Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	air_n	earth_n	element_n	15,514	5	10.0914	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90641	Philadelphia, or, Brotherly love to the studious in the hermetick art. Wherein is discovered the principles of hermetick philosophy, with much candor and plainness. / Written by Eyreneus Philoctetes.	Philoctetes, Eyreneus.; Starkey, George, d. 1666.	1694 (1694)	Wing P1982A; ESTC R204402	19,199	104

Alkahest some Ignorant Boasters that neither knew the one nor the other having taught that they are both the same shall so far shew their Difference that no Tyro but may effectually distinguish them in his Theory Know therefore and note well this short Distinction there is no Affinity between them either in Matter or Operation they Differ in Matter as much as one Species doth from another the one being Metalline the other Saline They Differ in their Operations as much as Love and Wrath the one in Love preserving the other in Wrath destroying Life and Motion I cannot but admire notwithstanding the real Care and great Labour of many knowing and candid Philosophers to prevent Errors in admonishing the Studious to beware of Subtilty Sequestring the Art from the many Sophisms and Calling their Principles by their proper Names to see men studious in this Art so foolish in their Conclusions and operations some proposing to make our Secret and great Elixir which is a Fire-abiding Purrity and perfect Tincture from impure and Combustible Matters as Ordure Wine Vrine Nitre Blood Dew Rain-water Earth Vitriol and many others too tedious to reckon being led thereto by their own sordid Fancy or having read perhaps thereof in the Writings of the wise men for they have by Analogie called their matters almost every thing hence no Sophister no Ignorant Worker but pretends to Justifie his Proceedings tho' upon these fordid Subjects from their Writings but their End will be Disappointment if not Disgrace and Poverty These indeed go on in Errors with this Comfort that many of the Adepts do say they erred oft and one particularly two hundred times but tho' they should erre the same Number yet not being supported by a true Theory nor understanding the nature of the thing desired are Chusing as many Matters almost as Operations and so find the possibility of the Multiplication of Errors ad infinitum tho' not of Tincture truely perfect and Permanent Oh miserable Blindness O inextricable Laborinth whose miserable state take from Geber subtile witted indeed enough but of his Candor be jealous most miserable and unhappy is he who after the end of his Work God denies to see the Truth for he ends his Life in Error who being surrounded with all manner of misfortune and infelicity constituted in perpetual labour looseth all the comfort and joy of this World and spends his life in sorrow without any benesit or reward I will add my own Opinion their reward is just who provoke God endeavour to force Nature abuse the Adepts and abound in ignorance and folly Therefore as many as expect better fare let them seek rightly first call upon God and know your hearts to be purged from Impurity and Faith to have possession by which you may attain to Virtue then pursue Knowledge also be sure to attempt nothing contrary to Nature and with great respect acknowledge the Love and Care of the Adept Brothers that have communicated their Experience and hinted the way then pursue our Diana with great Industry whose Beauty is singular and qualitys excellent she is more fair more grave and yet lively and more fit for Generation then any other Marry her to the Sun and their Off-Spring shall be your Reward And for your Instruction know and note it well that our water or Mercury is a Compound-Simple Compound in respect to quality simple in respect to Matter and Homogeneity The Matter is Watry the Quality Fiery which are reconciled by Air according to the Doctrine of Elements but according to the Principles thus the Matter is Mercurial the Quality Sulphureous Reconciled by Salt which also may be and sometimes are called the Water the Spirit and the Blood or Body Soul and Spirit take it either way but be sure to understand them Scientificially or Practically the necessity of which learn from this following Discovery Salt prepares Sulphur Salt and Sulphur prepares Mercury Mercury preserves them So that without Salt Sulphur cannot be prepared or set at liberty from his Prison it being the only Key thereto without Salt and Sulphur Mercury cannot be qualified and without Mercury Salt and Sulphur can effect nothing it being their proper Vessel or Matrix But be sure all be Homogeneal or the Mercurial simplicity will be impossible therefore make the latter Judge of the two former for all Metaline things are tryed in a Mercurial Ballance First learn these things Theoretically and see the same confirmed by many Philosophers before you enter upon Practice this is safe and delightful And then altho Errors should happen which expect yet being supported by a true Theory they will Instruct but till then confound and Distract Believe me and take this candid Advice Therefore as many as sets about this Work let them first know what they seek and what they would effect It is no small thing to be capable to inform matter and that in an instant consider who it imitates did not our Lord effect this at the Marriage in Canaan on the Water which was the matter of Wine Think not therefore it is attained without a Blessing from him profound Meditation Herculean Labour and Cost Diligently therefore attend and note well what I say Matter is informed by Light of which matter and form all created Concrets consists Light being the form in all Concretes and life of all Beings which Light is ineffable not known abstract from matter as we see in the most beautiful Creature either humane or other as also in the curious Flowers of the Earth how through the withdrawing of an invisible fire or Spirit they become dead Opake and fit only for Corruption that Nature may again react and communicate form such are her viscissitudes but she also has her Darling and last perfection wherein she has firmly united form with pure matter yea so firmly that without the help of Art she can hardly alter the same and seeing the perfection of matter is Form why should any studious in Philosophy neglect to Contemplate the perfection of Gold which is thus perfected by Nature And truly if its Permanancy and Beauty be not sufficient to Captivate his Thoughts and Hands from working on things impure and fading I must tell him his off-spring will not be long lived for such as the Tree is such is the Fruit such as the Father is such is the Son This Form is called Sulphur by the Author of the new Light and in his Dialogue thereof thus Writes He is the Maker of a thousand things he knows how to make Metals better and Correct Minerals and is the heart of all things he teacheth Animals understanding knows how to make all kinds of Flowers in Herbs and Trees and is Chief over them Corrupts the Air which he amends again he is maker of all Odours and Painter of all Colours Again Know that Sulphur is the Virtue of all things Here let the studious in Alchymy open their Eyes and behold what Reason we have to Proclaim

a conclusion descend to the prime principles of our work Which Principles indeed are no other then those that constitute and every way compleat a Metaline Body viz. Sulphur and Argent Vive in both which is a special Appetite For a pure Mercury greedily coveteth a pure Sulphur and a pure Sulphur the Mercury for the perfection of Mercury is Sulphur and the Rest of Sulphur is in Mercury But be not ignorant that such a Mercury is only fit for our work which is really female void of Sulphur otherways the Appetite will be wanting which let me perswade is the very foundation of our Art But this appetite is wanting in Common Mercury as having a sufficient proportion of Metaline Sulphur tho' unactive by reason of its being pluct from its Root and thereby become dead and therefore not fit for the stirring up this first Ferment tho when the Ferment is once stirred up it is then capable of being fermented Also our Sulphur is a pure active Sulphur when a pure Mercury is the subject of its action Capable to effect what is desired by Mercury And truly where things are thus qualified their imbraces are effectual and their Union easie and speedy But beware of common Sulphur which in no wise is fit for our intent being an Enemy to Metaline love capable indeed of viciating but not really marrying a Virgin Mercury but being ambitious and powerful enough to compel usurpes the Throne and truly possesseth the same in peace till the right Heir comes which is stronger then he who dispossesseth and casts him out and takes possession himself Let thy first work therefore in practice be to assist the right Heir who when he possesseth his Throne will recompence thee with the gift of Harmonia Hence with ease and advantage may be learned not only how our subjects are said to be living but how they become so and also what good reason Philosophers have so to call them not that they are matters taken from any Animal as some grosly think much to their own and those they perswades damage but are become such through the Ferment their appetite have produced and Created No other life is found in Metals Minerals and Vegitables Neither is it possible to communicate the Life or Ferment of one to the other by reason as is shewed above of their difference in matter all true Ferments requiring an Homogeneity between Agent and Patient Whosoever therefore shall Meditate well on these and see their Harmony with true mens Writings shall certainly gain this viz. be preserved from the absurd and chargeable Experiments daily practiced by the foolish and inconsiderate Operators and also from being imposed on by ignorant and deceitful men who propose to make this our so highly prized Arcanum from almost every thing yea such things that have no unity with Metals yet nothing less then a perfect Metaline Tincture is to be produced O deep ignorance O vain attempts justly rewarded by nature with scorne and by her sons detested with the highest Derision Could they but remember by whom it was said such as men Sow such usust they Reap and as God will not be mocked so neither will Nature Wherefore if thy intention be to exalt a Metal in virtue beyond what nature hath done thou must take a Metaline nature both in male and female or thy endeavour will be vain and the end Fruitless Seek therefore with all thy Industry this secret fermental Virtue which is begot between our secret active sulphur which is our Fire our Air yea our congealed Air which is the covering of this secret spirit which is better then all the Earth this is our green Lyon and Sal Armoniack which alone is able to warm purge and enliven the Water of our Balneum How this doth accord with the Operations of Nature may easily be learned if we take an Observation of her procedure therein Doth not the heavenly influences impregnate the Air with a secret Spirit of Life which then is communicated to the Water which brings them to the Earth by which the secret Life of Seeds contained in the Matrix thereof through Putrifaction are set at Liberty and by their fermental virtue Coagulates the Water into its own Nature multiplying its Species thereby it being its proper matter This is our whole Work this our whole Philosophy which furnisheth the Possessor with health and Riches But the Wise men make not these things though truly excellent the bound of their search but with Solomon say how much better it is to get wisdom then Gold and understanding rather then fine silver For what would it profit in the end if a man should obtain the knowledge of the Vein for Silver and know also the place where they fine Gold and that out of the Earth cometh bread and under it is turned up as it were fire and that the stones of it are as Saphire and that it hath dust of Gold together with all the misteries thereof and yet not know the place of understanding and remain ignorant of the Wisdom of God surely the same dumbness that possessed Job after he had gone thus farr would fall upon that Tongue when God shall plead and when the great Creator of every thing and knower of every secret Corner shall Reason Therefore above all get understanding and wisdom pursue with all thy power But the heart is not capable to possess wisdom nor the breast to Treasure up understanding till the Cup of Water colloured with Fire be received from the hand of God My heart truly is moved with these things and my spirit beats in my Breast with which I magnifie the great Creator Yea let all the people Praise him and all the Host of Heaven magnifie his holy strength yea praise ye him Sun Moon and Stars Fire Hail and Snow for his Mercy endureth for ever and is over all his works who was is and is to come And now let me take my leave of the studious sons of Hermes having shewed my Brotherly love in thus Candidly writing which will be justified by the knowing and serviceable to the honest and ingenuous but to the foolish who will apply our plain Discourse to their own whimsies and foolish conceptions unprofitable If any inquire who I am be thus Answered I am too publick to be known too private to be inquired after and too quick footed to be pursued Yet also so near as to behold with pitty as well as admiration the foolish endeavours conceited knowledge of many for whose Instruction and Information I have written this short and candid Piece and thus held forth my Brotherly hand of help As many therefore as expect a Reward of their Labour and study in this Science I shall Recommend to the Teachings of the great Master and strict Law of nature without which ●o approaching this Mystery Farewel EYRENAEUS PHILOCTETES Written in the Year 1691.

our Principles or Subjects universal viz. Matter and Form and to be in all places but understand such as seek Sulphur for our Intent must conceive that it is nearer in somethings then in others and without they apply themselves to those Palaces where Sulphur gives Audience to the Philosopers they may for ever seek but not find him Arise therefore you sons of Hermes contemplate on the Light the Corporification of which is the utmost bound of Nature yea what is it else but the Sun it self who that goes about to seek it in things fading and impure finds it tho' truly there but of too swift foot for the nimblest pursuers and seeing it is invisible in the Concretes and known only by effect can in no wise be attained abstract from matter and consequently matter must enter into the work what man would be so foolish to expect a Fire abiding purity from impure Matters neither a strict union of the form therewith Therefore seeing the matter to which the form is intimately united must necessarily excel in purity and permanency and also that the form in such a matter is Corporified and doth abound where should an Artist seek for form but in such a matter now Gold being such is found to be the only subject capable of answering the desires of the Artist who begins where Nature left through her assistance and an Homogeneous Agent proceeds to let loose the form in a Natural way which form reacting on the matter enobles it brings it nearer its own Nature so that every time the form is thus set at Liberty or stirred up to action it goes on to its end viz. to inform matter and when the end of its Action is come resteth thus it is reiterated till the matter be swallowed up in the form which then becomes corporified form and according to its perfection informs more or less matter on which it is projected Hence also may be learned how it becomes universal seeing it passeth from specification thither and the nearer the matter is brought to the form the farther off specification yea so far therefrom may it pass that it will not be applicable to Metals in respect to Transmutation but will perpetually shine and excell the Nature of tangible Bodies This is our whole Philosophy comprehended in this short Theory But in order to set the form at Liberty that it may thus re-act upon the matter the Body must be reduced into its first matter or water Homogeneal in a natural way whereby the Species is preserved and seeing this can be done by no other means then by the first matter thereof let none be either so rash or foolish to attempt it I have abundantly shown already the difference of first matters and that they differ so sar in each Species that the first matter of an Animal or Vegitable is heterogeneous to a Metal and so on the contrary and consequently can neither Generate nor encrease a Metal which is Generated or multipled by no other matter then its own as I have Philosophically and plainly shown which is also attested by all Philosophers The noble Polonian speaking of the Gold found between the Teeth of a dead man takes occasion thus to express himself That unless Mineral Mercury which is the matter of Gold had been brought in thither there could never have been Gold produced We may say with him many the like accidents fall out which being not well considered by the Writer occasions the Reader to err But the honest searcher must apply all things to the Possibility of Nature if they agree not with her they must be let alone who Generates and multiplys all things by their own Seeds and proper matters A further proof of the difference of the first matters of each Species is learned from the action of our noble Circulated Salt or Alkahest upon them by which they are reduced into their first matters and in their reduction give certain testimony of their diversity as Metals into Sulphur and Mercury Pearls c. into a milky juice So that the vanity of endeavouring to Generate or multiply one Species by the seed and matter of another is deservedly rewarded with the loss both of money and time but that it may be prevented for the future I have candidly shown the studious the Law of Nature and Art which strictly forbids and most certainly punisheth such absurd Practices Also I would admonish such that presume they understand us not to be too gross nor to apply this our plain Writings to this or the other subtile device that perhaps we never thought of for I have often known the soolithness of many on this wise who having read often that Mercury is the matter of Metals presently conclude it to be the subject of our Work and with great confidence and equal assurance of their success go to work and perhaps endeavour to dissolve it into water because the Philosophers say their matter must be dissolved or to impregnate it with Air because they say it must be impregnated with Air or to Calcine it they having so read others to sublime Distil putrifie separate the Elements and many other foolish endeavours not in the least agreeable but destructive to Nature Yet seem to justifie their proceedings by our Writings Being therefore moved with respect to truth and Love to the sons of Hermetick Learning as also with indignation of Error I will shew you wherein you erre and where you miss the way by thus conceiving You foolishly and Blindly apply these Natural Operations of our Work to the preparation of our matters of which many Philosophers have Writ but little making the first the subject of their Discourse for their Excellency as indeed they have been those of their admiration and also inconsideratly apprehending the one for the other err most grosly For if any attempt that mannually which can only be performed Naturally no wonder if they miss of their designed end Behold I have faithfully shewed you the Truth and let me assure you till this one skill be performed that is to distinguish between our natural and manual Operations you will be confounded in the writings of the Adepts do what you can It is this alone that can enable a Tyro to go on in the pursuit of Diana with courage and delight yea it is the very shroud that covers her and hinders the eyes of the vulgar from beholding her Doves which are so anxiously sought and her beauty that allures the Sun And truly we cannot but admire the Considence of some boasting Sophisters who know not Nature in the least of her Operations yet presume to be conversant in the knowledge of this secret Pair and do imagine to themselves and confidently affirm to others they are this or the other thing and thus prepared But remember what the Philosopher said who speaks as fully concerning them as any That no eye but a true Philosophers ever saw them but when seen and known this is