and in such a Water is inlivened inspired increased and multiplied in his specie as other things Therefore our Water is a Fountain fair pleasant and clear prepared onely for the King and Queen whom it very well knows and they it for it attracts them to it self and they remain two or three days to wash themselves in that Fountain viz. some moneths and these it makes to grow young and renders them very beautifull These three things mutually follow viz. Humidity Putridity and Blacknesse from whence the glassie house may be posited and subtilly sited untill the moist Matter included by little and little became putrid and black for the putrefaction begins together with the solution but the putrefaction is not yet compleat untill the whole Matter be dissolved into water Artephus pag. 9. One of the contraries exceeding Dastin destroies the rest whence the Earth is made Water when the watry qualities overcome it and on the contrary this Water must draw forth three things viz. a Spirit a Body and a Soule whence this Water is threefold in Nature which hath in it self Water Fire and Earth We divide the dissolved Stone in the Elements and wash it particularly that it it might be more subtilized and the better purified and that at pleasure the Complexion might be more firmly composed but we distill it very often as the Water and Air are clean without dregs and light without filth pure without contraries for then they wash more easily touch more plentifully and work more nobly For Art as Aristotle saith in like manner throws off all superfluities from its work as Nature doth For Fire extracts that which exists in the interiours of things and feeds on the sulphurity of them subtilizing and rarifying at pleasure And therefore we distill them that we might sweetly draw out their filth But we doe it sweetly and with inhumation lest the excessive Fire consume the sought for subtilties Whence in every distillation observe this sign that universally there be candour and purity in it and whatsoever drops forth unmixt put apart because the work is corrupt if thou doe otherwise Therefore we so much distill it untill it send forth no dregges unlesse happily white ones and this we iterate seven times that in their simple purity they might transcend the orders of the seven Planets For it is meet they be most pure and clean which by their purity should cleanse and perfect other things And according to the quantity of distillation they will be clear and according to the plurality of clearness they will cleanse and touch other things Whence it ought to be distilled seven times what is more is evil because as diminution hinders so augmentation corrupts In the fourth distillation follows the Lavement that its every Element might be rectified severally whence we distill the Water and Aire seven times by themselves But thou shalt distill all things with moisture because drinesse corrupts the work with combustion And the Philosophers advise that every distillation be always made seven days with inhumation meaning that inhumation be made seven days between every distillation Dastini spec pag. 96. It behoveth thee to exercise the Rosar Arnold separation of the Elements as much as thou art able to wash off the Water and Air by distillations and to burn up the Earth by Calcination untill there remain not any thing of the Soul in the Body unlesse what may not be perceived in the operation the sign of which will be when nothing shall be evaporated from the Body if a little of it be put upon a heated plate Rosar Arnold pag. 423. As an Infant exhausts all airy Massa Solis Lunae vapours in nine moneths and the menstruum turned into a milky form so in nine moneths the first work is performed viz. the second whitenesse because the whole is coagulated Neverthelesse the work is finished about six moneths according to the Experience of the Author but according to Balgus * Pag. 1â—9 in Turba in an hundred and ninety days Massa Solis Lunae pag. 275. Let not the water be suffered to stand when it is fit for operation because it receives its Curd into the bottome crudled or coagulated by the cold of the Aire and congealing drieth which hapned to one of my Companions who for the space of a year found it so but it was not distilled Massa Solis Lunae pag. 274. No solution ought to be made Rosar Philosoph without Blood proper or appropriate viz. the Water of Mercury which is called the Water of the Dragon and that Water ought to be made by an Alembick without the addition of any other thing Rosar Philos p. 223. The whole course of the work Roymundus Lullius endures for the space of two years whence the Stone is of one year and the Elixir of another to every new Artist who never made it but to every good and expert Artist who is subtile one year and three moneths are accounted sufficient For by what it is corrupted in like manner it is generated Lul Theo. p. 76. Accommodate well the Fire in Ventura the furnace and see that the whole Matter be dissolved into Water then rule it with a gentle Fire untill the greater part be turned into black dust Because when our Stone is in our vessell and our Matter feels our Sun it will presently be resolved into Water Ventura p. 129. Putrefaction is made with a Rosarius Philos most gentle Fire so that nothing may ascend because if any thing should ascend there would be made a separation of parts which ought not to be untill the Masculine and Feminine are perfectly joyned Rosar Philos pag. 261. The encompassing frigidity of Dastin the Aire the binding solidity of the Earth the dissolving heat of the Fire the impetuosity and restlesse motion of the Water and exceeding quantity of Multitude doe hinder Putrefaction as Aristotle saith But the calidity of the Air the subtility of Matter the gentlenesse of the Fire the stability of Rest the equality of Compounds the gravity of Patience the maturity of Time do necessarily induce and hasten Putrefaction yet so that the Air be tempered what is thick subtilized the Fire moderated Rest preserved Proportion adequated Patience strengthened and the time expected until Nature proceeding naturally shall have compleated her owne worke Dastin spec pag. 184. Our Water must be divided into Scala two parts whereof in one part the Body is congealed viz. with seven Imbibitions and Congelations but in the other part it putrefies and melts that the fiery Water abovesaid might be cast forth Scala Philos pa. 151. If the work in its managing be deduced to the finall red state by corruption before the due term of whitenesse which it may not be thou hast erred then for a remedy take away the rednesse with fresh white Water by imbibition and inhumation Idem There are three Humidities the Lullius first is
Magistery is performed Scala pa. 125. We calcine perfect Bodies with Ripleus the first Fire naturally but no unclean Body doth ingredience our work except one which of the Philosophers is called the Green Lion which is the medium of uniting and joining Tinctures Ripl pa. 26. There is a certain Soul existing between Heaven and Earth arising from the Earth as Aire with pure Water the cause of the life of all living things continually running down upon our fourfold Nature producing her with all its power to a better condition which airy Soul is the secret Fire of our Philosophy otherwise called our Oil and mystically our Water Idem pa. eadem Our Mercury is made of perfect Albert. Bodies not imperfect that is with the second Water after the Bodies have been duly Calcined by the first Albert. pa. 19. This Fire is called Humour because Vogel in it as hath been said heat or the fire of Nature is hidden even as the heat of Animals in the Primogenian moisture Water since it is Heterogeneall to its Earth if sensible of the least heat will evaporate it being left and forsaken The Soul is no other then Oil Oil then Water Vogel p. 134. If any know to make choice of Flamelius such Matter as Nature delights and to inclose it rightly prepared in his Vessel and Furnace He and I saith Nature will forthwith doe the Work so he provide the requisite Fire Naturall against Nature not Naturall and without ardour Flamel pa. 123. We therefore call it Innaturall Lullius or not Naturall because it is not naturated of it self nor takes away any thing from naturated Nature nay it rather helps her by the Mediation of a moderate Exercise according to what Nature requires in her Reformations Lullius Codic pa. 24. Our Fire is Minerall is equall is Artepheus continuall it vapours not unlesse it be too much stirred up it participates of Sulphur it is taken elsewhere then of Matter it destroys dissolves congeals and calcines all things and it is Artificiall to finde out a compendium and without cost or at least very little it is also moist vaporous digesting altering penetrating subtill airy not violent not fuming encompassing containing onely one and it is the fountain of Life or which incircles the Water of Life and it contains the King and Queens bathing place in the whole Work that humid Fire shall suffice thee both in the beginning middle and end because in it the whole Art consists and it is a Fire Naturall against Nature and Unnaturall and without Adustion And to conclude it is a Fire hot dry moist cold think on these things and doe rightly without any thing of a strange nature The third is that Naturall Fire of our Water which is also called against Nature because it is Water and neverthelesse of Gold it makes meer Spirit which thing common Fire cannot doe this is Minerall Equall participates of Sulphur it destroys congeals dissolves and calcines all things this is penetrating subtile not burning and it is the fountain of living Water in which the King and Queen wash themselves which we stand in need of in the whole Work in the beginning middle and end but not of the other two except sometimes onely Join therefore in reading the Philosophers Books these three Fires and without doubt thou wilt not be ignorant of their sense and meaning concerning Fires Artephius pa. 31. Weigh the Fire measure the Dastin Air mortifie the Water raise up the heavy Earth Dastin spec pa. 202. By earnest consideration of Lullius things Naturall Innaturall and against Nature it behoveth thee to attain the Materiall and Essentiall knowledge of the temper through all his parts Essentiall and also Accidentall that thou maist know how to behave thy self in our said Magistery having so comprehended the said principles Lull Theor. fo 16. There are four principall Fires to be observed in respect of the Substance and Propriety of the four Elements Idem pa. 174. Although in our Books we have Lullius handled a threefold Fire Naturall Innaturall and against Nature and other different Manners of our Fire neverthelesse we would signifie one Fire from more compound things and it is the greatest secret to come to the knowledge of this Since it is no Humane but Angelick and heavenly gift to reveal Lull Testament pa. 78. Son our Argent vive or part of Lullius it is Water distilled from its Earth and the Earth in like manner is our Argent vive animated and the Soul is Naturall heat which stands bound together in the first Essence of the Elements of Argent vive Idem In the Structure of the Fire Trevisane some differd from others although they all aimed at the same scope namely that it should be made after this manner lest the fugient should first fly away before the Fire could any way bring forth the persequent thing Bernard Comes pa. 40. The Fire which we shew to thee is Scala Water and our Fire is Fire and not Fire Scala pa. 148. Raimond speaking of Fires in his Scala Compendium of the Soul saith It is to be noted that here lie contrary operations because as contranaturall Fire dissolves the Spirit of a fixt Body into the Water of a Cloud and constringeth the Body of a volatile Spirit into congealed Earth So contrariwise the Fire of Nature congeals the dissolved Spirit of a fixt Body into glorious Earth and resolves the Body of a Volatile Spirit fixt by Fire against Nature not into the Water of a Cloud but the Water of the Philosophers Scala pa. 126. The Water of which the Bath Basil Valent. of the Bridegroom ought to be made is of two Champions that is to be understood confected of two contrary Matters wisely and with great care lest that one adversary may vanquish the other Basil Valent. pa. 32. What ever actions they nominate Rosin know that these things are always done by the action of the heat of certain Fire which causes not Sublimation because it is so gentle nor may it elevate any smoke naturally by reason of its debility whence if it be such as may in a manner elevate and not elevate it is good Rosin ad Sarratant pa. 286. THE COROLLARY If any would rightly weigh the ayings of Philosophers in this Chapter the manner of their Equivocations would appear clearer then the Sun for as they have deciphered the second Work somewhere in the name of the first Work so in this Chapter they nominate the second Water the first Water and the third Water the second as it appears in Scala pa. 123. where it is said that the first Water the Sun calcines that the second might the better enter And again the second Water is Fire against Nature And Ripley utters like things also in his Preface But let every Artist know that the first Water is Phlegm only or unnaturall Fire because it
no dregs but ascend most purely like Snow the which is our pure Quintessence And then thou shalt have the Soul Tincting Coagulating and Cleansing both the Sulphur and the not burning Arsnick which the Alchimists may use that with it they might make Silver Clangor Bucc pa. 519. When the Water shall necessarily Petrâ—â— Bonus be generated clean and white it is meet we join the Earth to it even in the same hour and those being joined in their season all four will be joined and then the Work is perfect and if they are not joined then the Water is resolved into Smoke with the Earth and by consequence the other Elements by the force and perseverance of the Fire and so the Work is annihilated wherefore it is fit an Artist know the simple Elements throughly before he begin their Composition that he may know rightly how to compound them to the constitution of the Compound Pet. Bonus pa. 221. If any of the purer parts remain Vogel in the Earth which thou maist observe from a certain whitenesse promiscuously shining think not much to mingle it again with the same Mercury then Decoct and at length as hath been said Sublime till nothing of the purer essence be left in it Vogelius p. 209. In the last day the World shall Basil Valent. be judged by Fire that what before was by its Master made of nothing might again by Fire be reduced into Ashes from which Ashes the Phoenix might at length produce her young ones for in such Ashes lies hid the true and genuine Tartar which ought to be dissolved and after his dissolution the strongest Lock of the Kings Closet may be opened Basil Valent. pa. 23. We have shewn thee our Water Lullius after its congelation with its Ferment which is then indeed called our Magnesia and if thou understand our Waters thou wilt also understand Argent vive Lull Test fo 108. THE COROLLARY In this Chapter is openly explained the Fable of Phaeton in Ovids Metamorphosis As also of Dedalus with his Son Icarus who when they had made themselves wings of Feathers and had fastned them with Wax and when with these they had flown through the Aire beyond the Labyrinth it is reported Icarus flying too high fell into the Sea in which he was drowned because the Sun melted the Wax By his Father Dedalus is understood the Sulphur of Nature sublimated and Philosophically coagulated By Icarus the same Sulphur sublimated but with undue governance of the Artist and continued violence of the Fire melted into Water and buried in the dead Sea In these also is explained the Fable of our English Roger Bacon the Monk of whom it is related That he composed a Brazen Head whose custody after many lucubrations he committed to his servant that while he refresht his tired spirit with sleep he would carefully observe the time that as soon as ever it spake in the very moment he should wake him but the servant being asleep the Brazen Head uttered these words Time is and again an hour after Time is past when by their negligence the Work was deprived of life and annihilated which also appears in the assertion of that excellent Philosopher Petrus Bonus in these words If in the time of Generation the Soul shall stand in the Fire and her strength prevail by the force of Spirit then she flies away and draws with her the Body to flight and the Workman remains frustrate of his purpose and expects that which hath been already come and gone and shall never come again hereafter because it is mingled with that condemned Earth whence it is impossible it should again be separated But as the Condemned or rejected Earth is not found out unlesse the pure be separated from the impure nor is that said to be pure which in it self contains feculency of consequence it must be prepared with the greatest Industry nor with lesse vigilancy is our Physicall subject compounded first by Nature for us and formed into a Metallick Form so that it may be reduced into the first Matter and by our skill viz. by the Separation Putrefaction Imbibition Sublimation Conjunction of the Elements there might arise at length a new Form which is the Basis of the Philosophick Work as is manifest in the Chapter Whence the saying of Artepheus is apparent viz. That the first part remains not except it be bound to the second even in the same Hour But that Allegation is done by Coagulation the Coagulation by Infrigidation even in that Hour in which the Artist shall see and in his Judgement perceive the whole most pure substance sublimated from its rejected Earth Which secret of secrets obscured of all Philosophers in their sundry Aenigmaes concealed and diversly disperst in their Books I have in brief so clearly opened as of none the like hitherto And this is the Preparation in which as Senior saith men are blinded since they know not that the Stone is prepared with this Preparation CHAP. VI. The Weights of the second Work IN the operation of our Magistery Rosar we shall need one onely Vessell or Furnace one Disposition which is meant after the Preparation of the Stone Rosar Philosoph pa. 240. The second Work is to turn Dastin Water and Fire into Earth and Aire into one simple Substance compounded of Simples Dastin specul pa. 106. If thou impose the Medicines Dastin equally thou wilt perceive no Error but if thou adde or diminish make haste to correct it whence if a Deluge proceed it drowns the Region but if too much Siccity should be it burns up the Roots of Hearbs Who therefore putrifies the Body in the equall part till it be exsiccated makes the whole one white Body for they are at once Inspissated Incinerated and Exsiccated and this is the Head of the World Of the Work therefore as Democritus saith let part answer part equally Idem pag. 122. In the beginning take our Stones Ripleus and bury them every one in the Sepulchre of another and join them together in equall Mariage that they may lie together then let them cherish their seed sixe weeks nourish their naturall Conception and preserve it not arising all the while from the bottome of their Sepulchre Which secret deceives many Rip pa. 44. Also thus understand that in Ripleus our Conjunction the Male our Sun ought to have three parts of his Water and his Wife nine which ought to be three to him Rip pa. 39. We cannot with our own proper Massa Solis Lunae hands work on Mercury but with ten species which we call our hands in this Work that is nine parts of Water and the tenth of Earth Massa Solis Lunae pag. 257. But since there are three parts Rosar Arnold of his red Water with him let it be sublimed on this manner time after time till it be fixt downward Rosar Arnold pa. 449. Put clean Bodies in this clean Mercury
of Terra Adamica wherein all the virtues and qualities of the Elements are placed At length the heavenly Soule is infused thereinto by the Spirit of the quintesse and Solar influx and by the Benediction and Dew of Heaven the virtue of multiplying in infinitum by the intervening copulation of both sexes is given it 75. The chief secret of this worke consisteth in the manner of working which is wholly imployed about the Elements for the matter of the Stone passeth from one Nature into another the Elements are successively extracted and by turnes obtaine dominion every thing is agitated by the circles of humidum and siccum untill all things be turned downwards and there rest 76. In the work of the Stone the other Elements are circulated in the figure of Water for the Earth is resolved into Water wherein are the rest of the Elements the Water is Sublimated into Vapour Vapour retreats into Water and so by an unwearied circle is the Water moved untill it abide fixed downwards now that being fixed all the Elements are fixed Thus into it they are resolved by it they are extracted with it they live and dye the Earth is the Tombe and last end of them all 77. The order of Nature requireth that every generation begin from humidum and in humidum In the Philosophers work Nature is to be reduced into order that so the matter of the Stone which is terrestriall compact and dry in the first place may be dissolved and flow into the Element of Water next unto it and then Saturne will be generated of Sol. 78. The Aire succeeds the Water drawne about by seven circles or revolutions which is wheel'd about with so many circles and reductions untill it be fixed downwards and Saturne being expell'd Jupiter may receive the Scepter and Government of the Kingdome by whose coming the Philosophers Infant is formed nourished in the wombe and at length is borne resembling the splendor of Luna in its beautifull serene countenance 79. The Fire executing the courses of the Nature of the Elements extream Fire promoving it of hidden is made manifest the Saffron dyeth the Lilly rednesse possesseth the cheeks of the whitening Child now made stronger A Crowne is prepared for him against the time of his Reigne This is the consummation of the first work and the perfect rotation of the Elements the signe whereof is when they are all terminated in Siccum and the body void of Spirit lyeth downe wanting pulse and motion And thus all the Elements do finally acquiesce in Terra 80. Fire placed in the Stone is Natures Prince Sol's Son and Vicar moving and digesting matter and perfecting all things therein if it shall attain its liberty for it lieth weak under an hard bark procure therefore its freedome that it may secure thee freely but beware that thou urge it not above measure for it being impatient of Tyranny it becomes a fugitive no hope of returne being left unto thee call it back therefore by courteous flattery and keep it prudently 81. The first mover of Nature is Externall Fire the Moderator of Internall Fire and of the whole work Let the Philosopher therefore very well understand the government thereof and observe its degrees and points for from thence the welfare or ruine of the worke dependeth Thus Art helpeth Nature and the Philosopher is the Minister of both 82. By these two Instruments of Art and Nature the Stone lifteth it selfe up from Earth to Heaven with great ingenuity and slideth from Heaven to Earth because the Earth is its Nurse and being carried in the wombe of the wind it receiveth the force of the Superiours and Inferiours 83. The Circulation of the Elements is exercised with a double The twofold Wheel the great and the less Wheel by the greater or extended and the lesse or contracted The Wheel extended fixeth all the Elements of the Earth and its circle is not finished unlesse the work of Sulphur be perfected The revolution of the minor Wheel is terminated by the extraction and preparation of every Element Now in this Wheel there are three 3 Circles Circles placed which alwayes and variously move the Matter by an Erratick and Intricate Motion and do often seven times at least drive about every Element in order succeeding one another and so agreeable that if one shall be wanting the labour of the rest is made void These are Natures Instruments wherby the Elements are prepared Let the Philosopher therfore consider the progresse of Nature in the Physicall Tract more fully described for this very end 84. Every Circle hath its proper Motion for all the motions of the Circles are conversant about the Subject of Humidum and Siccum and are so concatenated that they produce the onely operation and one only concent of Nature two of them are opposite both in respect of the causes the effects for one moveth upwards drying by heat another downwards moistning by cold a third carrying the form of rest and sleep by digesting induceth the cessation of both in greatest moderation 85. Of the three Circles the First Circle First is Evacuation the labour of which is in substracting the superfluous Humidum and also in separating the pure cleane and subtile from the grosse and terrestriall dreggs Now the greatest danger is found in the motion of this Circle because it hath to doe with things Spirituall and makes Nature plentifull 86. Two things are chiefly to be taken heed of in moving this Circle First that it be not moved too intensly the other that it be not moved longer then is meet Motion accelerated raiseth confusion in the matter so that the grosse impure and indigested part may fly out together with the pure and subtile and the Body undissolved mixed with the Spirit together with that which is dissolved with this precipitated motion the Heavenly and Terrestriall Nature are confounded and the Spirit of the Quintessence corrupted by the admixtion of the Earth is made dull and invalid By too long a motion the Earth is too much evacuated of its Spirit is made so languishing dry and destitute of Spirit that it cannot easily be restored and recalled to its Temperament Either errour burneth up the Tinctures or turns it into flight 87. The Second Circle is Restauration Second Circle whose office is to restore strength to the gasping and debilitated body by Potion The former Circle was the Organ of Sweat and labour but this of Refreshment and Consolation The action of this is imployed in the grinding mollifying the Earth Potter like that it may be the better mixed 88. The motion of this Circle must be lighter then that of the former especially in the beginning of its Revolution lest the Crow's young ones be drowned in their nest by a large floud and the growing world be overflowne by a deluge This is the Weigher and Assayer of Measures for it distributeth Water by Geometricall Precepts There is usually no greater Secret
the Sun Dastin spec pa. 98. THE COROLLARY Count Bernard Trevisane vowed to God that he would never in naked words or vulgar speech disclose the Weight Matter or Fires but onely in true Parables without either diminution or superfluity in imitation of the Wise men as in this Chapter Amongst others our English Ripley hath delivered things sufficiently obscured But the youngling Artist ought to ruminate and consider that what ever are nominated in the composition of the Weight must always be understood of two things only viz. of Water and Earth which are sometimes under Spirit and Body sometime under Mercury the Sun and Moon sometimes under Air and Poison nay under as many infinite other names concealed as the very first Matter But that those that seek might be directed into the right Path and Ripleys cloud disperst with the beams of the Sun let us attend the proportions which he hath disposed in these his own words Let the Bodies saith he be corrected or limated with an equall proportion of Mercury whence understand that the proportion of Earth and Water must be equall then he proceeds further and teaches that one Body of the Sun be joyned with two of the Moon in which words are understood two parts of Water to one of Earth He proceeds also farther and joyns four parts of Mercury to the Sun and two to the Moon whence observe that four and two make six parts of Mercury Water or Fire which parts are to be mixt with one part of the Sun and another of the Moon which since they constitute two parts of Earth there shall be a like proportion to the aforesaid six parts viz. of Water as one part of Earth to three parts of Water As appears from his following words viz. after this manner begin thy worke in figure of a Trinity and with this Key his other Aenigmaes of the weight in this chapter are unlockt Whence also the Parables of other Philosophers are disclosed while Book opens Book and the truth is from them scarce disciphered without a Vail For they always deliver things that be like and conceal the truth that they might deserve both to be said and be Philosophers But since in Number Weight and Measure all elementated Bodies of Animals Vegetables and Minerals are naturally united bound concatenated and compounded and by the Harmony of these all principiated Principles attain the perfection ordained by God and compleated by his handmaid Nature Not unfitly may this Trinity viz. of Number Weight and Measure be called the Golden chain by which as in all Animals to every Member is granted their speciall Form so by this Chain every Member is joined united and performs his Office Likewise also in Vegetables since Nature operates after one and the same manner we may presume in every Vegetable it s own proper weight may be particularly observed also the prefixt number of Flowers Leaves and also a due measure of Longitude Latitude and Profunditude Even as Minerals and Metals are also perfected in a fit proportion of the Weight of Elements pure or impure in a due measure of Time and certain Numbers By which bounds rightly disposed all things flourish but being inordinate and confused there is made a Chaos Imperfection and a Dissolution of the Compound For in their Concatenation and Connexion is rebuilt an admirable power of Art and Nature neither can Nature her self consist without these nor Art perform any thing Not enviously therefore did the Philosophers wonderfully conceale the Proportion of the Elements and the mixture of them in their operation as if this being known they had unvailed all things But as much as belongs to our purpose viz. the weight of the Philosophick Work these things onely are principally observed to wit Equals two to one three to one nine to one which when and how they are to be distinguisht our Dastin a famous Philosopher hath in these words clearly opened When thou dissolvest the Spirit ought to exceed the Body and when thou dost fix the Body to exceed the Spirit Who therefore knows the due time of Putrefaction to solution the time of Imbibition Desiccation Fermentation and Inceration shall with easie pains and small endevour from the forenumbred Proportions make choice of what is convenient for every time or season of the Work And he that hath known the Weight as Petrus Bonus saith hath known the whole Mystery and he that is ignorant of it let him leave digging in our Books CHAP. IV. The Philosophers Fire what TAke Water Proportionated Lullius in quality according to the Body which thou wouldst dissolve in such a manner as the unnaturall may not exceed the naturall heat for every complexionated thing is destroyed unlesse the Fire of Nature govern it There are three Humidities the first is Water the chief of resolvable things the second is Air and it is the mean between Water and Oil the third is Oil it self the cerative of all Elements and our finall Secret Lull practica fol. 175. Our Fire is Minerall and vapours Ponâ—anus not unlesse it be too much stirred up whose proportion must be known that-it may only stir up the Matter and in a short time that Fire without the Imposition of hands will compleat the whole work Ponta pa. 40. The Fire which we shew thee is Senior Water and our Fire is Fire and not Fire Senior pag. 29. Argent vive is a Fire burning Dardarius mortifying and breaking Bodies more then Fire Dardarius in Turba 113. I say with Lullius that this Water Vogel or Vive Argent is called Fire of the Philosophers not because inwardly it is of its own Nature hotter then Oil or the forementioned radicall moisture but because in its actions it is more powerfull then Elementary Fire dissolving Gold without violence which Fire cannot doe Vogel pa. 145. Let the Artist well consider what Lullius are the powers of Fire naturall unnaturall and against nature and what may be the friend or enemy of each Lull Codic p. 37. It is fit the heat be so much as Ventura that thou maist by sweating send forth the Water and let it be no way hardened or congealed because Gumme contrary to the Nature of other things sweats and is coagulated with gentle decoction Ventura pa. 113. Philosophers have four different Ripley Fires viz. Naturall Unnaturall against Nature and Artificiall whose divers operations the Artists ought to consider Ripleus pa. 38. The Fires meeting themselves Rosin devour one another Rosin pa. 265. The Spirit is a second Water of Scala which all the things forementioned are nourished every plant refresht and quickned every light kindled and it makes and causes all Fruit. The first Water being the Sun is Philosophically calcined that the Body might be opened and made spongious that the second Water might the better enter to operate its work which second Water is the fire against Nature by whose power the complement of this
it fly away into Smoke because that is the approved sought for Good the better Best the white foliated Earth coagulating as the Rennet of a Lamb the Ashes of Ashes the Salt of Nature the begotten Infant the first and nearest Matter of Metals the first Subject in which are its proper Elements to wit of Natur'd Nature the moist and temperate Matter ought to be reduced and fixt till it flow with its Ferment like Wax without Smoke and endure all Fire Therefore labour with it to Silver and thou maist quickly begin the Magistery nor let it wax old without commixtion because thou maist not take it unlesse new made after the Birth with its Blood Lul Codic p. 117. If from Subliming little shall Dastin come forth and clean the Fire will yet be little Therefore let it bee encreast But if much and unclean the Fire is superfluous therefore let it be withdrawn But if much and clean then the proportion is found Dast spec p. 48. The Dust ascending higher from Rosar the Dregs is Ashes Honoured Sublimed Extracted from the Ashes but that which remains below is Ashes of Ashes inferiour vilified condemned Ashes a dreg and like drosse Therefore make a difference between its clear and limpid because when it shall ascend most white as Snow it will be compleat therefore gather it carefully lest it fly away into Smoke because that is the very sought for good the white foliated Earth congealing what is to be congealed Rosarius Arnoldi pa. 427. The Calx or Body must be often Geber imbibed that thence it might be sublimed and more yet purged then before because the Calx doth not at all or very difficultly climb upward assisted by the Spirit Geber lib. summae perfectionis p. 172. O Nature how dost thou burn Artepheus Bodies into Spirit which could not be done if the Spirit were not first incorporated with the Bodies and the Bodies with the Spirit made volatile and afterwards permanent Therefore the compound receives its cleansing by our Fire viz. by dissolving the humid and by subliming what is pure and white the dregs being cast forth as a naturall Vomit For in such a Dissolution and naturall Sublimation there is made a deligation of the Elements a cleansing and separation of the pure from impure so that the pure and white ascends upwards and the impure and earthy remains fixt in the bottome of the Vessel which is to be cast forth and removed because it is of no value by receiving onely a a middle white substance And in this is accomplisht our Philosophicall and Naturall Sublimation not in the Vulgar unfit Mercury which hath no qualities like these with which our Mercury drawn from the red servant is adorned Arteph fo 21. The first part abides not unlesse it be bound to the second in the same hour Idem It is fit that the end be restored upon its beginning and the beginning upon the end Idem When the Artist sees the white Soul risen let him join her immediately to her Body When the clean and candid Water shall be generated it is meet we join the Earth to it in the same Hour And according to Plato the Fierinesse Plato is contraried in the hour of coagulation And according to Dastin by the accesse of Cold the Water may well be turned into dry Earth Idem There is one and the same thing Margarita pretiosa in the Subject having all these properties and operations for while it remains in liquefaction by reason of Subtilty it is called Spirit without which Spirit there can neither be made Generation nor Conjunction of the Soul and Body Whence in the whole Magistery the Spirit actually rules untill the Soul and Body be generated but while it can fly from the Fire it is called a Soul but while it remains in the Fire and can persevere it is called a Body If therefore in the time of Generation the Soul shall stand in the Fire and his strength prevail through the force of the Spirit then she flies from the Fire and draws with her the Body to flight and the Workman remains frustrate of his purpose and expects that which hath been already come and gone and will never come hereafter and it seems wonderfull to him But if the strength of the Body prevail above the strength of the Soul then by equality of Spirit it is turned from Act into Habit then the Body retains the Soul altogether nor ever hath the power to fly from the Fire and the Workman hath his purpose which the Auncients had and then the Spirit remains always with them sometimes in Act and sometimes in Habit. But a quick and double insight is altogether necessary specially both in the end of Decoction and Sublimation that all the superfluities being whitened the Artist may see the wonderfull and terrible Candor and may presently obtain his joyfull and quiet rest after this Consummation of Labour for then by infrigidating the Moon the Sun is hidden in her Bowels and the East is joined to the West Heaven to Earth and Spirituall to Corporall whence is said in Turba Know ye that ye shall not Die the purple Colour but in Cold. And Hermes Whose Nature hath been hot if Cold find him it shal not hurt him And Avicen Know that he which hath evaporated all hath wrought well therefore make it Cold for then is manifest the hidden and the Manifest by infrigidating is hid And this Infrigidation or cooling is done with rest in which there is no operation of the hands since it is the end of operation Margarita pretiosa pa. 204. That Earth so mingled with Lullius Menstruous Matter is called Argent vive Exuberated which gather speedily and while it is new after its Birth put it in Water of Metals in digestion in a tripode of the Athanor Lull Test p. 21. This is our Mercury sublimed Dunstâ—â— and made fixt from the white altered Earth of Bodies arising first wonderfully by the power and help of the Water This is that Mercury in stead of which the Fools and Idiots assume that compounded of common Vitrioll and Sublimated with Salt in which they are grosly deceived Dunstan p. 18. Sublime the Body as much as Clangor Buccinae thou canst and boil it with clean Mercury and when the Body hath drunken some part of the Mercury subtilize it with a Fire quick and stronger as thou art able until it ascend in likenesse of most white Dust adhering to the sides of the Vessell in manner of Snow But the Ashes remaining in the bottome are dregs and the vilified drosse of Bodies and to be cast away in which there is no life because it is most light Dust which with a little blast vanisheth because it is nothing but bad Sulphur excluded by Nature Then the dregs being cast away iterate the Sublimation of the most white Dust by it self without its dregs till it be fixt and till it send out
poised in an equal ballance Idem pa. 447. Boil him at the warm Sun untill Dastin he hath dried his Water which being exsiccated pound him again with water to his Weight and boil him at the Sun till he be dried into a Stone doe this oftentimes till he hath drunk of his Water ten times his own quantity and become dry hard and red Dastin spec pa. 191. 134. Son it behoveth thee to mingle Lullius the Earths of the foresaid Sulphurs that is of Gold and Silver together and prepare them by giving them the fourth part of their Weight of the said menstrous Matter by digesting and drying as it is done in the Creation of Sulphur untill it hath drunk four parts of the said menstruous Matter and be disposed to Sublimation which thou shalt sublime in Fire of the fourth degree Lull Test p. 24. Take of the sincere Body one Dastin part and of the other Copper three and mingle them together with Vinegar Senior in Turba It is meet the Water exceed the Earth nine times that so in a Decinary number which is a perfect number the whole Work may be consummate But as Diostenes saith if too much of the Water be at once imposed it is not contained in the Earth but if too much be substracted it is not joined to the Earth Whence all the Water is not to be at once imposed on the Earth Therefore divide it into three parts and every of them into another third because so one may better fight against one then against a number of more Mingle the Hot with the Cold the Humid with the Dry and the mixt shall be temperate neither Hot nor Cold nor Moist nor Dry for one tempers another making the mixt adequate Dast spec pa. 177. 134. A man may be easily stifled in Basilius Valentinus great Waters and little Waters are easily exsiccated with the heat of the Sun so that they may be as nothing Therefore that the desired Work might be obtained a certain measure in the commixtion of the Philosophick liquorous Substance must be observed lest the greater overcome and oppresse the lesser Proportion by which Generation might be hindred and lest the lesser in respect of the greater should be too weak to exercise equall Dominion for great showers of rain hurt the Fruit and too much drought produces no true Perfection Therefore if Neptune have fitly prepared his Bath weigh well the permanent Water and consider with diligent care that thou doe not any thing too much or too little to him Basil Valent. pa. 42. Take of the red Water and Arnold White as much of the one as of the other according to weight and put them together in a Cucurbite made of Glasse strong and thick having a Mouth like an Urinall afterward the whole Water will be Citrine even soon enough and so will the true Elixer be perfected in respect of both viz. perfect Impregnation and true Coition Arnold in Comment Hortulani p. 34. Let the Queen born by nine Dastin Virgins decently attend the Bed-chamber of so great a King and so in progresse of time thou shalt determine unity from the denary number Dastini Epist fo 2. In this Magistery the Government Basil Valent. of the Fire ought to be observed lest the humid Liquor be too soon exsiccated and the Wisemens Earth too quickly liquified and dissolved Otherwise of wholsome Fishes thou wilt generate Scorpions in thy Waters Basilius Valentin pa. 10. What ever actions they nominate Rosin understand always that these things are done by the action of the heat of certain Fire which makes not Sublimation because it is so gentle nor ought it naturally to elevate any Smoke Ros p. 287. THE COROLLARY Lest perhaps Ripley and Dastin our Countrimen and most excellent Philosophers should in this Chapter seem to some to differ among themselves since Ripley takes equall parts and joins them in equall Wedlock but Dastin affirms the Water ought nine times to exceed the Earth that so in a Decinary which is a perfect Number the whole Work might be consummate I thought it worth my labour to reconcile this appearing contradiction As therefore he that well distinguishes teaches well so he that knows this distinction of time shall forthwith have the Solution of this doubt For Ripley first speaks of the first Composition in the second or Philosophick Work where the Earth and pure Water prepared exactly before must be equally joined in equall Proportion But Dastin utters that his Opinion of Imbibitions after the perfection of the second Work and so while they are distinguisht they are understood and that easily But what means Ripley in these words viz. That they should lie together six Weeks not rising all the while from the bottome of their Sepulchre this must be enquired and searched into since he affirms it a secret which hath deceived many That Conjunction is done that even as a Chicken is made of an Egge after Putrefaction so after this Conjunction and due Putrefaction we may attain the Complement of the Work Therefore we must know if any thing may be born by Putrefaction it is necessary it happen after this manner The Earth by a certain hidden and included humidity is reduced into a certain corruption or destruction which is the beginning of Putrefaction which ought to be nourisht with such a tempered heat as that nothing exhale from the Compound or be sublimed to the top of the Vessel but that the Masculine and Feminine the Matter and the Form Agent and Patient remain together The Water in the Earth and the Earth unseparated from the Water are contained together as the yolk of an Egge included in the inner thin skin till the time of Putrefaction loose the reins which will not be done sooner then in the space of forty days for as Nature hates sudden mutations or alterations so no Putrefaction is made but in a long time and appointed as Dastin elegantly said viz. The calidity of the Aire subtility of the Matter gentlenesse of the Fire stability of Rest equality of Compounds gravity of Patience and the maturity of Time doe promote and induce Putrefaction and therefore then also the Air is to be tempered the Thick subtilized the Fire restrained Rest preserved Proportion adequated Patience strengthened and the Time expected till Nature proceeding naturally shal compleat her own Work But that I may return to the purpose and adde Corollary to Corollary we must observe that in Preparation three parts of the Spirit are assumed to one part of the imperfect Body and at last about the time of the Birth three parts of imperfect Body are assumed to one of Spirit and this not once but often But in the second Work which of Philosophers is called the first first part is joined with part afterward three parts of Body to one of Spirit and that the oftner for Imbibitions and at length three of Spirit to one part of perfect Body
Body and prepared after the same manner and order moreover joine and imbibe it with the aforesaid blessed Water for Ferment prepares the imperfect Body and converts it to its own Nature and it is not Ferment unlesse Sun and Moon Semita Semitae pa. 444. Give it fermented Ferment equally Rachaidibus elementated with every Element which is Gold give it the fourth part but which is first calcined and dissolved into Water Ferment is twofold white and red of which the Ferment of the Sun is the Sun and of the Moon the Moon But let the Ferment be the fourth part of our Copper Rachaidibus pa. 393. Thou wilt have no perfect Ferment Dunstan till it be altered with our Mercury from its first qualities into a new whitenesse between Putrefaction and Alteration Dunstan pa. 7. They who knew not Natures Lullius indigency thought this Ferment ought to be prepared with new menstrous Matter in which is Fire against Nature not perceiving the perdition of the Temperature from which the Body departs by reason of the burning Fire viz. against Nature Ferment to wit a Body as much as it is understood for Ferment is not prepared but with naturall Fire and Water of Mercury Lull Codic pa. 211. Take one part of Ferment and Rosar three of imperfect Body dissolve the Ferment in Water of Mercury equall to it boil it together with a most gentle Fire and coagulate that Ferment that it may be as an imperfect Body Rosar Philosoph p. 317. Take red Earth and form it Arnold into thin Plates or shaved Dust and put it in Water as hath been taught and it shall not be dissolved in it but onely calcined into red Dust which done remove the Water warily and put it into another Vessell like that in which it is so that the calcined Dust of red Earth may remain in its Vessell without Water and in the removed Water put white Earth and that shall be dissolved and so Water shall profit thee and shall not be spoiled Arnold in Cament Hortulani pa. 31. In the preparation of the Ferment Lullius before its last Fermentation we use vulgar Mercury not onely solemnly prepared viz. into Virgins Milk but as it exists in its Nature by the alone Sublimation to this that it might reduce the Body of Ferment to its simplicity and it may be the mean of conjoining Tinctures Lull Codic pa. 215. Let it be given to an insatiable Dastin Devourer afterwards it must be nourisht with grosser meat that compleat Digestion being received it may passe from the Mothers into the Fathers Kingdome Dast Epist pa. 6. As the Ferment of Gold is Tauladanus Gold of Silver is Silver so the Ferment of Iron is Iron of Copper is Copper and of Lead is Lead Therefore every Agent acts according to its form To some what we have spoken may seem new as if the Elixir could be made of all ignoble things which shall turn all other things as well noble as ignoble either into Mars or Jupiter or Saturn or Venus Which although it now seem new and incredible to many learned men and chiefly to Petrus Bonus a man of singular learning yet there is no necessary reason which forbids it may be done Nay if it were not done Alchymy had been lost and the Art of Chymistry might have been worthily called a Figment and a Fable For Nature hath established this Law viz. That as often as Actives are rigbtly joined with Passives Action and Passion doe immediately follow and the alteration doth always resent and savour of the nature of the Agent And as often as that which before had the strength and qualities of the Patient be so disposed that it can stoutly act it is necessary that the alteration be answerable and conformable to the Nature of the Agent from which it suffered Wherefore if ignoble Metals disposed to suffer or change by the action of Gold or Silver rightly disposed to Action it is necessary that noble Metals disposed to suffer should be changed by ignoble Metals skilfully disposed to Act. Tauladanus pa. 297. Let the Ferment be prepared Clangor Bucc that the powder may be white and subtill if thy intention proceed to white but if to red then let thy powder be of Gold prepared most Citrine and there shall not be other Ferment the reason is because those two Bodies are shining in which are tingent splendid Raies excelling other Bodies naturally in whitenesse and rednesse And if thou wouldst ferment white Earth divide that Earth into two parts one part thou shalt augment to a white Elixir with it s conserved Water and so it never ceases to be of it and the other part put into its Glasse that is the Furnace of its Digestion and increase the Fire to it untill by the force of the Fire it be turned into most red Dust even as dry combust Saffron And if thou wouldst that the most white Elixir have the Tincture of Rednesse transforming and tincting Mercury the Moon and every Body into the most true Sun or Solificous Body then ferment it s three parts with another part and a half of most pure prepared Gold and let the powder be most subtile with two parts of Solificous Water artificially reducing by Union by the least parts into one Chaos even unto the inmost part of the Body and place it in its Glasse in his Fire and decoct it that the most true bloody red Stone might shine forth Clang Bucc p. 529. There is no other Ferment but Lullius of the Sun or Moon And it is not Ferment untill the said Bodies be turned into their first Matter because it is expedient that Ferment be compounded of the Sun and the most subtile Earth Wherefore if thou knowest not how to reduce two perfect Bodies into their first Matter thou canst have no Ferment Lull Theor. p. 92. For this is Minerall that when Massa Solis Lunae thou putst Water on the Earth the White overcomes the Citrine and Red and whitens them into whitenesse of Silver Then the Citrine overcomes the White and Red so that it makes them Citrine above the Citrinity of Gold and then the Red overcomes the Citrine and White and reddens them into a Tyrian rednesse and when thou seest these rejoice Massa Solis Lunae pa. 212. THE COROLLARY As in this Chapter is clearly and plainly taught the excellent manner of Fermentation so to the unexperienced Reader this contradiction may appear between Raimund and Ripley in these words viz. whilst Raimund affirms two Ferments onely one of the Sun another of the Moon but Ripley addes a third which is called the Green Lion and the unclean Body which is also called Laton which Laton since indeed is no other thing then an imperfect compound Body of Gold and Silver according to Morienus that third of Ripley is clearly demonstrated to be no other thing then immature Gold and Silver and so they doe
watered by streams from the great golden river put on the most delicate colour of the dark Saphir the Sun will give thee signs Thou shall not sever such precious flowers from their root untill thou makest the Stone for the fresh ones cropt off have more juyce and tincture and then pick them carefully with a gentle and discreet hand if fates frown not they will easily follow and one flower being pluck't the other golden one will not be wanting let the Lilly and the Amaranthus succeed with greater care and labour 54. Philosophers have their Sea also wherein small fishes fat and shining with silver scales are generated which he that shall catch in and take out of a smal and fine net shall be accounted a most expert fisher 55. The Philosophers Stone is found in the oldest mountaines and flowes from everlasting brooks those mountaines are of silver and the brooks of gold from thence gold and silver and all the treasure of Kings are produced 56. Whosoever is minded to obtaine the Philosophers Stone let him resolve to take a long peregrination for it is necessary that he go to see both the Indies that from thence he may bring the most precious gems and the purest gold 57. Philosophers extract this their Stone out of seven stones the two chiefe whereof are of a divers nature and efficacy the one infuseth invisible Sulphur the other spirituall Mercury that bringeth heat and drinesse and this cold and moisture thus by their help the strength of the elements is multiplyed in the Stone the former is found in the Easterne coast the latter in the Westerne both of them have the power of colouring and multiplying and unlesse the Stone shal take its first tincture from them it will neither colour nor multiply 58. â„ž The winged Virgin very Practice well washed and clensed impregnated by the spirituall seed of the first male and gravidated with the permanent glory of her untoucht virginity will be discovered by her checks dyed with a whitish red colour joyne her to the second male without Jealousie of adultery by whose corporeall seed she shall conceive againe and shall in time bring forth a reverend off-spring of either sex from whence an immortall Race of most potent Kings shall gloriously arise 59. Keep up and couple the Practice Eagle and Lion well clensed in their transparent cloister the entry door being shut and watched lest their breath go out or the aire without do privily get in The Eagle shall snap up and devoure the Lion in the copulation afterwards being affected with a long sleep and a dropsie occasioned by a foule stomack she shall be changed by a wonderfull metamorphosis into a cole-black Crow which shall begin to fly with wings stretched out and by its flight shall whisk downe water from the clouds untill being often moistned he put off his wings of his owne accord and falling downe againe it be changed into a most white Swan Those that are ignorant of the causes of things may wonder with astonishment when they consider that the World is nothing but a continuall Metamorphosis they may marvel that the seeds of things perfectly digested should end in greatest whitenesse Let the Philosopher imitate Nature in his work 60. Nature proceedeth thus The middle and extreames of the Stone in making and perfecting her works that from an inchoate generation it may bring a thing by diverse meanes as it were by degrees to the ultimate terme of perfection she therefore attaineth her end by little and little not by leaps confining and including her work between two extreams distinct and severed as by spaces The practice of Philosophy which is the Ape of Nature ought not to decline from the way and example of Nature in its working and direction to finde out its happy stone for whatsoever is without the bounds of Nature is either an errour or nearest one 61. The extreams of the Stone are naturall Argent vive and perfect Elixir the middle parts which lye between by helpe whereof the work goes on are of three sorts for they either belong unto matter or operations or demonstrative signes the whole work is perfected by these extreams and means 62. The materiall means of the Materiall means Stone are of divers kinds for some are extracted out of others successively The first are Mercury Philosophically sublimated and perfect metals which although they be extream in the work of nature yet in the Philosophicall worke they supply the place of meanes of the former the seconds are produced namely the four elements which againe are circulated and fixed of the seconds the thirds are produced to wit either Sulphur the multiplication whereof doth terminate the first worke the fourth and last meanes are leaven or ointments weighed with the mixtion of the things aforesaid successively produced in the worke of the Elixir By the right ordering of the things aforesaid the perfect Elixir is finished which is the last term of the whole work wherein the Philosophers Stone resteth as in its centre the multiplication whereof is nothing else then a short repetition of the premised operations 63. The operative meanes Operative means which are also called the Keys of the work are foure The first is Solution or Liquefaction the second is Ablution the third Reduction the fourth Fixation By Liquefaction bodies returne into their ancient matter things concocted are made raw againe and the copulation between the male and female is effected from whence the Crow is generated Lastly the Stone is divided into 4 confused elements which happeneth by the retrogradation of the Luminaries The Ablution teacheth to make the Crow white to create Jupiter of Saturn which is made by the conversion of the body into Spirit The office of Reduction is to restore the soule to the Stone examinated and to nourish it with dew and spirituall Milk untill it shall attaine unto perfect strength In both these latter operations the Dragon rageth against himselfe and by devouring his tayle doth wholly exhaust himselfe and at length is turned into the Stone Lastly the operation of the Fixation fixeth both Sulphurs upon their fixed body by the mediation of the spirits tincture it decocteth the leavens by degrees ripeneth things raw and sweetneth the bitter In fine by penetrating and tincturing the flowing Elixir generateth perfecteth and lastly riseth up to the height of sublimity 64. The Meanes or demonstrative The demonstrative meanes signs are Colours successively and orderly affecting the matter and its affections and demonstrative passions whereof there are three speciall ones as critall to be noted to these some adde a Fourth The first is black which is called the Crowes-head because of its extreame blacknesse whose crepusculum sheweth the beginning of the fires action of nature and solution and the blackest night the perfection of liquefaction and confusion of the elements Then the graine putrefies is corrupted that it may be the more apt for generation
The white colour succeedeth the black wherein is given the perfection of the first degree and of white Sulphur This is called the blessed stone this Earth is white and foliated whererein Philosophers doe sow their gold The third is Orange colour which is produced in the passage of the white to the red as the middle and mixt of both and is as the morning with her safron-haire a fore-runner of the Sun The fourth colour is ruddy and sanguine which is extracted from the white fire onely Now because whitenesse is easily altered by any other colour before day it quickly faileth of its candor But the dark rednesse of the Sun perfecteth the worke of Sulphur which is called the Sperme of the male the fire of the Stone the Kings Crown and the son of Sol wherein the first labour of the workman resteth 65. Besides these decretory signes which firmely inhere in the matter and shew its essentiall mutations almost infinite colours appear and shew themselves in vapours as the Rain-bow in the clouds which quickly passe away and are expelled by those that succeed more affecting the aire then the earth the operatour must have a gentle care of them because they are not permanent and proceed not from the intrinsecall disposition of the matter but from the fire painting and fashioning every thing after its pleasure or casually by heat in small moisture 66. Of the strange colours some called out of time give an ill omen to the work as the Blacknesse renewed for the Crowes young ones having once left their nest are never to be suffered to returne Too hasty Rednesse for this once and in the end onely gives a certaine hope of the harvest if before it make the matter red it is an argument of the greatest aridity not without great danger which can onely be averted by Heaven alone forthwith bestowing a shower upon it 67. The Stone is exalted by Foure Digestions of the Stone successive digestions as by degrees and at length attaineth to perfection Now foure Digestions agreeable to the foure abovesaid Operations or Governments do compleat the whole worke the author whereof is the fire which makes their difference 68. The first digestion operateth First the solution of the Body whereby comes the first conjunction of male and female the commixtion of both seeds putrefaction the resolution of the elements into homogeneall water the eclipse of the Sun and Moon in the head of the Dragon and lastly it bringeth back the whole World into its ancient Chaos and dark abysse This first digestion is made as in the stomack of a melon colour and weak more fit for corruption then generation 69. In the second digestion the Second spirit of the Lord walketh upon the waters the light begins to appear and a separation of waters from the waters the Sun and Moon are renewed the elements are extracted out of the chaos that being perfectly mixt in Spirit they may constitute a new world a new Heaven and new Earth are made and lastly all bodies are become spirituall The Crowes young ones changing their fethers begin to passe into Doves the Eagle and Lion embrace one another with an eternall League And this generation of the World is made by the fiery Spirit descending in the forme of Water and wiping away Originall sin for the Philosophers Water is Fire which is moved by the exciting heat of a Bath But see that the separation of Waters be done in Weight and Measure lest those things that remaine under Heaven be drowned under the Earth or those things that are snatched up above Heaven be too much destitute of aridity Hic sterilem exiguus ne deserat humor Georg. 1. arenam Here lest small moisture leave a barren Soyle 70. The third digestion of the Third newly generated Earth drinketh up the dewy Milk and all the spirituall virtues of the quintessence and fasteneth the quickning Soul to the Body by the Spirits mediation Then the Earth layeth up a great Treasure in it selfe and is made like the coruscant Moon afterwards to ruddy Sun the former is called the Earth of the Moon the latter the Earth of the Sun for both of them is begot of the copulation of them both neither of them any longer feareth the pains of the Fire because both want all spots for they have been often clensed from sin by fire and have suffered great Martyrdome untill all the Elements are turned downwards 71. The Fourth digestion consummateth Fourth all the Mysteries of the World and the Earth being turned into most excellent leaven it leaveneth all imperfect bodies because it hath before passed into the heavenly nature of quintessence The vertue thereof flowing from the Spirit of the Universe is a present Panacea and universall medicine for all the diseases of all creatures the digestions of the first worke being repeated will open to thee the Philosophers secret Furnace Be right in thy works that thou mayest finde God fovourable otherwise the plowing of the Earth will be in vaine Nor Illa seges demum votis respondet avari Georg. a-vari Agricolae Will the expected Harvest e're requite The greedy High-shoot 72. The whole Progresse of the Philosophers work is nothing but Solution and Congelation the Solution of the body and Congelation of the Spirit neverthelesse there is but one operation of both the fixed and volatile are perfectly mixed and united in the Spirit which cannot be done unlesse the fixed body be first made soluble and volatile By reduction is the volatile body fixed into a permanent body and volatile nature doth at last change into a fixed one as the fixed Nature had before passed into volatile Now so long as the Natures were confused in the Spirit that mixed Spirit keeps a middle Nature between Body and Spirit Fixed and Volatile 73. The generation of the Stone is made after the patterne of the Creation of the World for it is necessary that it have its Chaos and First matter wherein the confused Elements do fluctuate untill they be separated by the fiery Spirit they being separated the light Elements are carried upwards and the heavie ones downwards the light arising darknesse retraits the waters are gathered into one and the dry land appeares At length the two great Luminaries arise and minerall virtues vegetable and animal are produced in the Philosophers Earth 74. God created Adam of the mud of the Earth wherein were inherent the virtues of all the Elements of the Earth Water especially which doe more constitute the sensible and corporeall heap Into this Masse God inspired the breath of Life and enlivened it with the Sunne of the Holy Spirit He gave Eve for a Wife to Adam and blessing them he gave unto them a Precept and Faculty of multiplying The Generation of the Philosophers Stone is not unlike the Creation of Adam for the Mud was made of a terrestriall and ponderous Body dissolved by Water which deserved the excellent name
wherefore it is called a Father and Masculine seed 123. That we may leave nothing untouched let the Students in Philosophy know that from that first Sulphur a second is generated which may be multiplyed in infinitum let the wise man after he hath got the everlasting minerall of that Heavenly Fire keep it diligently Now of what matter Sulphur is generated of the same it is multiplyed a small portion of the first being added yet as in the Ballance The rest may a freshman see in Lullius this may suffice onely to point at it 124. The Elixir is compounded of a threefold matter namely of Metallick Water or Mercury sublimated as before of Leaven White or Red according to the intention of the Operator and of the Second Sulphur all in Weight 125. There are Five proper Composition of the Elixir and necessary qualities in the perfect Elixir that it be fusile permanent penetrating colouring and multiplying it borroweth its tincture and fixation from the Leaven its penetration from the Sulphur its fusion from Argent vive which is the medium of conjoyning Tinctures to wit of the Ferment and Sulphur and its multiplicative virtue from the Spirit infused into the Quintessence 126. Two perfect Metalls give a perfect Tincture because they are dyed with the pure Sulphur of Nature and therefore no Ferment of Metals may be sought besides these two bodies dye thy Elixir White and Red with Sol and Luna Mercury first of all receives their Tincture and having received it doth communicate it to others 127. In compounding the Elixir take heed you change not or mixe any thing with the Ferments for either Elixir must have its proper Ferment and desireth its proper Elements for it is provided by Nature that the two Luminaries have their different Sulphur and distinct tinctures 128. The Second work is concocted as the First in the same or like Vessell the same Furnace and by the same degrees of fire but is perfected in a shorter time 129. There are three humours Three humours in the Stone in the Stone which are to be extracted successively namely Watery Airy and Radicall and therfore all the labour and care of the Workman is employed about the humour neither is any other Element in the Worke of the Stone circulated besides the humid one For it is necessary in the first place that the Earth be resolved and melted into humour Now the Radicall humour of all things accounted Fire is most tenacious because it is tyed to the Centre of Nature from which it is not easily separated extract therefore those three humours slowly successively dissolving and congealing them by their Wheels for by the multiplyed alterne reiteration of Solution and congelation the Wheel is extended and the whole work finished 130. The Elixir's perfection consisteth in the strict Union and indissoluble Matrimony of Siccum and Humidum so that they may not be separated but the Siccum may flow with moderate heat into the Humidum abiding every pressure of Fire The signe of perfection is if a very little of it cast in above the Iron or Brazen Plate being very hot it flow forthwith without smoake 131. â„ž Let three weights of Red Earth or Red Earth or Red Ferment and a double weight of Water and Aire well beaten be mixt together let an Amalgama be made like Butter or Metalline Paste so as the Earth being mollifyed may be insensible to the touch Add one weight and an halfe of Fire Let these be ordered in their Vessell the Fire of the first degree being most closely sealed afterwards let the Elements be extracted out of their degrees of Fire in their order which being turned downwards with a gentle motion they may be fixed in their Earth so as nothing volatile may be raised up from thence the matter at length shall be terminated in a Rock Illuminated Red and Diaphanous a part whereof take at pleasure and having cast it into a Crucible with a little Fire by drops give it to drink with its Red Oyle and incere it untill it be quite poured out and goe away without smoake Nor mayst thou feare its flight for the Earth being mollifyed with the sweetnesse of the Potion will stay it having received it within its bowels then take the Elixir thus perfected into thine owne power and keep it carefully In God rejoyce and be silent 132. The order and method of composing perfecting the white Elixir is the same so that thou usest the white Elements onely in the composition thereof but the body of it brought to the terme of decoction will end in the plate white splendid and crystall-like which incerated with its White Oyle will obtaine the help of Fusion Cast one weight of either Elixir upon ten weights of Argent vive well washed and thou wilt admire its effect with astonishment 133. Because in the Elixir the Multiplication of the Elixir strength of Naturall Fire is most aboundantly multiplyed by the Spirit infused into the Quintessence and the naughty accidents of bodies which beset their purity and the true light of Nature with darknesse are taken away by long and manifold sublimations and digestions therefore Fiery Nature freed from its Fetters and fortifyed with the aid of Heavenly strength workes most powerfully being included in this our fift Element Let it not therefore be a wonder if it obtaine strength not onely to perfect imperfect things but also to multiply its force and power Now the Fountaine of Multiplication is in the Prince of the Luminaries who by the infinite multiplication of his beams begetteth all things in this our Orbe and multiplyeth things generated by infusing a multiplicative virtue into the seeds of things 134. The way of multiplying the Elixir is threefold By the first â„ž Mingle one weight of Red Elixir with nine weights of its Red Water and dissolve it into Water in a solutory Vessell curdle the matter well dissolved and unite by decocting it with a gentle Fire untill it be made strong into a Rubie or Red Lamell which afterwards incere with its Red Oyle after the manner prescribed untill it flow so shalt thou have a medicine ten times more powerfull then the first The businesse is easily finished in a short time 135. By the Second manner The Practice of Multiplication â„ž what Potion thou pleasest of thy Elixlr mixed with its Water the weights being observed seale it very well in the Vessell of Reduction dissolve it in a Bath by inhumation being dissolved distill it Separating the Elements by their proper fires and fixing them downwards as was done in the first and second work untill it be a Stone lastly incere it and project it This is the longer but yet the richer way for the virtue of the Elixir is increased unto an hundred fold for by how much the more subtile it is made by reiterated operations by so much more both of superiour and inferiour strength it retaineth more powerfully operates 136. Lastly