seldom and rarely cured by Physicians and therefore their shame and scandal as well as the Gout Dropsie Leprosie c. Divels or Witches or I know not what of the like Nature nor do they as the Scholes do generally tell us proceed from their four Humours Phlegm Choler Melancholy and putrefaction of Blood as Quotidian from Phlegm Tertian from Choler and Quartane from Melancholy nor as some particular Physicians do affirm ab effervescentiâ Sanguinis viz. from a Boyling of the Blood ab inflammato Sulphure from an Inflammation of the Sulphur in it in which last they as much mistake the effect for the cause as in the first one cause for another true it is the Blood is inflamed and that sometimes even to an extreme heighth by which the Body in which it runs is as it were almost burned up but yet this effervescentia Sanguinis is not the cause effervescentiae Sanguinis but indeed an effect of the true cause viz. an Obstruction of Nature by the Excrements of Digestion left by the debilitated Bowels and other particular Parts in their several Offices of Digestion accelerated perhaps by a stoppage of the Pores by some excessive Cold or other ways from which ariseth Obstruction of Nature and her Archeus in her Prerogative Royal and free passage and progress through the Body for its preservation and conservation in its due equation of Elements which obstructions and excrements Nature to free her self from after a Concentration or Collection of her Forces according to her abilities doth by a suddain Excursion or Sally from her Fortress the most Inward parts voluntarily and with premeditation may I so say cause this violent effervescentia Sanguinis or Passion or produceth it by her powerfully issuing forth with her Recollected forces to free her self from those incroaching Obstructions which began to diminish her Royal course and consequently to corrupt and putrefie her Mansion and the passage of her Progress Wonder not that Nature by Nature I here mean the Life Spirit Spiritus innatus custos corporis oeconomus wonder or marvail not I say that Nature should be of such power to cause so great an inflammation scorching heat or combustion in the Body for consider she is Life and Life is Fire and Fire the most pure powerful and strong of all the Elements consider seriously her Power and how she can otherways also both cure and cause even the greatest of Diseases and this by the sole power and strength of her own fancy without any previous matter in the Body for the cause or production nor doth here end the extent of her Power for it can perform even Miracles If you believe not me believe yet Christ himself who tells us that if we have Faith but as a Grain of Mustard-seed what we may do by it if you will say that this is not meant of the Spirit but of the Soul which medleth not with the curing of Bodily diseases hear yet our Saviour himself Go saith he thy Faith hath healed or made thee whole and again Be it unto thee according to thy Faith You see here that Faith is no other than the strong power of the Soul or Spirit This the most knowing and as Religious as knowing Paracelsus whatever his ignorant Antagonists report of him branding him with the Name of Atheist from which also as their due reward themselves in the general Opinion scape not free doth most plainly tell us De fide Christus haud frustra tanta nobis inculcat viz. adeo efficacem esse ut nos vel sanos vel aegros facere possit imo quod majus est per eam vel salvi vel damnati fieri possumus prout ea utimur legimus ipsum sanatis omnibus dixisse crede sanus eris aut fiat tibi secundùm fidem c. Paracel lib. Principiorum Cap. 10. c. Thus this most Conscientious and Christian Physitian Yet some of his idle Enemies viz. such as from others reports and mouths only hear but falsly what he was have in my hearing affirmed that in his whole works from one end to the other He never so much as mentioned the name of God or Christ which how false a thing it is who ever shall please to peruse his works must of necessity conclude them either very Envious or very Ignorant of him and what he wrote for there is hardly a Page in some part of his Works in which he doth not and that more than once or twice with a true Christian regard and reverence name and mention both the Name of God and also of our Saviour himself But to return to this most excellent Physician 's delivery in the aforesaid words He tells us thus that Faith is most powerful and can both cause and cure Diseases nay more it will both Save and Damn it was not therefore saith he in vain that Christ spake so much of the power of Faith who when ever he cured any of Diseases said Believe and thou shalt be made whole or Be it unto thee according unto thy Faith c. Wonderful certainly is the secret power of the Spirit But of this enough I could even with the greatest of truth be here Voluminous as to the stupendious effects of Faith or strong persuasion and imagination and what power we have by it not only upon our own Bodies but also on the Bodies and not only the Bodies but also the Spirits of others for it is said of Christ himself that he did no great Miracles there because of their Unbelief at Cynthius aurem vellit neque omnia in vulgus ratio suadet And returning to the power of Nature and to confirm it by some familiar example consider as I said before the hot and cold Fit as we call them in Agues c. Nature finding her power begin to decay by some Obstructing matter or other in her passages of Circulation Perambulation or Progress calls in all her Forces to the Centre Her forces the Spirits being called and with-drawn from their several stations or parts of the Body of which they are the Life and only Preservers those Outward parts are oh a suddain over-taken with a Chilness or as we call it a cold Ague fit the true effect of Nature's calling in her Forces there to Concentrate and Muster them up together that by her suddain Sally or Return with those her united Forces and utmost Strength she may expel and drive out either in part or wholly her Incroaching and Death-threatning opposite the Body is now again by this means viz. Nature's Return with her united Strength to expel her Enemy by degrees overspread with a fiery and flushing heat viz. the hot Fit a most certain effect and sign of the Spirits again re-entring and assuming their former Stations and with all the power and force she is possibly able to make against her powerful Adversary This Contest or Duel lasts as long as Nature is able to maintain and bear it out and having
Obstructed and so hinder rather than farther her Restauration However knowing sufficiently the dulness and inefficacy of their own Medicines they must still be nibling at ours and yet revile them when they have answered their desires and if at any time they are too Keen for their Skill and Knowledge they are then most Damnable and presently to be Cursed with Bell Book and Candle and not one of them to be left in their Galenical Antidotaries I would they would turn them quite out or else acknowledge them as indeed they are the best Flowers in their Garden Let them not use ours and we will faithfully promise them never to make use of theirs Ours decay not by length of time theirs putrifie and corrupt even in a Years time Ours safely pleasantly and quickly Cure theirs do rather hinder than farther Nature in her own Operation and can only when Nature hath Cured her self rob her of the praise and glory of a Cure which she her self hath performed But I hope the time is now coming when Ingenuity shall flourish seeing many of those that not long since opposed this so noble a Science do now at last begin to appear its real Friends Defenders and Propagators and when declaredly such I shall wish them their utmost due with a continued remembrance of their Names unto succeeding Generations as the worthy Promoters of so publick and great a Good A POSCRIPT To the Ingenious and Physically Studious READER I Intend also how soon I cannot yet say to present unto the Ingenious Industrious and Knowledge-Seeking-English whose sullen Fate slender and mean Education affords them only the benefit of what is published in their own Mother-tongue a small but very plain and Methodical Treatise in English as the smaller Radii glimmering Beams or Aurora to a greater approaching Light teaching a Spagirical or Chymical preparation of Animals Vegetables Minerals and Metals to a Physical use viz. the Separation of their Quintessential Medicinal Fix'd and Volatile parts the Purification Reunition or Conjunction and Coction of the said parts into most noble efficacious and powerful Medicines Arcanaes and Physical Elixirs and this in a higher or lower degree according to the Subtile Genius Industry and Prudence of the Artist Most useful and beneficial for the Preservation of the present and Restauration or Recovery of the decayed or lost Health of Man The improvement and farther consideration may haply prove a Gate to other Secrets Yet if any One in the mean time either diligently Studious of Physick or otherways curious in the search of the secrets of Nature and Art be desirous to be instructed in the Grounds of Chymistry or the Spagirick Art and shall in a reasonable and modest way request my instruction and assistance in it I do hereby promise him a faithful Manuduction and Introduction and that by plain Demonstration and Practice to the true and full grounds intent and scope of Chymistry and this either as to Physical preparations or other Nature-searching delightful and pleasant Operations Chymistry being the most noble and transcendent of Arts and by which only and not otherways and this in a more sublime or mean degree according to the Acute Ingeny Patience Prudence and Neatness of the Operator whether in Medicinal preparations or other choice Arcanaes may something of excellency be expected and produced and perhaps the wished perfection utmost aim and end of our desires at last be obtained My earnest desire of advancing improving and promoting more for a general Good than my own private Benefit this so noble a Science and opening a Gate for entrance into the infinite Treasures of Nature both for Health and other Happiness closely shut up and contained in the Creature is the chief inducement to this Additional proffer and the publick Notice of E. Bolnest Med. Lond. From my House in Jewen-street near Cripplegate April 14th 1665. Books Printed at the Theater in Oxford and Sold by Peter Parker at the Leg and Star right against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil viz. A Fair Printed Bible with Bishop Ushers Chronology with the Common Prayer and Apocripha or without them in 4to 1. The third part of the Bible viz. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Canticles of a fair Print to which may be added the Common-Prayer New Testament and Singing-Psalms in Octavo 2. An English New Testament with a Fair large Print for weak eyes in Octavo 3. Another Testament in Quarto 4. Another Testament in Twelves of a fair Print for Children to learn by 5. A very curious Church Bible with the Chronologie of a fair large Print in Foiio 6. A Latin Testament of a fair Print in Twelves for the use of Schools 7. Senecae Tragaediae in Twelves 8. Elegantiae Poeticae in Twelves 9. Cornelius Nepos in Twelves 10. Justini Historici in Twelves 11. Homeri Illias notis Didymi in Octavo 12. Plinii Epistolae in Octavo 13. Quintiliani Declamationes in Octavo 14. Theocritus in Greek in Octavo 15. Maximus Tyrius in Twelves 16. A Greek Testament with Curcelleus's and others Notes in Twelves 17. Salustius cum notis in Twelves There is now in the Press at the Theater a large Quarto Bible of a fairer Character than ever yet was extant with Chronological Notes and other useful tables Books of Divinity Printed at London The Key of the Bible unlocking the richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures whereby the Order Names Times Penmen Occasion Scope and principal Parts containing the Subject matter of the Books of the Old and New Testament are familiarly and briefly opened for the help of the weakest capacity in the understanding of the whole Bible A Book singularly useful for private Families By Francis Roberts D. D. Rector of Wrington in Somersetshire in Folio Nineteen Sermons being the first Legitimate Essay of the Pious Labours of that Learned Orthodox and indefatigable Preacher of the Gospel Mr. Josiah Shute Published by Dr. Edward Spark in Folio Sions prospect in its first View presented in a Summary of Divine Truths consenting with the Faith professed by the Church of England confirmed from Scripture and Reason illustrated by Instance and Allusion Composed and Published to be an help for the prevention of Apostacy Conviction of Heresie Confutation of Error and Establishing in the Truth By Robert Mossom Dr. in Divinity in 4to Index Biblicus or an exact Concordance to the holy Bible according to the last translation whereunto are added the marginal readings with the acceptations and various significations of the principal words contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament composed in a new and most comprehensive Method and adorned with divers significant and and pregnant Scripture phrases By John Jackson Minister of the Gospel at Mulsea in Surrey in Quarto The works of Mr. Richard Allen Late Minister of Batcomb in Somersetshire in four parts viz. Vindiciae Pietatis or a Vindication of Godliness in the greatest Strictnes and Spirituality of it from the imputations of Folly and
Mankind Therefore before I return the Papers give me leave to kiss some passages of yours as when you profess you have not taken up this way of Physick but after a strict though fruitless search for satisfaction in the other That having found the vulgar Medicines so composed that the nobler part in them being clogg'd with foeculential Impurities is made ineffectual there appears a necessity of freeing Materials Medicinal from them and of exalting those to a more Active and Spirituous nature That after a due consideration of Vegetables and Animals you found greater Virtues are contained in the later yet after these considering the Mineral and Metalline Subjects you found by experience as well as reason that they are indued with far greater Virtues and that if rightly prepared they are of all Medicines the most safe and efficacious And that after long inquiry and diligence into the way or method how to purifie and exalt the restaurative Powers of all the three sorts of Subjects having attained it then at length you fully resolved to leave the old Galenical Road and betake your self for the main in your practice to the use of Chymical Remedies This judicious proceeding of yours is most highly to be commended and he who hath tried or shall try the Excellency of your Medicines shall find you have said the Truth Alas these few that you intend to publish are but a small part of those noble Preparations which I know you to be Master of and of which the World is not worthy and how great a Master of Reason as well as a Work-man you are may be seen by your Philosophising upon the nature of Vomits and the causes of Agues and Fevers as also by your profound Discourse touching the grand Mercurial Liquor or Essence a Menstruum that will dissolve and radically reduce all Metals to their first moist and unctuous form by which wonders may be effected in Physick and otherwise and if ever our Nation come to see those great Things which others but cloudily talk of I that have seen you in your Way and daily Labours have cause to tell Men that I believe you are the Man we must be beholden to for the discovery Thus much to you my dear Friend without Flattery for you know I abhor it and have in my Nature like you too much of a Satyr to be a Flatterer I shall now only add a few words concerning some Intimations that you have given me The first is of a Book in Answer to my Medela Medicinae which the Author very unknown unless it be at some certain Coffee-Houses is pleased to entitle Medela Ignorantiae and in his Title-page he thinks fit to tell the World I am Illiterate but who or what he is scarce any body can tell and so 't is imagined he hath taken this course to provoke me to make him known therefore I suppose the only way to be revenged on him is to spoile his design by not vouchsafing to name him And in Letters at length he stiles himself Doctor of Physick as perhaps he may be for there are too many slight fellows about this Town that bring no credit to Universities yet have the confidence to wear the Title the Generality of the Gang being meer Insects and Imperfect Animals in the Faculty to say nothing of their Idleness I remember in Scaliger's Epistles he having been told that an obscure Fellow had written malepartly against him expresseth himself thus Mihi relatum fuit Scarabeum quendam contra me scribere cui respondere neque dignitatis est nec otii I have been told saith he that a certain Scarabee writes against me to whom I have neither leisure nor doth it become me to give an Answer Indeed the Fellow is as unfortunate in his Attempt as one can be by pretending to answer me yet I perceive he hath not so much as touched any main string of my Book onely he endeavours by railing and with whole Pages of Greek for edification of the English Reader to justifie the Aphorisms of Hippocrates and other things of his and Galen's which I said and still say are grown out of date as most is that they have written which I can and will make good against all the Galenick Societies in Europe and though he hardly allows me more than English yet I can find Greek enough and had at fourteen years of Age to serve him and twenty more of the same Tribe But alas Sir hard words cure no Diseases unless they be Characteristick Charms and without such as these not a man of the old Faction knows how to conjure down a poor Ague whilst the old Women and Mountebanks every where do shame them even quite out of City and Country In the mean time as Illiterate as I am I am content to share in the Imputation with other Brethren of our Society the whole Business of the old Brotherhood is now to brand us with no Letters but they shall find we have and this vir Trium Literarum may in time come to understand it as well as the rest I hear also that there are other small Beagles at the Press ready to open against me but those little Doctoral Fellows are to know neither I nor the Book-buyers shall take notice of them in a Contest which it rather concerns their grave and formal Leaders to clear if they can and the World hath reason to expect it from them But if what I have done will not serve to settle their minds I promise you they shall have enough for as my manifold diversions give leave I am collecting for them As to the Reports sown up and down by some of the Grave Sirs as also by their Pedees of the Faculty as for example That I was chidden rather than countenanced at our Audience at the King's Council-Table you know the contrary and with what Princely Grace an ear was given to every man of us so that things are like to thrive with our Adversaries when their Refuge is in Lies But they go further yet and whisper up and down that I proclaim all people to have the Pox and I know not what whereas 't is plain I maintain in my Book no more than this that since the prevalencie of that disease in the Nations of Europe it hath exceedingly alter'd their Nature and the Nature of all diseases so that the old definitions of the Galenists and their dull Remedies do not reach any considerable Maladies but if you and I and others that I know be Masters of such Specifick Medicines as will do the Work when theirs cannot I suppose 't is easie to conclude from the Nature of our Medicines the Truth of my Position That even those who never were formally infected may yet by Contagion at a distance Inheritance and divers other ways come under a Fermental Change in the Frame and Constitution of their Bodies Others there are of the Faculty that would fain seem to be more wise than their Brethren and
de re experientia certiores facti juerint usus sum per viginti annos adhuc utor in curatione omnium morborum nunquam adhuc delusus fui ab ipso medicamento nec delusi fuerunt aegroti mei qui ab ipso solo medicamento liberati sunt a morbis quam maximis incurabilibus c. Pet. Johan Faber Sap. univers lib. 3. p. 201. 202. 227. c. The English to this effect In this alone he saith speaking of a Physical preparation of the same subject is the entire virtue and property of the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Nature as it were in a Chest or pretious Cabinet closely shut up and contained those that will may believe it I most willingly for the good of Mankind deliver the Talent bestowed upon me by Almighty God those who by experience shall find the truth of it will be thankful I have used it now this twenty years and do still use it in the cure of all Diseases Nor have I or my Patients ever yet been deluded or deceived by it but by it alone have been cured of very great and indeed esteemed incurable Diseases c. Take yet the testimony of a fifth most laborious Artist and unwearied Searcher into the Secrets of Nature who from his large experience of it and its wonderful effects in Medicine doth boldly and plainly deliver his knowledge of it thus Omnes rerum vires in omnibus Animalibus Vegetabilibus Mineralibus sigillatim dispersae cunctae in hoc uno subjecto concentratae perfectè unitae inveniuntur ita ut inter subjecta medicinae apta primum nobilitatis locum obtineat Auri primum Ens verum in hoc enim omnium Animalium Vegetabilium Mineralium vires virtutes facultates collectae plenè concentratae invenientur I. R. G. Pharm Spag part secund p. 61. aliis c. This is the most high and significant and yet compendious Character which the above mentioned Author delivers of it The whole Efficacy and Virtue saith he found dispersed in all Animals Vegetables and Minerals is fully and perfectly united and concentrated in this one Subject so that among all Medicinal and Physical Subjects or Drugs this Primum Ens Auri or true Solar Embryon is indeed the most noble for in it are the powers of all Animals Vegetables and Minerals closely heaped up and as it were gathered into one bundle c. To confirm and second these most ample Testimonies already cited together with my own experience of this Medicine and the Subject out of which it is prepared I could yet add the Vogue of many most famous and learned both Antient and Modern Physicians but what is already said will I am certain be sufficient to the Learned if at all Chymically and Physically studious to know not only the matter out of which it is prepared but also the truth of what I have or shall yet assert of it To others if rational and ingenious a plain and honest declaration of its Virtues which they may in a due use of it by God's blessing find most true will I am confident prove the highest and most convincing satisfaction c. The Virtues and Use c. THis most efficacious and yet most safe Medicine as prepared if taken in its usually limited Dose doth not at all produce any Purgative Emetick or Cathartick operation that is it purgeth not either by Stool or Vomit that being a little exceeded it haply manifests its force in some by Urine in others if they continue in their Beds as they may that can by a gentle breathing Sweat for it keeps not one constant progress and course of operation in all Ages Distempers and Constitutions but according to necessity and Nature's best advantage sets it self to work In other some again by a more than ordinary or usual Spitting yet not as by a Mercurial Salivation from which as dangerous as common practice and operation it is altogether free yet in none of those so much as to cause any disturbance or weakning to the Body the proportion of the Dose being yet raised and the Stomach coquus coquina culina corporis both Cook and Kitchin of the Body with the other Bowels being much clogged with Vitious and Excrementitious obstructions and humours and its Attraction of those humours for it mightily attracts being greater than Nature can suddenly dispose of or carry downwards it perhaps may cause an easie dis-burthening of the Stomach either upwards by some few gentle Vomits or downwards by a Stool or two or more according as the nature and constitution of the Patient and most conveniency for the Evacuation of the offending humour shall require but this last and greatest quantity is not always in all Distempers and Diseases absolutely necessary and therefore is very rarely or seldom administred unless in Chronick very obstinate deeply radicated stubborn or contumacious Diseases As the Leprosie Gout Dropsie Pox Agues Fevers c. In all which it is altogether yea absolutely requisite and necessary that the Patient his Age and Strength permitting do for some days yet with intermission but a more continued taking of the Pills in a smaller dose resolve to take the highest proportion which as I acquainted you before may cause as it will some gentle Vomits and moderate Stools and thus to continue until the Disease do gradually decline and at last totally vanish together with its Cause Fountain and first Original Some may haply say If this be the manner that your Pill performs its Office in viz. A resolution of the ill Humours in the Bowels and drawing them into the Stomach and afterwards casting them out by Stool or Vomit what need have we of this Medicine or in what is it better than other Purges that perform the same thing I answer Though all Purges have in some measure the same property yet they perform it in another way than this my Pill doth this doth not only operate upon the more loose and easily ejected Humours but also upon the more fixed obstinate and stubborn which cannot possibly be done by any of the best of Purging Vegetables without a very high preparation and purification And besides Vegetable Purges being administred in small quantities or doses operate not but rest in the Body and there do more hurt than good but this Pill though given in the smallest proportion imaginable doth not only not do any hurt but insensibly performs its desired Office and produces in time its noble Effects So that I have not in the whole Vegetable Kingdom no not in all Nature found a Purge in the least comparable with this c. But to return to the business it self This extraordinary or highest dose and proportion is also convenient when common Distempers shall suddenly or in short time too much grow upon and invade the Body as also when debilitated and prostrate Nature shall of necessity require a present and strong assistance for overcoming her too prevalent
of Spices Oyls of Woods Oyls of Seeds Why administer they or prescribe they any of our simple or compound Distilled Waters Shew me any of these Oyls in Galen or any of those Cordial Spirits in Hippocrates Why do they Rail at us and yet make use of our Medicines as the best and most effectual they have and can they thus make use of our worst of preparations and yet enviously slander the best Certainly it savours of much Malice and more Folly But to give Limits to this my just Zeal for Truth and a publick Good I shall give my Country-men yet Ignorant of the benefit of Chymistry and Chymical Medicines some small and brief account of Chymistry in its Genuine and true Sence and some Reasons for the excellency of Chymical Medicines above those we usually tearm Galenical and then leave both the one and the other to their better consideration Chymistry that most noble of Sciences and beneficial of all Arts is not as yet falsly by many supposed a Tractation or Operation only about Metals but it is an Art invented and adorned by the continual Meditations and Labours of the most Wise and Prudent of Men and such a one as teacheth us to improve and make use of as well Animals and Vegetables as Minerals and Metals both to Physical and all other necessary Uses though at first indeed intended more properly to Physick and a Medicinal use The word is a Greek word which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 its Derivation or Composition from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est quasi Salem fundere to melt Salt or a fusion of Salt or which was and is more properly the true Sence of it and intent of Chymistry in it as to Physick to prepare Medicine so as to bring it to the nature and form of a fixed and fusible Salt Quo habito sive ex Animalibus Vegetabilibus aut Mineralibus Laudandus sit Deus and so indeed ought all Medicine to be before it can be said to be perfect Medicine Now separation as well as several other Operations being most necessary for the Completion of this ultimate intent and perfection The Art was also by the Wise called Ars Spagirica that is Ars Separatoria from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Separo because Purification which must of necessity also precede the ultimate intent of this Art could not be performed without due and often repeated separation See now in two or three words the true and full intent scope and design of Chymistry that most excellent and therefore most unworthily despised Science I shall not therefore be tedious I shall now give only a small Light as to the excellency of Chymical Medicines above all others if rightly prepared and accordingly commend them to my Country as the most safe most pleasant and most effectual and which is also no small argument for their welcom all things considered the most cheap of Medicines Chymical Medicines are of all others being rightly prepared the most noble and excellent and this will appear as well by Reason as daily Experience the later is now so common I need not say more of it As for Reasons take these few following Let us consider what it is that gives eminency and perfection to any one thing we esteem as excellent we shall find that it is the purity of it and that either in the Animal Vegetable or Mineral Nature if we consider then what we are now speaking of viz. Medicine prepared by Chymical preparations we must also conclude its efficacy and excellency to proceed from its purity or purified Nature Let us yet farther consider what it is for it is to help and restore decayed Nature and her languishing Archeus What is this Nature and her Archeus It is the most subtile and pure Spirit of Man or Woman and therefore no way to be assisted but by that which is of purity and likeness with it viz. Medicines of a pure subtile and penetrating Nature The consideration of Nature will tell you what her Medicines ought to be and a true consideration of such Medicines will teach and tell you what Nature is so that the quality of the one will inform you what the Nature and Essence of the other ought to be a serious consideration then of Nature will tell you the quality of the Medicines you ought to use for her relief and assistance which is that they be of most subtile and thin parts This made Hippocrates tell us that the excellency of Medicine consisted in its subtility and thinness by which it was the more able to protect and assist decayed Nature in her disturbed Condition and though amongst many things or Species some may be said to be of more thin and subtile parts in respect of some others yet the most thin and subtile as Nature produceth them come extremely short of that subtility which this Art by its purging preparations can raise even the most dull and gross of Specificks to Herein then is the excellency of Chymical Medicines above Galenical Chymistry being able to exalt the most dull and inactive of Medicines to the greatest of subtility and far beyond what Nature presents them to us in Nor doth she thus exalt their purity and efficacy as to the Cure of all both inward and outward Distempers but renders them may I so say in a manner Immortal that is Incorruptible Which the best of Galenical Medicines cannot in the least boast of few or none of them being able to continue one poor Year without some notable if not a total expiration of their Virtue How then should these poor dirty and drossie Medicines answer those great Ends we administer them for How shall they root out inveterate fixed and chronick Diseases How shall they purifie the Impure or help the Infirm who are not yet Cured of their own Corruption and Infirm condition If it shall be as usually it is unadvisedly and very inconsiderately Objected that their Medicines are safe and that ours either quickly Cure or quickly Kill Let me tell them they in this very Objection grant much more than they are aware of for nothing can quickly Cure but what is really Efficacious and fitted for so great a good which nothing can be that is not in some measure pure and like unto the Nature it shall so assist Herein then inconsultly do they affirm the excellency of our Medicines If they say then they as suddenly Kill I must return them this answer that it is when administred by their hands that know them not Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius Galenists are not fit to use Paracelsian Medicines until they have entred the Chymical Schools and Laboratories which by reason of their excellency subtile and enlivening Faculty are not to be administred by Quarts or Pints but by Drops in proper Vehicles not by Pugils or Ounces but by Grains half Drachms or Drachms at most being to help Nature not stuff up the Body already too much