He that desires to make a Ruby, let him put the bare coagulated Potable Gold (without the addition of any peregrine thing) into a pure and covered Crucible, and there leave it in fusion for some hours, and he will get such a delicate blood-like coloured glass, as is capable of refreshing a man’s nature, when debilitated with the multiplicity of cares, troubles, and labours, and this by a bare looking thereupon. And any one may easily conjecture what a refreshment it will be to a man’s mind, when (after abundance of vain-spent labours, and exceeding earnest expectations of the Blessing of God upon them), he doth at last see with his own eyes, that that thing is possible to be effected, which with such an incredible, ardent a desirehe hath so long a time sought after. Without doubt the seeing of the promised Land did affectMoseswith an unexpressible joy, though he never entred thereinto.
What man knows by looking upon the seed of any thing, what colours and what figure the Plant is of, that will proceed therefrom? but in its growing up by a due nutrition, it doth at length become manifest, which afore lay therein hidden: Even so the true first Ens of Gold lies hidden in myAurum Potabile, and is not visible to the sight, much less doth that appear which shall or may by Art be made thereout of, before it shall have arrived unto its constant fixity or fixation, (as the Chymists phrase it) by the help of the fire. And therefore must there be a patient expectation until this Infant wax ripe, and attaining unto a man-like estate, it performs man-like actions.
Who would ever have believed that there lies hidden in an Egg the whole essence of a Bird, with all its Members, Feathers, and whatever else appertains thereunto, but that it is a thing so thoroughly common? The Must of Wine, if drank in too great a quantity, hurts the stomach, weakens it, and causeth Colick pains; and the same Liquor, after it is become a strong and clear Wine, corroborates the stomach and the whole body, and so at length lays off those virtues or properties which it held hidden in it self whilst it was Must. He that knows a Vegetable Seed, an Animal Egg, or a MineralprimumEns, doth at last also come to know, that from a Seed there must proceed an Herb, from an Egg a Bird, and from the first Ens of Minerals an Universal Medicine: But he whose understanding cannot comprehend these things, but contemns them, as an abject or contemptible Seed, Egg, and first Ens of Minerals,viz.a sulphureous Salt, such a one doth even ignorantly despise the Herb, the Bird, and the Universal Medicine hidden therein. Therefore no body should contemn those things that he has no knowledge of. And seeing it is clearly perceptible, that the first Ens of Gold hides within it the true Universal Medicine, and which Time, Art, and Nature will really produce unto the Light: Therefore there is no reason why any one should undervalue my Potable Gold, or despise it, because it is as yet in its infancy, and is like some common salt water; but he should rather think thus with himself, that it is like the white of an Egg, which hides within its inward bowels, as I may so say, its yolk, which in process of time will bring forth a most delicate Bird.
But these things which I have already spoken of the nature and properties of myAurum Potabilemay suffice; its Medicinal use shall shortly be clearly described amongst my chiefest Medicaments, and so be published, together with them. But he that is minded to make use of the same in the mean while, may safely do it, and without any kind of hazard at all, for it operates nothing else, but what is conducive to the good health of man’s body, corroborating the debilitated radical humidity or vital spirit, and confirming it, by which the life of man is nourished, encreased, and conserved many years in a wish’d-for, healthful estate, just as a Lamp is kept alive by the pouring on of Oil, or the vigour of the Fire by the apposition of Wood thereunto, by which it is preserved from extinguishing and dying: But yet the use thereof must be warily and judiciously admitted, because being a meer pure fire, it must be moderately adhibited. At the beginning of administring it, one or two drops may be given in Wine, Ale, or other Drink, unto the Sick, but best of all in the spirit of Wine: Then the next following day one little drop more may be added, and so the Dose may each day be augmented by the apposition of one small drop, until it work by Sweat and Urine, and sometimes also gently by Stool.
This Operation being made (and on this wise active) then the Doses are to be in like manner daily lessened by the omission of one drop at a time, until the Sickness be happily removed, and so the Sick need no farther use of the same.
All things being thus rightly instituted, it will manifestly appear, that all Sicknesses, yea, the hidden ones too, are expulsed by this Medicament, and even as it were consumed like as Wood is consumed by a burning fire, in such wise, as that nothing at all of it remains, save the fixed Salt, but is all reduced into a Nothing: For all Diseases, as we shewed afore, have their rise from moist humours, which nothing can heal and remedy more commodiously and safely than thisAurum Potabileof mine, which is such a vehement resister of all over-abounding humidities, opening, inciding, consuming, and dispelling them, just as the ☉ consumes Water in a Vessel, and wafts it away by evaporation. Hence it is, that it both cures, and by way of a preservative, prevents theLeprosie,French-Pox,Quartane, and all otherFevers; theScurvy,Epilepsie,Apoplexy,Hypocondriack Melancholy,the Stone in the Reins and Bladder, theGout, and all theDiseases of the Matrix, both known and unknown, and the various Sicknesses of Women, as also the dreadfulPlague, with all the evil effects arising therefrom. For it is found that nothing is subject to Corruption and Death, but an abounding Phlegm, or an immature humidity which is wont most speedily to pass into a putrefaction.
From hence it is clearly manifest, that the sanguine man, which is endowed with a drier temperature, has a far better fruition of his health than the phlegmatick man hath, who abounds with moisture.
Dry Sugar dures many years, but being moistened, it turns sowre, and becomes ropy and ill-savour’d, tho’ it be a Salt, and is mixt with other corruptible Vegetables to preserve them.
From hence may it be seen, that a superfluous humidity opens the Gate for Death to enter in by, and seize upon the Life: But on the contrary, a temperate siccity preserves all things in an healthful state, and barrs up the passage against any corruption. The Roof of a curious and stately-built House being full of chinks and holes, lets the Rain in, which moistens all the whole structure, and causeth it to rot and spoil: But if the holes in the Roof be stopt, and the windows by which the Rain beats in be shut, and the windows on the other side of the house, where the wet beats not in, be on the contrary opened, that the warm Air passing in, thereby may throughly dry up all the moisture, and so inhibit or put a stop to the Progress of Putrefaction, then the whole frame and building will be kept sound and good, which otherwise would be rotted and quite spoiled. Such men as live in the moorish fenny Countries, and feed upon a waterish Meat and phlegmy Drink, are for the most part of an unsound temperature, and troubled with Catarrhs and the Scurvy. But on the other hand, those that inhabit high and lofty places, and have the fruition of a drier and purer Air, and that feed upon such meats as are more conducive unto health; these men know nothing of those watery sicknesses, but have flourishing and strong bodies, and have firm, compact, and excellentlywell tempered flesh. And this difference is not found only to be in Men, but also in all other things. For not only Bread, Flesh, Fruit, and such other things as are used for daily food, do grow mouldy much sooner in the moist places, and so corrupt, but also even Metals themselves too, as Iron, Copper, Tin, and the like, even these cannot shun the corruption of the Air, but are laid over with Rust, which (in a drier air) they do not so easily contract.
By all these circumstances it is so clearly evidenced, that superfluous moisture is to all things alwaies hurtful, and gives an inlet unto Corruption, that I think there is no body that will dare to say any thing to the contrary.
And therefore seeing that thisAurum Potabileof mine doth (amongst all other Medicaments, what Title soever dignified with) most notably excel in the taking away of Corruptions, and may be most safely made use of both for preservation from, and curing of Diseases, it ought to be accounted and esteemed of as anUniversal Medicine, and that very deservedly, and which gives place to none.
These few things I was willing to describe here in this place, concerning the use, efficacy, and virtues of my Potable Gold, in the curing of the Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals. There shall suddenly follow more concerning the same, inThe Description of the use of my Principal Medicaments.
It now remains, that I make some brief mention of the preparation of my aforesaid Potable Gold, although I have already often done the same in many places of my Writings, and have very clearly shown the same, but yet after a Philosophical manner, and without setting down any Receipt, but here and there by piecemeal; as for example, in myMiraculum Mundi, in itsExpositionandContinuation, where it is briefly described, so as that it therefore needs not any farther illustration.
But yet, that I may abundantly satisfie all men, I do (by way of over-plus) admonish every one, that he do not think that this subject is to be sought after from foreign and far remote places, with a great deal of costs and charges; for the matter out of which myAurum Potabileis made, is in every place, and offers it self even in a mannergratis, to the most poor as well as the richest, and without Costs, and is brought to its perfection in three daies space: To that perfection, I say, (that you may rightly understand my mind) as its infancy requires,viz.so as to become aLac Virginis, or a clear Universal Medicinal Water, which I callAurum Potabile, and in which the most precious Dragon’s-blood lies hidden, which is to be transmuted in a certain limitted time, by fixation, into a constant Salamander; the which I have not as yet ever effected, and therefore forbear to use more words, resting satisfied with this myAurum Potabile, which I have many a time prepared by my labour, and here treat of, and forbear to multiply any more words about things of greater moment. In the mean time I doubt not, but that (if time and labour be bestowed hereabouts) thisAurum Potabilewould arrive unto the utmost fixity and constancy, both in the moist and in the dry way.
Farthermore, I deny not, but that this sameAurum Potabilemay be made of all the things of the whole World, but yet easier and sooner out of one subject than another.There is no Infant that is born so poor, but that he necessarily enjoys that subject, and cannot live without it: Therefore some of the ancient Philosophers have written,ThatAdamandEvehad the same matter inParadise; when as yet they had no cloathing.
Marythe Prophetess and Sister ofMoses, calls it,The Work of three hours; another calls it,The Philosophical Work of seven daies: IGlauber, being a new Disciple ofHermes, do most truly affirm, That this myAurum Potabile, which I here treat of, may be perfected not only in three daies, but even in three hours space, and that out of such subjects as are every where to be found, and which all men know and make use of, and cannot be without.
I speak the pure naked Truth, without hiding it under any Coverings of similitudes or enigmatical expressions. And that no body may think that these my Writings are not to be understood according to the Letter, but that they conceal all things under an hidden meaning, I do again affirm this third time, that theAurum Potabilewhich I write of, may be made of any Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, but yet sooner out of one than another. For although any one may prepare it out of a piece of Wood, Bread, or Flesh, and out of an handful of Straw, Leaves, or Grass, yet notwithstanding, it may be easier made out of an handful of the salt of any Vegetables and Animals, as being their concentrated center; and this I bequeath to the whole World as an infallible Truth. But I would have every one rightly to understand me, what Salt I here point at,viz.I mean no other, but that which is to be found in all things.
But that the true meaning of my words may be yet the clearer and openlier disclosed, I will adjoin a short but fundamental Discourse. It is not sufficient for a lover of Art, that is inflamed with a desire of obtaining some good thing, barely to read over such or such a Philosopher, and presently to perswade himself, that by the meer reading, he shall forthwith understand clearly and perspicuously the Art treated of. No, but he must accurately meditate, and consider what that is which he seeks for, whence it hath its original, and by what means or what way he may obtain it. For if we will make our search from the utmost and extreamest Coasts (or Bounds as it were) even to the inmost bowels or center, we shall find, that God was One and alone from Eternity, even till the time wherein it pleased him to create visible things for His own glory and delight. And when He went about doing this, He said,Let it be: Assoon as thisFiat, orLet be, was pronounced by God, it began to move it self, and to change (or turn) into four Elements, out of which Elements there afterwards arose all those Creatures, which can be discerned with our Eyes, and without the four Elements they could neither be nor consist, and without them even Nature her self can bring forth nothing.
Now, if any one would endeavour after what is purer and better than those things which are generated from the Elements, he must make his attempts byART, the which, by overcoming or outstrippingNATURE, hath its tendency to that Butt whereunto Nature cannot attain; and he must there begin his operation where Nature ended hers, as not knowing how to make any farther progress: For then is aQuintessenceobtained, which exceeds Nature one degree, and cannot be promoted by Art any farther.
But if any one has a desire of obtaining any better and greater thing than this sameQuintessence, he must then proceed some other way; for (as we said but now) Art cannot make any farther progress beyonda Quintessence: And therefore necessity requires, that there be made a regress or retrogradation unto the Center from which the very Elements themselves have their original. This Center is that DivineFiatorUniversal HermaphroditickSalt, participating of both natures, which being the truePrimum Mobile, comprehends hidden in it self two contraries, which acting one upon another, do bring forth the three Principles of the three Kingdoms,Vegetable,AnimalandMineral, and do nourish them by the four Elements, and multiply them, and this is the common course of nature.
But now Art makes a much farther progress, and reduceth theCircumference to the Center, and doth not permit unto thatCenterorPrimum Mobile, that thePatientbe overcome or subdued by theAgent, by the operating of those two contraries upon each other, nor does it suffer it to pass into those three kingdoms,viz.Vegetable,Animal, andMineral, as into its Circumference, but doth so subdue, and keep, and bridle in thatPrimum Mobile, that it does not divide or dilate its Virtues by a large circumferential walk, as it were, but doth in a manner swallow them down into its own self, or concenter them; just as if a Dragon should bite off his own venomous Tail, and therewithal nourish himself, when he cannot light upon any other Food, and so by this means becomes a most high Medicine. And therefore most wisely saidHermes,Our Dragon doth not die, but by its Brother and Sister. It is a thing necessary, that one fire should overcome the other, and transmute it into a more noble essence. Such a fire as this, is myAlkahestical Arcanum, or trueAurum Potabile, with which wonderful things may be effected. It is a transparent clear Water, wherein the colour and form of fire lieth hidden and introverted; but yet that internal Fire is easily and speedily manifestable, and educible unto view, by either the dry or moist Fire. The dry way is done by the heat and fire of common Wood-Coals; and as for the moist way, a well-rectified Spirit of Wine is to be used, and such as is void of all its Phlegm. Take therefore of the dry and concentrated Fire ℥ j. put it into ℥ iij. of the moist Fire or Spirit of Wine, which moist fire will presently swallow up the dry one. These being both of them digested by a due heat of Fire for some hours, in a long-neck’d Phial or Bolthead, will put on a blood-red colour, and will manifest and expose to view its concentrated Virtues, with curious colours, and with a pleasant taste and smell, by which heart-corroborating qualities it far excels all other Aromatical Essences, that serve for the strengthening of the heart; for those properties which afore lay turned inwards, and were shut up in its inmost bowels, are all of them drawn forth and made visible, and become subject to the external distinguishing senses. By this means the abject and little Infant which was clad in a white colour, becomes a speaking, strong, and prudent man, and this veryLac Virginisit self is changed into the most efficaciousDragons-blood. This now is the most trueAqua-vitæ, and the most trueWine of Health, some few drops of which being daily taken, do conserve good health, and bestow long Life.
Many honest men have with their own eyes seen at my House the admirable and most speedy effects of my often-mentioned true Potable Gold, and especially its operative efficacy in the transmutation of the Imperfect Metals.
If therefore such a one as is troubled with grievous Diseases, and who finds no help in those vulgar, commonly-known Galenical Medicaments, shall need the help of this myAurum Potabile, I will out of Christian Charity willingly bestow upon him so much thereof, as may be requisite for the recovery of his former health; and this I will the rather do, that the wonderful miraculous deeds of the Divine Power may be made known in these last times.
No body shall fish out from me more Directions than those which I have too and agen hidden in my Writings, concerning thisAurum Potabile; let it suffice every one, that he can find this Medicine ready prepared in my hands, the which scarce one of an hundred would be able to make, were he a Possessor of the Secret.
This Medicine shall lie ready prepared by me as long as I live; I will not deny it to any body; nay more, I will openly shew the use thereof too, unto some of my friends, in the melioration of both the Vegetables, Animals and Minerals themselves, that so the Wonders ofGOD, and the possibility of Art may be manifested, and come to light.
And now, may it please the OmnipotentGOD, who is the beginning and the end of all things, to inspire us, out of His meer Grace and Mercy, and implant in our cold hearts, which are stopt up with darkness, the warming heating spark of His Holy, Eternal, Infinite, and all-correcting Light, that it may therein, as in some saltish and sulphureous Earth, be nourished, and grow up like a little Seed, and bring forth Fruit a Thousand fold, to the Salvation of all our Souls.Amen.