Vain Reason cannot alwayes apprehendEach matter whichVenuscan bring to an end:No man can find it presently in sence,Vain Reason banns it far away from thence;Such a Spirit only can all things speed,So thatMercurybe joyn'd with it indeed.
Vain Reason cannot alwayes apprehendEach matter whichVenuscan bring to an end:No man can find it presently in sence,Vain Reason banns it far away from thence;Such a Spirit only can all things speed,So thatMercurybe joyn'd with it indeed.
MarsandVenushave a Spirit and Tincture as well as Gold and other Metals, be that Spirit which is in each Metal never so mean and little. It is undeniable and known to all, that many men have many minds, though all men originally are of one first Matter, born and produced from one Seed; yet have they divers different Minds, because the Stars have so operated them, and not without cause; for the influences of the great World operates the next to it inthe little World; for all Opinions, Natures and Thoughts, together with the whole complection of Man proceed alone from one Influence of the Stars, manifesting themselves according to the Course of the Planets and Stars, so that nothing can prevent, nor can such Influences hinder it, when the Birth hath attained to the end of its perfection.
As a man is naturally inclined to study; one delights in Divinity, another in the study of the Laws, a third in Physick, a fourth will be a Philosopher; moreover there are many Wits who are naturally inclined to the Mechanicks; as the one is a Painter, another a Goldsmith; the one a Shoomaker, the other a Taylor, a Carver, and so forth, divers and innumerable; all this happens by the Stars influence, whereby theImagination is supernaturally founded & fortified, and whereupon it is resolved to rest; as it is found, that what a man hath once conceived in his Mind, and framed a foundation thereof, none can divert him from a constant resolution and relying thereon, except Death, which at last concludes all. So is it to be understood ofAlchymists, who are set upon the search of Natures Secrets, they intend not to cease, till they have discover'd Nature, absolved it quite, and brought all to an end, which cannot well be done.
Even so is it to be understood of Metals, according as the Influence and Imagination is from above, so is the Form; and although the Metals be called Metals in general, and are such, yet you have understood by the variousminds of men, which yet proceed from one Matter, that there may be manifold and divers Metals, one hot and dry, another cold and moist, a third assuming a mixt Nature and Complection to it self. Therefore the Metal ofMarsbeing ordained in its degree by a gross Salt before others in the greatest quantity, is found to have the hardest, ungentle, strongest, and grossest Body, which Nature appropriated and granted to it, it hath the least portion ofMercury, but more ofSulphur, and most ofSalt, hence, and from such a mixture or composition is its corporal essence descended, and born into the world by help of the Elements. Its Spirit is like to the other Spirits in operation, but if you can know the right and true Spirit ofMars, I tell you truly, and in true Wisdom,that one grain of its Spirit or Quintessence drunk with the Spirit of Wine, strengthens the Heart, Courage, and Senses, so that you shall fear no Foes; it raises up in him the Courage of a Lion, and provokes a desire to hunt and fight atVenussports. When the Conjunction ofMarsandVenusare rightly placed in a certain Constellation, they bring Fortune and Victory in Love and Affection, in Battel and joy, remaining in unity though the whole World should be against them: But because I am an Ecclesiastick under Church Government, and dedicated my Soul to God, without provocation of humane desires, and lusts of the Flesh, for they lead a direct way to Hell without leave; but Gods Commands, Fear, and a rejection of Mans Will, whichare tollerated by his Commands, prepare a way to Heaven, if they continue in the true calling upon, and in the true and right Faith of the only Throne of Grace, Mediator and PatronJesus Christour Saviour. All Martial Diseases are expell'd, cured, and healed in an admirable manner by this Spirit; such as are theBloody Flux, the Disease or MenstruousFluxesof Women, both white and red, and all otherFluxesof the Belly, and openSoresin the Legs, or any part of the Body, together with all those Diseases, both internal and external, howsoever they are called, which bloodyMarshath caused, which I omit to nominate particularly, being well known unto the discreet Physician what Diseases are subject to the jurisdiction ofMars. If the Spirit of Iron betruly known, it hath a secret affinity with the Spirit ofVenus, so that both may be conjoined in one, both becoming one only matter, of a like operation, form, substance and being, healing and expelling the self-same Diseases, as also to bring the particulars of the Metals into a change with profit, praise, and excess. But properlyMarsmust be observed thus with its virtues, that in his Corporal form he only hath an earthly Body, which may be used in many things, for to stanch Bloud, externally in Wounds, to graduateLuna, internally to stop or bind the Body, which yet is not good at all times, and may be used both internally & externally in mans Body, as likewise in Metallick affairs; because without the true known means, which Nature hath in her secretCloset, much profit cannot be gottenper se.
One thing more I must at present propose, that the Magnet and true Iron perform almost a like benefit in Corporal Distempers, having almost one kind of Nature in and with them, as it is with it in the Celestial, spiritual, and Elementary Intellect, between the Body, Soul, and the Chaos, out of which the Soul and Spirit went, the Body at last was found out of the Composition.
How shall we now do? the gross dull-witted Lads will not apprehend it, the middle sort of Wits will take no notice of what I write, and the supernatural wits will descant too much upon it; I must find out a remedy, and would willingly preserve all these over-wise-people to be myFriends still. I will now teach, instruct, and presently inform you, seeing that the Argument it self declares and pronounces its definitive sentence, therefore the resolution lies open, and can be declared and resolved, reserved nor directed to any other sentence of the understanding, further than for it self.
Last of all, reserve this hereupon in this Chapter, that there can be no House kept to stand in unity between the Married Couple, if the one of them turn his Coach and drive to the East, and the other towards the West, for they are not equal, so that they cannot draw the Coach together in an equal weight, whereby there arises a great dissention and hinderance, in obtaining that which was intended: but if true Married People will carry ontheir House-keeping with a right subsistance, they must be of one spirit, mind, judgment and virtue, to accomplish all whatsoever is in their heart and mind, and that the one operate into the other, if their Love and Truth shall be permanent; for want of one of these things, the three principles cannot be truly together; for theMercuryis banisht, and too little by reason of the firmness and constancy; theSulphuris too little, it cannot warm the Body of Love, because it is very much extinct; theSaltlikewise hath not its right, convenient, natural kind, but is too hard and too much, seeing it makes a hard coagulation, is sharp and biting, because it doth not manifest it self in truth and constancy. Even so it goes now in the World, which goes astray,and is pregnant with such Vices, for the constancy is but small, the Love little, and Truth as little.
I hope you will take this Philosophical Example in good part, becauseSyrachdoth both praise and dispraise the goodness, truth, and wickedness of a false Woman, and both after a different manner; and herewith I bidMarsFarewell, saying, that no man knows how to distinguish the Sentence of one, much less of all things, but he who hath in this point taken notice of them, learned and experimented their Nature and Properties, and truly known and discovered them. God our Heavenly Father, the Everlasting Power, proceeding from all beginning, separate us so in the Form, that the terrestrial corruptible Body may againattain unto, contain, and receive the Celestial, Spiritual and Incorruptible Revelation.Amen.
Maist thou not know me alone indeed,And procure a pure help for me in need;Resolve then, and hear what I do speak or say,So shalt thou find what I can do for aye.
Maist thou not know me alone indeed,And procure a pure help for me in need;Resolve then, and hear what I do speak or say,So shalt thou find what I can do for aye.
The Clearness of Heaven hath now commanded me to govern my Pen, to reveal a matter of valour and of permanency; for the Sun is a burning and consuming Fire, hot and dry, wherein is concealed the right and true virtue of all Natural things; this virtue of the Sun worketh Understanding, Riches, and Health. My Mind is very much grieved, and my Spirit is terrified within it self to discover it publickly, which was not publish'd in common before, and to make it vocal, which was concealed in the deep with great secresie.But if I consider in my self, and enter into my Conscience, I could find no alteration, nor catch at any thing to disturb my mind, or bring it to another resolution, which might cause many Obstructions: Yet will I speak with discretion, and write understanding, that no evil with may follow, but rather that I may gain a grateful profit, which I have pourtrayed after the manner and occasion, as the Philosophers before me have done.
Mark now, give your Mind perfect Thoughts, refrain all strange matters, which are not serviceable to your speculation of Philosophy, but rather cause a ruine of that benefit, which you pursued with so much diligence; and know if you have a hearty desire and strong affection to gain the Golden Magnet, thatin the first place your prayer be truly directed to God, in true Knowledge, Sorrow, Repentance, and true Humility, to know and learn the three distinct Worlds which are subject to Humane Reason; as, there is the Super-celestial World, wherein the right immortal Soul hath its seat and residence, together with its first coming, and is according to Gods Creation the first moveable Sense, or the first moving sensible Soul, which hath operated the Natural Life from a Supernatural Essence; this Soul and Spirit is at first the Root and Fountain, the first Creature which arose to a Life, and the first Mover, whereof there hath been so much Disputing among the Learned.
Now take notice of the second Celestial World, and observe itdiligently, for therein the Planets rule, and all the Stars of Heaven have their course, virtue and power in this Heaven, performing that Service therein whereunto they are by God ordained, and in this service they operate the Minerals and Metals by their Spirit.
Go now out of these 2 distinct Worlds into the third, wherein is contained and found what the other two have wrought, to wit, the Super-celestial and the Celestial worlds; out of the Super-celestial arises the Fountain of Life, and of the Soul; out of the other Celestial world the light of the Spirit; and out of the third or Elementary world, the invincible Celestial Fire, which yet may be felt, out of which, that which is tangible is digested; these three Matters and Substancesproduce and generate the Form of Metals, among all which Gold hath the pre-eminence, because the Sidereal & Elementary Operation hath digested and ripened theMercuryin this Metal the more perfectly to a sufficient ripeness.
And even as the Male-Seed is injected into the Womb, and touches theMenstruum, which is its Earth, but the Seed which goes out of the Male into the Female, is operated in both by the Sydereal and Elementary, that they be united, and nourished by the Earth unto the Birth.
Even so understand it likewise, that the Soul of Metals which is formed and conceived out of theChaosby an intangible, invisible, incomprehensible, concealed, and supernatural, Celestial Composition of Waterand Air; afterwards it is further concocted by the Celestial Elementary Light and Fire of the Sun; whereby the Stars move the Powers, when its heat is perceived in the inward parts of the Earth, as in the Womb, for the Earth is opened by the warm operating property of the upper Stars, that their infused Spirit yield a nourishment unto the Earth, that it may bring forth somewhat, as Metals, Herbs, Trees and Animals; where each one in particular brings its Seed with it for its farther augmentation and encrease: And as hath been mentioned, even as Man is begotten spiritually and heavenly, Soul and Spirit, and by the nourishment of the Earth in the Body of the Mother is formally brought up to perfection; even so, and in likemanner, is to be observed and understood of the Metals and Minerals in all points.
But this is the true mystery of Gold, which I will make good to you by an Example and Parable to certifie you, whereby the possibility of Nature, and its Mystery is to be found after this manner.
It is evident, that the Celestial Light of the Sun is of a fiery Quality and Essence, given unto it by a Celestial, fixt and permanent sulphurous Spirit, by the most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to preserve its substance, form, and body; which Creature, by its swift motion and course, is enflamed and kindled by the Air through that swiftness in a continued manifestation of it; this inflammation can never be extinct, nor decay in any ofits power, so long as its Course last, or this whole Created visible World shall remain and continue, because there is no combustible matter at hand which is given unto it, by whose consumption this great Light of Heaven should fall to decay.
Even so Gold is so digested, ripened, and made into such a fixt invincible Nature by the Superiours in its Essence, that nothing can hurt it in the least, because the superiour Stars have past through the inferiour, that the inferiour fix'd Stars by the influence and donation of the superiour, cannot in the least give place to its like, for the inferiour have obtained such a fixedness and permanency from the superiour; this you may well retain, observe, and take notice of as concerning the first Matter of Gold.
I must yet produce one comparison according to the Philosophical custom, of the great Light of Heaven, and of that little terrestrial fire here daily kindled, and made to burn before our Eyes; because that great Light hath a magnetick simulation and an attractive living power with the small fire here on earth, but yet it is unformal and incomprehensible, only it is found to be spiritual, invisible, insensible and intangible.
It is to be observed and remembred, as experience manifests, and is proved, that the great Light of heaven bears an especial sympathy, affection and inclination to the little earthly fire, by means of the spiritual Air, whereby they are both promoted and preserved from Mortality; for behold, when the Air receives into it aCoruption, by too great humidity attracted up by it, that Clouds are generated by Mists, and farther coagulations, which hinder the Sun-beams that they cannot have a reflection, nor get a right penetrating power. So likewise the small terrestrial fire doth not burn so lively in dusky, dark, rainy weather, nor manifests it self with joy in its operation, as it doth when there is a fair, pure, serene, unfalsified heavenly Air; the reason is, because the sympathy is bound and hindered by the obstruction of those Accidents and the waterish Air, so that the attractive power is grieved, that it cannot accomplish its compleat Love and Operation as it should, for this hinderance brings the aquosity to the contrary Element.
Now even as the Sun, thegreat Light of Heaven, hath a peculiar community and sympathy with the small terrestrial fire to attract unto it, after a Magnetical manner; So also the Sun and Gold have a peculiar understanding, and an attractive power and sympathy together; for the Sun hath wrought the Gold by the three Principles, which have their Magnets, being nearest related to the Sun, and hath gained the next degree to it, for that the three Principles are found to be most mighty and powerful therein, Gold immediately succeeds it in its corporal Form, being composed of the three principles, and hath its beginning and off-spring from the Celestial and Golden Magnet.
This is the supremest Wisdom of this world, a wisdom above all wisdom, yea a wisdom aboveall Natural Reason and Understanding; for by this wisdom is comprehended first of all Gods Creation, the heavenly Essence, the Firmamentary Workings, the spiritual Imagination, and the corporal Essence, it contains all qualities, and properties, and all whatsoever sustaines and preserves Mankind. In this Golden Magnet sticks and lies buried the resolution and opening of all Metals and Minerals, their domination, as also the first Matter of their generation, their power over health; and again, the coagulation and fixation of Metals, together with the operation of expelling all Diseases: Take notice of this Key, for it is Celestial, Sydereal and Elementary, out of which the terrestrial is generated, it is both Supernatural and Natural, and is generatedCelestially of the Spirit ofMercury, Spiritually of the Spirit ofSulphur, and Corporally of the Spirit ofSalt; this is all the way, the whole Essence, the beginning and end; for the Spirit and the Body are bound up together in one by the Soul, that they can never be separated, but produce a very perfect, durable Body, which nothing can hurt. Out of this spiritual Essence, and out of this spiritual Matter, out of which first of all Gold was made into a Body, and became corporal, out of it is made a more true and compleatAurum potabilethan out of Gold it self, which must first of all be made spiritual, before a potable Gold can be prepared out of it.
This Spirit cures and heales theLeprosieand theFrench Pox, as being an over-fix'd MercurialEssence, dries up and consumes theDropsie, and all running and open Sores, which have raged a long season, it strengthens the Heart and Brain, makes a good Memory, generates good Blood, brings Lust, Delight and Desires in humane incitation unto Natural Affections. If the Quintessence of Pearl be mixt with the Tincture of Coral, and be administred with an addition of an equal quantity of this Spiritual Essence of Gold, the Dose of two grains taken at once in a just observation, you may be bold & confident of the truth, that no disaster of any Natural Distemper can harm you, or happen to you, to the prejudice of your health, because the nature resides only in the Spirit of Gold, to alter, remove and amend all weaknesses, so that the Body shall be adjudgedperfect and free from any Disease. The Quintessence of Pearl corroborates the Heart, and make a perfect Memory, of the five senses. The Tincture of Coral expels all poison, and evil Spirits which fly from the good. So can the Soul of Gold in a Water turn the spiritual Essence of the Pearl, and the Sulphur of the Coral united in one, perform such a thing which otherwise Nature could not be intrusted with, but seeing that Experience hath manifested it, and confirmed the undeniable Truth, therefore this Cordial in this temporal Life is, and ought in reason to precede all other Cordials with admiration and admirable Effects, be they called by what name soever. I am an Ecclesiastical person, obedient to the Ecclesiastical degree, related to theBenedictineOrderby a Spiritual and Divine Oath, by which Order with my internal Prayer, I obtain comfort and promises of Gods Word, a refreshment to my Soul, but in a corporal temptation of my weaknesses, and for my Brethren I have not found and used a better corroboration by Gods Blessing, than these three Compounds united: God give, bless, and increase this Virtue and Power unto the End of this temporal World, which Man must change together with Death. O thou golden power of thy Soul! O thou golden intellect of thy Spirit! O thou golden operation of thy Body! God the Creator keep thee, and grant unto all earthly Creatures, who love and honour him, the true understanding of all Gifts, that thy Will may be done in Heaven and onEarth: This is enough revealed at present concerning the Spirit of Gold, until the coming again ofElias.
Take a Spirit of Salt, therewith extract the Sulphur of Gold, separate the Oil of Salt from it, rectifie the Sulphur of Gold with Spirit of Wine, that it be pleasant without Corrosive; then take the true Oil ofVitriol, made of theVitriolofVerdigreece, therein dissolveMars, thereof make aVitriolagain, and again dissolve it into an Oil or Spirit, which rectifie in like manner as before with Spirit of Wine, conjoin them, and abstract the Spirit of Wine from it, resolve the Matter which remaines dry in SpiritofMercury, according to a just weight, circulate and coagulate it when it is fix'd and permanent without Ascention, you have then a Medicine to tinge Man and Metals, if it be fermented with prepared Gold.
The Tincture and spirit of Silver manifests its Colour of a Watchet or Sky-colour, otherwise it is a waterish Spirit, cold and moist, not so hot in its degree as that which is found inGold,Mars, andVenus; forLunais more phlegmatick than fiery, though it be brought by the Fire out of its waterish Substance into a coagulation; and even as the Metals gain their tinging Spirits and Coagulation, in like manner do stones get their fixedness, and colour, as out of one Influence. A fix'd coagulatedMercuryis found in theDiamond, thereforeit is fixeder and harder than the other stones, and cannot be so broken; so the tincture ofMars, or the Sulphur of Iron is found in theRuby, the Sulphur ofVenusin theEmerald, the Soul ofSaturnin theGranate; in Tin the tincture which is found in theTopaz; andCrystalis appropriated to commonMercury; in theSaphireis found the Sulphur and Tincture ofLuna, but each one according to a peculiar understanding, and according to its kind, and in Metals according to their form and gender; for when the blew Colour is taken and extracted out of theSaphire, its Rayment is gone, and its other Body is white as aDiamond, wanting only the hardness that is in aDiamond; even so when Gold hath lost its Soul, it yields a fix'd white Gold Body, whichby searching Students and young Artists is called fix'dLuna.
Wherefore you must now understand and observe, that even as I have declared unto you concerning theSaphire, for your apprehension, even so on the other side, you must learn to what purpose my Speech is intended, for your Instruction concerning Metals.
For this blew Spirit is the Sulphur and the Soul, whence the Silver receiveth its Life, both in and above the Earth, by Art, and the white Tincture of the Silver upon white stands in the Magnetick form of an everlasting thing, or Creature, wherein is likewise found the firstEnsof Gold.
O ye high qualified Orators! where is your voice in this case to explain this Mystery? And you conceited Naturalists, where isyour Writings and Advice of Reason? And you Physicians, Whither is your Opinion flown, to fetch somewhat afar off over the Seas for to cure theDropsie, and allLunaryDistempers? You will say, that this my speech is too dark for you; is it so? then kindle the terrestrial Light, seek, and be not ashamed to make acquaintance withVulcan; and let nothing be irksome unto you, so will you find by the assistance of the Eternal God, that the Spirit ofSilvercontains in it to cure and expel theDropsiequite alone, as the Spirit ofGold, and as that ofMercurycan expel theConsumptionradically, or in the root, even so that the Center of those Diseases cannot be found any more. But thatLunain the veins of the Earth is not furnished with such a hot substance or qualityin its degree, but is subjected to a Waterish Nature; this fault lies upon that great Light of Heaven, which by reason of its Waterish influence, hath implanted such qualities in the other Creatures, and Planets of the Earth, than it hath inSilver. And albeit thatSilvercontains a fix'dMercury, which is generated in it, yet it wants a hot, fix'dSulphur, truly to dry up and consume its Phlegme, whereby it hath not obtained a compact Body, unless it be done afterwards by the art of the Little World. And seeing that its Body is not compact by reason of the abounding watery substance, its Pores therefore are not rightly defended, nor closed to undergo the weight and endure a Battel with the Enemies; all which Virtues are to be found inGold, if it shall overcomeall Enemies, and endure all trials without defect.
All things are difficult in the beginning, but when they are brought to an end they are easie to be understood and apprehended. If you do truly observe the Spirit and the Soul ofLuna, and learn to know it truly, you may quickly compass the midst of the Work, how it shall afford the end with profit; wherefore I will now propose to you an Example, and instruct you by a Countrey-Rule, that you may apprehend it, and consider of it, as Childrens Play, in a high and weighty Matter, that you may search it out with advantage; as followeth:
A common Peasant casts forth (or sows) his Seed in a Field well dunged and prepared, this Seed after putrefaction, sprouts forthof the Earth by the operation and furtherance of the Elements, and sets before our Eyes the Matter of Flax together with its Seed which it brings with it augmented; this Flax is pluck'd up, and separated from its Seed; but this Flax cannot be used and prepared for any work profitably, except it be first putrefied and rotted in water, whereby the Body is opened, and gains an ingress of its doing good; after this putrefaction and opening, it is again dried in the Air and Sun, and by this coagulation it is again brought into a Formal Being, that it may do future service. This prepared Flax is afterwards buck'd, beaten, broken, peel'd, and last of all dress'd, that the pure may be separated from the impure, the clean from the filth, and the fine from the course;which otherwise could not be done at all, or brought to pass without the preceding preparation; this done, they spin Yarn of it, which they boil in water over the Fire, or else with Ashes set in a warm place, whereby it is purified afresh, whereby the filth and superfluities are fully separated from it, and after a due washing the Yarn is dried again, delivered to the Workmen, and Cloth weaved of it; this Cloth is purified or whitened by a frequent casting of water upon it, cut in pieces by Taylors, and other people, so converted to future services in houshold affairs, and when this Linnen is quite worn out, and torn, the old Rags are gathered together, and sent to the Paper-Mills, whereof they make Paper, which is put unto divers uses.
If you lay Paper upon a Metal or Glass, kindle and burn it, the vegetableMercurycomes forth and flies away into the Air, the Salt remaines in the ashes and the combustibleSulphurwhich is not so quickly consumed in the burning, dissolves to an Oil, which is a good Medicine for dim and defective Eyes. This Oil hath in it a great fatness, which is the Matter of the Paper, contained originally in the Seed of the Flax; so that the last Matter of the Flax which is Paper, must again be dissolved into the first Matter, which is the fat Sulphurous Oyliness of the Flax-seed, together with the separation of itsMercuryandSalt, that so the first may be made of the last, and the ground-work revealed, so the Virtues and Operations known by the first.
And though this Discourse be gross and not subtil, yet you may learn thereby to know what is subtile and secret; for that which is subtile must be infused into the ignorant by course Examples, that thereby they may be taught to reject the gross, and to embrace that which is subtile.
In like manner understand, that the first Matter of Metals must be observed, known, and found out by the revelation of their last Matter, which last Matter, as there are the perfect Metals, must be separated and divided asunder, that it may plainly appear singly before the Eyes of men. Out of which separation may be judged and learnt what the first Matter was at the beginning, out of which the last was made. Accept of this Advice concerningLunaat present. I could havesaid more, but I must desist at this time until another opportunity; and intreat you heartily, admonishing you by your Conscience, that you observe all that which I have revealed unto you, of all those Letters which are contained in the middle betweenAlpha&Omega, & that you keep all the Speeches & Writings, that you may not undergo a denial of pardon for your Sins, & a continued perpetual Vengeance for Eternity; which I at last reveal unto you thus:
Take the Sky-coloured Sulphur extracted out ofSilver, rectified with Spirit of Wine, dissolve it according to its Quantity in the White Spirit ofVitriol, and in the sweet-sented Spirit ofMercury, coagulate them together by the fixation of the Fire, you havethe White Tincture in your Hands with all its Medicines; but if you can get all theirprimum Mobile's, it is then needless, because you can perfect the Work at once.
GoodJupiterpossesses almost the mean or middle place between Metals, it being not too hot, nor too cold, not too warm, nor too moist, it hath no excess ofMercury, nor of Salt, and it hath the least of Sulphur in it; it is found to be white in Colour, yet one exceeds the other in the three Principles, as it is evidently found in its dissection, the right and true discovery of Nature. It is generated of such a composition and mixture of the three first Principles, being operated,coagulated into a Metal, and brought to the ripeness of perfection.Jupiteris a God of Peace, a Lord of Goodness, a Ruler and Possessor of the middle Region; as concerning its State, Essence, Function, Virtue, Form and Substance; for it holds the mean; no special Disease can happen, thatJupitershould cause any remarkable damage, if its Medicine be used a little at once, not too much in quantity; it is likewise thought needless, where its Medicines are not required, that they should be administred in strange cases with a just Call, but we should rather abide by those, where the Body and its Disease have an equal temper with the superiour Stars and their assistance, in vertue, power, and operation, and so accord together in their juncture, that thereis not found the least contrariety in the Operation, nor in the Operative Nature.
JupitersSpirit is found not to be wanting in the least, in the generation of Metals, as likewise no one Spirit of all the Metals can be set backwards, because of necessity they accord together from the lowest to the highest degree, and must agree together, as a Metal is perfect in the great Earth, so should the transmutation & augmentation succeed in the little world; understand it after this manner, that all the degrees from the meanest to the highest Metal must be passed through in all perfection, even as the Metals must finish their course, fromSaturnuntoGold, as concerning the permanency of Colour and Body, notwithstanding thatSaturnpossesses the highest place in thehighest Region, wherein the stars reign and perform their Course.
The generation of Tin in and above the Earth, is brought to light even as Man is and other Animals, which are originally nourished and fed by the Mothers Milk; there is no Diet to be found on Earth more fit for the nourishment of all men than Milk; for its best part is chiefly an AnimalSulphur, which yields the Nourishment. Even in like mannerTinis nourished by its MetallickSulphur, which likewise feeds it with the greatest acceptation, it assumes in and to it more heat thanSaturn, therefore isJupitermore digested & broiled, whereby its Body likewise is more fixt and permanent in the degree of Salt.
He causes in his Dominion and Reign, that good Rule be observed,and Justice done to all men in his Court. The Spirit of Tin is a Preserver from all Distempers & Accidents whereby the Liver is consumed or put into malady; its Spirit is naturally to be compared unto Honey in Taste, itsMercurybeing made volatile, gains a venomous quality; for it purges violently, and penetrates through by force, therefore it is not alwayes to be advised, that its openedMercuryshould be used alone and simply, but if a Correction precede, there may an excellent benefit succeed, being used in those distempers and diseases, which are immediately subject to its Influence, that is, when its venomous volatility is taken away, and set in a better and fixeder state, which resists the poison.
The Vulgar Physician cannotunderstand this Description; for this Art and knowledge proceeds not from the bare Talking, but from Experience; the common Physician hath the foundation and egress in speaking, but our Preparation hath its Rise from speaking, and then its foundation first of all out of a certain trial, which manifests it by Experience, and this is firmed upon hard Rocks by manual Operations, but the other stands upon moving Reeds & Sand; wherefore in reason that which is strong and immoveable, made by Natures hand, ought to be prefer'd before bare Speeches, which proceed only from an inconstant phantastical speculation, because the Work alwayes will praise the Master.
At present I do not indeed speak according to my own Poeticalmanner, nor after such a way as I directed my stile, when I treated of the wonderful generation of the seven Planets in my occult Philosophy, nor after a Magical or Cabalistical manner and custom; much less do I observe the method which teaches, and diligently marks the Mystical, Secret and Supernatural Arts, to wit, ofHydromancy,Æromancy,Geomancy,Pyromancy,Nigromancy, and the like: But my present purpose and intent is directed to reveal Natures Secrets, that all the Lovers of Art, and the Children which seek and desire wisdom, may by Gods Grace, Blessing, and Permission, easily understand, observe, mark, and likewise after diligent observation learn, & retain something that is beneficial; this concerns the generation of Metals in twoparts, in the great and in the little World, as likewise what is the true Medicine contained in the inward part of those Metallick and Mineral Forms, which must be apprehended and made moveable by their dissection that their first beginning may be made notoriously visible in three distinct things; Then is Nature stript, and her secret parts discovered by laying off her temporal Cloathing, and all the secret Virtues, Powers, and, Operations revealed for Mans Health. My Persecutors, and, indiscreet Physicians will now tell me, thou talkest much of Geese, and knowest not a Duck; who knows whether all what thou writest be true? I will stick where I am, and remain by what I have tried, and bears the sway among all my Associates and Physitians; soshall I not be deceived, and am assured that I shall not need to take paines to learn any new Matter. He that is of such a resolution, may remain with the Ducks; for he is not worthy of a roasted Goose, nor to learn what is concealed in Nature.
But this in truth I acknowledge, and confess it before the Supreme Trinity, speaking it to the hazzard of that most Noble Ecclesiastical Jewel, that all what I have wrote, and yet shall write in this point, is all true, and shall be found to be no otherwise in truth: But that every ignorant, or vulgar person, which are haters and persecutors of this Mystery, do not well, fully, and clearly understand my Writings at first; alas! that cannot I help; pray unto God for his Grace, and ye Persecutors for pardon, labourwithout repining, read with understanding, then will no Mystery be withheld from you, but will be very easie for you to find out. I moreover admonish, that the finder of this gift of God, above all things give thanks unto God day and night without ceasing, with all reverence and due obedience, from the bottom of his heart; because no Creature can yield sufficient praise which may recompense so great a benefit; but Diligence is known by a right and true industry according to our capacity. I have done my part, which I hope to justifie before God and the World; for what my Eyes have seen, my Hands felt, and apprehended by an undeceived Judgment, that shall no man take from me in this Life; only Death, which is the determiner of all things.
This my Speech hath indeed had no force to poure forth from it what is written by me herein; but what I have done is not out of curiosity, nor out of a desire of vain and transitory Glory; but I have been induced thereunto by the Command of Christ the Lord, that his Glory and Goodness in eternal and temporal Matters, should not be concealed from any man, but to the praise, honour, and glory of his holy everlasting Name, that it might be exalted, acknowledged, and revealed in his Majesty by reason of his Highness and Almightiness, through the confirmation of his wonderful Deeds! And secondly, I have been led thereunto by Love and Charity towards my Neighbour, for his good as for my own, and to heap burning Coals on my Enemiesheads. And last of all, that all Opposers may know, what erroneous waies others have gone against me, and whether I am most of all to be condemned, or they adjudged most just in what hath been written most truly of the concealments of Nature; & likewise that the supremest Mystery may not quite be suffocated in darkness, nor be drowned in overflowing waters, but be delivered out of the deep and filthy mire of the Ideotish Crew by the right appearance of the true Light, and obtain many witnesses by the spreading abroad of a sure, true, and right Confession, who may follow me in the Writings of Truth. In my Nativity of the twelve Signes in the Zodiack,SagitaryandPisceswere allotted unto me; I was born underPisces, for I was in Waterishnessbefore my Life, butSagitaryset an Arrow to my Heart, whereby I lost my Waterishness, and by the heat I became worthy of the dry Earth; and although at the first the Earth was turned by the Water into a soft substance, yet you must understand that the Water was consumed by the heat of the drying Air, so that all the soft Matter of the Earth went away, and by this drying up was dignified with a Hardness; whereby thou Learner, and much Understander should carefully observe and take good notice, that Tin is subject to all the four Elements, as also to the other principal Planets; which Elements received their Center from above, and are generated as others.
To conclude, I let you know, and give you to understand, thatif thou extract out of BenevolentJupiterits Salt and Sulphur, and lettestSaturnflux well with it,Saturnassumes a fixt body unto it, purges it self, and becomes clear thereby, there being a full change and real transmutation of Lead into good Tin, which may be found to the height by a durable infallible proof. And though you may think this to be false, yet you must take notice, that seeing the Salt ofJupiteronly by its Sulphur is made more corporal, yet likewise it hath obtained an efficacy and power to penetrateSaturn, the basest and most volatile Metal, and bring it to a melioration of its Equals, as you will find it in reality.
Saturnto generate his Metal Lead, is placed in the upper Heaven above all Stars, but he possesses the lowest and vilest degree in the under-parts of the Earth, even as the supreme Light ofSaturnis mounted aloft in the highest supremacy of all the Celestial planets, so hath its Children of the lower Region succeeded it in Kind; and Nature hath permitted thatVulcanshould conduct them to their like, ifSaturnbe content; for the upper light gives occasion thereunto,having generated an unfixt Body ofSaturn, penetrated with open pores, that the Air can pass through thisSaturnineBody, that the Air can keep it aloft, but the fire can quickly assault it, because the body is not compact by reason of its unfixedness, so that it must decay, which must be in all points observed by him that will attain to the search of it; for there is a great difference between the fix'd and unfix'd bodies, and of the causes of their Constancy and Inconstancy. And thoughSaturnhath an especial ponderosity above other Metals, yet observe, when they are poured forth together, after their union in the Flux, the other Metals alwaies settle at the bottom, even as it likewise comes to pass in the pouring ofAntimonythrough with other Metals,whereby it is evident, that the other Metals fall through equally, and are more compact thanSaturn, for it must give place and preheminence to the other Metals, leaving the victory with them; for it must vanish and be quite consumed with the unfixt inconstant Metals; in it all the three properties of the three principles are most course; and because its Salt is very fluxible above that of other Metals and Planets, so is its Body more fluxible, inconstant, unfixt, and volatile, than any other Metallick Body. AsSaturnsteps to its regeneration, so know that in like manner, as common Water is forced by the natural coldness, by the change of the Heavens, whereby it becomes a coagulated Ice, in like manner is it to be made evident, that by reason ofthe great coldness which is found to be in the Salt ofSaturnabove other Salts;Saturnis also coagulated and made corporal; Ice dissolves into water by heat; so likewise the coagulatedSaturnis made fluxible by Fire, it hath most ofMercuryin it, but it is inconstant and volatile; it hath least of Sulphur, and therefore according to its small quantity its cold body cannot be made warm; it hath little Salt, but fluxible, otherwise Iron would be more fluxible and malleable than Lead, if the Salt alone could cause a malleableness and fluxibleness, because Iron contains more Salt than any other Metal: Seeing then there is a difference to be found in this point, you must therefore observe and remember the difference, and how to distinguish between Metals.
All Philosophers have wrote as well as I, that the Salt gives the Coagulation and Body to every Metal; and it is true; but to prove it by an example, how and after what manner this Relation is to be understood: Plume Allom is esteemed to be only a meer Salt, and is approved to be such, which in this particular may be compared to Iron, that the Salt of the Plume Allom is found to be a thing unfluxible as Iron is. On the other side,Vitriollikewise is a Salt, manifesting it self in a small quantity, but fluxible and open, therefore its Salt cannot yield such a hard congelation unto its appropriated Metal, as the other can; although all the Salts of Metals grew out of one certain Root, and out of one Seed, yet nevertheless you must observe a difference in their three Principles,as also you must observe & remember, that a difference is found in one Herb from the other, and likewise how man differs from other Creatures and Animals in Qualities, Original, and the three Principles; for one Herb is indued with more of this, another with more of that kind, which in like manner is to be understood concerning Man and other Animals. The Soul of Lead consists in a sweet quality, as also doth the Soul of Tin, and sweeter yet, that nothing almost may be compared to it, being first of all purified to the highest by separation, that the pure be well separated from the impure, that a perfect accomplishment may succeed in the Operation: Otherwise the Spirit of Lead is by nature cold and dry, wherefore I advise, thatit be not much used by Men and Women, because it over cools Nature, so that the Seed of both cannot perform their Natural Function; nor doth it much good to the Spleen and Bladder, but in other cases it attracts flegmatick Humours unto it, which raise up much Melancholy in Men; forSaturnis a Ruler, and such aMelancholicus, whereby a Man is confirm'd in his Melancholy, wherefore its Spirit is used, for one Melancholy Spirit attracts another unto it, whereby Mans Body is freed and delivered from its infused Melancholy. Externally the Soul ofSaturnis so healing, in all Sores old or new, Cuts, Thrusts, or Accidents by Means or Nature, so that no Metal can do the like; it is cooling in all hot, tumified Members; but NobleVenushaththe pre-eminence to mundifie and cauterize all putrid Sores, and to lay a ground for their Cure, which have their access from within; for in her essence she is hot to dry up, butSaturnon the contrary is found to be cold in his Essence.
The Celestial Light of the Sun is much hotter than the Light of the Moon; for the Moon is much lesser than the Sun, and according to its dimension and division it contains an eighth part of the greatness in its Circle; if then the Moon in this her Magnitude of the eighth part could excel the Sun, as the Sun excels the Moon, all Fruits and Productions of the Earth must perish, and there would be a perpetual Winter, no Summer to be found at any time: But the Eternal Creator hath in this case well ordaineda certain Order and Law for his Creatures, that the Sun should give light by day, and the Moon by night, and so all Creatures should be served. Those Children which are subject to the influence ofSaturn, are melancholy, churlish, continually murmuring, as old covetous people, who do no good to their own Bodies, and yet never have enough; they put their Bodies to much labour, torment themselves with thoughts and whimsies, seldom recreate themselves, or are merry with other people, nor do they greatly regard the natural love of fair Women.
In brief, I tell thee thatSaturnis generated of little Sulphur, little Salt, and much unripe grossMercury, whichMercuryis to be esteemed as a Froth that floates upon the Water, in comparisonof thatMercurywhich is found inSol; and is much more hot in its degree, and therefore theMercuryofSaturnby reason of its great coldness, hath not so quick a running Life as that which is made of Gold, wherein more heat is to be found, whence that running Life hath its original: Therefore in the inferiour world we must take notice of littleVulcanin the augmentation and transmutation of Metals, as I have described those three Principles ofSaturn, as concerning their descent, nature, and complection. And every one must know, that no transmutation of any Metal can follow out ofSaturn, by reason of its great coldness, only and except to coagulate commonMercury; for the cold Sulphur of Lead can qualifie and take away the hotrunning Spirit of the Quicksilver, if the process be rightly ordered, wherefore it is not amiss to observe, thatMercuryis so detained, that the Theory should agree with the Practick, and meet together in a certain measure and concordance. You must not therefore quite rejectSaturn, nor in all points scornfully neglect him, because its Natures and Virtues are known yet but unto few; for the Stone of the wise hath the first beginning of its Celestial, high-shining Colour only out of this Metal, and from the influence of this Planet, the Key of Constancy is delivered unto him by putrefaction, because the red cannot be made out of the yellow, except before-hand a white be made out of the beginning of the black.
I could yet treat variously, andat large of many wonderful works of Natural and Supernatural things. But because other Labours prevent me therein, of making a longer Narration, I therefore put a Conclusion to this Treatise at present, referring the other concerning the concealed Secrets of Minerals until I have a purpose to write further, in a particular Treatise ofAntimony,Vitriol,Brimstone,Magnet, and which in especial are endowed before others, and depend upon those, out of which Gold and Silver have their beginning, middle and end, together with the true transmutation particularly; which virtues and power they have received out of one thing, wherein all these lie to be generated invisibly concealed, together with all Metals; which matter is publick before the eyes of allmen, but because the vertues and powers are very deeply buried and unknown to the most part, therefore this matter is likewise esteemed as nothing, or of no value, and unprofitable, out of ignorance; even as the Disciples of the Lord going toEmaus, their eyes were opened at the breaking of Bread, that they knew wonder above wonder, what the rich Creator hath placed in the vile creature, the name isHermes, who carries a flying Serpent in his Shield, having a Wife whose Name isAphrodita, who can know the Hearts of all men, and yet all is one, and one only thing, one only Essence, which is common in all Places, and known every where, every one grasps it with his hands, and uses it in vile matters, and of small value; he values the vile ata high rate, and that which is high he casts away; it is nothing else but Water and Fire, out of which the Earth is generated by the help of the Air, and is yet preserved. Praise be to the most High for his Gifts: At present enough is revealed what my intent was to shew in this Treatise, and so I depart hence; for in separation all is to be found.
StibiumorAntimony, as the Philosophers say, is composed of a Noble Mineral Sulphur, which they accounted to be the black secret Lead of the Wise.
TheArabianscall itAsmatorAzmat; the Alchymists retain the NameAntimony.
Addition.TheMoorscall itAntimony, others call itAlabaster, orTarbason. By theArabiansandSpaniardsit is calledAlcohol.Avicennæc. 7. calls itArtemed.AlexiusofPiedmont, in his seventh Book of Secrets, calls itTalck, even asJohn Jacob Weckerrenders it in his Books of Secrets; butTalckis far different fromAntimony.Pliny, Book 33. Chap. 6. ofAntimony.Dioscoridesgives a preparation ofAntimony, Book 5. Chap. 39. They call it alsoStibi,Stimmi,&c.TheGermanscall itSpies glass, or asGeorge Fabriciuswould rather have it,Spies glantz.Gerlandiuscalls it BlackAlcophil,Altofel, orAlirnu, othersCosmet, and it is twofold, Masculine and Feminine.
It will lead us to the considerationof higher Mysteries, if we behold and discern that Nature wherein Gold is exalted, even as theMagihave found that this Mineral is by God ordained under the Constellation ofAries, which is the first Celestial Sign, wherein the Sun takes its Exaltation, though this be not regarded by the Vulgar; yet discreet people will know, and the better observe, that even in this place also the Mysteries and Perpetuity may in part be considered with great benefit, and in part discovered.
But some ignorant and indiscreet people think, that when they hadAntimony, they would deal well enough with it by Calcination, others by Sublimation, and some by Reverberation, thereby to obtain its great Mystery and perfect Medicine. But Itell you, that here in this place it availes not in the least, either Calcination, Sublimation, or Reverberation, whereby afterwards a perfect extraction can or might be done or effected with profit, to transmute the meaner into a better Metallick virtue; for it is impossible for you.
Be not deluded; some of the Philosophers which have wrote of such things, asGeber,Albertus Magnus,Rasis,Rupecissa,Aristotle, and many others: But observe this: Some say, that ifAntimonybe made to aVitrumor Glass, the bad volatile Sulphur is gone, and the Oil which may be prepared out of that Glass, will be a very fixt Oil, and will really give an ingress and Medicine of perfection to the imperfect Metals.
These words and opinion aregood and true, but it will not be nor appear such indeed; for I tell you truly, without concealed speeches, that if you lose any of the aforesaidSulphurin the Preparation or Burning, for a small fire may easily prejudice it, you then have lost the true penetrating Spirit, which should make the whole Body ofAntimonyto a perfect red Oyl, which should also ascend over the helm with a delightful sent, and curious Colours; observe likewise, that the whole Body of this Mineral, with all its Members, should be but one Oyl, and ascend over the helm without any loss of weight, excepting thefeces.
How should the Body be brought to an Oil, or yield its pleasant Oil, if it be brought to the last being of its degree, forGlass is in all things the utmost and last.
You shall likewise know that you shall not obtain that perfect noble Oil in the least, if it be extracted with corrected Vinegar poured upon theAntimony, nor yet by Reverberation; and although its various colours may appear, yet is it not the right way; you may indeed get an Oil, but you must know that it hath no part of the Tincture, or power of transmutation in it.
Take in the Name of God, and of the Eternal Trinity, fine and very pure MineralAntimony, which is fair, white, massie, and inwardly full of yellow Streaks or Veins, and likewise of redand blew Colours, and small Veins, this is the best; pound it to fine Powder, dissolve it by little and little inAqua Regis, that the Water may conquer it. After Solution take it out immediately that theAqua Regismay do it no prejudice; for it will quickly dissolve the Tincture of theAntimony; for our Water in its nature is like to theOstrich, which by his heat can digest Iron, and consume it to nothing; for the Water will consume it, and turn it to a Mud, that it shall remain only as a yellow Earth, and then is it quite spoiled.
Take an Example hereof from Silver, which is dissolved, fair, pure and fine in these our Waters, but if it stand a night therein while the Water is strong and full of Spirits, I tell you, your good Silver will be corroded to nothingin these our Waters; and though you would reduce it into a Massie Body, you cannot; for it will remain as a pale yellow Earth, and sometimes it will run together in the form of Horn, or of a white Horse Hoof, which you can by no Art reduce into a Body.
Wherefore you must remember to take theAntimonyout presently after the Solution, precipitate and adulterate it according to the custom ofAlchymists, that it may not be corroded with its perfect Oil by the Water, and burnt up to nothing.
R.Vitriol, a pound and a half,Salt-Armoniacone pound,Azinatone pound,Salt-nitrea poundand a half,Salt-gemmeone pound,Allomhalf a pound; these are the Ingredients which belong unto the making of the Water for the Solution ofAntimony.
Take and mix them well together; at first distil very slowly, for the Spirits ascend with greater violence than those of any other commonAqua fortis; beware of its Spirits; for their Fumes are very subtile and hurtful in their penetration.
When you have adulterated theAntimonywell and purely from the corrosive Water, then put it into a clean Vial, poure good distilled Vinegar upon it, set it forty dayes and nights to putrefie in Horse-dung, or inBalneum Mariæ, it will be bloud-red. Take it out, and see how much is yet to be dissolved, decant off gently the pure andclear, which is red into a Glass-Gourd, poure other Vinegar upon theFæcesas before, that if any thing should yet remain therein, it might be dissolved; this must be done four times in fourty days and nights; for if any good be in theFæces, it will be dissolved in that time, then cast the Dregs away as unprofitable, being but Dirt, and to be cast to the Dunghill.
Put all the Solutions in a glass-Gourd intoBalneum Mariæ, distil all the tart Vinegar from it, pour it on again, or else pour fresh, if this be too weak, it will quickly dissolve in the Vinegar; distil it again from it, that the Matter be quite dry; then take common distilled water, wash all tartness from it with the Vinegar imparted to the Matter, then dry the Matter in the Sun, which isof a very deep red, or else dry it very well at a gentle fire.
When the Philosophers find ourAntimonythus secretly prepared, they say then that its external nature and virtue is inverted internally, and the internal cast forth externally, henceforth becoming an Oil, which is concealed in its innermost and profoundest part, till it be well prepared, and cannot any more be brought into its first Essence, untill the last Judgment; and it is true, for so soon as it feels the force of the fire, it flies away in a Vapour with all its parts, because it is volatile.
Some of the common Laborators, having thus preparedAntimony, they take one part out because of its consumption, that they may the better operate it, they mix with it one part ofSalt-Armoniac,one part of theVitrum(with othersTitrum) one part of theRebooth(with othersCadoli) wherewith the Bodies are cleansed; this mixture they cast upon a pureLuna, and if there were eight Ounces of theLuna, they found ten Drams of good Gold in the separation, and sometimes more; and by this work they gained wherewithal to bear their Charges, the better to attend upon, and attain unto the great Work. The ignorant called this an induction into the Silver, but that is false; for this Gold is not brought into it by the Spirits, but every kind of Silver hath one Ounce of Gold more or less in the Mark (or 8 Ounces) for Gold is so united with the Nature of Silver, that it cannot be separated from it, either byAqua fort, or commonAntimony, as theGold-smithsknow.
But when the aforesaid Composition is cast upon theLunain the flux, then happens such a separation, that theLunadoth freely let go the Gold implanted therein into theAqua fort, and is separated from it, letting it precipitate and sink to the bottom, which otherwise could not be done at all. Therefore it is not an induction into theLuna, but a bringing out of it.
But we return again to our proposed Work; for we would have only the Oil, which was only known to the Wise, and not to the Ignorant.
When you have rubified theAntimonyvery well according to the former Directions, you must have in readiness a Spirit of wine well rectified, pour it over the red Powder ofAntimony, set it four daies and nights in a gentleBalneum Mariæ, that it may dissolve very well. And if then any of it remain undissolved, pour fresh Spirit of Wine upon it, set it again into the Bath as aforesaid, all will be well dissolved; and if perhaps any moreFæcesremain, they will be very few, cast them away, for they are good for nothing. Put the Solution into a glass-Gourd, with a Head luted upon it, set it intoBalneum Mariæ, with its receiver to take the Spirits, distil slowly with a slack heat, till all the Spirit of Wine be come over, pour it in again upon the dry matter, draw it off again as before; this pouring in & abstracting continue so often, till you see the Spirit of Wine ascend over the helm in various colours, then it is time that you follow it with a strong fire, then with theSpirit of Wine ascend red into the helm, and drop into the Receiver like a bloody Oil, and the tender Body ascends like a red Oil, dropping into the Receiver; truly this is the most secret way of the Wise, the so much applauded Oil ofAntimony; it is a noble, well sented, virtuous, and powerful Oil, as you shall hear afterwards.
But here I will teach and instruct you poor Operators another way, because you have not the Means to attend the great work, not as the Ancients did, with the separation of Gold out of Silver.
Wherefore take one part of the Oil, or half an Ounce ofSaturn, four Ounces calcined according to Art, pour the Oil upon theCalxofSaturn, mixing it, set it ten daies and nights in theheat, into the secret Furnace; every two days augment the fire one degree, according to the capacity of the Furnace; after four days and nights set it into the third degree of Fire, therein let it rest three days and nights, then open the Door or Vent of the fourth degree, which must likewise continue three days and nights; afterwards take it out, theSaturnwill be above black, like unto Charcole dust, but under this black dust you will find other Colours, throughout pure, red, yellow, which flux withVenetian Borax, you will find it converted into good Gold by the power of our Oil, so have you means again to set forward the great work.
We return again to our purpose, where we left off before. You have heard, and have beeninstructed how to abstract the Spirit of Wine with the Oil over the helm into the Receiver, and to use it for the work to convertSaturninto Gold. But we will now hasten to the other work of the Tincture, and give advice concerning it. It will therefore be necessary to separate the Spirit of Wine again from the Oil, which do as followeth;
Take the mixture of the Spirit of Wine, and of the Oil, set it intoBalneum Mariæ; distil the Spirit of Wine only from the Oil with a very slack heat, so that you may be assured that there is no more of the Spirit to be found in this most precious Oil, which you may easily try; when you see some of the drops ascend over with the Spirit of Wine, it is a sign that the Spirit of Wine is separated from theOil, then remove all the fire from under the Bath, how little soever it be, that it may cool the sooner. Take away the Receiver with the Spirit of Wine, stop it very close, for it is full of Spirits which it hath retained from the Oil, as you will hear afterwards: But inBalneum Mariæyou will find that blessed Oil ofAntimonyred as Bloud; take it out, wash the Lute off by gentle mollification, that nothing impure may fall into that curious red Oil, when you take the head off; reserve it carefully, that by no means it may receive prejudice, for you have a Celestial Oil, which in a dark night shines like a glowing Cole, and this is the reason, because its internal power and soul is cast forth externally, the hidden Soul being now revealed, shining throughthe pure Body as a Candle through a Lanthorn, even so at the last day, these our invisible internal Souls shall be revealed, and seen out of the Body, shining as the clear Sun: So keep each apart, as well the Spirit of wine full of power, and wonderful in curing humane Distempers, as also the blessed, red, noble, celestial Oil, which transmutes all the Diseases of the imperfect Metals into the perfection of Gold; and the power of the spiritual Wine extends very far being rightly used.
I tell you, you have obtained a Celestial Medicine, to cure all the Diseases and Distempers of Mans Body; its use is, as followeth;
Give three drops in a Cup of Wine fasting to the Party, just at the time when he feels the beginning of his misery, anguish and pain to come upon him, the second and third, use it in like manner; it allaies all pain the first day how great soever it be, and prevents Swelling; the second day it causes Sweat, which is very nasty, tough and thick, very soure in taste, and of an evil sent, and most of all in those parts where the Members are united and joined together by the Joints; and if you should give none in the third day, yet will there be a purgation of the Veins, and of the Excrements, without any molestation or pain; is not this a great power of Nature?
At the first time take six drops fasting, and cause the impure party to be alone, free from sound people, in a place far distant, and commodious; for all his Body will begin to send forth Fumes and Steams, like unto a stinking Fog, and Vapours abundantly; the next will Scales and much Uncleanness fall from his Body; then let him have three drops of this Medicine, and let him take it in on the fourth day, afterwards on the eighth or ninth day by the assistance of Gods Grace and Blessing, he will be quite clean.