Direct the Ingenious but also to Detect and Enervate the fallacious Descriptions of Sophisters whom he pronounceth Cursed saying he should be accursed also did he not discover their Frauds For a like End was I incited by a worthy Friend of mine to this Translation that the WORKS of so Ancient and Venerable an Author comprising so many and various most needful Preparations might now at length be published in the English Tongue there being at this very Day so many Persons publickly exposing their Chymical Preparations as they call them which if such as they are presented to be or but in some competent measure correspondent to the specious Titles with which they are insignized would rather commend their Authors than need to be commended by them For Chymistry is a true and real Art and when handled by prudent Artists produceth true and real Effects But alas 't is by Experience found Our empty Vessels give the greatest sound And which is more to be bewailed Men that have scarcely seen the First Entrances of Chymistry or at most are but Tyro's in that most necessary though much abused Science account themselves sufficiently accomplished if Confident enough to boast after the Rate of Masters yea more than good Masters in that Art dare to do For every conscientious Man exercised in Chymistry sees Cause enough to lay his Hand upon his Mouth and yet neglects not to do what Good he can without blowing a Trumpet He that doth otherwise may very well be suspected for according to the usual Proverb Good Wine needs no Bush and every well performed Work commends the Worker thereof It is recorded of the famous Painter Apelles that he having finished any eminent Piece did always expose it to publick View before he durst commend it as a perfect Work to him for whom he made the same His End in this as Histories amply relate was that he might from the Mouths of others hear himself praised or dispraised and thence be able prudently conjecturing by what he heard to correct and amend his own Errours If Physicians of our Time did in imitation of Apelles expose their Works for the same End and would upon just and undeniable Censures endeavour to amend their Errors their so frequent Publications would be highly commendable but 't is otherwise Yet Charity forbids me to impute this to Avarice Fraud or Ambition Vices abhominable in all Men especially in Physicians but rather to other less injurious Causes as Ignorance and want of certain Experience in amending which this Book may prove very serviceable because the Ignorant and Vnexpert may possibly be informed thereby and thence learn true Experiences by which if Industrious they will in Time be able to Correct their own Errours as well as if they had used the Policy of Apelles But of Covetous Deceitful and Ambitious Men there is no such Hope Therefore omitting these I doubt not but that to every Man studious of Verity the present Work will be highly acceptable because herein he will find Instructions sufficient to inform his Judgment in preparing Medicines truly Chymical For this Author herein excelling others hath clearly and candidly though briefly taught the Methods of purifying all Metals Minerals Salts Allomes c. In which true and perfect Purification the Vertue of each Subject its Vice and Impurity being separated is rendred ten-fold more efficacious in Medicinal Vse than the same Subject without such Preparation preceding could have been as Experience daily proves But if any Man object and say This Author taught these Purifications only in Order to the great Stone of Philosophers to him I thus answer All Philosophers Ancient and Modern unanimously affirm that Impurity tends to Corruption and Death but Purity to Incorruption and Life Therefore if they to amend imperfect Metals viz. To heal the Diseases of them so strictly enjoyned the Separation of Heterogeneals and Purification of Things Homogenal how much more every faithful Physician ought to labour in purifying the Subjects of Medicine for the Humane Body more precious than all Metals of which these here specified are no mean Part I leave to the Judgment of all And having premised these crave the Readers Patience in perusal of the following When I had perfected this Translation of GEBER my Purpose was to have concealed my Name as I did in the Translation of Royal and Practical Chymistry which being my first Essay in that kind of Learning I must confess were not so well performed as I intend that Book shall be if a Second Impression thereof be made in my Time of Beguinus his Tyrocinium of Helvetius his Golden Calf all made publick some years since together with that of the Triumphant Chariot of Antimony with Kirkringius his Notes thereon though not the small Piece of Synesius to it annexed lately published but finding some too ready as the saying is to thrust their Sickle into another Mans Harvest I am now at length enforced here to subjoyn my Name being resolved henceforth so to do whensoever any other of the Works through the favour of God by me stranslated shall come to be exposed to publick View For besides the large Volume of the Works of Raymund Lully now ready for the Press not to mention other Pieces on various Subjects of which I have translated many for private Persons I have Englished the greatest Part of the Works of Paracelsus having compleated two of his three Volumes and about half the Third which I intend to finish if GOD permit as Time Opportunity or Encouragement shall be offered Reader I could here mention more but considering that no Man hath any thing that he hath not received and timely remembring that Poetical Admonition Nullum decet esse superbum Qui sic inflatur deserit omne Bonum I here conclude subscribing my self as I always desire to be your real Friend May 3d. 1678 From my House at the Star in New-market in Wapping near the Dock Richard Russell The Contents I. Of the Investigation or Search of Perfection