that he should doubt of the Word of God and of his most merciful and gracious promise pretending that God was not his friend thus to suffer him to endure hunger so long in the desart But now if this temptation doth not worâ— with Christians then this enemy sets upon men with anothet temptation on the other side or extream and would have them to rely upon God for more then he hath promised them in his Word Deut 10. for so he endeavoured to perswade even Christ himself viz. that he should cast himself down Math. 4. from the highest top of the Temple for God will sufficiently protect and defend him But now if this will not do he will yeâ— shamelesly have a third temptation and this is by promising Riches viz. that for mony and temporal honours sake he should depart from God from his Divine Word and become an Idolator and fall down and worship himself viz. Sathan Thus feared he not boldly to wrestle with Christ himself and to drive him to a fall The which also the faithfull God and Father in Heaven Job 2. doth out of his peculiar Counsel and for certain causes sometimes permit such a thing to be done against his own people that so they may by this means grow and encrease in faith hope patience in a true and right invocation or prayer unto God and may by those rudiments or beginnings and exercisings of the Cross well prepare to themselves the way to the last conflict viz. of death which our old man must necessarily undergo and that they may by this means obtain an eternal victory against that enemy the which will come to pass if they first know all his tricks and most crafty snares and do then valiantly and stoutly accomplish that as by the divine grace meets with and opposeth him For whereas we are to fight and strive not with flesh and blood but with Principalities and Powers as Saint Paul speaks viz. with the chiefest of this world who rule in the darkness of this world and with the evil Spirits under heaven therefore we are not in the least able to resist them or their spiritual temptations by our own proper strength and power but here we must according to the example of Christ our Saviour and standard-bearer lay hold on spiritual weapons and with them and the Word of God as with the sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6. in or by Faith are those our spiritual enemies to be smitten and overcome And to this purpose 't will seem necessary for us to do as that Christian warriour Saint Paul the Apostle in Eph 6. commands to be done viz. We must betake our selves to the armoury or store-house of the holy Spirit and there 1 Tim. 6. take the iron breast-plate of God and put it on and our loins must be girt with truth and we must be clad with the breast-plate of righteousness and our feet must be shod or harnessed as ready prepared for the Gospel of peace and le ts take the sword of the Spirit the which as we said before is the Word of God But above all things let us take the shield of faith by which we shall be able to blot out and quench all the fiery darts of the devil for the faith in Jesus Christ is a most firm buckler the which the Devil can never perforate nor possibly wound the heart through it Moreover whereas the regiment of the fire also in the Philosophick work is to be heeded with the greatest diligence and must necessarily be administred and attended on in the coction or digestion of the matter without ceasing and even as we have afore briefly mentioned the Philosophical fire by which the whole business is chiefly to be perfected vâ—z what it properly is and how called viz. an essential a preternatural and a divine fire that lies hid in the compound and unto which must be afforded or administred an help and stirring up with the terrene material fire 1 Tim. 1. Even so likewise is the pure Word of God or which is the same the Spirit of God which is also compared with a fire Jerem. 23. and is so called hidden in us men forasmuch as it was indeed implanted in us by nature but by the corruption thereof was again blotted out and made dark Phil. 3. And therefore must there be an helping and succour exhibited after such a manner by as 't were a certain other external fire that is by a continual and daily use and exercise of Piety and Christian Vertues in the time of joy and sadness as also by a diligent consideration of the pure divine Word if at least we would have that internal light of grace that is granted unto us and the Spirit of God to operate and work in us and not be plainly extinguished Eccles. 10. and with this aid and assistance must it be continually blown up and incessantly quickned without wearisomness and desistency As for instance t is wont thus to be done in earthly things for if a workman strongly files Iron which in it self is cold it will by the continuance of that motion become hot So a Light or Lamp Col. 3. unless it be continually nourished with supply of oyl 't will at length fail and be extinguished Even thus it is with man as to his internal fire except it be daily and without wearisomness and tediousness exercised as we said above it doth by little and little decrease until at length he be deprived wholly thereof Upon which account the Word of God as we have often informed you and as an important necessity requires it is to be diligently heard well considered of and to be exercised without ceasing And what we have here spoken as to hearing thereof the which is not to be done only with the external and beastlike eyes but with the internal eyes of the mind 1 Tim 1. the same is to be understood of the sight after the same manner But that you may the better understand my meaning know that I speak of the right and pure Word of God and not of those humane glosses or expositions of either the Antients or Modern nor of the Pharisaical Ferment and Leaven of the Scribes Rom. 16. which with grief be it spoken is now adaies preferred before the divine Word or at leastwise though it be but as it were mouse-dung mixed with pepper is earnestly prest upon men to be heard and accounted of as the preaching of the word of God But I mean no such thing in the least Those kinds of trifles and such Sermons as fill the ears of men only I value not a rush nor do I here speak of such but I speak according as we have mentioned it in its proper place of the true and clarified Word of God Psalm 19. 119. that passed out of the mouth of God Deut. 8. Mat. 4. and is even yet to this day preached by the holy Spirit 1 Cor. 1. the which is not only as some do reproachfully and sottishly speak thereof a meer empty sound but is Spirit and Life and the saving Power of God John 6. to all such as believe therein Concerning which hearing the Kingly Prophet David doth thus speak Psal. 64. I will hear what the Lord will speak in me Out of the which internal and divine hearing the Word of
edge to knowledge but do not at all bestow the knowledge for as for that It must arise from within from a knowledge and discerning understanding of those colours So likewise if any do desire from thee a material external fire or a Light or kindling out of a Pyrite or fire-stone wherein the fire or the light is hidden then t is expedient to make it manifest and extract as 't were out of the stone that same occult and secret fire and not to bring it into the stone the which is to be done by a steel as appertaining hereunto and by it the occult fire in the stone must be excited or stirred up the which fire must notwithstanding be received by a well prepared sutable firing or fewel and so blown up unless you 'l intend to have it vanish and be extinguished The which being so done you shal have a right shining brightsom fire and as long as you preserve and cherish it you may do therewith what you please according to your desire Even so likewise after the same manner is it with that divine Celestial hidden Light in man the which as we have said before doth not come into a man from without but rather proceeds from within outwards Now this may at the beginning be made bright by a true faith in God and then furthermore by mediums as reading hearing preaching and also afterwards by the holy Spirit which Christ hath restored unto us and hath promised to give us John 14. No man comes unto the Father but by me this may I say be enkindled in the obscure and darkish but yet glowing heart which is as 't were a prepared fire and be again rightly breathed on and made shining for in such an heart God will afterwards operate and work In such an ones heart as believes and in that one Light to which none can attain doth he desire to have his abode And although no man ever saw God with his external bodily eyes nor indeed can see him yet nevertheless may he be seen discerned and known by the internal eyes of the heart Moreover although that that clear Light hath sent forth its brightness into the whole world and doth as yet daily enlighten all men without any difference yet for all that the world because of its corrupt and depraved nature cannot or will not rightly see it much less know it and therefore also are there so many erroneous waies and dangerous opinions vented thereabouts The which is in this thing to be well considered of heeded and observed viz. That God hath not in vain and casually placed two eyes and as many ears in the top part of the body for he would thereby hint unto us viz. That t is expedient for a man to learn and give good heed unto a twofold sight and hearing viz. internal and external and by the internal to judge of spiritual things and the external is to perform its part 1 Cor. 2. The which distinction also in the Word of the Spirit and of the Letter is to be most diligently observed for the sake whereof even I also am willing here by way of admonition briefly to discover and in a few words only to the more simple sort whereby they may the better be informed and attain to the better and more commodious or profitable knowledge of the triune stone in which the very top of the thing lies Now even as the matter of the terrene Philosophical stone is of no value or esteem with the world but is rather wholly rejected as it were even so likewise Christ the eternal Word of the Father the most noble and celestial proved triune stone is dis-esteemed by the greater part of men in this world and is as 't were cast out of our sight and indeed to speak the truth there 's almost nothing more unworthy more vile and abject then the saving Word of God it self and therefore in 1 Cor. 3. it is accounted especially by the wise ones of this world for foolishness Nay it is not only so disesteemed and slighted but also condemned as Heretical and cast forth to banishment the which to hear it being so great a blasphemy is to a godly heart the highest grief But however be it as it will t is behoveful that the right believers be thereby tryed and that consequently the afore-mentioned testimonies be yet rightly fulfilled the which also John in his first Chapter testifies saying It viz. the Word was in the world and the world knew it not Likewise he came unto his own propriety and yet was not received by his own Even as also the Corporal and Terrene Water-stone of the Wise men whose vertue and efficacy is unsearchable is in reference to its matter called by the Philosophers by sundry names So likewise that Deity and that only light whose vertue and Omnipotency is in like manner unsearchable hath many various titles and names in the holy Scripture the chiefest of which we shall here orderly reckon up on both hands The stone of the Philosophers is called the most antient the hidden or unknown the natural incomprehensible celestial blessed consecrated stone of the wise men t is also called true without lyes the certainest of things most certain the secret of all secrets a divine vertue and efficacy hidden from fools the highest and the lowest that can be seen under heaven the wonderful Conclusion or knitter up of all Philosophick works t is likewise called a fit and perfect Agreement of all the elements an incorruptible body that can be touched by no element 'T is moreover called a Q. E. a double or twofold and vivifying ☿ which hath in it self a celestial Spirit the healing of all the sick and imperfect mettals the eternal light the highest medicine for all diseases the noble Phoenix the highest and most noble treasure or choicest good of nature the universal triune stone which is by nature conjoyned of three and yet nevertheless is but onely one yea t is generated and ingendred or effected out of one two three four and five Likewise 't is called the Catholick Magnesia or Sperm of the world and by many other such names and Titles as are to be found amongst the Philosophers all which titles may not unfitly be reckoned up and comprehended in the highest and most perfect number viz. a thousand Even as therefore now this terrene Philosophical stone I say hath as in reference to its matter many and divers yea almost a thousand titles as we have said and is therefore now and then called wonderful Even so likewise these and such like other afore-mentioned titles and names may be much rather and that also in the highest degree said or published of God the Omnipotent Good for verily God yea the Word of God his eternal Son is the right eternal precious and tryed corner-fundamental-stone which the builders rejected and banisht Isaiah 28. Psalm 118. Mat. 21. Acts 4. Rom. 9. 1 Pet. 2. He is the true the antient yea
it and at last dyed on the Cross and many other afflictions and tribulations did he necessarily undergo in his life and at his death of which you may read more at large in the holy Evangelists And even as the Philosophers write viz. that that boiling and putrefaction in the afore-mentioned terrene work is usually made and perfected within fourtie daies So are there described and laid down to us in the holy Scripture a description of many and divers miracles that God hath done by that afore-mentioned number as for instance that of the people of Israel's when they aboad in the desart for fourty whole years and had the tryal of a very hard exile Psal. 59. Deut. 8. Likewise Moses his being in Mount Sinai Exod. 34. Also Elias in his flight because of Ahab 1 Kings 19. So Christ in the desart fasted forty daies and as many nights Likewise also he preached on the earth for fourty moneths and performed miracles He lay forty hours in the Sepulchre and fourtie daies between his resurrection from the dead and his ascention into heaven did he walk about and visit his Disciples and shewed himself alive unto them Acts 1. Likewise the City of Hierusalem was destroyed by the Romans and razed to the ground the fortieth year after the ascention of our Lord. But you must here principally note that the Philosophers call that putrefaction because of its black colour Cantic 1. I am black the head of the Crow Even so Christ himself Isa. 53. He had no form nor c. was wholly deformed as to his form and beauty the most vile of all full of griefs and sorrows and also was despised in so much that we even hid our faces because of him and esteemed him as a thing of nought Moreover himself doth likewise in Psalm 22. complain of that thing viz. he was a worm and no man the mocking stock of men and contempt of the People In like manner also this may not unfitly be compared with Christ. viz. As that Putrified body of Sol doth lie for a season like to ashes in the bottom of the glass and dead without any efficacy until by the addition of a stronger heat its soul doth again let down it self drop by drop and by little and little and doth again imbibe the sick and as it were dead body doth moisten it give it to drink and preserve it from a total destruction even so happened it to Christ when he was in the Mount of Olives and upon the Cross and was roasted as it were by the fire of the divine wrath Mat. 26. 27. he complained that he was wholly forsaken by his heavenly Father and yet nevertheless was he alwaies refreshed and strengthened Mark 4. Luke 22. and imbued as 't were and moistened and imbibed with the divine Nectar even as 't is wont to be in the terrene body by a daily airing for and refreshment yea also when in his most holy passion and mediating death his power and strength together with his Spirit was wholly withdrawn from him and he plainly or truly arrived or came to the lower and deepest parts of the earth Acts 1. Ephes. 1. 1 Peter 3. he was notwithstanding even yet conserved refreshed and again lifted or raised up by the vertue and power of the eternal Deity and thereby vivified and glorified Rom. 14. and here 't was that his soul and spirit did first of all procure or bring to pass a perfect true and indissolvable union with his dead body in the Sepulchre and by a most joyful and victorious resurrection and ascention to the heavens was it exalted through our Lord Jesus Christ to the right hand of his Father Mat. 28. Mark 16. with the which body he doth now by the efficacy and vertue of the holy Spirit as being a true God and Man in equal power and glory rule and bear command over all things Psal. 8. and by his most efficacious Word preserves and sustains all things Heb. 1. yea he vivifies all things Acts 17. The which wonderful union and also that divine exaltation cannot be well seen and much less considered of by Angels and men in heaven and on earth yea and under the earth Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 1. without fear and trembling Whose efficacy power and rosey-coloured tincture is able to transmute us imperfect men and sinners even now in body and soul to tinge and more then perfectly to cure and heal us concerning which we shall speak more anon Having now therefore briefly and plainly disclosed to you how viz. the Celestial Fundamental Corner-stone Jesus Christ may be compared with the terrene Philosophical stone of the wise men the matter and preparation whereof is as we have heard a notable type and lively counterpoise as 't were and resemblance of the divine assumption of humane flesh in Christ We therefore likewise judge it necessary that we also behold and learn his efficacy virtue and Tincture as also his fermentation and multiplication in us men who are destitute of efficacy and virtue and are as it were Imperfect mettals And albeit that God created man at the beginning above all his other Creatures and made him a most noble and most perfect Creature yea he made him after his own Image and breathed into him a living Spirit and an Immortal Soul Yet nevertheless after his fall was he transmuted into a deformed contrary and pernicions or mortal shape and form But now to restore again such a most noble Creature to his former brightness or lustre and perfection the Omnipotent God did out of his meer mercy ordain such a medium as his viz. mans restitution might be brought to pass by after the manner following viz. as we have afore said that the more then perfect stone or Tincture after this its perfection is to be in the first place yet further fermented augmented or multiplyed if at leastwise you would obtain its manifold profit and have its efficacy and operation beneficial Even so also Christ that heavenly blessed stone must according to his God-man perfection be yet moreover also further fermented and multiplyed as 't were with us as with his members that is we must be purifyed and united with him by his own saving ticture of a Rosey colour and be prepared and conformed to a pure unfermented and celestial body for as Paul testifies in Rom. 8. he is the first begotten among many brethren yea the first begotten before all other Creatures whatsoever Coloss. 1. by whom all things in Heaven and Earth are created and reconciled with God for if we who are naturally impure mortal and imperfect would be again made pure new-born or regenerate immortal and perfect then verily that cannot be done by any other medium Hebr. 13. then by that celestial fundamental corner stone only Jesus Christ who is alone holy yea the most holy Dan. 9. the new-born raised up and glorifyed heavenly King who both is and eternally remains God and man in one person Likewise even as the
stone of the Philosophers and Chymical King doth by its tincture bestow this benefit and doth also comprehend in it self by its perfected process this efficacy and virtue as to be capable of transmuting and tinging the other imperfect simple and disesteemed mettals into pure gold So also yea and much more rather doth that heavenly King that fundamental corner stone Jesus Christ only and alone purify us by his blessed tincture that is by his blood of a Rosey colour and cleanse us sinners and imperfect men from our innate adamical defilements and dregs yea he doth more then perfectly cure and heal us 1 John 1. and as the Scripture speaking thereof doth testify that there is no other salvation nor medium either in the Heaven or the Earth whereby we may obtain everlasting blessedness and perfection but only the name of Jesus Acts 4. For albeit that the blind and mad world hath by the cozenage and deceit of Satan sought after many and various mediums and wayes of obtaining everlasting happiness and perfection and have earnestly busied themselves thereabout yet notwithstanding Christ Jesus is the only and alone Saviour and Mediatour in whom and by whom we are justifyed and blessed before God and are again purified from the Spiritual Leprosy of sin even like unto the one only terrene Saviour and Chymical King by whom all the imperfect mettals do purchase and obtain their perfection and moreover by it are cured all diseases but especially the incureable and corporal Leprosy So therefore all the other mediums and those arts that are studyed and contrived by men themselves viz. such as the Jews Turks Heathens and other hereticks have published and are as yet defended and maintained as necessary mediums are to speak properly thereof much rather void of Spirit are false and Sophisticate Alchimy Col. 2. Beware least any one c. by which we men are not purifyed but are hindred are not vivifyed or enlivened but weakned yea are at length wholy mortifyed like to the falsely so called Alchimy which hath found out many and diverse tinctures and colours by which men are not only deceived but likewise as too toomuch misery it is daily experience doth more then enough testify they are oftentimes cast into the peril and danger of their goods and corporal life But now if we men would be again purifyed from our impure filths and feces viz. from that Adamical Original sin wherewith the whole nature of man was at the beginning corrupted as if it were with some destructive poyson inspired or breathed into our first parents by the devil and in which we are all conceived and born Psal. 51. Job 15. and would be again made perfect and happy John 3. then it must be done by a new regeneration of the holy Spirit yea by water and the spirit even like as the Chymical King also is regenerated by water and the spirit and doth thereby obtain its perfection in which new and spiritual regeneration 1 Pet. 3. the which is accomplished from above in the holy Baptisme by the water and the spirit must we be washed and purifyed by the blood of Christ and so be made one body with him and cloath our selves with him as 't were with a garment as Paul saith in Col. 3. and Ephes. 5. for even as the Philosophers stone doth aftetwards unite it self by its Tincture with the other Mettals and is together with them reduced into a perfect and indissoluble body so also Christ as being the head of us all 1 Cor. 4. doth even unite himself with his members by his rosey coloured tincture and reduceth and perfects it into a perfect body and building Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Ephes. 5. which is created according to God in Joh. 3. right and true Justice and holiness Eph. 4. And verily that regeneration of man which is performed by the holy Spirit in holy Baptism is properly no other thing than a certain inward spiritual renewing of fallen man with God and Christ 1 Cor. 12. In so much that whereas afore we were carnal in relation to the birth made by our father and mother and were by nature enemies to God and sons of wrath Rom. 2. Eph. 2. we are now by means of the second and spiritual birth in holy Baptism made friends and sons yea heirs of God and coheirs with Christ Heb. 3. For for this reason Christ also dyed and rose and revived Rom. 14. that by this his process that is by his Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension we might have an entrance into an holy place or house not made with hands and that he might prepare for us the way to an everlasting Country And therefore also is it necessary that we likewise as his brethren and sisters Math. 12. Ephes. 5. and Psal. 22. do follow him in sufferings Math. 8. and grow up and increase in an acceptable humility Luke 12. and in other virtues and moreover that we be altother conformable and suitable to or for his body that so at last even we also who have followed him here in the regeneration and are dead and mortifyed in him may likewise live with him and enter into his glory The which spiritual exhortation and Christian imitation of our celestial King his life and deeds comes not from our worth merit or proper and peculiar pleasure for the natural man is together with all his faculties blind deaf and dead in spiritual things but meerly and only 1 Jo. 5. by the efficacy and operation of the holy Spirit which is effectual and powerful in us by the blessed washing or bath of regeneration and baptism after the same sort is it with minerals and Mettals which being in themselves dead Hebr. 10. and rusty as it were and cannot possibly purify or amend themselves are even by the help of the spagyrical spirit purified renewed dissolved and perfected If therefore now we are again as we have heard regenerated by the water and the spirit 2 Cor. 5. that is by the blessed baptism and by the red fountain or stream tincted by Christ and incorporated with the Lord Christ our heavenly King 1 Cor. 3. and are washed with his blood from our hereditary sins and are purified and are made partakers of the first fruits of his holy Spirit Then is it expedient that we be fed and that we drink at the beginning a little and a little according to the saying of St. Peter with pure and wholsome milk like new born babes yea like infants in Christ until at length we becoming like living Apoc. 1. and ripe stones are built up to a spiritual house and high Priest-hood and made fitting to offer up spiritual Sacrifices such as are well pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ for verily a Christian man regenerated by the water and the spirit doth not comprehend all at once nor is able to apprehend all but 't is needful that he grow up and increase day by day and by little and little in the
sufficiently rude or rustical to treat or write of so great a mysterie Yet nevertheless seeing that by the Grace of the most glorious great God I have made such a progress that I may so speak without vain-glory as but few yea many innumerable thousands of men have not at all arrived unto and besides that that talent which is most mercifully bestowed by the omnipotent God upon me an unworthy Tenant may not lie wholly buried with me I will therefore shew as far forth as lawfully I may from a faithful heart a short Compendium and Declaration of all that whole Art to all the Lovers of the same and also by what means that art is to be attained unto and I will discover to thee the sure infallible yea the most certain and most right way that so haply the eyes of some may by divine grace be opened and that they may be drawn from their afore-conceived false opinion and be led into the right Path and also that this divine miracle may be thereby so much the better revealed But for the better and easier understanding and remembring thereof I will divide this Treatise into four Parts In the first Part I 'le shew the beginning and the way of the entrance of that art and how a man must prepare himself thereunto In the second shall be shewed according to a Philosophical description and instruction how the matter of this Art is to be gotten and known and moreover the manner of the whole preparation and the institution of the regiment thereof shall be demonstrated In the third we shall speak of the most plentiful profit and benefit of that Art of the high and unspeakable efficacy and vertue thereto given and attributed In the fourth Part shall follow the Spiritual Allegory the which may in all things be compared with this magistery it being a true painted Idea of the true celestial everlasting blessed most high Corner-stone wherein shall be described briefly and plainly for I do not much mind many curious and beauteous circumstances the true and right golden Leadings as 't were by the hand thereunto appertaining THE First Part Psalm 25. v. 12. Who is he that feareth the Lord him shall he direct in the best way FIrst of all Every Godly Chymist that truly fears God and is a Philosopher of that Art must above all things consider that this Art and Arcanum is to be accounted as not only the highest and greatest but likewise as an holy Art for the highest good and stamp of the most holy celestial Omnipotent God is imprinted therein and painted thereon if therefore any one thinks to attain to that high and unspeakable mysterie let him know that such an Art is not in the power of man but consists in the most gracious will and pleasure of God and that it is not the Will or Desire but the meer Mercy of the Almighty that helps man thereunto T is very expedient therefore that above all things thou beest Pious and that thy heart be lifted up to him alone and that thou askest that gift of him alone by a true most ardent and undoubtful praying for from him alone it is to be obtained and by him alone is given If therefore the Omnipotent God who is the most certain Searcher of all hearts perceives and finds that thou hast in thee a right and faithful mind void of deceit and that thy endeavours in the search and learning thereof are for no other end but the praise and glory of God then without all doubt he will also according to his promise hear thee and will so guide thee by his holy Spirit that thou mayst commodiously arrive by mediums to some beginning of which verily thou never hadst a thought and shalt moreover thy self perceive in thine own heart how the most merciful God hath most graciously heard thy prayer and will even as 't were forthwith exhibit thee a revelation and shew thee an happy entrance Then after this prostrate thy self upon thy knees and with an humble and a contrite heart give unto him due thanks praise glory and honour for the hearing of thy prayers and withall beg and entreate him again and again that he would vouchsafe also to propagate by his holy Spirit that grace he hath begun to shew thee and which thou hast perceived in thine heart and that he would so guide thee as rightly to use so high a mysterie if it be now perfectly revealed unto thee and that thou mayst so mannage it that it may be wholly directed to the only glory and honour of his most holy blessed name and to the benefit and succour of thy needy neighbour Besides thou must consider and then duly advise with thy self that thou never revealest that mysterie to the wicked and unworthy one much less communicate it or make him a partaker thereof for fear of the loss of thine eternal health and happiness Briefly do not at any rate abuse it but convert it as we said but now to the glory of God only and not to thine own proper praise Furthermore thou must likewise consider and believe that except thou doest thus thou maist haply run much hazard in the running of thy race and God will not leave thee unpunisht and then it would have been a thousand times better for thee never to have known any thing thereof These things being well weighed and having as 't were devoted thy self to God therein who will not be mocked having prefixt to thy self on this account a good scope and aim then at length first of all begin to learn how the Triune God did from the beginning ordain an universal nature then learn what that is what it can do and how it operates even to this very day after a certain manner in all things invisibly and consists in the alone will and pleasure of God and hath its aboad there For without the true knowledge of nature thou canst hardly begin that work without rashness and danger But the quality and property of nature is viz. that it be one only true simple in its own perefect essence and moreover that a certain occult Spirit be shut up and hid therein If therefore now thou wouldst know her then its behovefull that thou beest even as Nature her self is viz. true simple constant patient yea pious and no waies hurtful unto thy neighbour but briefly such an one must be a new and regenerated man If therefore thou knowest thy self to be thus qualified then nature will presently suit it self to nature and there will necessarily follow to thee an evident unspeakable benefit both of body and soul. For the diligent Search and Speculation of that Art will be so very exceedingly profitable and assistant unto thee that provided thou rightly knowest the principles therein they will as it were violently draw and lead thee to the knowledge of divine wonders in so much that in comparison of it every temporal thing and what is most highly valued by the world will
be esteemed by thee as a thing of no price But contrariwise he that endeavours by riches to aspire unto that Art and labours to convert it to the pride and vanity of this world let such a one never perswade himself that he shall ever attain his wished end And therefore let thy mind and consquently all thy cogitations be estranged from all earthly things and be as it were created anew and given up to God alone For you must note this well that these three viz. the body soul and spirit are to be suitable and alike and t is necessary that they operate together for if the heart and mind of man be not so regulated after the like manner as the whole work is to be wrought thou O man wilt also wholly err from the Art So therefore maist thou in all things conform all thy actions suitable thereunto for the Artist hath nothing else here to do but to Sow Plant and Water or Moisten but God alone gives the encrease Therefore if God be against any one to him also nature is an enemy and contrarily if God be a friend then the heavens the earth and also all the elements are even constrained to come to thy help If therefore thou exactly considerest of this and hast ready to thy hands the knowledge of the true first matter which we shall hereafter speak of then mayst thou commodiously set about the manual operation and make a beginning of thy labour wherein likewise t is fitting that thou implore the grace and guidance of the Almighty in all thy purposes and actions And then thy affairs will not only succeed prosperously but will also obtain a true happy fortunate and desired end The 11. of Ecclesiast 18. He that abideth in the fear of the Lord and cleaveth to his word waiting upon his duty nor black nor white moves him He easily shall make silver and gold out of copper and tin And shall by Gods help do many more things But especially if Jehovah favours him he may then well make Gold of Clay and dirt THE Second Part The 28. of Isaiah v. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord Behold I lay in Sion a foundation stone a tryed stone a precious Corner-stone that is well founded He that hath it shall not be confounded THE Philosophers in their writings could never sufficiently praise this so-often spoken of and most noble Art both afore and after its perfection nor could they by any the highest and most excellent titles worthily enough extoll it Therefore they have generally called it the Stone of the Philosophers the most antient occult unknown natural and incomprehensible Stone yea they have called it the celestial blessed holy and triune universal Stone of the wise men But now the cause why they termed it a stone and why they compared it to a stone is amongst other reasons chiefly this when the matter thereof doth at the beginning come like a mineral out of the earth it is truly a stone and then again because this matter is hard and dry because also t is beaten and ground to dust like a stone but especially the reason is this if it be divided into the three parts which nature her self hath conjoyned then is it necessary that it itself be again digested in all the same parts and made of the nature of a constant wax-like flowing stone But as to the great concernment and necessity of such mens knowing the first otherwise or rather the second matter of this secret Philosophical Stone that endeavour the attainment thereof they viz. the aforementioned Philosophers could not sufficiently inculcate or too too much press them to understand a reason thereof nor enough exhort them thereunto the which matter is notwithstanding one only thing out of which only and alone this stone is necessarily to be prepared without any peregrine addition albeit it be called by a thousand names the quality species and property whereof they have wonderfully described and have happily described it after a compendious way and manner as followeth viz. That at the beginning t is conjoyned of three and yet notwithstanding is but only one likewise it is procreated and made of one two three four and five and is also to be found in one and two and is everywhere They also call it the Catholick or universal Magnesia or Sperm of the world out of which all natural things have their original Likewise that it is of a wonderful and singular birth and species or shape and that it hath an unknown and an unsearchable nature and that therefore t is neither hot nor dry like the earth but is a certain perfect preparation of all the elements that it is also of a certain incorruptible body which cannot be touched by any element and which may as to all its properties and in all respects be compared to the heaven which is above the four elements and the four qualities and as a Q.E. and what cannot be destroyed Likewise they have said that it is as to its external corporality figure form and shape a stone and yet notwithstanding is no stone because it may be compared with the white Gum they also call it the water of the Ocean Aqua vitae yea a most pure and most blessed water but yet notwithstanding it is not the water of the clouds or of any common fountain but a thick permanent saline or saltish water and according to the divers considerations of some a dry water that moistens not the hands or a certain pituitous or phlegmy water which ariseth out of the saltish fatness of the earth likewise they call it a twofold ☿ and Azoth whch is sustained by the supremest or highest and lowest vastness or of the celestia◠and terrestrial Globe the which also i◠not consumed in any fire for it hath in it self the universal and sparkling fire o◠the Light of nature and withall a certai◠celestial Spirit that penetrates all thing with which qualities it was animate by God at the beginning and according to the saying of the antient Philosophers blessed with and is by Avicen called the soul of the world who said viz. Even as the soul is to be found in all the members of mans body and doth there move it self so also is that spirit found to be and to move it self in all elementary creatures the which spirit is likewise the indissoluble conjunction of the body and soul and consequently a most pure and most noble essence wherein even all mysteries lie hidden t is also fully replenished with wonderful efficacy and vertue Moreover they ascribe thereunto an infinite power and divine efficacy and vertue for they say that it is that Spirit of the Lord that filled the earth and swim'd at the top of the waters They call it also the Spirit of truth which is hidden from the world and such as cannot be comprehended or obtained without the inspiration of the holy Spirit or the information of such as know it and yet
the most antient who was before the foundations of the world were laid yea even from eternity Isaiah 45. Daniel 7. Esay 43. Psalm 90. He is the right the hidden and unknown God supernatural incomprehensible celestial blessed and most praise-worthy Mark 16. the alone Saviour and consequently the God of all Gods Deut. 10. He is certain and true and cannot lye Numb 23. Rom. 3. yea the most certain of all and doth even what pleaseth him and is the alone Potentate Genes 17. Ephes. 3. He is the most secret or unknown and eternal in whom all the treasures and mysteries of wisdom lie hidden Rom. 16. Col. 2. The alone divine vertue and omnipotency which is hid from and unknown unto fools or the wise ones of this world He is the right the alone and perfect agreement of all the elements from whom and by whom all things proceed and in whom all things are Rom. 11. James 1 viz. of an incorruptible essence which no element can dissolve or separate Psalm 16. Acts 2. 13. Likewise he is the Q. Es. yea the essence of all essences and yet notwithstanding is properly no essence he is the true and right duplicate Mercurie or the Gyant and Champion of a twofold substance Matth. 26. Even as t is sung of him in the Hymn or Song viz. By nature a God a man a worthy c. who hath in himself a Celestial Spirit who also vivifies all things yea is the life it self Wisd. 7. Esai 42. Joh. 14. He is the alone only perfect Saviour of all the imperfect bodies and men the true heavenly Physitian of the soul the eternal Light that enlightens all men Isa. 60. John 1. the highest medicine for all diseases the right Spiritual Panacaea Wisd. 16. The noble Phoenix that doth again refresh and quicken with his own blood his own chickens as are wounded and slain by that old Serpent the Devil Yea he is the choicest treasure or highest good in heaven and earth Psalm 83. Wisdom 7. The triune universal essence which is called JEHOVAH Deut. 6. and is of One viz. the divine essence then of two God and man then moreover of three viz. Persons also of four viz. three Persons and one divine essence So likewise of five viz. three Persons and two essences viz. divine and withall humane Besides God is the right Catholick Magnesia or universal Sperm of the world John 1. of whom and by whom and in whom all both celestial and terrestrial creatures have their essence motion and original Gen. 1. Iohn 1. Acts 17. Rom. 11. Heb. 1. and briefly he is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord who is who was who is to come the Almighty Rev. 1. But now even as in the afore-mentioned Philosophical work it is not sufficient to know the matter only and to receive or acknowledge it for a triune essence and to learn the Quality and Property thereof But t is moreover necessary that you know how to obtain it and how to be made a partaker of the benefit thereof the which cannot be done by any other means then as we have said above viz. those three things are to be first dissolved and putrified whereby its darkish shadow and hairy rough essence wherewith it was at first shadowed over and was consequently beheld and visible in a deformed and inhumane or ungentle shape may be again taken off then also even as by a further sublimation its heart and internal soul that lies hid therein is to be again drawn out of it by the universal pleasant and fire-like-shining Sea-water and reduced into a certain corporal essentiality Even so and indeed much less able are we to know that triune divine essence which is called JEHOVAH unless it be first of all in relation to us even as it were dissolved and putrified and the veil of Moses and the wrathful visage or shape the which shape is naturally to us all an impediment or hinderance and a terrour be took away therefrom and that the heart and inward soul which lies hid therein that is his Son who is the Lord Christ be by the help and assistance of the holy Spirit the which doth likewise purifie our hearts like to clear pure water Ezek. 36. Esai 44. yea doth also like to the divine fire enlighten us Jerem. 23. Mat. 3. and doth fill us with a sweet and pleasant comfort Iohn 16. Ephes. 4. produced thereout of and learned and be furthermore converted or turned into an humane God or God-man But now even as in the Philosophick work the matter being dissolved into its three parts or principles must be congealed with its own proper salt and reduced into one only essence the which is afterwards called the Salt of wisdom So likewise is it with God and his heart that is the Son must be united to the Father by their proper Salt the which Salt is in like manner essentially implanted in God and must necessarily be believed and acknowledged for one God and not be accounted as two or three Gods and Essences If therefore thou hast by this means known God by his Son and as it were separated them and hast again notwithstanding coupled and conjoyned them by the Spirit of divine wisdom and the bond of charity or agreement Then behold the invisible and unknown God Isa. 45. is made visible knowable and intelligible who doth no more appear then as afore so wrathful and so displeased but appears after a most courteous gentle and most friendly way and manner and doth then suffer himself to be felt beheld and seen by thee whereas formerly God afore that his Son Christ was formed and fashioned in us Gal. 4. was much rather a terrible God Deut. 7. 18. yea a consuming fire and is so called But yet notwithstanding the knowledge of that divine triune essence is not as yet sufficiently and fortunately or blessedly enough used or conceived of except thou makest a further progress in the knowledge of him especially of his heart and so growest more and more on for even as the abovesaid and hitherto prepared subject in the Philosophical work is without further preparation rather hurtful then profitable to thee in medicine for the body even so also is Christ 1 John 4. whom unless thou knowest better and more perfect he is but very little as yet conduceable or availeable for a spiritual medicine for thy soul but will much rather turn to thy condemnation and therefore also if thou wouldst be made a partaker of him and of those celestial gifts and treasures and enjoy them prosperously then is it necessary that thou proceedest on farther in the personal knowledge of him and not set him before thee and conceive of him as pure-meer-God but well to observe that fulness of time appointed by God Gal. 4. wherein he received his additional that is God and man together yea he was made the Son of man For even as in the Philosophick work it is again said
that if you would bring your work to its effectual power and make your tincture to perfect the other simple mettals then 't is expedient that you put to your first matter and unite therewith a certain other metallick highly dignified body of near affinity to the aforesaid Prima materia and such as is most acceptable and grateful thereunto and you must reduce them into one body Even so is it here in the Theological work of the divine nature of the Son of God if we should well enjoy it and be made partakers thereof 't was behoovful that as it were another mettalline body that is flesh and blood the humanity or the humane nature which also is amongst all the highest dignified creatures of God in the earth the one that is nearest akin is also the most acceptable and the most grateful and besides is created after his nature adjoyned and united it self therewith and consequently 't was fitting that both were reduced and united into a certain undissolvable body But even as t is chiefly to be noted and observed in the aforementioned Philosophical work as we then informed you that even as this common or vulgar body of gold is not in the least agreeable or convenient for that work but because of its imperfection and many other various defects that it is subject unto is unprofitable and is to be accounted of as a dead thing and that likewise for that same reason there must be produced such a body as is clear and pure and without mixture and such as was never falsified by any deceit but is free from all impurity and without defect and what was never as yet debilitated in its eternal Sulphur Even so much less can there be or ought there to be any universal humane nature such as is conceived in sin polluted with original transgression and is daily falsified and defiled with real sins and preternatural infirmities under which all men do generally lie accepted of imputed to and incorporated with the divine essence of the Son of God but only the unmixed pure and perfect humanity void of all sin for if the earthly Adam who was but a creature only was afore the fall without sin and was an holy and perfect man how much more then is that celestial Adam which the only begotten Son of God hath in himself And therefore the celestial eternal fundamental and Corner-stone Jesus Christ according to the description of the Philosophick is and ever will be according to both his natures of a most highly admirable birth and rise and consequently of an unsearchable nature and property According or in relation to his divinity he was from eternity of the alone divine essence of his celestial and eternal Father true God yea the Son of God whose out-going as the Scripture testifies thereof was from the beginning and eternal Mich. 5. Psal. 2. Mat. 16. Col. 1. But as in reference to his humanity he was born in the fulness of time without sin and fault Isa. 53. John 8. according as the Scripture testifies a true and a perfect man with a body and also a soul Mat. 26. so that now he is of an indissolvable personal and God-man essence that is a true God and true man in one only person indissoluble to all eternity and must and ought to be so acknowledged and worshipped as God Omnipotent But yet notwithstanding it could be wished that the eyes of the greater part of the imaginary learned men were better opend and their dark spectacles and their sophistical vizards that hang before them were removed and that at length they might yet once recover their lost sight Luke 10. But especially all the Aristotelians and the sophisticate blind-sighted purblind as 't were in divine works amongst whom there have been so many various and divers disputations even to this very day in divine things too too unchristianlike nor is there any end at all of the manifold distinctions divisions and permixtions concerning the highly venerable Article of the union of natures and community as 't were of Idioms in Christ so well founded in the holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. But now if they will not believe God or his divine Word they may yet notwithstanding by the conjunction made of the said Chymicall work as afore-mentioned and by the unition of the two waters viz. of ☿ and ☉ know the essence and be able to feel him as it were with their fingers But alas the highest Scholastick art of their Ethnick or heathenish philosophy so little or meanly founded in the holy Scripture or in Christian Theologie and their fundamentals and Aristotelian precepts of no value or moment about substance and accidents and many other more devices do not at all lead them to the attainment thereof little considering that Tertullian that old man hath not in vain written That these Philosophers are the Patriarchs or chief Fathers of the Hereticks But we conceive it no waies worth our while to discourse more largely of this thing And moreover even as in the Philosophick work that said composition the two essences being conjoyned now together must be placed over the fire and be putrified ground or broken and be well boiled in which putrefaction and boyling there do until it be rendred more then perfect in the mean while manifold and various acts or scenes fall in between and divers colours do shew themselves about which you may find more written in the description of the terrene work Even so this God-man and man-God person Jesus Christ so appointed by God his heavenly Father in this world was cast into the firie furnace of tribulation and was therein well boyled as 't were that is he was encompassed with various troubles reproaches the Cross and tribulation and was changed and transmuted as 't were into various shapes that is he suffered hunger Mat. 4. then presently upon his receiving of baptism and after his devoting himself to the ministry of the preaching the holy divine Word he was by the impulse of the holy Spirit in the desart and there tempted by Satan and must there necessarily undergo with him a triple combate for a testimony and witness to all bought and purchased Christians as having entred upon Christianity and professing the faith of Christ are tempted by the Devil and are by various temptations again sollicited and enticed to a falling off from Christ. Likewise he was wearie in John 4. also he cryed and wept lamentably Luke 19. 41. also he trembled and was sore amazed Mark 14. he combated with death and sweated a sweat of blood was likewise taken and was bound Mat. 26. was smitten on the face by the high Priests servant was mocked derided spit on whipt crowned with thorns condemned to death and then fastned to the Cross which himself carried Joh. 19. betwixt two thieves had Gall and Vinegar given him to drink Psalm 69. and cryed out with a loud voice and commended his Spirit into the hands of God his Father expired
the which doth especially teach viz. how the evil and impure is to be known and distinguished from the good and pure by which Prov. 2. the inbecillity and corruption of nature may be succoured and a right promotion or forwarding may be administred the which then in the augmentation and encrease of Mettals may be compared after such a like manner as the endeavours of them are that would afford help to the ripening of any fruit that by some accident or other hath been impeded from arriving to a just maturity or that obtain of one little grain or seed a manifold encrease and it may be done and perfected with a very mean price As for the other sophisticate and false-chymick Art I do not at all mean that nor understand it neither do I desire to learn it Eccles. 3. For albeit those kind of masters do therein prate of many a crooked way and do vainly promise meer golden Mountains which notwithstanding are haply far enough off from them yet that false Chymick art bestows nothing at all constant but is only wont to spend much charges and costs and procure rash labours and doth finally oftentimes waste away the body and life it self And therefore if there be some one or other of those kind of Chymists that thou maist meet withall who brag of the true Chymical Art and of such an Art as is agreeable to nature and would willingly teach it thee or any other body for the sake of money and pretend that themselves are not able to disburse the costs and charges that belong thereunto then be faithfully admonished that thou dost not trust such men too much for most times there lies a Snake in the grass Mich. 2. If I should be of an erring spirit c. Besides I can truly affirm that all the cost which haply is to be expended about the whole universal work setting aside the daily food and nourishing or sustaining of the fire doth not exceed the price of 3. Florins for the matter as we have heard above is partly vile or abject and by reason of that its vileness partly contemptible as it were and is every-where to be found more then enough for the supply of your necessity and that without much trouble So also the labour is easie and not very laborious or painful Briefly the whole Art is most simply and most easily comprehended by the pious and by such as are chosen by God thereunto Psal. 112. But 't is most difficult to the impious and wicked and in a manner impossible Prov. 3. And now that I may at length finish my Epilogue therefore I shall as for a farewel communicate this likewise unto thee viz. that if the omnipotent God shall bestow upon thee his grace in revealing to thee that pious and holy Art then must thou rightly use it and be a silent man and for the sake of that thing put a strong bolt before thy mouth Eccl. 23. O that I could keep c. v. 7. c. and shut it fast lest haply thy arrogancy and pride throw thee headlong as well by God as men into danger and loss and into temporal and eternal destruction And therefore have an especial care thereunto Whoever seeketh riches by this holy Art Let him be pious and simple silent and upright He that doth not thus shall on the contrary Be made poor beggerly bare and miserable All these things my beloved friend as well for admonitions as valedictions sake I would not have concealed from thee being fraught with an undoubted hope that thou hast sufficiently understood me in all points unless God hath barred up thine eyes and ears for verily I could not disclose it more faithfully and expresly nor describe it more manifestly with the keeping of a good conscience then I have done So therefore if thou art not able to understand or learn it from hence then verily I fear me that thou wilt most hardly comprehend it by any other institution The Appendix KNow likewise that if by reason of that gift vouchsafed thee by God thou hap to wax proud or to be covetous under the cover or excuse of a provident care of thy family and sparingness and dost hereby tempt thy self to a turning away from God by little and little then know for I speak the truth that that Art will vanish from under thy hands insomuch that thou shalt not know how thou didst it The which thing verily hath befallen more then one beyond their expectation In the Summary c. 't is written IF thou followest this my doctrine and beest pious And takest the matter that I have related unto thee If likewise thou preparest it after the accustomed manner Thou shalt have the treasures of the whole World But now if thy intention be good and that thou beest careful of good things the Omnipotent God may most graciously bestow upon thee his favour and divine blessing The which thing I pray God from the very root of my heart to bestow upon thee A Prayer O Omnipotent eternal God the Heavenly Father of Light from whom even every good and perfect thing proceeds We beseech thee of thy Infinite mercy to vouchsafe us rightly to know thine eternal wisedome which is continually about thy Throne and by which all things were created and made and are governed and preserved even to this very day send it us from thy holy Heaven and from the Throne of thy glory that it may be together with us and may assist us in our labour because it is the mistress of all Celestial and hidden Arts yea it also knows and understands all things Grant that it may in some measure accompany us in all works that so by the Spirit thereof we may certainly and without any errour learn the true understanding and infallible process of this most noble Art that is the miraculous Stone of the Wise men which thou hast hidden from the World and art wont to reveal to thine elect only and may then first begin rightly and truly that highest and chiefest work that we can here accomplish and may constantly proceed in that same labour and also at length happily finish it and may eternally enjoy it with rejoycing through that Celestial and from eternity founded miraculous Corner-stone Jesus Christ who together with thee O God the Father and with the Holy Spirit true God in one divine indissoluble essence ruleth and reigneth a tri-une God most worthy of praise for ever and evermore Amen Joshua 21. v. 43 45. And the Lord gave unto Israel all the Land which he promised to give unto their Fathers There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel all things came to pass Deut. 32. v. 3. Ascribe glory to our God only Amen FINIS Books Printed and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the black-spred Eagle at the West-end of Pauls THe History of Diodorus Siculus containing all that which is most memorable and of greatest Antiquity in the first ages of the World until the war of Troy in folio Renodaeus his Dispensatory containing the whole body of Physick discovering the natures and Properties and vertues of Vegetals Minerals and Animals in folio Gadburies Doctrine of Nativities Doctor Pordages Innocency appearing through the Dark Mists of pretended guilt in folio Cornelius Agrippa his occult Philosophy in 3 Books in quarto Henry Laurence Lord President his book Entituled Our Communion and War with Angels in quarto Christopher Goad his Sermons Entituled Refreshing Drops and Scorching Vials in quarto Samuel Gorton his Exposition on the fifth Chapter of James in quarto Samuel Hartlib of Bees and Silkworms in quarto Williams his Book called the Bloody Tenet of Persecution for cause of conscience in quarto Doctor Gells Sermon Entituled Noahs Flood returning in quarto Several Pieces of Christopher Blackwood now publick Teacher in Ireland in quarto Jacob Behem his Signatura Rerum or Signature of all things in quarto His Epistles explaining many things written in his other Books in quarto Of Election and Predestination in quarto His Book Entituled Aurora or the day-spring lately printed in quarto Several Pieces of Isaac Penington Junior in quarto The Spiritual journey of a yongman a piece translated out of Dutch Biggs of the vanity of the Craft of Physick or a new Dispensatory in quarto Collier his Pulpit-guard routed in quarto His Font-guard routed in quarto Simon Hendon his key of Scripture Prophesies in quarto Mr. Parker his Answer to the Assembly in large octavo Several pieces of Thomas Collier in large octavo Tillom on the eleventh Chapter of the Revelations in large octavo Henry Laurence Lord President his Book of Baptism in large octavo Reeves Sermons Entituled the Strait-Gate in large octavo Several pieces of H. N. in octavo namely Prophecy of the Spirit of Love Revelatio Dei or the Revelation of God Introduction to the Glass of Righteousness Evangelium Regni a joyful message of the Kingdome Spiritual Tabernacle The first Exhortation The Apology for the service of Love all in octavo Samuel Hartlibs Chymical addresses in octavo Thomas Butler his little Bible of the Man or the book of God opened in Man in octavo Crooked Paths made strait or the wayes of God made known in lost sinners by A. Yeomans in octavo Laurences Gospel separation separated from abuses Simmons Saints like Christ in octavo William Sedgwick his eleven Sermons Intituled Some Flashes of Lightnings of the Son of Man in octavo A Word of Peace from the Prince of Peace by J. Hatch in octavo Mysteries unvailed wherein the Doctrine of Redemption by Christ is handled by Robert Gardner in octavo Parnel his good tidings for Sinners great joy for Saints in octavo Bâ—scos Glorious Mysteries in octavo The confession and Fame of the Rosie Cross by English Philolethes in octavo Peytons History of the Râ—se Raign and Ruine of the House of Stuarts in octavo Larkhams Sermons in octavo Bacons Catechâ—sm in twelves Corporations vindicated in their fundamental Liberties by Charles Hotham in twelves John Saltmarsh his book of Free Grace in twelves And his book Intituled Sparkles of Glory or some beams of the morning Star in twelves Dawnings of Light in twelves