Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	body_n	soul_n	unite_v	4,194	5	9.8657	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60662	Medicina practica, or, Practical physick shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies ... : to which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longævus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley : all translated out of the best Latin editions into English ... : together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers : the whole compleated in three books / by William Salmon ...	Salmon, William, 1644-1713.; Khālid ibn Yazīd al-Umawī, 7th cent.; Jābir ibn Ḥayyān.; Artephius. Liber secretus artis occultae. English.; Flamel, Nicolas, d. 1418. Figures hierogliphiques. English.; Bacon, Roger, 1214?-1294. Speculum alchemiae. English.; Bacon, Roger, 1214?-1294. Radix mundi. English.; Ripley, George, d. 1490? Medulla alchimiae. English.	1692 (1692)	Wing S434; ESTC R183203	439,154	1,009

their own Body and this Work must be so often reiterated till no more Clouds arise viz. till the Dragon is wholly Slain This done he must be restored to Life again and made to live and then killed again as aforesaid and then it does live as we have demonstrated in the Explication of the former Paragraph even in Putrefaction from which it must at length by the order and course of the Operations be freed and brought to its Ultimate Perfection VI. Hermes In the Life and Death thereof the Spirits Work For as it is Killed by taking away of the Spirit so that being restored it is again made Alive and rejoyces therein Salmon The Spirit is used both in the Killing of it and in the making of it Alive again but this is by some doubtfully understood whether it be meant of the innate or indwelling Spirit only or of that Spirit joyned with another Metallick Spirit because he uses Spirits in the Plural number However this is certain that as Death is induced by taking away the Spirit so Life is retrieved by restoring it again VII Hermes But coming to this that which ye seek by affirmation ye shall see I declare also to you the signs of joy and rejoycing even that thing which does fix its Body Salmon That is he declares the cause of life and death to be in the Spirits to wit in the natural Spirits whether Animal Vegetable or Mineral He who knows how to revive dead Minerals and to purify them knows how to exert their powers and is in the High-way to the greatest of Secrets 'T is this Spirit joyned with its Philosophick Earth which has power to fix both perfect and imperfect bodies and to tinge them into the highest perfection of Silver and Gold which he calls the signs of joy and rejoycing VIII Hermes Now these things our Ancestors gave us only in Figures and Types how they attained to the knowledge of this Secret but behold they are dead I have now opened the Riddle I have demonstrated the proposition so much desired so much aimed at I have opened the Book of Secrets to the Skilful and Learned yet I have also a little concealed the hidden Mystery Salmon He declares that the ancient Philosophers delivered the Matter and Process of the Philosophick Tincture in AEnigma's and Types Shadows only they left no footsteps of the true thing behind them but what every one might think of at pleasure therefore from them our Hermes could receive nothing and he professes Ch. 1. Sect. 1. That he obtained the knowledge of this Art by the inspiration of the Living God only God it was who did reveal and open the Secret to him This Secret he has opened in this Work and made so plain that the skilful and learned may understand it 'T is true he has not unfolded every particular but yet he has made things so plain that he who can read him with a Philosophick mind may at length haply find out the truth notwithstanding what he has revealed he declares he has a little concealed the hidden Mistery IX Hermes I have kept the things which ought to be put a part within their own bounds I conjoyned the various and divers figures and forms of its appearance in the operation and I have confederated or joyned together with them the Spirit Receive you this as the gift of God Salmon The meaning of which is that he has first separated what ought to be separated viz. the pure from the impure and the Spirit from the Body which is the first work in order to putrefaction corruption and death Then secondly he has joyned again what ought to be conjoyned to wit the various and divers figures and forms the Soul with the Body that it may again be enformed with Tincture and Substance Thirdly he has confederated or joyned together with them the Spirit which ties the Particles of the Body and Tincture so firmly together that they can never be separated and unites them in a perpetual conjunction with a fixity which will endure for ever CHAP. XI The Practical part farther Explicated I. HERMES It behoves you therefore to give thanks to God who has largely given of his bounty to all the Wise who delivers us out of the Snares and Clutches of Misery and Poverty Salmon For this inestimable Gift of God it is but gratitude to return him the Tributes of Humility and Thanksgiving to abase our selves before his Divine Majesty with all humbleness and submission who thus raises you out of the Dust to sit among Princes making you to despise the Glories of Crowns and Scepters as insignificant Baubles and to rest with infinite content in the meanness of a despicable Cottage for that you carry within your Brests the true Treasure more valuable than all the whole World besides II. Hermes I am proved and tried with the fulness of his Riches and Goodness with his probable miracles and I humbly pray God that whilst I live I may pass the whole Course of my life so as I may attain him Salmon When a Man becomes Master of this Arcanum he is then tried and proved indeed how in the midst of such a fulness of Riches and Happiness he can humble himself and sink in to the deep Abyss of nothingness abstracting himself from all the goodly things of this life In this humble state God is only to be met with for the proud he beholds afar off and in this abjection and self-denial in this mortification of the first life and birth a second is to be found a being brought forth in the love of God the birth of the new Man formed after the Image of the second Adam a new Spirit a new Life joyned and United to the Life of God which can never Perish or Decay a Fountain of Eternal Delights an inexhaustible Treasure infinitely exceeding that which we have all this while thus earnestly been seeking after and pursuing III. Hermes Take then from thence the Fat 's or Sulphurous Matter which we take from Suets Grease Hair Verdigrease Tragacanth and Bones which things are written in the Books of the Ancients Salmon By the Fat 's or Sulphurous Matter understand the Sulphurs of all kinds educed by the Alchymick Art out of Natural things of which Sulphurs one only is fixed and incombustible and it is a thing which is both in the Earth and in the Heavens it is in Act Animal Vegetable and Mineral found every where known but by a few and expressed by its proper Name by no Body shadowed forth under Various Figures and AEnigmaes This fixed Sulphur the Philosophers understand to be nothing else but the true Balsam of Nature with which the Dead Bodies of the Metals are imbibed and as it were throughly moistned to preserve them perpetually from Corruption The more any thing abounds with this Balsam the longer it lives and is preserved from perishing From things therefore abounding with a Balsam of this kind is this Our

Soul and that by the help of art it is made to grow into a true and pure Tree to spring up and bud forth abundantly and afterwards to send forth infinite little Springs and Branches III. O Noble and Blessed Green saith the Rosary which produces all things and without whom nothing can Increase Vegetate nor Multiply IV. The three Persons rising again cloathed in Sparkling White represent the Body Sonl and Spirit of our white stone V. The Philosophers do commonly use these terms of Art to hide the Secret from Unworthy Men. VI. They call the Body that black Earth which is obscure and dark and which we make white VII They call the Soul the other half divided from the body which by the purpose of God and work of Nature gives to the body by its Imbibitions and Fermentations a Vegetable Soul viz. a Power and Vertue to bud or spring increase multiply and become White like a naked shining Sword VIII They call the Spirit the Tincture and dryness which as a Spirit has power to pierce all things IX It would be too tedious to tell you how great reason the Philosophers had to say always and in all places Our Stone hath answerable to human kind a Body a Soul and a Spirit X. I will only inculcate to you that as a Man endued with Body Soul and Spirit is notwithstanding but one Man or substance So likewise in this your white Compositum you have but one only substance yet containing a Body Soul and Spirit which are inseparably united XI I could very easily give you most clear Comparisons and Expositions of this Body Soul and Spirit not fit to be divulged but should I explicate them I must of necessity declare things which God reserves to himself to reveal to a select choice of such as fear and love him and therefore ought not to be written XII I have then caused to be depicted here three persons all in white as if they were rising again thereby typifying forth this Body Soul and Spirit to shew you that Sol Luna and Mercury are raised again in this Operation viz. That they are made Elements or Inhabitants of the Air and Whitened XIII For we have before called the blackness Death and so continuing the Metaphor we may call Whiteness Life which comes not but with and by a Resurrection XIV The Body To explicate this more plainly I have made to be painted The Body lifting up the Stone of its Tomb wherein it was inclosed XV. The Soul This because it cannot be put into the Earth it comes not out of a Tomb and therefore I only depicted or placed it among the Tombs seeking its Body It is in the form of a Woman having her Hair dishevelled or hanging about her Ears XVI The Spirit This neither can be put into a Grave and therefore I depicted it like a Man coming out of the Earth but not from a Tomb. XVII These are depicted all in White thereby signifying that the blackness which is Death is conquered or vanquished and overcome and being whitened they are brought into a state of Life and made thenceforth incorruptible XVIII Behold and lift up your Eyes on high and see the King Ascended who being raised again by the power of Life and Crowned with the Glorious Tincture has overcome Death the Darkness and Moisture XIX And as our Lord and Saviour shall eternally unite unto him all pure and clean Souls and separate from him all such as are impure unclean and wicked as being unworthy to be united to his Divine Nature XX. So also our White Elixir will from henceforth inseparably unite unto its self every pure Metalick nature into its own fine pure and fixed Silvery nature but reject all that is Heterogeneal or strange and 〈◊〉 XXI Thanks be given to God who thus bountifully has bestowed his Goodness upon us and has given us Hearts fit to consider the Philosophical Mystery of this most pure and sparkling White more shining and perfect than any compounded matter XXII And more Noble next after the Immortal Soul of Man than any substance whether having life or not having life For it is a Quintessence most pure Silver having passed the Coupel yea all assays and in the words of David the Royal Prophet It is fine Silver seven times refined XXIII What the 2 Angels playing on Instruments over the heads of them which are raised signifie is needless here to be declared They are Divine Spirits singing the Wonders of God in this Miraculous and Admirable Operation XXIV The like may be said of the three Angels over the head of the Picture representing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the one of which Crowns him and the other two assisting say O Pater Omnipotens O Jesu bone Rendring unto him Immortal Praise with Eternal Thanksgiving CHAP. XXXIII Of the Field Violet and Blue with the two Angels of an Orange Colour and their Motto's I. THe Violet and Blue Field shews forth that being to pass or to be changed from the White Stone to the Red you must imbibe it with a little Virgins Milk of Sol that these Colours may come forth from the Mercurial Moisture which you have dryed upon the Stone II. In this Work of Rubifying although you do imbibe you shall not have much black but Violet Blue and the Colours of the Peacock's Tail III. For this our Stone is so absolute and triumphant in dryness that assoon as your Mercury touches it the nature thereof rejoycing in its like nature it is joyned unto it and drinks or swallows it up greedily IV. And therefore the black that comes of Moisture can shew it self but a little and that under the Colours of Violet and Blue because that Dryness as is said does in a very short time govern absolutely V. I also caused to be de picted two Angels with Wings to point out to you the two Substances of our Matter or Compositum viz. The Mercurial and Sulphurous substance and the fixed as well as the Volatile which being perfectly united together do also flie together within the Vessel VI. For in this Operation the fixed Body will gently ascend up to Heaven being wholly spiritual and from thence it will descend unto the Earth even whither soever you please following the Spirit every where which is always moved by the fire VII Whereby at length they are made one and the self same nature the Compositum or Body being made wholly spiritual and the spiritual wholly Corporeal so much has it been ground or subtilized upon our Marble i. e. decocted in our Fire by the precedent Operations VIII The Natures then are here transmuted into Angels viz. they are made til and spiritual and so are become the true Tinctures IX Now you must remember to begin the Rubifying by the apposition of the Citrine Red Mercury but you must not pour on much only once or twice according as you shall see occasion X. For this Operation ought to be done by

said subtil and thin Oyl of Sol and Luna the said substances of other Bodies be made fixed and to flow like Wax VII With which flowing substance you shall not only congeal Argent Vive into perfect Sol and Luna according as you have prepared your Medicine but you shall also with the same fluxible and flowing substance transmute and change all such other imperfect Bodies as they were whose Calces were so sublimed and from whom at their first subliming or lifting up they took their beginning into Sol and Luna aforesaid VIII And this thin and subtil Oyl being put into Kemia its proper Vessel first sealed up to putrifie in the Fire of the first degree being moist it becomes as black as liquid Pitch The fire may then have its Action in the Body to corrupt it the same Body as before so opened IX Therefore it grows first black like melted Pitch because the bear working in this moist Body does first beget a blackness which blackness is the first sign of Corruption and since the Corruption of one thing is the generation of another therefore of the Body corrupted is generated a Body Neutral which is certainly apt declinable and applicable unto every Ferment whatsoever you please to apply it to X. But the Ferment must be altered together with the Alchymick Body and the whole substance of our Stone or Elixir must partake of the Nature of the Quintescence otherwise it will be of no effect XI And between the said sign of blackness and perfect whiteness which will follow the said blackness there will appear a green Color and as many variable Colors afterwards as the mind of Man is able to conceive XII When the present White Color shall begin to appear like the Eyes of Fishes then may you know that Summer is near at hand after which Autumn or Harvest will happily follow with ripe fruit which in the long looked for Red ness This is after the Pale Ashy and Citrine Color XIII First the Sun does perfectly Descend by its due Course from its Meridional height and Glory through its gross and natural solution into an imperfect Pale and Ashy Color shining in the Occidental parts of the West which is somewhat of a yellowish or Brick dust Color from thence it goes to the Septentrional parts of the Earth being of a Variable watrish blackness of a dark cloudy alterable putrefactive watrishness XIV Then it Afcends up to the Oriental parts shining with a more perfect Crystalline Summer-like and Paradisical White Lastly he Ascends his Fiery Chariot directing his Course up again to his Meridional Life Perfection and Glory there to Rule and Shine in fire brightness splendor and the highest perfection even in the highest most pure and Imperial Redness XV. When this aforesaid simple Oyl of the altered Body being in its Vessel duly sealed is by the Fire thus disposed what is there more than one simple thing which nature has made to be generated of Sulphur and Mercury in the Bowels of the Earth XVI Thus it is evident that our Stone is nothing else but Sol and Luna Sulphur and Mercury Male and Female Heat and Cold. And therefore to be more short when all the parts of our Stone are thus gathered together it appears plainly enough what is our Mercury Our Sulphur Our Alehymick Body Our Ferment Our Menstruum Our Green Lyon And what Our White Fume Our two Dragons Our Fires and Our Egg in which is both the Whiteness and the Redness XVII As also what is Man's Blood Our Aquae Vitae Our Burning Water and what are many other things which in this Our Art are Metaphorically or figuratively named to deceive the Foolish and unwary XVIII Also there is a similitude of a Tri-une shining in the Body Soul and Spirit The Body is the substance of the Stone The Soul is the Ferment which cannot be had but from the most perfect Body and the Spirit is that which raiseth up the Natures from Death and Corruption to Life Perfection and Glory XIX In Sulphur there is an Earthiness for the Body In Mercury there is an Aerealness for the Spirit and in them both a Natural Unctuosity for the Soul or Ferment all which are inseparably United in their least parts for ever From this Fermental Body the Stone is formed and without it it cannot be made XX. It is the peculiar property of Sol and Luna the which property appertains to the Stone it self to give the form of Gold and Silver And therefore the Elixir whether it be White or Red may be Infinitely augmented with the Fermental Oyl if you do cast the same upon Mercury it shall transmute it into the Elixir which Elixir must be cast afterwards upon the Imperfect Bodies XXI Moreover the said White Elixir is augmented with Mercurial Water and the Red Elixir with the Mercurial Oyl the which two viz. the Mercurial Water and Mercurial Oyl can only be had of Mercury dissolved of it self XXII See what the Scripture saith He stroke the Stone and Water flowed out and he brought forth Oyl out of the Flinty Rock We may Note the whole composition of the Elixir in these four Verses following XXIII He stretched forth the Heavens as a Curtain The Water stood above the Mountains This is the Water which does cover Our Matter and performs the dissolution thereof causing a cloudy Ascension That does walk upon the Wings of the Wind. This figures forth the sublimation of ourStone XXIV Who makes his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of Fire By this is shadowed forth the rectification separation and disposition of the Elements Who has founded the Earth upon its Basis so fixt that it shall not be moved for ever Under which is described the fixation of the Elements and the perfection of the Philosophick Stone CHAP. LXVI Another way of Elixirating Gold by the Fire against Nature I. ANother way by which the Body of Gold is Elixirated by the power of the Fire against Nature through the help of the Operation of the Fire of Nature which is thus Dissolve the Body of pure Gold in the Fire against Nature the same fire being well rectified Arsenick Mercury sublimate as the manner is from which Gold being so dissolved into a Citrine clear and shining Water without any Heterogenity or Sand remaining let the water be abstracted till the Body does remain in the bottom of the Glass like a fixt Oyl II. Upon this Oyl affuse the said Water or Fire against Nature again and abstract again and this work so often repeat till the water or fire against Nature have no more sharpness upon the Tongue than common Well-Water III. This done draw such another new water or fire against Nature which Affuse upon the former Oyl and abstract in all respects as before is taught then Affuse upon this Oyl the water or fire of Nature well rectified and let it be double in quantity or proportion of the said Oyl of the Body so

the Water and the Fire dwelling therein which does contain its own Water drawn from the Four Elements and their Waters This is not Water in its form but Fire containing in a strong and pure Vessel the Ascending Waters lest the Spirits should flie away from the Bodies for by this means are they made Tinging and Permanent or Fixed Salmon That is the Mercury and the Sulphur dwelling in the Salt or the Spirit and the Soul dwelling in the Body which is our Stone The Fire saith he contains its own Water drawn from the Four Elements That is the Sulphur contains the Mercury drawn from its Original Fountains This is not Water in Form but Fire Nor is it Quick-Silver in form but Sulphur nor Spirit in form but Oyl or Tincture containing the Clouds and Ascending Waters which are of a dry consistency or Body sticking to the sides of the Glass lest they should flie away in sublimation from the Bodies by this means being often iterated at least three times but if it be six or seven times it is yet better the Spirit enters into and peirces and penetrates the Body in Order to its Fixation which at length is perfected which the highest Fixation and Tincture by the Fixing Oyl or Sulphur VII Hermes O Blessed Water in the form of Sea which Element thou dissolvest Now it behoves us with this watery Soul to possess a Sulphurous Form and to mix or joyn the same with our Vinegar Salmon Great is the Virtue and Power which dwells in the Aqua Philosophica from whence it is caled Blessed For as common Water washes away the Filth from things and cleanses them outwardiy so this our Elementated Water not only Dissolves Bodies but also Washes away and Cleanses them inwardly from all manner of Defilemens and Impurities and being joyned with the Philosophick Vinegar brings forth from them their incombustible Sulphur which by projection tinges and transmutes all imperfect Metals into most pure fine Gold and Silver This Water is the Key of the Art by which the Bodies are oftentimes to be opened that is they are to be Dissolved and by the same to be again Coagulated to be made more noble pure and perfect So that no Foot-steps of Death Blackness Corruption or Imperfection may any more remain in them The preparation of this Water is known but to a few nor do many attain to it because the Well is Deep out of which it is drawn nor do the Vulgar Chymists understand it But whatever you do you can do no great Matter without the help of Nature and tho' Aqua Fortis and Aqua Regis and such-like are usefull in their places to dissolve and Tear Bodies into Atoms yet are they Alien and far from the true Aqua Philosophica which has the Power to enter into the insides of Metals whereas they only divide them into many Superficies And therefore say the Philosophers the preparation of this Water is not to be Learned of Masters but it must be taught by the Dictates of Nature her self VIII Hermes For when by the Power of the Water the Compositum also is Dissolved you have the Key of the Restauration then Death and Blackness flie away and Wisdom proceeds on to the Finishing of the Work Salmon This Water does not Tear or Gnaw Bodies into Pieces and Bits but it Radically Dissolves them and reduces them into their Prima Materia as they were in their Original Generation Of this Nature are those Fountains Springs in Hungaria which have a Faculty of Transmuting what Iron soever is cast into them into good Coper and those other Fountains into which if any Wood be cast so as it remains but some certain time by the Lapidescent Virtue of the Water it is transmuted through its whole substance into Stone which Memorable and well known Powers and Operations of Nature in these particular things are in part a demonstration or at least an Argument to persuade one to the belief of other Operations and Transmutations in the Metalline Kingdom Ignis Azoth say the Philosophers are enough for the whole Work Learn therefore from Nature the preparation of this Azoth or Water of the Philosophers which Water being prepared does with a simple Operation through the help of Nature gently boyling in a soft Fire bring the work to a conclusion and perfect the same This Operation indeed or simple Coction is that which opens the Door into the Chambers of Life making Putrefaction and Death and blackness and darkness to vanish and flie away This Water and this Fire tho' simple and simple in their Operation yet are they hid and known but to a few for that they lead into the most recluse and abscondite recesses of Nature CHAP. VII The Operations of Nature in the Aqua Philosophica as in a Seed I. HERMES Now know my Son that the Philosophers chain up the Matter with a strong chain or band when they make it to contend with the fire because the Spirits in the washed Bodies desire to dwell therein and to rejoyce there In these habitations they vivifie themselves and dwell therein and the Bodies hold or contain them nor from them can they ever be separated Salmon The Bodies before they can be 〈◊〉 united with the Spirit and joyned one to another in a strong Confederation must first be purified and washed with Azoth and 〈◊〉 for the washing is that which puts an end to the blackness and the purification is made and continued till the White Elixir is made perfectly white and till the red is made perfectly red being thus cleansed and purified the Spirit out of a natural propension is drawn to the Bodies in which being ardently inflamed it immediately commixes with them and they are conjoyned with an indissoluble conjunction under the Chains of which they remain inseparable for ever Now this conjunction is not made by chance but from the meer affinity which is between the Bodies and Spirit for they both proceed from one fountain and principle though of the two the spirit by reason it vivifies and holds the Particles of the Bodies together is much the more noble the more excellent and most powerful Agent II. Hermes Then the dead Elements are revived and the Compositum or 〈◊〉 Bodies are tinged and altered and by wonderful operations they are made permanent or fixed as the Philosopher saith Salmon The Domicils of themselves remain dead but the Inhabitants in them are alive Now the Bodies of the Metals are the Domicils of their Spirits which when they are received by the Bodies their terrestrial substance is by little and little made thin extended and Purified and by their Vivifying Power the Life and Fire hitherto lying Dormant is excited and stirred up For the Life which dwells in the Metals is laid as it were asleep nor can it exert its Power or shew it self unless the Bodies be first Dissolved Exalted and turned into Spirit for that the Spirit does only Vivifie being brought to this

Body these three Vapor Blackness and Death are latent which three are also one The Caput mortuum must be dissolved for except the Body be dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits for the Solution of the impure and vaporous Body induces and brings forth more pure and Noble Spirits indued with a mighty Strength and Power And by means of this Solution a more perfect mixtion is made as of Water with Water which cannot be separated not like that of Sand with Sand whose Superficies only touch one another which is indeed no true mixtion And thus by making a dissolution of the Metalline Principle that which is not Metalline nor will dissolve nor mix with the dissolved Matter as the Vapor the Blackness and the Death or Putrefaction comes to be separated and removed whereby the Dead comes to Live and that which was in Captivity and Chains comes to be made free delivered and set at Liberty IX Hermes It behoves us therefore to chase or drive away and expel the Superexistent Fume or Vapor from the Water the Blackness from the Fat And the Death from the Foeces and this by Dissolution By which means we attain to the knowledge of the greatest Philosophy and the sublime Secret of all Secrets Salmon In these three that is in the One Composed of the three lie these other three the Fume the Blackness and the Death that is the want of Ponderosity of Tincture and of Fixity both which threes in their own principles are also but one thing to wit the Caput mortuum which is depurated and revived by Dissolution only And except the Body is Dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits as we have said before And therefore if you would remove the Fumes you must dissolve the Fumous or imperfect Body that it may mix with the Ponderating Spirit The Fat or Sulphur is cleared from the blackness by manifold Sublimations bringing forth the pure Philosophick White and Red Flowers which are the Tincture And the Death is expelled by the Mercurial or Metallick Spirit which gives the Eternal fixity CHAP. XII The Praxis exemplified from the Nature of Leven and Paste I. HERMES Now there are seven Bodies of which the first is Gold the most perfect the King and the Head of them which the Water cannot alter nor the Earth Corrupt nor Fire Devastate because its Complexion is Temperate or in a mean and its Nature direct in respect of Heat Cold Moisture or Dryness nor is any thing that is in it Superfluous Salmon The seven Bodies are the seven Metals the first of which is Gold and the most perfect of them Now tho' it be all that can be or is requisite to be in a Body truly perfect yet something more than perfect is designed by our Tincture For Sol of him self cannot tinge nor melio rate any other Body nor bring it to his own perfection therefore he is to be made more than perfect by Virtue of this Philosophick Tincture which opening his Body shall exalt it a thousand fold beyond the degree of its perfection making him able to transmute other Bodies into his own form fixity and likeness The other six Bodies are Silver Tin Copper Iron Lead and Quick Silver which last is also among the number of Spirits Now there is a difference between the Common and Vulgar Gold and our Gold say the Philosophers Ours 〈◊〉 the AEs or Electrum Minerale whose Composition comprehends in it self all the Metals according to this saying Omne Aurum est AEs sed non omne AEs est Aurum This AEs or Aurum is rightly compared to Sol who by the Testimony of Hermes next after God governs the World and Illuminates all things both Animate and Inanimate of whom well Sung Palingenius O Sol qui tempora mutas Et cum temporibus quicquid generatur in Orbe And as the Stars and all the other Planets receive their Light and Virtues from the Sun so also do all the other six Metals and Minerals receive theirs from Our Gold almost in like manner by the Emission of its Rays or Beams which is indeed its tinging Sulphur and multiplying and fixing Spirit All that is perfect 〈◊〉 Sol is its Viridity 〈◊〉 eternally generates 〈◊〉 multiplying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ferment of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Elixir saith the Rosary the compleat Medicine the most depurated and digested Substance more than perfect and perfecting all other bodies whether perfect or imperfect making those that are perfect much more than perfect This is the true Philosophick Gold i. e. Gold in a mean or Gold after a manner more worthy more Noble and more Pretious than Vulgar Silver or Gold or any Gem or Pretious Stone Many have sought this AEris Viriditatem in Vitriol and Copper or Vulgar Brass but they erred and were deceived following the literal Discourse of the Philosophers and not their Sense For they ought not to have contemplated the Metals as they are Bodies but as they are redu-Ced into a most Subtil Spirituous and Celestial Substance II. Hermes Therefore the Philosophers bear up and magnifie themselves in it saying that such Gold in Bodies is like the Sun among the Stars most Light and Splendid And as by the Power of God every Vegetable and all the Fruits of the Earth are perfected so by the same Power the Gold and the Seed thereof which contains all these seven Bodies makes them to spring to be ripened and brought to perfection and without which this Work can in no wise be performed Salmon As Sol is among the Stars and other Planets and Vulgar Gold among the other Vulgar Metals and Minerals so also is our Gold which is the true Philosophick Tincture among the other Metals or Bodys reduced to a Spirituality and pure Tincture And as Sol in the Heavens is the Medium that perfects all Sublunary or Inferior things by his Beams Light and Heat So also Our Sol the true Seed of Gold and the Seminal Power of the Aurifick Principle is also the Medium which makes all the other seven Bodies not only perfect but more than perfect that they thereby may perfect other quantities of their own kind yet lying in imperfection viz. wanting Purity Tincture and Fixation All which is done by Virtue of its subtle Spirit Tincture and Fire Therefore say the Philosophers Our Gold is not Corporeal but a depurated substance in the highest degree and brought to an Astral or Heavenly Nature This is the Ixir Elixir or Fermentum the true Tincture and Spirit tinging and fixing all other Bodies and without which they cannot be perfected III. Hermes And like as Paste or Dough is impossible to be Fermented or Levened without Leven so is it in this case without the proper Ferment you can do nothing When you sublime the Bodies and Purifie them separating the filthiness and uncleanness from them or from the Foeces you must conjoyn and mix them to gether and put in the Ferment making up the Earth

superiour part The matter generated of Sol and Luna ascends i. e. the thick Terrean substance thereof is converted or resolved into Heaven 〈◊〉 into a subtile substance like to Heaven he demonstrates the Spagyrick solution by what Instrument and Artifice it is done then he teaches the Fixation It Decends again to the Earth as if he should say after its substance is dissolved and made to Ascend under the Obedience of the Internal Celestial Virtues or Powers standing there the determined time of its Maturity it returns again or descends that is to say the Spirit is made Corporeal which was before a Body or made from a Body Spiritual which is nothing but the Philosophick Riddle Fac Fixum Volatile rursus Volatile fixum totum habebis Magisterium And by this means it will obtain the Virtues of the Superiour and Inferiour Powers i. e. the Heavenly and Volatile Power to penetrate grow increase or multiply and the Earthly Power to give Substance Corporeity and Fixity VII Hermes In this Work you acquire to your self the Wealth and Glory of the whole World Drive therefore from you all Cloudiness or Obscurity Darkness and Blindness Salmon Possessing this Stone thus perfected you possess all the Wealth and Treasures of the World so that you may live free from Care and Trouble from Discontent and Fears from every Sickness and Disease It is a Remedy for all Diseases both of Body and Mind It strikes at the root of Infirmities and destroyes that which would destroy or undermine the Health and Prosperity of the Humane Body This Stone this Wealth this Treasure though it be but like to a Grain of Mustard-seed yet it grows to be the greatest of all Trees in whose Branches the Birds of the Air make their Nests and under whose shadow the Beasts of the Field dwell VIII Hermes For the Work increasing or going on in Strength adds Strength to Strength forestalling and over-topping all other Fortitudes and Powers and is able to Subjugate and Conquer all things whether they be thin and Subtil or thick and Solid Bodies Salmon There is no Comparison of the Powers of other Natural things to the Power of the Stone for it is able to overcome and master all other Powers it can convert common Quick Silver into a Congealed substance and Transmute it into fine Gold or Silver and it can Penetrate and Peirce through all other hard solid or compact Bodies and strike them with a never fading Tincture so firm and fixt which the Power and Strength of the Strongest and most Violent Fire can never conquer or overcome This is as much as if he should say it is the compleat Virtue of total Nature the Power Efficacy and Potency of all things and even as it were above Nature so that it may not improperly be said to be a Work Metaphysical for that it seems to act above or beyond Nature It overcomes or conquers all things that is it makes all subtil and thin things as Quicksilver thick and coagulates them and on the contrary it Penetrates all thick and solid things i. e. It makes every hard Metal whether Perfect or Imperfect as Sol Luna Saturn Jupiter Mars and Venus subtile and thin and brings them to the greatest Perfection expelling all the Malign and Dark Spirits possessing them and giving to them Tincture and Fixity by its Subtility and Spiritualty IX Hermes In this manner was the World made and hence are the wonderful Conjunctions or Joynings together of the Matter and Parts thereof and the Marvellous Effects when in this way it is done by which these Wonders are Effected Salmon The Creation of the World he brings as a Prior Example or Exemplification of the VVork of Our Philosophick Stone for as the VVorld was Created so is Our Stone composed As in the beginning the whole VVorld and all that is therein was a Chaos or confused Mass but afterwards by the Virtue VVord Power or Spirit of the Great Creator a Separation was made the Elements were divided and rectified and the Universal VVorld was produced and brought forth Beautiful and Perfect in Number Weight and Measure So also in this our work we separate the Elements which we divide and rectifie by many sublimations depressions and precipitations whereby the perpetual and wonderful conjunction is made which is the product of the prime matter and the root of the Golden Kingdom in which power is produced into Act. X. Hermes And for this Cause I am called Hermes Trismegistus for that I have the knowledge or understanding of the Philosophy of the three principles of the Universe My Doctrine or Discourse which I have here delivered concerning this solar Work is compleat and perfect Salmon Hermes Trismegistus signifies the Thrice greatest Hermes for that he had the knowledge of the three Principals of the Universe viz. Salt Sulphur and Mercury answering to the Body Soul and Spirit Mineral Vegetable and Animal of which he had the true Knowledge he knew the way how to seperate them and conjoyn them again to make the fixt Volatile and the Volatile fixt to take away Tinctures and restore better again all which are contained in Our Philosophick Mercury which is the VVomb in which Our Philosophick which is the true Gold is Generated It is said to be perfect because 1. It contains all the Principles 2. From its never fading Coler 3. Its never perishing Body It is resembled to a grain of VVheat which unless it Dies it brings forth no Fruit but if it Die and is Putrefied passing through Death and Putrefaction or Dissolution to Life and Heaven there by perfecting its Nature it is infinitely profitable VVhat he has delivered concerning this Matter viz. of the three Colers Black White and Red of the three Principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury of the three Subsistences Body Soul and Spirit of the three Operations Volatilization Tincture and Fixation of the three States Imperfection Anihilation and Perfection he declares to be True and Compleat and that the Stone thus Generated existing and being in one only thing viz. the Philosophick Mercrry by a series of Natural Operations is Perfect and Intire wanting nothing Libri Hermetis Primi FINIS THE SECOND BOOK OF HERMES TRISMEGISTVS CHAP. XV. The Enterance into the Work beginning with Argent Vive I. HERMES the Wise saith if you Conserve a third part of your Camels viz. of the swift or Volatile Matter or that which must bear the Bur then and Consume the remaining two thirds you have attained to the thing desired you have perfected the Work II. In like manner you must be careful of your Argent Vive for the black Matter does Whiten the Flesh and the Work is perfected by the Fire of the Wise. III. And the Work is to be performed by a Spiritual Water in which the blackness is washed away and by that Instrument in which the Foundation of the Work is laid and in that time and moment in which the Clouds appear IV.

suum colorem album XIII Illa namque aqua fumus albus est ideo cum illa dealbatur corpus XIV Oportet ergo dealbare corpus rumpere libros inter illa duo id est inter corpus aquam est libido societas ut Maris Foeminae propter natura similis propinquitatem XV. Nam Aqua nostra viva secunda dicitur Azot abluens Latonem id est Corpus compositum ex Sole Luna per Aquam nostram primam dicitur etiam Anima corporum solutorum qusrum animas jam simul ligavimus ut serviant Sapientibus Philosophis XVI Quantum ergo pretiosa est magnifica haec Aqua Namque absque illa Opus non posset perfici Dicitur etiam vas naturae uterus matrix receptaculum tincturae terra nutrix XVII Et est Fons in quo se lavant Rex Regina Mater quam oportet ponere sigillare in ventre sui infantis qui est Sol qui ab ea processit ipsum parturiit ideo sese mutuo amant diligunt ut Mater Filius conjunguntur simul quoniam ab una eadem radice venerunt ejusdem substantiae naturae XVIII Et quoniam Aqua ista est Aqua vitae Vegetabilis ideo ipsa dat vitam facit vegetare crescere pullulare ipsum Corpus mortuum ipsum resuscitare de morte ad vitam solutione subli matione XIX Et in tali operatione vertitur Corpus in Spiritum Spiritus in Corpus tunc facta est amicitia pax concordia unio contrariorum id est Corporis Spiritus qui mutant invicem naturas suas quas recipiunt sibi communicant per minima XX. Sic quod calidum miscetur frigido siccum humido durum molli hoc modo fit mixtio naturarum contrararum frigidi scilicet cum calido humidi cum sicco at que admirabilis inter inimicos connexio I. THese Bodies thus dissolved by our water are called Argent Vive which is not without its Sulphur nor the Sulphur without the fixedness of Sol and Luna because Gold and Silver are the particular means or medium in the form through which Nature passes in the perfecting and compleating thereof II. And this Argent Vive is called our esteemed and valuable Salt being animated and pregnant and our fire for that it is nothing but Fire yet not fire but Sulphur and not Sulphur only but also Quicksilver drawn from Sol and Luna by our water and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a Stone of Great price III. That is to say it is the matter or substance of Sol and Luna or Silver and Gold altered from Vileness to Nobility IV. Now you must note that this white Sulphur is the Father and Mother of the Metals it is our Mercury and the Mineral of Gold also the Soul and the ferment yea the Mineral Virtue and the living Body our Sulphur and our Quicksilver that is Sulphur of Sulphur Quicksilver of Quicksilver and Mercury of Mercury V. The Property therefore of our Water is that it melts or dissolves Gold and Silver and encreases their native Tincture or Color VI. For it changes their Bodies from being Corporeal into a Spirituality and it is this water which turns the Bodies or corporeal substance into a white vapour which is a Soul that is whiteness it self subtile hot and full of fire VII This water is also called the tinging or bloodcolour-making stone being the virtue of the Spiritual Tincture without which nothing can be done and it is the subject of all things that may be melted and of liquefaction it selt which agrees perfectly and unites closely with Sol and Luna from which it can never be separated VIII For it is joyned in affinity to the Gold and Silver but more immediately to the Gold than to the Silver which you are to take special notice of IX It is also called the medium of conjoyning the Tinctures of Sol and Luna with the inferior or imperfect Metals for it turns the Bodies into the true Tincture to tinge the said other imperfect Metals also it is the water which whiteneth as it is whiteness it self which quickeneth as it is a Soul and therefore as the Philosopher saith quickly entreth into its Body X. For it is a living water which comes to moisten the Earth that it may spring out and in its due season bring forth much fruit for all things springing from the Earth are educed through Dew or Moisture XI The Earth therefore springeth not forth without watering and moisture It is the water proceeding from May Dew that cleanseth the Body and like Rain it penetrates them and makes one new Body of two Bodies XII This Aqua Vitae or Water of Life being rightly ordered and disposed with the body it whitens it and converts or changes it into its white colour XIII For this water is a white vapour and therefore the Body is whitened with it XIV It behoves you therefore to whiten the Body and open its infoldings for between these two that is between the Body and the Water there is a desire and friendship like as between the Male and Female because of the propinquity and likeness of their Natures XV. Now this our second and living water is called Azoth the Water washing the Laten viz. the Body compounded of Sol and Luna by our first Water It is also called the Soul of the dissolved Bodies which Souls we have even now tied together for the use of the wise Philosopher XVI How precious then and how great a thing is this Water For without it the Work could never be done or perfected It is also called the Vas Naturae the Belly the Womb the Receptacle of the Tincture the Earth the Nurse XVII It is the Royal Fountain in which the King and Queen bathe themselves and the Mother which must be put into and sealed up within the belly of her Infant and that is Sol himself who proceeded from her and whom she brought forth and therefore they have loved one another as Mother and Son and are conjoyned together because they come from one and the same Root and are of the same Substance and Nature XVIII And because this Water is the Water of the Vegetable Life it causes the dead Body to vegetate increase and spring forth and to rise from Death to Life by being dissolved first and then sublimed XIX And in doing this the Body is converted into a Spirit and the Spirit afterwards into a Body and then is made the Amity the Peace the Concord and the Union of the Contraries to wit between the Body and the Spirit which reciprocally or mutually change their Natures which they receive and communicate one to another through their most minute parts XX. So that that which is hot is mixed with that which is cold the dry with the moist and the hard with the soft by which means

of the Deluge when the whole Composition was water XVII This Serpent must be slain or 〈◊〉 and overcome by the Arrows of Apollo by the yellow Sol that is to say by our fire which is equal too that of the Sun XVIII He who 〈◊〉 or rather the Washings which must be continued with the other half are the Teeth of that serpent which the Wife 〈◊〉 will sow in the Earth from whence shall spring up Armed Men who in the end shall 〈◊〉 themselves suffering themselves by opposition to resolve into the same nature of the Earth and the Artist to obtain his deserved Conquests XIX It is of this very thing that the Philosophers have 〈◊〉 written and so often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dissolves it self it 〈◊〉 it self it makes it self Black it makes it self White it 〈◊〉 it self and makes it self alive again XX. I caused their Field to be painted Azure and Blue to shew that we do now but begin to get out from the most black darkness For that the Azure and Blue is one of the first Colours that the dark Woman let us see to wit moisture giving place a little to heat and dryness XXI The Man and Woman are almost all Orange colourd to 〈◊〉 that our Bodies or our body's which the Philosophers here call Rebis are not yet decocted enough and that the 〈◊〉 from whence the black Blue and Azure comes is but half vanquished by the dryness XXII For when the 〈◊〉 has got the Dominion all will be white and when it fights with or is equal to the moisture all will be in part according to these present colours XXIII The Philosophers have also called the Compositum in this Operation Nummus 〈◊〉 Arena Boritis 〈◊〉 Cambar Albar 〈◊〉 c. which they have commanded to make white XXIV The Womans Motto is as it were in a white Circle round about her body to shew that Rebis will become white in that very manner beginning first at the Extremities round about the white Circle XXV In Schola 〈◊〉 it is said That the Sign of the first perfect whiteness is the manifestation of a little Circle of hair which is 〈◊〉 over the Head and will appear on the sides of the 〈◊〉 round about the matter in a kind of a 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 Colour XXVI The Motto belonging to the Male is Homo veniet ad judicium Dei That belonging to the Female is Vere illa dies 〈◊〉 These are not Sentences of Holy Scripture but only words which speak according to the Theological sense of the Judgment to come XXVII I have put them there not only for the Theological sense concerning the Resurrection which may serve them which only behold the outward Figures but know nothing of the Scientifick Mystery XXVIII But also for them who gathering together the AEnigmas and Parables of the Science and viewing them with Lynceus's Eyes are able to pierce in to the mysterious sense through the visible Objects XXIX Thus then Man shall come to the Judgment of God it signifies that to bring the Compositum or Matter to the colour of perfection it must be judged that is cleansed from all its blackness and Filth be spiritualized and whitened XXX Again Surely that day will be terrible Such indeed is the day of cleansing and purifying Horrour holds the body in Prison for the space of fourscore days in the darkness of the waters in the extream heat of the Sun and in the Troubles of the Sea XXXI All which things ought first to pass over before our King can become white arising from Death to Life to Conquer and overcome all his Enemies XXXII To make you understand something better this Allification or Whitening which is harder and more difficult than all the rest for till that time you may err at every step but afterwards you cannot except you break your Vessels I give you the following Explication CHAP. XXXI Of the Figure like Paul the Apostle cloathed with a White and Yellow Robe bordered with Gold holding a naked Sword with a Man kneeling by his Feet clad in a Robe of Orange Colour Black and White with his Motto I. VIew well this Man cloathed in a Robe intirely of a Yellowish White and see him as it were turning his Body so as if he would take the naked Sword either to cut off the Head or do some other thing to the Man kneeling by his feet clothed in a Robe of Orange colour White and Black who crys out Dele mala quaetion Blot out all the evil which I have done II. As if he should say Tolle nigredinem Take away from me my blackness which is a term of Art For Evil signifies in the Allegory Blackness as you may often read in Turba Philosophorum Deeoct it until it come to Blackness which will be thought evil III. But would you know what is meant by this Man taking the Sword into his hand Truly it signifies that you must cut off the Head of the 〈◊〉 to wit of the Man clothed in divers Colours kneeling IV. I have taken this Portraicture and Figure out of Hermes Trismegistus his Book of the secret Art where he saith Take away the Head of the Black Man cut off the Head of the Crow all which signifies no more than these few words Whiten our Black V. Lambspring that Noble German hath also used it in the Commentary of his Hierogly phicks where he saith In this Wood there is a Beast all over covered with Black if any one cut off his Head he will loose his blackness and put on a most white Colour VI. Will you understand saith he what that is The blackness is called the Head of the Crow the which being taken away at that instant comes the white colour which is as much as to say that when the Cloud appears no more this Body is said to be without an head These are his words VII In the same sense the Wise Men have also said in other places Take the Viper called Derexa and cut off his Head c. That is to say Take away from him all his Blackness VIII They have also used this Periphrasis When they would express the multiplication of the stone they have feigned the Serpent Hydra for that it is 〈◊〉 that if one Head be cut off there will spring up ten in the place thereof IX For the stone multiplies or encreases it self ten fold every time that they cut off this Head of the Crow that they make it black and afterwards white that is to say that they dissolve it anew and afterwards make it white again viz. They dissolve it anew and afterwards coagulate it again X. Observe also how the naked Sword is wreathed about with a black Girdle yet that the ends thereof are naked and bare and not wreathed at all XI This naked shining Sword is the stone for the White or the White-stone so often by the Philosophers described under this Form XII To come then to this perfect and sparkling whiteness you must

Universal Medicine drawn which as well as for Metals is made most effectual to conserve Humane Bodies in a State of Health and to root out all sorts of Diseases whether accidental after the Birth or Hereditary by Propagation restoring the Sick to their pristine Health and Integrity This Sulphur is not taken from Suets Grease Hair Verdigrease Tragacanth Bones c. But under these and other the like Names our Hermes by a Philosophick Liberty has vailed the Verity from impious and unworthy Men. IV. Hermes But the Fat 's which contain the Tinctures which coagulate the Fugitive and set forth or adorn the Sulphurs it behoves us to explicate their disposition more fully hereafter Salmon Here in more words Hermes explicates the Condition or Qualities and Properties of the true Balsam of Nature or Philosophick Sulphur 1. He says it contains the Tinctures 2. It Coagulates Fugitive Substances 3. It exalts the Power of the Sulphurs by fixing the Volatile and making Bright and Shining the things which were Dark and obscure The Volatiles of this kind are nothing else but all the inferior and imperfect Metals which by this 〈◊〉 or Sulphur are 〈◊〉 into the best and 〈◊〉 Silver and Gold Now this hidden Sulphur dwells in the Bodies just as Fire in a Coal or Natural Heat in a Humane Body or the Vegetative Life in the Spring time in Herbs Plants and Trees which in Process of time makes them bring forth Buds Leaves Flowers and at length perfect Ripe Fruits and Seeds Or like Heat in the inward parts of the Earth and Bowels of the Mountains where the most simple Bodies of things or Elements are first mixed and produce Metals Minerals Stones c. according to their several varieties and kinds So this our Sulphur of Nature contains in it self the true Tinctures which by the revolution of time it explicates making ripe the unripe purifying the impure fixing the Volatile and ennobling the Ignoble and Vile V. Hermes And to Unveil the figure or form from all other Fat 's or Sulphurs which is the Hidden and Buried Fat or Sulphur which is seen in no disposition but dwells in its own Body as fire or heat in Trees and Stones which by the most subtle Art and Ingenuity it behoves us to extract without Burning Salmon 4. It unveils the Figure or Form distinguishing it self from all other Fat 's Balsams or Sulphurs He calls it Hidden and Buried because it is not Vulgarly known but only to such as are Adepts And Buried because it lies Centrally in the Bodies of Sol Luna and Mercury as a thing Buried in the bowels of the Earth It is seen in no disposition but dwells in its own Body that is it is not perceptible in any of the imperfect Metals because they have not Bodies able to hold it till by it they are made pure and fixt where they may become as its own Body is and so takes up its habitation and dwells in them as Heat does in Trees in the Spring time when the External Heat of Sol stirring up their internal or Mercurial Heat latent within them makes them bud and bring forth Leaves Flowers Fruits and Seeds and that to perfection This Sulphur saith Hermes it behoves us to extract without Burning for in the Mercury it is yet Volatile and therefore by subliming of it more and more it must be exalted till at length it is fixt but with great care and industry lest you err in the Degrees of the Fire which if it be too great it burns or breaks our Body or Vessel which in this place we call the Matter it self and is the Domicil in which this Celestial and Astral Spirit and Sulphur dwells and so makes it Vanish and Fly away Now it is said to be Volatile only in respect to the Body which holds it in Sol and Luna it is absolutely fixt but in Mercury this same Sulphur seems to be Volatile not that it is Volatile in its own Nature but is only contained in a Volatile Body which is Immature and Weak and cannot hold it This Body therefore must be maturated and strengthned and made fixt by Virtue of this inherent Sulphur being digested and Decocted in it with an Idoneus or fit Heat for a certain Revolution of time VI. Hermes And know that the Heaven is to be joyned in a mean with the Earth But the Figure is to be in a middle Nature between the Heaven and the Earth which thing is Our Water Salmon Here he speaks of the Three parts of the Stone 1. Heaven which is our prepared Gold 2. The mean or Medium of Conjuction which is our Aqua Philosophica 3. The Earth or Foeces which is Gold it self Now wonder not that Gold is here converted into Foeces and is esteemed more vile than the Heaven and the Water But this is not spoken of Vulgar Gold but of that which is Philosophick which while it lies in Putrefaction seems to be a vile thing now that it contains in it self all Bodies both perfect and imperfect precious and vile Gold and Lead i. e. Plumbum Philosophicum Aurum Leprosum Imperfectum Plumbum Fixum Perfectum but this is said to be in a mean that is tho' it may have the Color and Weight of Gold and other properties yet it may be made much more Spiritual and Excellent and Efficacious almost infinitely exceeding the Virtues and Excellencies of the Vulgar or Common Gold and this by the help of a middle Nature which is not so Volatile as Mercury nor so Dead as common Gold which middle principle is Our Water VII Hermes Now in the first place of all is the Water which goes forth from this Our Stone The second is Gold But the third is Gold in a mean which is more noble than the Water and the Foeces Salmon The three parts of the Stone are here more plainly exprest 1. The Water which is our Mercury 2. Gold which is Sulphur 3. The mean or almost Gold which is Our Salt or Philosophick Earth and is more worthy than either the Water or the Foeces by which Vulgar Gold may by projection be tinged and made more than perfect This is that pretious Stone in comparison of which Gold it self the most pure Gold is esteemed but as a little Sand and Silver as Clay in respect thereof This Gold in a mean is Gold in a middle principle that is Essential Gold in the Root of the Aurifick Agent which is in the possibility of augmentation or encrease even as a very little Plant which becomes a great and mighty Tree now this third principle which he calls Gold in a mean is the very Soul it self which makes this our Philosophick Plant to grow giving it form and Beauty and making it become a Golden Tree of a vast and almost infinite magnitude VIII Hermes And in these three are the Vapors the Blackness and the Death Salmon That is in one only Subject composed of three Spirit Soul and