for neither water nor earth caâ—â— do it any hurt because it received its first birth and beginning from a heavenly water which in due time is pouâ—â— down upon the earth In these together driven goldish waters lieth hid that trâ—â— bird and Eagle the King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salt which three you finde shut up iâ— this one thing and golden property and from thence yoâ— will get all that which you have need of for your inteâ—â—tion Therefore set that golden body you have obtained whicâ— in dignity and vertue is exalted beyond all other Gold inâ—â— its due and lawfull dissolution its due time then the Aâ—gel of the highest will appear unto thee and tell thee thâ—â— it is the Resolver of all the mysteries in the World receivâ—â— it with joy and keep it safe for its quality is more heavenly than earthly therefore doth it heartily incline to strivâ— after that which is above from whence it had its Original If you have separated this Prophet from his matter whicâ— remained then you need not to undertake any further processe you were taught parabolically in my XII Keyes Foâ— even in his remaining formal substance you may finde anâ— expect from thence a pure immortal Soul together viâ—â— the glory of the Salt both which are obtained by means 〈◊〉 the spirit and must be had from thence and no impure oâ— contrary thing must be added thereunto And it is doâ— in the same manner as I told you in my Keyes with the Sâ—â— and Salt of the Gold by the saturnal water in whose plaâ—â— this spiritual Mercurial spirit might be used with better aâ—vantage Observe onely this difference that the Salt must be drawn forth from the Mercurial body as it hapned unto the Soul with the spirit of Mercury whereas on the other side the Salt of Gold must not be drawn forth with the saturnal water because it is too weak for the body of Gold but with a water which hath been expressed in the description of particulars This distinction must be exactly observ'd being of great concernment because the Salt of Vitriol is not so strongly guarded and is not in so fix'd a body as the Gold is but is still an open body which saw no coagulation as yet nor passed it through any melting fire therefore that body never came as yet to any compactnesse there is room left for its own spirit to enter into can embrace and unite with its like and a snow white extraction of Salt may be had whereas on the other side a sharper matter must penetrate Gold as you shall hear when I shall speak more of it in its due place Behold now my friend whatsoever thou art what minde I bare towards thee and how I am affected unto thee in my heart the like I never durst look for from thee Consider it well how sincerely and faithfully I disclose unto thee all the locks and bonds whereby the whole Philosophick wisdom is shut up which hitherto never entred any more â—houghts much lesse that ever it was practised or discovered and nothing caused me to do it but onely Gods infinite mercy my good will and love toward my Neighbour which my Predecessors have not done so compleatly and was put off unto me to do it Having thus separated your three Mineral bodies and ordered them into certain divisions and put away the dregs wherein they lye hid then look to it that you neglect none of it by the diminishing of the quantity which would prove a great fault to your work and keep each in its own and due quantity otherwise in your work you cannot come to a happy end This is the thrift which so many have missed and have written great volumes about it for all what cometh from our Philosophick Gold and hath divided it self into three parts the same must be brought into one without any losse and diminution which is to enter into a new form again and become a meliorated substance nothing of it must be done away but onely the feces terrae in which the glorious Salt had its dwelling Therefore do that I told you of joyn the spirit with the body bring the body also into a spirit dissolve exalt it into the highest spiritual power iâ— that dissolutioÌ„ the body turns to a spirit the spirit with the body uniteth and joyneth into one substance that after the exchanging of all manner of colours there cometh a white body like snow transcending all whitenesses This is the greatest mystery of this world about which among the learned and supposed wits such disputings in the world have been that a palpable thing and a visible one could be reduced into its prima materia and out of that may be made again a new clarified and better substance by the bountifull nature leading the way thereunto Thus you have made and brought into the world the Queen of Honour and the first born daughter of Philosophers which after her due perfection is called the white Elixir of which great volumes are extant Having brought your work thus far then you have deserved to be received into the Turba of Philosophers and you get more Art wisdom and understanding than all Sophisters which prate much of these mystical things and yet know not the least thing of it Therefore it is just that you should be preferred before them and let them sit below thee in shame and disgrace and in their darknesse of mis-understanding so long till nature doth enlighten them also That you may bring and lead that new Philosophiâ—â— Creature by the means nature afforded unto the highest perfection after which your heart with all her endeavours doth strive then remember that neither man nor beasâ— without a living Soul can neither stir nor move and as maâ— here in this life through temporal death loseth his Soul offering the same again unto the Almighty God from whom 〈◊〉 had it first into his mercy and merits of Jesus Christ â—here after the departure of the Soul the dwelling as the â—â—dy of it is left quite dead which is buried in the ground â—here it rotteth and must return unto dust and ashes being 〈◊〉 duly stipend which the fall of our first parents in Paradise â—we deserved and from them as by an inheritance is fall'n â—pon us after which putrefaction there are raised again on â—â—e great day new and clarified bodies and the departed â—â—ul taketh her dwelling up again in that new body after â—at there is no more parting of body nor spirit nor soul â—â—t because the Soul finding a clarified body then with the â—â—me she maketh an everlasting Union which neither Deâ—â—l nor death can destroy and disjoyn any more nor bring it â—to any corruption but from henceforth into all eternity â—e are and shall be like unto the best Creatures of God â—hich before our mortality and departure of the spirit of â—â—e soul and the body could never be God help and grant
us for from them I had it next unto Gods revelation the reading of their books must be frequently iterated then the fundamentals thereof will the better stick to the memory and truth like a burning Candle be not extinguisht Be industrious in your carefull working search into Scriptures continually be not prepossessed with opinions follow after the unanimous concurrence of Philosophers a wavering man is easily brought into wrong wayes and such men which have wavering mindes seldom build firm houses Seeing the stone of the most ancient Philosophers doth not come or spring from things which are combustible because this stone is freed from all dangers fire may put him unto therefore trouble not thy self to seek for it in such things where Nature would not have thee to seek for As for example if one should tell thee this stone is a vegetable work because a growing quality is in it but it is not For if our stone were of a condition as other vegetaâ—â—es are it would easily be consumed in fire nothing â—ould stay but onely its Salt Though there were men â—ho have written great volumes of the vegetable stone yet â—â—y friend you must note that it will be very difficult for â—â—e to conceive of it for they call our stone a vegetable â—â—e because a growing and augmenting belongeth thereâ—nto Note further irrational beasts have their increase of â—heir own kinde so you strive nor to seek for or to make â—his stone but onely of his own seed from whence it hath 〈◊〉 beginning and being Neither ought you to look out â—or any Animal soul for the making thereof flesh and â—loud which the great Creator hath bestowed upon Aniâ—als belongeth properly unto animals God composed â—hem of flesh and bloud whereby an Animal is made but â—â—r stone which from the ancient Philosophers came as by â—n inheritance upon me is made of one and of two things which contain a third this is the naked truth and it is rightly spoken for the ancients understood by man and wife one body not in respect of the outward appearance but by reason of their innate love which they got at the first working of their Natures in that respect it is acknowledged that they are one and as both propagate and increase their seed even so the seed of that matter of which our stone is made can be propagated and augmented If you be a true lover of our Art you will take this expression into consideration to keep thy self out of the pit into which erroneous Sophisters usually fall which their enemy digged for them My friend that you may know further from whence this seed cometh then enquire first of thy self to what end you intend to seek after this stone Reason then will dictate unto thee that it must needs spring from a Metalline root which the Creator hath ordained for Metals to generate thereby if you will know the matter of it then note First when the spirit moved â—pon the water and the Universe was encompassed with darknesse then the omnipotent and eternal God who iâ— without a beginning and end whose wisdom was from eternity by his insearchable Decree created heaven and earth and the things contained therein be they visible or invisible by what name soever they may be called But of â—he manner of this glorious Creation my intent is not now to Philosophâ—ze much upon let Scripture and Faith be impartial judges herein The great Creator hath given in the Creation to every Creature a seed whereby it should generate and encrease whereby Animals Vegetables and Minerals might continually be preserved Man hath no power bestowed on him to make or bring forth a new kinde of seed according to his fancy against Gods ordinance there is granted unto him a propagation and increase God reserved for his sole power to make seed else man could play the Creator also which doth not beseem him and belongs meerly to the highest Creator Conceive thus of the seed which worketh Metals there is a heavenly influence according to Gods good pleasure and ordinance from above it falls and mingleth with sydereal qualities When such conjunctions happen then these two beget an earthly substance as a third thing whicâ— is the beginning of our seed its first original whereby its first descent is proved from these three the Elements have their off spring as water aire and earth which work further by an Aeâ—nick fire to the bringing forth of a perfect thing which Hermes and all those before me for I could finde no more have called the three principles and were found to be an internal Soul an incomprehensible spirit and a visible body These three being together in one dwelling in processe of time yet by Vulcans help to be a comprehensible being as a Me cury Sulphur and Salt these three by an uniting beâ—â—â—â—rought into a coagulation according to Natures miraculoâ—s operation there is brought forth a perfect body as Nature would have it and the Creator had ordained the seed for it He that purposeth to seek after the fountain of our work and hopeth to get the viâ—tory in this warfar to hâ—m I tell this for a truth that where there is a Metalline Soul a Metalline spirit and a Metalline form of body that there must needs be there also a Metalline Mercury a Metalline Sulphur and a Metalline Salt these must needs produce a perfect Metalline body If you do not conceive of it now then surely you are not adapted for Philosophy and in brief it is thus it will not be possible for thee to reap the benefit of any Metalline body unlesse you have joyned compleatly the forenamed three principles Note further Animals are composed of flesh and bloud there is in them also a living spirit and breath which dwelleth in them but they are destitute of a rational Soul which before them man is endued withall This is the reason that when Animals lost their lives they are gone no more hopes of them for ever But man who offering his body to his Creator in time of death hath a Soul who at the day of â—esurrection is to receive a glorified body to his Soul and are to dwell together and so Soul Body and Spiâ—i come together again iâ— an heavenly clarification which in all eternity will never be separated again c. Therefore man by reason of his Soul is acknowledged to be a fixed Creature because he is to live for ever after this life â—hough in his body he is subject to a temporal death For death is unto man onely a clarification according to Gods ordinance by certain degrees is delivered from a sinfulnesse and transplanted into a better condition which doth not beâ—â—ll other Animals therefore are they esteemed to be unfixed Creatures for these being once gone by death cannot expect nor look for any resuscitation because they want a rational Soul for which the sole Mediator Jesus Christ hath suffered and shed his innocent bloud A spirit â—â—â—y have a
judge of the situation of the â—eart Brain Liver Lungs Reins Bladder of the Entrals â—â—d of all the Veins and knoweth in what form and condiâ—on they are But before he hath made this anatomy all â—ese were hid from him a Myner which seeketh so Oars 〈◊〉 doth not know what riches he may expect from Metals â—â—lesse he open the Oar and so fine it what he findeth in 〈◊〉 by fire then he may know really in his calculation what â—â—hes he may expect from it So other things must be proâ—â—ded in which true Naturalists will endeavour to do and not prate of things onely without experimental knowledge disputing of colours with the blinde man learn to know the ground with your own eyes and hands which Nature hideth within her then you may speak wisely of them with good reason and you may build upon an invincible Rock If you do not so then you are but a Phantastick prater whose discourse is grounded on sand without experience and is soon shaken by every winde and ruined in the end The ground of this knowledge must be learned as you heard by anatomizing and separating of things which by distillation is made known where every Element is separated apart there it will be made known what is cold or moist warm or dry There you learn to know the three principles how the spirit is separated from the body and how the Oyl is separated from the water and how the Sale is drawn from the Caput mort of each matter and is reduced again into a spirit and how these three are afterward joyn'd again and by fire are brought into one body Further is here learn'd how each after its separation and afterward in a conjunction may profitably and safely be used for their several uses they are prepared for all which must be done by a medium At the first Creation man is earthy grosse but his Soul Spirit and Body being separated by death putrifieth under ground and when the Highest cometh to judgement he is raised again his Body Soul and spirit cometh together according to Faith and Scripture that body is no more earthy as it was formerly but is found heavenly and clarified glittering as the Stars in the East and like the Sun is seen when all the Clouds are past So it is here when earthinesse is broken divided and separated then the three principles of the dead substance are made apparent the dead one is forsaken the living power comes to her perfection because her obstruction is laid aside that the vertue in the operation may be manifested In this separation and manifestation is then known what these three principles are which are so much discoursed of namely Mercury Sulphur and Salt according to the condition of the subject He that doth not think it to be true let him go to the end of the World where he shall feel all what in his dumb capacity he could not comprehend if any one should intend to teach me any other with a prolixity of words he may fill me with words but he must prove it really also for without that I am not bound to believe his words but desire some sign as Thomas one of the Twelve who look'd for an Ocular demonstration I might have left out Thomas but being there is a clift between a spiritual and worldly unbeliever I gave liberty to my minde to speak it for there is a great difference in heavenly and worldly matters touching faith and things comprehensible and there is that difference found also in fidereal earthly things for fidereal things are comprehended by sharp imagination and Arithmatick rules but to the finding out of earthly things there belongeth speculation and separation with speculation must be joyned an intention and an apprehension is annexed to speculation the former is done spiritually because the spirit of man doth not rest desireth to apprehend more qualities of the spirit in things natural every spirit stil draweth its like the rest is earthy for an earthy body separateth by manuals the earthly body from the spiritual part and so the one may be discerned before and from the other Whereas the soul in both sheweth her self really therefore is she in all really for she tieth the heavenly and earthy together like a bond but when the heavenly is â—â—â—arated from 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rthy that the soul also must forsake her body then you 〈◊〉 â—â—â—arated and received the three each apaâ—t which aâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 true knowledge and conjunction can afford such a triumâ—â—ing and clarifyed body which is found in a better degree of many thousand times because the grossest is laid aside from the earthy For when heaven and earth come to be refined by the great Creator then the greatest part will be consumed by fire and by that purging it will be exalted to the same degree with the heavenly and set into the same line for each all is created by one each all is ordained by one and though through sin by one man all was corrupted unto death yet all is by one brought to a better State of life and the onely Creator intends to judge all by fire and all must again become one which will be that heavenly essence to which the earthl gave way by means of the fire the eternall glory leaving a room for devil and death from whence they shall look on the elect admiring the great Majesty and glory of God which in a divine essence of three distinct persons is all in all and hath created all Thus the three persons in the deity have held forth in us their invisible essence giving thereby to understand by an insearchable wisdom what their creature order is we men are too weak to come higher God is and will be God and we men must be content with such gifts affâ—â—ded unto us hereafter shall be accomplished that which is prophesied of by Prophets and Apostles and now are conceived of onely by way of faith therefore we ought now to be contented what by Nature is intimated in a visible way other things incomprehensible unto us matters of faith wil appear better to be understood at the end of the world God grant unto us all a true knowledge of â—â—mporal goods and of the eternall At the closing of this I say that this is the whole Art and whole foundation of all the Philosophick speech in which is that sought which many desire taking great pains and making great expences namely to get wisdom and judgement a long life health riches of this world comprehended in few words as for example First you must know that I wiâ—â— shew unto you such an example of thâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—nals which in the appearance is a mean and poor on◠〈◊〉 â—f a mihgty consequence if rightly considered The 〈◊〉 â—ayeth an egg the same egg is by heat brought to a hard 〈◊〉 or coagulation by a further heat it is brought to a putrefaction where it it corrupted in this putrefaction the egg receiveth
was silver and metal there but never in that place where it went forth and is turned into another thing for â—fter the decay of each body and of its leaf and after the â—ff plucking a singular husk the last it maketh is the fierest for there it lieth like a Speculum upon the water and â—asily turneth into nourishments which is the reason why 〈◊〉 turneth so soon to the metals and so the nourishments â—re infected contrary to their quality that it wandereth so up and down is the reason because it containeth some of â—he seed and of the life and is the untowardness for the â—eed must have something in which it may lie which if it be not one of the bodies of the seven metals then is it such poison or husk this is the skin wherein it containeth it self â—o long till the corruscation forceth it away which then â—s death unto it CHAP. XXII Of the shining rod or of the fire rod. HE that intends to meddle with rods must not follow after his own fancie nor bring novelties unto Mine-works out of his suppositions For nature indureth not to be curb'd in her order but men must be regulated according to nature Concerning the rod good notice must be taken of the Breathing this Lucens virgula or fire-rod is ordered upon the operative attractive breathing for if it were strong though it doth not kindle yet it doth its office through by a heat appropriated to its quality A great heat in a furnace puts out a small heat light or fire the same effect hath this breathing upon this Rod which being kindled stuck in is put out no upper air or wind can hurt it for our upper fire cannot live or burn under ground for if a light or candle be hit against a stone or earth it is put out because it cannot fall in It attracteth the nutriment which maketh this Rod burn and sucks it dry This is remarkable in the matter of this Rod that it hath an unctuosity which doth not burn as the seeds husk is whose poyson put out lights under ground in an extraordinary manner And the breathing above ground doth the same in a peculiar manner Few miners know this fire and is the onely means whereby the inhalation is known This fire-work thus extracted is of special use in Mines and then in the After-work is of severall use for metals of the which more in its due place to descry fire by fire is no mean skill and the subterranean fire can in no other way be mastered Ancient Philosophers have written much of it how superiour elements make their juncture with the nether intimating also that by the means of the middle Elements must be learned the emergy of the superiour and subterranean For they are spirits which joyn the souls above with the grosser bodies below else nothing could have any successe witâ—in the earth and for their operation there must be a medium a gluten to tie and bind fire with fire is a strange maxime but is a true one hence cometh a reserve of fire which never burneth all three must be together for the upper is the light fire and the metal is the flame-fire and the nether is the burning fire This we shall know at the great day in the other life where God will separate the burning from the flame when it flameth then will the burning consume Hell and Hell will soon be burned away neither will there be any clearnesse but darkness because God bestoweth the light upon his chosen ones which is neither a flame nor a burning here these must stand together Be acquainted with its friendlinesse and friendship make it thy advantage which is abstrusely hid and goeth invisibly CHAP. XXIII Of the glowing Rod. BEcause the stirring of the Rod is fallen into abuse among many people however it is a fundamental way know and to bring forth the metals if duely and natuâ—ly used It is an undeniable truth as I made mention of â—fore that metals do breath and the same breathing is inâ—ible the best means to learn it is the Rod this is the â—ason why I call this Rod the glowing Rod because it reâ—aleth and sheweth the exhalation of metals which exâ—lation is of a fiery heat though it casteth neither flame â—r sparks yet it is of such an heat that it gloweth in its â—anner and brings the Rod into a glowing which is an â—fallible sign that there is a living metal at hand This â—od if it should be more glowing without a flame there â—ust be used special matter which receiveth that fire else cannot be done with any utility Concerning that Rod is a stick or staff of the length of half an ell of hard â—ood as of oak unto it is fastened the matter even as a â—rch or link is made of pitch or wax this matter must be â—f an unctuous matter either of an animal vegetable or â—mewhat else which is upon or above ground it must â—ot be too strong otherwise it sets the breathing on fire â—o talk wax pitch or resein is fit to be used nor any miâ—eral otherwise that breath mineral or metal would set its â—od on fire and consume it it must be a calx of earth which catcheth that heat suddenly and smothers in a heat â—s calx doth above ground being moistened it falls thus â—ot off from the rod. This lime burnt above by breathâ—ng is good for several uses But this breathing doth not â—eize on the unctuosity or Mine-wax else how could the â—ourishment of minerals prosper Miners call it a Spath a true calx of the earth It is not corroded and seized oâ— under ground because it hath too much of humidity Some call it a Mine Mermel or subterranean Mermel buâ— is no such matter because he doth not indure the weatheâ— above ground exsiccateth and by breathing is kindled aâ— last The huge Mountains in Norway the ores in Swedland seize on it and corrode it they are full of Spath or calx iâ— their glowing they grow hollow if they were in a flame that land had been consumed long ago For as soon as thaâ— Earth-water comes forth from this Spath and the exsiccating earth cometh forth also then the hidden fire falls into their places CHAP. XXIV Of the leaping Rod. WHilst metal is in its purification that it neither riseth nor moveth then it hath its breathing the same as it is of a singular condition must be discovered and led forth by a singular Rod which Rod is of two sticks held together with both hands where there is such a breathing it lieth close on that Rod no man is able to hold these sticks together if that breatheth on them and if it were a single stick it would break in two the inner side where this Rod is laid together must be anointed with Marcasite that breathing draweth it downward even as the Magnet is of an attractive quality to draw iron so draweth the breathing of this
and to all things in the world if they play the masters CHAP. XXXIII â—f Aurum metallicum of the metalline gold or of the Metalline-bed THere is another fatnesse under ground where metals 〈◊〉 grow neither is it the hull of the seed nor the stone â—um Petroleum or Naphta but is like unto an Uredo or â—ne-soap It differs much from soap soap doth not â—n because it containeth a hidden Sulphur not a comâ—stible one but an incombustible one this is the reason â—y it doth not burn in a flame neither doth it seize on aâ— other thing but onely on the pure metal if that should â—t continue with it the metal could not come neither inâ— ascension nor descension it consumeth first of all in the â—etal even as grease doth in the animals This fatnesse is â—t far from the oar when it is predominant it consumeth â—e metal quite and evaporateth Oil is of that vertue put on the top of a drink be it what it will it keeps in 〈◊〉 strength and coolnesse this fatnesse shuts up the oars â—dy that no breathing can passe Fatnesse hath a great â—finity with iron and is one of its next kinde of the â—hich great volumes could be written In the County of Schwartzburg at Wackersberg there is â—ore of such fatnesse looks like quick silver and swimeth â—nd tinctureth red like Bole this colour it took hold on â—nd it may be extracted from it some call it a Mercurial â—ody or a Tin-glasse Lead-glasse Wismuth or Antimony 〈◊〉 seizeth on all those and when this fatnesse doth â—ot turn to a fatnesse of such metals where the seed â—s predominant then it turnes to a volatility and to a great Robber This fatnesse is a greasie earth glitâ—ering like a salve of a red and browne glowing as if it were Quick-silver or beaten Talk or glasse strow into In the Rocks of Bohemia and Transsylvania there great store of it at Goslar and at Slackenwald even as quiâ— silver or lead oars are many of them are found here aâ— there CHAP. XXXIV Of Metalline streames VVHen Ferch and seed must part from their work 〈◊〉 reason of the sediments be they what they wiâ— and expire not naturally then the oars turn to stones whiâ— Miners call Fluxes though they know not from whenâ— they come nothing can be made out of them they are fâ—sible or fluid when melted in fire but nothing can 〈◊〉 brought into them because they are not porous or no 〈◊〉 can get into which maketh them more noble It is strangâ— in Nature if any good thing be driven out of the body will not return thither for if life be gone from man thâ— body receiveth it no more but these are things possible 〈◊〉 God alone My intent is not here to write of miraculoâ— things but onely of things natural I wave the former 〈◊〉 is to be admired that the body of dead metals is so faiâ— whereas other bodies which are dead consume away 〈◊〉 nothing metals also come into a corruption but in a lonâ— time their death is like any glass keeps its colour especiallâ— if it was of a Marcasite hence are learned the colours oâ— Marcasites for green blue white fluxes are found therein as metalline flowers have been which are generated 〈◊〉 three bodies CHAP. XXXV Of Creta Chalk or stone meal VVEE see in this our air that no fume or wind ascendeth in vain it dissolveth again into one thing â—â—other thither resort many meteors the like meteors â—h the earth under ground For the fume which ascendâ— from the fire-halation of the oar or of the metal and â—ords the stone meal Creta wherever it falls or lighteth grindeth more and increaseth abundantly having a danâ—rous salt whereby it hurts those places where metals 〈◊〉 especially when they are in their ascension hindering â—eir colour It is apparent in the slat at Mansfield where â—ieth betwixt the spoaks of the ores and can hardly be â—tten from thence it robbeth and consumeth Folium and â—olium The stone-meal maketh a Kuff with stone-marâ—w turning it to a kind of marble called the Potstone or â—â—lit a double stone and is dark and very firm it striketh â—e being for the most part of fire Hither belong the â—alks but intending to make mention them in another place I wave them here however they so are such a meal and differ from others herein because inclineth more to a cold fire wherein it melteth like â—ow as the others do and dissolveth sooner into water â—an into meal and this turnes sooner to meal than to waâ—r if it be of lesse matter than it hath of the stone-â—arrow then it affords a fair ice or crystal called Vitrum â—lexandrinum or Mary's Ice which cannot be mastred in â—ot fires but it melteth in cold fires is very hurtful unto â—etals insomuch that by reason of it Mine-works fall to â—ine as it happened at Stolberg CHAP. XXXVI Of Spiro or of the Blast THe Spiro or blast in an instrument which bringeth 〈◊〉 right the weather or obstructed air otherwise all wouâ— turn to stone where it is and would be at a stand there the lower fire should enter instead of the air and exicâ—teth though it doth not kindle if a piece be beaten off 〈◊〉 it then it appeareth so and this piece which flieth thus 〈◊〉 side giveth to understand how it maketh the stone hoâ— Nature frameth the oar and metal but jewels and precioâ— stones are from another off-spring out of sweet waters In this instrument there dwell together fire air whicâ— take their power and matter from the malignant weatheâ— where they consume all ponderous matters through firâ— inlightening the remaining matter it hath Make that Spiro or blast into a ball of copper of an heads bignesse sâ—der it bright and light let no air get into it leave a smaâ— hole where a needle may enter attracting the water whicâ— purposely must be made and set for it there must be had pan of coals at hand which must be kindled and the baâ— laid into it turning the little hole toward the coal-fire anâ— it will blow the fire forcibly which being done it groweth hot and maketh the water boil in the ball which fumeth and carrieth it forth with a great fiercenesse blowinâ— on the coals strongly and thus it maintaineth the fire by breathing strongly in the manner of a pair of bellowes driven from without hereby several good things are effected and the condition of this ball is that it sheweth what may be done above ground with the like no use can be madâ— of it behinde that place because Nature herself hath sucâ— a blast for her fire CHAP. XXXVII Of Pulfa or of the Break-stuff or brittle matter THis salt is ingendred usually by a malignant fume which the Mine-fire should have And when the â—nes be very hard then there must be made a fire of wood â—here the fume draweth to the stone-fire and groweth â—ick and if the fumes of Succinum and of other things are
dwelling in a body but it is not consequent haâ— he must abide there constantly though the body and â—hat spirit be at rest and that body with that spirit doth not contest about any controversie because both do want the strongest part which upholdeth and bindeth together sâ—ul and body protecteth and keepeth them from dangers namely the tender noble and fixed Soul for where the Soul is quite gone and lost there is never any redemption hoped for for a thing which hath no Soul is not perfect which is one of the highest mysteries which seekers ought to know and upon conscience I am commanded not to conceal this mystery but to make it known to those which seriously love fundamentals of truth And take carefully notice of what I say Spirits hidden in Metals are not alike some are more volatile and others more fix their souls and bodies are not alike neither that Metâ—l which containeth the three fixednesses that is blessed with a power to hold in the fire and so overcome all its enemies which onely is found in Sol. Lune containeth a fixed Mercury and is the reason why she doth not fly so soon in the fire as other imperfect Metals do but stands out her examens in the fire and sheweth the same victoriously because the devouring Saturn can rob nothing from her That arch-wench Venus is clad and possessed with an abounding tincture the most part of her body is a meer tincture like unto such a tincture which dwelleth also in the best Metal and by reason of the superfluity thereof is â—ing'd upon red and because her body being leprous that fixed tincture cannot have any abiding place in her unfix'd body but must vanish together with her body for the body being consumed by destruction or death that body cannot subsist neither but must give way and flie because the habitation is destroyed and consumed with fire so that her place is not known nor may any other dwell there from henceforth But in a fixed body she willingly dwelleth constanâ—ly Fixed Salt hath bestowed on valorous Mars a hard sturdy and grosse body whereby the gallantry of his minde is pâ—oved and is not so easily gotten from this warlike Prince because his body is hard and is not easily master'd or conquer'd But if his valour with Lune's fixation and with Venus her beauty in a mixture doth harmonize spiritually then a curious and melodious Musick may be made whereby some Keyes may be advanced and the needy labourer may get a piece of living Particulariter if he got up to the uppermost step of that ladder for the phlegmatick quality or moist Nature of Lune must be exsiccated through the hot bloud of Venus and her great pains must be allayed by the outward Salt There is no necessity to seek for seed in the Elements because our seed is not put so far back but there is a nearer place in which our seed hath its sure and certain habitation if you onely rectifie and regulate the Philosophick Mercury Sulphur and Salt so that of their soul spirit and body there be made an inseparable union which may never be separated again then the Band of love is perfectly made and the dwelling is well prepared for the Crown And note that this is onely a liquid Key like unto a heavenly property and a dry water addicted to an earthly substance all which is but one thing proceeding and growwing from three two and one if you can hit it then you have overcome the mastery and make a copulation betwixt Bride and Bridegroom let them feed and cherish one another with their own flesh and bloud let them increase and multiply infinitely by their own seed I could willingly communicate and disclose more unto you but the Creator hath forbidden it and is not meet for me to speak any further of it for fear the gifts of the highest should be misused and I should be the cause of committing of great sins and load Gods wrath upon me and fall with the rest into eternal punishment My friend if these expressions give thee no content to conceive of the thing and I lead thee unto the practick part of mine own how I have attained by Gods assistance unto the Philosophers stone I pray consider the same well peruse diligently my XII Kâ—yes iterate their reading frequently then proceed according to my instruction which I set down fundamentally by way of a parable Take a piece of the finest Gold anatomize the same by such means as Nature hath afforded unto Artists even as a Physician anatomizeth mans body whereby he is inquisitive into the condition of mans internal parts reduce thy Gold unto that what it hath been at first then you will finde the seed the beginning middle and end out of which our Gold and its wife is made namely of a penetrating subtile spirit of a pure tender and undefiled Soul and of an Astral Salt and Balsam which after their uniting is nothing else but a Mercurial liquor the same water was brought to School to its own God Mercury who examined the water having sound it without deceit and falshood he made friendship with it and took the water into a Matrimonial state and both became an incombustible Oyl For Mercury grew so proud upon it that he knew himself no more he flung away his Eagles wings himself swallowed the smooth tâ—yl of the Dragon and offered a battel unto Mars Mars gathered his Champions together and gave command that Mercurie should be taken Prisoner and be kept closely imprisoned Vulcan was commanded to be Jaylor so long till a Female kinde came in to his deliverance This rumour being noised abroad the other Planets had a meeting where they consulted what further was to be done in that businesse the proceedings might wisely be prosecuted Then Saturn made a speech in this manner I Saturn the highest Planet in the firmament protest before this honourable Assembly of my Lords that I am the meanest and most contemptible among you all of a weak corruptible body of a black colour subject to many infirmities in this miserable World and yet am an examiner of you all for I have no abiding place and take along with me such thaâ— are like unto me I cannot lay the fault of this my misery to none but Mercury who by his carelesnesse hath pu this evil upon me Therefore my Lords I beseech you to be pleased to revenge my quarrel on him aâ—â—â—eiâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—st already into prison there to take his life awâ—y 〈◊〉 sâ—â—m â—ot there that not one drop of his blâ—â—d Saturn having ended his speech Jupiter rose up made a â—tch upon his knees bowing his Scepter began to comâ—â—nd Saturns proposals commanding all those to be puâ—shed which should neglect to put in execution that â—hich Saturn would have done unto Mercurie After him â—ose Mars with his naked sword which was full of strange â—â—d admirable colours glittering like a fire-glasse casting â—â—ange rayes put the
If glorified Elias were present and the Aâ—â—â—als could â—peak and silent nature had a tongue to expresse hereof â—hen I needed not to bring in any further evidence to perâ—wade the incredulous who considered not judiciously this â—y saying for a man possessed with blindnesse cannot passe â—y judgement upon my writings bâ—â— understanding â—udgeth impatience and wisdom separateth herself from folâ—â— by her own experience This Vital spirit nourisheth feedeth and preserveth hâ—self by the Oleâ—â—y of mans Sulphur which is predominanâ— the bloud and with or through it doth work in â—he whâ— body that the substance may be perfect This Vital sâ— is Mercury which is found in man and is preserved by Oleity of its likenesse besides these two Mercury and Sâ—phur there is a third thing in man namely Salt which hâ— in the flâ—sh body and bones The Salt ministreth its noblest spirit for a nourishmâ— unto the bloud which saltnesse is found therein by taste and disperseth it self â—hroughout the body preâ—veth mans body like a Balsam from puâ—efaction and is the band and copulation whereby Meâ—cury or the Vâ— spirit continueth the longer with the Balsam in the flâ—â— dwelleth together in one For in the Salt there lieth a sâ—rit which must protect all other Balsams in their worth a dignity The remainder found in the flesh if these thâ— be taken from it is a dead thing as I told formerly and good for nothing nor can it be used for any thing As this Union Dominion and Government is in Maâ— the like are in Metals Minerals and Vegetables whâ— make up their perfect body do live keep and are preservâ— in the like manner as man is As the one followeth up the other in Man according to order in the like conditiâ— are other Animals after their kiâ—de and property As a Câ— is an Animal her food as grasse is Vegetable this Vegâ—table by the heat of the Cows body is putrified in that pâ—trefaction is made a separation which is the Key of all dâ—solutions and separations separation being made then goeâ— the subtile spirit the subtile Sulphur and the subtile Salt the Vegetable's substance of the grasse into all Members the whole body of the Cow the spirit ruleth the beast tâ— Sulphur nourisheth it and the Salt preserveth it This being done then nature distributeth her gifts fuâ—ther making a new separation as of the superfluouâ—nessâ— which the Cow doth not assume by way of assimilation aâ— must part with it and distributeth the same further and th◠〈◊〉 Milk this Milk is an Animâ—l substance transmuted from the Vegeâ—able In this Milk is made another separation by fire which must be kept gently For the subtilest spirit of the Milk together with the Sulphuâ— sublimeth is taken off and turned to a coagulated farâ—â—sse which is butter The â—est is separated by other means and precipitated and â—â—hereby is made another separation this is a second coaguâ—ation out of which men make their food of the overpâ—us â—s made another separation by fiâ—e not so far as the former â—wo at last there remâ—ineth an aquosity and is of no greaâ—â—sâ—fulnesse because the spirit and its nutriment â—s taken â—rom it by the sâ—veral separations After this nature maketh to a further putrefaction aâ—other â—nd grosse excretion of a Sulphureous and Salt â—ubstance which generateth afresh a living spirit which is the â—xcreâ—ent this serveth for the earth to be manured withall maâ—ing the earth fertil by its Sulphur and Salt as being of a â—osse and fat substance whereby new fruits are produced â—ere is another nutriture from an Animal into a Vegetable â—his maketh Wheat and other Fruits and Grains to grow â—roducing again a nutriment from the Vegetables unto Aâ—imals Thus one nature doth follow after the other by â—ulgar people not so much comprehended or search'd into â—ot caring to learn natures qualities so much which mâ—xeth â—ach natural things seem to be incredible To return again to the structure of Man the noblest spiriâ—â—f life hath its dominion and seat for the most part anâ—t â—ost strongly in the heart of mans body as in the noble â—art and the Sulphur of man â—iveth unto thaâ— spirit a nuâ—iment and spiritual accesse for its preservation by the aâ—reâ—or if aire be taken away from man then spiriâ— of liâ—e is hoak'd up departeth invisibly and death is at hâ—â—d The noble Salt spirit is a conserver of both its noblâ—st spiâ—t penetrateth throughout the grossest matter of 〈◊〉 Sa â— is â—ast into the bladder and that hath a spiâ—it of a peâ—ial â—peration That which goeth from the Salt throuâ—hâ— the â—adder is wrought upon by a hear ministreth a nâ—w â—â—cesse or increase so that this increase of Salt in man is iâ— exhaustible unlesse it die quâ—te and the body be burnâ— to ashes and the remainder be extracted As for an eâ—ample Take the Salts from Minerals let these grow agaiâ— coagulate and extract the Salt again by water the like seen in nitrous earths also and other common Salts aâ—â— there needs not to quote any further examples The spirit of life hath its processe into other Member from the heart into bones arms and the rest of the boâ— that are stirring In diseases and symptomes he is weaâ— and man by reason of such symptomes cannot perform hâ— businesse in that full strength as at other times when he in health feedeth and cherisheth his body with Vegetâ—ble spirits which come from feeding on bread meaâ— and drinking of wines then his body groweth strongeâ— and his Vital spirit groweth potent by such nutriments iâ— his superfluity disperseth himself into all Members anâ— sheweth his operation If the heart groweth faint theâ— is it a signe that the Vital spirit is not nourished upoâ— which there ensue speedily deadly diseases because thaâ— fire is not at liberty and falls into an extinction or choalâ—ing The fire in the heart and the natural heat is preserveâ— and supported by the aire of that aire the Lungs stanâ— most in need of the Liver also must have aire else it caâ—not laugh the Spleen must have aire else it will be oppress 't with stitchings and great pains the true seat for thâ— most part oâ—â—â—â—aire is necessary for the Lungs if these faâ— into any weâ—kâ—essâ— the cause thereof is because the Salâ— doth noâ— shâ—w its true and meet help and must go intâ— rottennesse casting up bloud and matter then there is aâ— hand a corruption of the aire from which the Vital spiriâ— cannot finde any true nourishment but must be starved because the Salt doth not effect its conserving quality thâ— Sulphur and the increase of the nourishment is obstructed and is not perfect whereby are caused Consumptions witherings of the body consuming of the flesh and exiccation of the bloud and of the marrow The substance of Salt oâ— the Salt spirit which preserveth the body hath its â—eat for the most part in the bladder where all humidities have their issue the remâ—ining grosse Salt is separated and excerned