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Mongst the heights of hidden Philosophy, of the Hermetick

the production

Stone hath of a long time been strongly and nearest a Miracle, of operations, both out of by a

believed to be the chiefest, for the Labyrinths

and multitudes

which the minde of man, unlesse it be illuminated bearn of Divine light,

is not able to unwinde her seU;

as also because of its most noble end which promiseth a constant plenty of health and fortunes, the two main pillars of an happie life. Besides, the chief Promoters of this Science have made it most remote from the knowledge of the rnrlgar sort by their Tropes and dark e:qtressions, and have placed it on high, as a Tower impregnable for Rocks and Situation, wherer:nto there can be no accesse, r:nlesse God direct the way. sessors: The study of hiding this Art hath drawn a reproach upon the Art itseU and its Profor when those unfortunate Plunderers of the Golden Fleece by and far unequall unto such eminent persons; they in a firious reason of their unskiUulnesse felt themselves, beat down from their vain attempt, rapture of desperation, like mad-rnrr waxed hot against their fame and the renown of the Science, utterly denying any thing to be above their cognizance and the spheare of their wit, but what was foolish and frothy: And because they set upon a businesse of damage to themselves, they have not ceased to accuse the chief Masters of hidden Philosophy of falshood; Nature of impotency; and Art of cheats; not for any other reason, then that they rashly condemne what they lcnow not: nor is this condemnation a sufficient revenge, without the addition of madness to snarl and bite the innocent with infamous slaunders. I grieve (in truth) for their hard fortune, who whilest

they reprove others,

give occasion of their own conviction,

although they

justly suffer an hellish fury within them.

They moil and sweat to batter

the obscure principles of the most hidden Philosophy with troops of arguments, and to pull up the secret foundations thereof with their divised engines: which yet are onely manifest to the skiUull, and those that are Not doe much versed in so sublime Philosophy, but hid from strangers:

these quick-sighted Censors observe, that whilst they malign anothers credit, they willingly betray their own. Let them consider with themselves, whether they understand those things which they carp at; What Author of eminency hath dirmlged the secret elemente of this Science, the Labyrinths and windings of operations, and lastly, the whole proceedings therein? What Oedipue hath sincerely and truly e:rplained unto hirn the figures and intangled dark speeches of Authors? all things in it made so manifest, With what Oracle, what Sibyll, have I they been led into the Sanctuary of this holy Science? In sine, horr were that no part remains yet unveiled? suppose they will no otherwise answer my question, then thus, that they have pierced a1l things by the subtilty of their wits; or conJesse that they n'ere caught (or rather seduced) by some wandring Quack or Mountebank, who hath crept irrto good esteem with them, by his feigned countenance of a Philosopher. O wickednessei who can silently strffer these Palmer-worms who can with patience Let to gnaw upon the same, labour, and glory of the wise?

hear blinde men, as cut of a Tripode judging of the Sun? But it is greater glory to contemne the hurtlesse darts of bablers, then to repell them. them onely disdain the treasure of Nature and Art, and being condemned, to take it into turtion: no whit crirninous: and fortified who cannot obtain it.

Nor is it my purpose to plead she doubtfirll cause of an unfortunate Science, Our guiltlesse Philosophy is and standing firm by the aid of emmentest Authors, and the snarlings of enr5r. However.

with the manifold experience of divers ages, it remains safe

enough from the sopperies of pratlers,

Charity hath incited me, and the multitude of wanderers induced me, taking pity on them, to present my light, that so they may escape the hazard of the night: by help whereof they may not onely live out, but also procure an enlargement both to their Life and fading Fortunes. This small Treatise penntd for your use (ye Students of Hermetick Philosophy) I present unto

you, that it may be dedicated to those, for whose sake it was writ.

If any

perhaps shall complain of me, and sum,mon me to appear as guilty of breach of silence for divulsing secrets in an itching style; ye have one guilty of too much respectfulnesse towards you, confessing his fault, sentence him if

you please; so that my crime may supply the place of a reward to you: The offence will not bee displeasing nnto you, and the punishment (I doubt not) pleasarrt unto mee, if I shall finde my self to have erred in this onely, whereby you may put an end to erring for the future.

?
a

he p m ef,fcse cRe f,s

CA N ON
ll

ODS fear is the entrance into this Science.

Its end is Crop with

good will towards our Neighbour; the all-satisfying

is the rearing and endowing religious entertainment, on us, we may submissively offer again to him.

certainty; that whatsoever the Atmighty freely bestoweth As also Countreys grievously oppressed, may be relieved; prisoners miserably captivated, released; and souls almost starved, comforted. 2. The light of this knowledge is the gift of God, which by his freenesse Let none therefore set hirnself to the he bestoweth upon whom he pleaseth:

study hereof, untill having cleared and purified his heart, he devote himseU wholly unto God, and be emptied of all affection unto things impure. 3. The Science of producing Natures grand Secret, is a perfeet knowconcerning the Realm of Meta1s; ledge of Nature universally and of Art, Analysis,

the practise whereof is conversant in finding the principles of Metals by and after they are made much more perfect, to conjo;rn them otherwise then before they have been, that from thence may result a catholick Medicine,. most powerfull to perfect irnperfect Metals, and for restoring sick and decaied Bodies, of what sort soever. 4. Those that are in publick Honours and Offices, or be always busied with private and necessary occupations, let them not strive to attain unto the top of this Philosophy, for it requireth the whole man, and being found, possesseth him, and being possessed, challengeth him from all long and serious imploirnents, of no yalue. 5. Let him that is desirous of this knowledge, clear his minde from all esteeming aU other things as strange unto him, and

?
A_

evil motions, of He!l:

especially pride,

which is abomination to lfeaven, ard the gate and charitable; have little to do with that

let him be frequent in prayers,

the world; abstain from company keeping; enjoy constant tranquillity; the Minde may be able to reason more freely in private, not be able to penetrate the hidden mysteries of Truth. 6. The Alehynists

and be higher

lifted up; for unl.esse it be kindled with a beam of Divine Light, it will , who have given their minds to their wel-nigh Distillations, Solutions, Congealations; to manand other O'perations more subas

innumerable Sublimations, ifold Extraction til then profitable, so many tormentors;

of Spirits and Tinctures,

and so have distracted them by variety of emors, from whence their industrious

will never be bent again by their own Genius to the as by the Ly-

plain way of Nature and light of Truth,

subtilty hath declined them, and by twinings and turnings,

bian Quicksands, hath drowned their intangled Wits: the onely hope of safety for them remailreth in finding out a faithfull Guide and Teacher, that may make the clear Sun conspicuous unto them, and vindicate their eies from darknesse. '1. A studious ?yro of a quick wit, constant minde, inflasred with the study of Philosophy, very skiUull in naturall Philosophy, of a pure heart, compleat in manners, mightily devoted to God, though ignorant of practicall Chymistry, m.ay with confidence enter into the highway of Nature, peruse the Books of best Philosophers; let him seek out an ingenious and sedulous Companion for hirnseU, and not dispair of obtaining his desire. 8. Let a Student of this secret, carefully beware of reading or keeping company with false Philosophers; false principles for nothing is more dangerous to a learner or deceitfull wit, by which of any Science, then the company of an unskilfull a minde is seasoned with bad Doctrine. 9. Let a Lover of truth make use of a few Authors, but of best note and e:cperience truth; let him suspect things that are quickly understood, especially in mystical Names and secret Operations; for truth lies hid in obscurity; nor doe Philosophers ever write more deceitfully, then when plainly, nor ever more truly then when obscurely. 10. As for the Authors of chiefest note, which have disconrsed both

are slarnped for true, whereby an honest and too credulous

acutely and truly of the secrets of Nature, and hidden Philosophy, and llorienus the highest esteem: alnongst the Modern, Count lneuiaanue

Eermes

Romanue, amongst the Ancients, in my judgement are of & Rai

mundus LuLLiua, , is in greatest reverence wlth me: for what that most acute Doctour hath omitted, none alm.ost hath spoken: let him therefore peruse him, yea let a Student often reade over his former Testament, and Codicil, and accept them as a Legacy of very great worth. To these out of which Works all things

two Volumes let hinr adde both his Practicks, Fire,

desirable may be collected, especially the truth of Matter, the degrees of and the ordering of the Whole, wherein the whole Work is finished, and those things which our Ancestors too carefully laboured to keep secret. The occult causes of things, and the secret motions of nature, are demonstrated more clearly and faithfully. I l. Concerning the first and mysticall Water o f Philosophers he hath set down few things, Yt very pithy. As for that clear Water sought for by many, found out by few, yet not more famous for his learning then subtilty of wit
and Aenigma , as also in his

obvious and profitable unto all, which is the Base of the Philosophers Work, a noble Polonian (not named, whose name notwithstanding a double Anagram hath betraied)
In his llouum Lumen Chymicum, Parabola Tract of Sulphur , he hath spoken largely and freely enough; yea he hath it so plainly, that nothing can be satisfac-

elq)ressed all things concerning tory to hirn that desireth Ynore. 12. Philosophers do usually

express themselves more pithily

in t5pes

and anigmaticall example,

figures

(as by a mute kind of speech) then by words; for the allegorical Pictures of Rosarius , the

Senion ts Table,

Schemes of Abnaham Judeaze in FLameLLus : of the later sort, the rare Emblemes of the most learned are so fully Miehael Mai,erus , wherein the mysteries they can Pre-

of the Ancients

opened, that as new Perspectives

sent antiquated truth, perfectly 13.

and remote

from our'age as near unto our eies, and

to be seen by us. affirmeth that the Philosophers he is blinde, grand Secret is above the

Whosoever

strength of Nature and Art, Moon. 14. As for the Matter

because he knows not the Sun and

of their

hidden Stone, Philosophers

have writ diversly

so that very many disagreeing in Words, do neverthelesse very well consent in the Thing nor doth their different speech, argue tbe scienc 4rn biguous or false, since the same thing may be expressed with many tongues, divers expressions, and a different character, and also one and many things may be spoken after a divers mulner. 15. Let the studious Reader have a care of the manilotd significations of words, for by deceitfull windings, and doubtfull, yea contrary speeches, (as is seen) Philosophers vent their mysteries, with a desire of keeping in and hiding, not of sophisticating or destroying the truth: their writings And therefore abound with ambiguous and equivocall words; yet about none doe they more contend, then in hiding their golden branch:
Q u e m t e g it & obseurie claudan t c o n u a llib u s o mn is L u e is ;

u mb n a .

Which all the Groves with shaddows overcast, And gloomy Valleys hide.

Nor yeeldeth it to any Force, readily and willingly

but

will follow

him, who Maternas ag n o s e it a De s

CoLumbae , Dene?e uolantes

& g e ninae eui lor tJ

ipsa sub ora p iri e o e lo

Knows Dame

Venus Birds

And him to whom of Doves a lucky paire Sent from above shall hover tbout his Eare. 16. Metals, Whosoever seeketh the Art of perfecting and multiphying irnperfect

beyond the nature of Metals,

goes in errour,

for from Metals the

Metals is to be derived,

even as from Man, Mankinde; and from an

that species is to be fetcht.

l?.

Metals (we must confesse) cannot be multiplied by the instinct vir-

and labour of Nature onely; yet we may affirm that the multiplying tue is hid in their profundity,

and manifesteth it seU by the help of Art:

In this Work, Nature standeth in need of the aid of Art; and both doth perfect the whole. 18. Perfect Bodies are endued with a more perfect seed: and therefore under the hard bark of perfect Metals the perfect seed lies hid, ilrtrictt he that knows to take out by the Philosophers solution, hath enterd into the high way, for
fn auro

S e mi n a su n t auyi, quamuis ab_ stru sa neeedant L o n g i u s. In GoId the seeds of Gold do lie, Though buried in Obscurity. 19. Most Philosophers have affirmed that their Kingly Work is wholly composed of the Sun and Moon; others have thought good to adde Mercury to the Sun: some have chosen Sulphr and Mercury; others have attributed The no small part in so great a Work to salt mingled with the other two.

very same men have professed that their Stone is made of one thing onely, sometirnes of two, otherwhiles of three, at other times of four, and of five; and thus though writing so variously upon the same subject, doe neverthelesse agree in sense and meaning. 20. Now that (abandoning all Cheats) we may deal candidly and truly, we hold that this entire Work is perfected by two Bodies one1y, to wit, the Srrn and Moon rightly prepared, for this is meer generation which is done by nature, with the help of Art, is brought forth. 21. Now those Bodies must be taken, which are of an unspotted and incomupt virginity; such as have life and spirits in them; not extinct as those that are handled of the vulgar, for who can exlgect life from dead things; and those are called corrupt which have suffered copulation; those dead and extinct which (by the enforcements of the chief Tyrant of the world) wherein the copulation of male and fem.ale doth intercede, from whence an off-spring far more noble than the Parents,

have poured out their soul with their bloud by MartSnrdome, fly a fratricide from whom the greatest im.minent danger in the whole Work is threatned. 22. The Sun is Masculine, forasmuch as it sendeth forth active and in-

forming seed; the Moon is Feminine, called the matrix and vessel of Natqre, because she receiveth the seed of the male in her womb, and cherisheth it by her monthly provision yet doth it not altogether want its active virtue; for, first of all (being ravished with love) she climbs up unto the male, untill she hath wrested from him the utmost delights of childe, she slip gently away. 23. By the name of the Moon Philosophers understand not the vulgar Moon, which also is masculine in its operation, and in copulation acts the part of a male. Let none therefore presume to try the wicked and unGebeytius to Beia , and naturall conjunction of two males, neither let him conceive any hope of issue from such copulation, but he shall join he may receive Solrs noble Son, 24. They that hold Sulphur and Mercury to be the Matter of the Stone, by the name of Sulphur, they understand the Sun and common Moon; by Mercury the Philosophers Moon: so (without dissirnulation) holy LuLLius adviseth his friend, that he attempt not to work with Mercury and Luna for Silver, and Mercury and Sol for Gold. 25. Let none therefore be deceived by adding a third to two: for Love admitteth not a third; and wedlock is terminated in the num.ber of two; love further extended is adultery, not matrirnony. 26. Neverthelesse, Spirituall love polluteth not a virgin, Beia contracted spirituall cheerfull, 27. might therefore without crime (before her promise made to Gabentius ) have love, to the end that she might thereby be made more Now that more pure, and fitter for the businesse of matrimony. offer the sister to her own brother in firm Matrirrony, that from thence Venus , and fruitful seed: nor doth she desist from her embraces, till that being great with

Procreation of children is the end of lawfull Wedlock.

the Infant may bee borne more vigorous and gallant, let both the combatants be clensed from every scab and spot, before they go up to their marriage bed, and let nothing unnecessary cleave unto them; because from pure

seed comes a pure generation, and so the chast wedlock of So Z and Luna shall be finished when they shall enter into Loves bed-chamber, and be conjo;rned; and she shall receive a soul from her husband by imbracing him; from this copulation a most potent King shall arise, whose father will bee SoL , and his mother Luna . 28. He that seeks for a physicall tincture without sol

and Luna , loseth both his cost and pains: for the Sun affordeth a most plentifull tincture of rednesse, and the l[oon of whitenesse, for these two are onely called perfect; because they are filled with the snbstance of purest Sulphqr, perfectly cleansed by the skill of nature: Ting thy Mereury therefore with one or the other of these Lights; for things must of necessity receive a tincture before they can give one. 29. Perfect Metals containe in them two things, which they are able to comrnunicate to the imperfect, Tincture and Fixation (for those, because they are dyed and fixed with pure Sulphur, to wit, both white and red, they doe therefore perfectly tinct and fix, ) if they be fitly prepared with their proper Sulphur and Arsenick, ing their tincture. Meteuny is (of the irnperfect metals) fit only to receive the tincture of the Sun and Moon in the work of the Philosophers Stone, that being full 30.
of tincture, it may Sulphr:r,

otherwise they have not strength of multiply-

in aboundulce yet ought it (before

than it may be the more coloured with and so repay it with sufficient sweat much, Usury. of perfect bodies,

that) to be full of invisible the visible 31. tincture

Now the whole tribe tincture

of Philosophers out of gold:

and are mighflly

troubled to extract be separated from

for they beleeve that tincture. can encrease in virtue; but

the Sun, and being separated

S pes tandem A g n ie o la s aris t is .

u a n i, s e lu d it

Vaine hope, at last the hungry Plough-man cheats of

With empty Husks, instead Lusty For it is impossible naturall body, me a t s .

that the Suns tincture

can at all be severed from his body made up by nattge

since there can be no elementary

lc

more perfect then gold, the perfection whereof proceedeth from the strong and inseparable union of pure colouring Sulphur with Mereuny, both of them being admirably pre-disposed thereunto by Nature; whose true separation nature denieth unto Art: But if any liquor permanent be extracted (by the violence of fire or waters) from the Sun, it is to be reputed a part of the body made liquid or dissolved by force. its body, and is never separated from it. loowne to Artificers themselves. For the tincture followeth

That is the deluding of Art, un-

32. Neverthelesse it rrray be grarrted, that tincture is separable from its body, yet (we must confesse) it cannot be separated without the corruption of the tincture: fortis, when as Artists offer violence to the gold, or then dissolving. Aqua rather coroding The body therefore spoiled of and the tincture thus cor-

its tincture and golden fleece, must needs grow base, and as an unprofitable heap turne to the damage of its Artificer, rupted to have a weaker operation. 33. Let them in the next place cast their tincture into Meneury r or into any other imperfect body, and as strongly conjoyne both of them as their Art will permit; yet shall they fail of their hopes two wayes; First, because the tincture will neither penetrate nor colour beyond Natures strength; and therefore no gaine will accrue from thence to recompence the e:pence and countervaile the losse of the body spoiled and of no value, so
Cum Labon in damno est, esesta.s. c?eseit mon-

talis

Want is poor mortals wages, when his toyle Produces only losse of paines and Oyle. Lastly that banished Tinctr:re applied to another body will not give a perfect fixation and permanency to endure a strong tryall, i n g S a tu rn e .. 34. Let them therefore that are desirous of Chunistry hitherto followed lmpostors and Mountebanks, found a retrait, and cost, and give their rninde to a work t ruly Philosophicall, Phrygians , and have spare tirne lest the and resist search-

be wise too late, and at length be compelled to cry out with the il
tt

Pr o ph e t, S tn a n g e n e h a o e eaten up nA etr ength. 35. In the Phllosophers work more toyle and tirne then cost is expended; for he that hath convenient matter, need be at litt1e expence: besides, those that hunt after great store of mony, and place their chief end in wealth, they trust more to their riches, then their own art. Let therefore the too credu-

lous Fresh-man beware of these piUering pick pockets, for whilst they promise golden mountains, they lay in wait for gold; they demand bright ushermoneu before hand) because they walk in darknesse. ing So1, (uiz., 36. As those that sayle between SeiLLa a\d Charybdis are in danger on both sides: unto no lesse hazard are they subject who pursuing the prey of the Golden fleece, are camied between the uncertaine Rocks of the Philosophers ,Sz Lphur and Mereuny . The rnore acute by their constant reading of grave and credible Authors, and by the imadiant Sun have attained unto the knowledge of Sulphur Philosophers and Meanders, son or toy1e. 37. That Philosophers might the deeper drorvn their nesse, they have made it manifold, and placed their fect knowledge thereof, ltereury in darkMereury (yet diversMeneury , but are at a stand in the entrance of the ; for Writers have twisted it with so many windings involved it w'ith so many equivocall rrarnes, that it may be then be found by rea-

sooner met with by the force of the Seekers intellect,

ly) in every part and regimen of their worke, nor will he attaine unto a perwho shall be ignorant of any part of the work. to vrit after absolute 38. Philosophers have aclorowledged I threefold, they eall it their Mereury

preparation of the first degree, and Philosophicall sublirnation; for then , and l+lereury sublirnated. that which by Authors is stiled such like 39. Againe, in the second preparation,

the First (because they omit the First) Sol being now made crude again, and resolved into his first matter is properly called I of the Philosophers Mercury; then the matter is called that onely is sufficient to perfect the Stone. and 40. Lastly the Philosophers do someti-es call perfect Elisi.r colouring medicine, their Mereury , (though irnproperly); for the name of Mercurg doth onely properly agree with that which is volatile; Morebodies or Rebie, Chaos,

the whole world, wherein are all things necessary to the work, because

tL

over that which is sublimated in every region of the work, they call Mercury: but E: iTiF because it is most fired, cannot have the sirnFle name of to difference and therefore they have stiled it their own Mer"wy,

Mercury,

it from that volatile.

A straight way is onely laid downe for them to find of the Philosophers, for then onely

out and discerne so man)r Mercuries Iu p i te r,

Quos aquus aus aoit a u t ar dens eoecit ad aether a u i rtus.

---

Whom just and might;r Jove

Advanceth by the strength of love; Or such whom brave heroick fire, Makes from dull Earth to Heavrn aspire. 41. Elixir is called the Philosophers Mercury for the likenesse and great conformity it hath with Heavenly Mercury; for this, being void of elementary qualities is beleeved most propense to influence them, and that changeable Proteus puts on and encreaseth the genius and nature The of other Planets, by reason of opposition, conjunction and aspect.

like this uncertaine E1ixir worketh, for that being tyed to no proper quality, it imbraceth the quality and disposition of the thing wherewith it is mixed, and wonderfully multiplyeth the virtues and qualities hereof. sublimation or first preparation of Mercury, Jason had without Aleides. 42. In the Philosophicall

Herculean labor:r must be undergone by the work-man; for in vaine attempted his e:rpeditionto Colehos A l te n

tn a un at am nota de uer tiee peLlem P ri n e i p i u n uelut ostendit, sume?e possis; A L te r o n u a quantum subeas- - One from an high a Golden Fleece displayes Which shewes the Entrance, another sayes How hard a taske yourl find.

\3

For the entrance is warded by horne-pushing beasts; which drive away those that approach rashly thereunto to their great hurt; onely the ensignes sf Diana and the doves of venus are able to asswage their fiercenesse, if the fates favour. 43. The naturall quality of PhilosophicaU Earth and the tillage thereof, seems to be touched by the Poet in this Verse, P i n g u e so lum pr ini.s extenplo L m ensibus annt
Fontes -Tune inu e rt a n t T a u ri a e g L e b a re s o L u it .

Zep h g ro p u t ris

Let sturdy Oxen when the yeare begins Plough up the fertile soyle For Zeohpus then dissolves the clods. "ottu., 44. He that calleth the Philosophers Luna or their Mercury, mon Mercury, Geber* the com-

doth wittingly deceive, or is deceived; to the writtings of

teach us, that the Philosophers Mercury is Argent vive, yet not

of the corrunon sort, but extracted out of it by the Philosophers skill. 45. That the Philosophers Mercury is not Argent vive in its proper nature; nor in its whole substance, but the midle and pure substance thereof, which thence hath taken its originall and made by it, the grand Philosophers opinions being founded in experience. 46. The Philosophers Mercury hath divers narnesr sometirnes it is callrd Earth, sometines Water in a divers respect, because it naturally The earth is subtle, white, sulphurous, in which ariseth from them both.

the elemerrts are fixed and the philosophicall gold is sowne: the water is water of life, burning, permanent, most clear, c'ilrd the water of gold and silver; but this Mercury, because it hath in it Sulphur of its own, which Venug the ancients Hermaphropartly unnaturall:
nagisEri II

is multiplyed by art, it deserves to be calild the Sulphur of Argent vive. Lastly, that rnost precious substance is dite, glorious in each sex. 47. Argent vive, is partly natwall,
* chap. 4, part. lib. I, Perfecti

the intrinsecall

and occult part hath its root in nature, which sannof be drawne forth unlesse it be by precedent clensing and industrious secall is praeternatur.ll and accidsnfall; sublimation; the extrin-

separate therefore the clean

from the uncleqn, th substdrce from the accidents, and rnake that which is hid, marriJest, by the course of nature, otherwise make no further progresse, for this is the foundation of the whole worke, and nature. 48. That dry and most precious liquor doth constitute the radicall moisture of metals, wherefore of some of the ancients it is called Glasse; for glasse is extracted out of the radicall moistrrre; closely lurking in ashes wtrich will not give place, unlesse it be to the hottest flame; notwithstanding or.urinnost or centrall Mercury discovers it seUe by the most gentle and kindly (though a little more tedious) fire of nature. 49. Some have sought for the latent Philosophicall earth by Calcination, others by sublimation; many arnong the glasing vessels, and some few between vitrial and sa1t, even as among their naturall vessels: others enjolme to subline it out of lime and glasse. But we have learned of the

P ro p h e t' th a t i ,n th e beginning God er eated the Heapen an d the Eanth, a n d th e E a n th u a s u i thout fonn and ooid, and dankness u as upon t h e fa e e o f th e D e ep; and the Spi.r it of God moued upon the l ,Iater s , a n d Go d sa i d , L e t ther e be Light, and ther e Das Light; and God s a D th e L i g h t th a t i ' t L) as good, and he dioided the Light fr on the datkness & etc ' Josephs blessing spoken of by the same prophet will be sufficient to a wiseman (Deut 33. ) r)n B l e e se d o f th e L o rd , be hia Land., f or the Apples of Eeaoer ,/ 7oo the d e u , a n d fo t th e D e ep that Lyeth beneath; fon the AppLes of fnui t b o th o f su n a n d mo on, for the top of the aneient mountai ns , fop thr Ap p l e s o f ,th d ' e o e rl a sting hi,Lls,pr ay the Lor d fr om the gr ound of

thy heart (my son) that he would bestow upon thee a portion of this blessed Earth. 50. Argent vive is so defiled by originall sin, that it stoweth with a double infection; the first it hath contracted from the polluted Earth, which hath mixed it selfe therewith in its generation, and by congelation hath cleaved thereunto: the second borders upon the dropsie, and is the comuption of intercutal Water, proceeding from thick and impure water; mixed

I5

with the clear, constriction; heat.

wtrich nature was not able to squeeze out and separate by it goes away with a gentle

and because it is extrinsecall, leprosie

The Mercuries

infesting the body, is not of its root and

substance, but accidentall,

and therefore separable from it; the earthy the watery

part is wiped off by a moist Bath and the laver of nature:

part is taken away by a dry bath with the pleasant fire of generation And thus by a threefold washing and clensing the Dragon putting off his old scales and ugly skin is renewed. 51. The Philosophicall sublirnation of Mercury is compleated in two are the externall accidents, which in Jupiten . things; namely by removing things superfluous from it and by lntroducing things warrting: the superfluities the dark spheare of Satunne purple star smile upon thee. doe make cloudy glittering

Separate therefore the blewnesse of Saturne coming up, untill Jupiters Add hereunto the srrlphup of nature, whose Multiply therefore that invisible and so the grain and F-e-rfient hath in it seUe, so much as sufficeth it; but see that it be sufficient for other things also. first gate is opened unto thee. 52. The entrance of the Philosophers garden is kept by the Hesperian Dragon, which being laid open, a fountaine of the clearest water proceeding from a seaven-fold spring floweth forth on every side the threshold, wherein make the Dragon drink thrice the magic"ll number of Seven, untill being drunk he put off his hideous garment: of light-bringing Venas and horned Diana may the diviae powers , be propitious unto thee. $rrlphur of the philosophers untiL the Virgins milk come forth:

53. Three kinds of most beautifull flowers are to be sought, and may be found in the garden of the wise: white Lilly, Damask coloured Violets, fhs 6ilkflower of love, Amananthus.and the prrrple and immortall

Not far from that fountaine at the entrance, fresh Violets do first salute thee, which being watered by streams from the great golden river, put on the most delicate colour of the dark Saphir: the Sun will give thee signs. Thou shall not sever such precious flowers from their root, unthen pick them carefully with a gentle and diEcreet hand; till thou made the Stone: for the fresh ones cropt off, have more juyce and tincture: if fates frown not, they will easily follorn, and one flower being pluckrt, lb

the other golden one will not be wanting: the Lilly and the Anaranthue will succeed with greater care and labour. 54. Philosophers have their Sea "Iso, wherein s6all fishes, fat and shining with silver scales, are generated; which he that shall catch in and take out of a smaU and fine net, shall be accounted a most expert fisher. 55. The Philosophers Stone is found in the oldest mourtaines, and flowes from everlasting brooks; those mountaines are of silver, brooks of gold: from thence gold and sifver, are produced. 56. Whosoever is minded to obtaine the Philosophers Stone, Iet hirn resolve to take a long peregrination, and the purest goId. 57. Philosophers extract this their Stone out of seven stones, the two chiefe whereof are of a divers nature and efficacy, the one insufeth invisible Sulphur, the other spirituall and this cold and moistnre: latter in the Westerne: tiplying, Mercury; that bringeth heat and drinesse, thus by their help, the strength of the elements for it is necessary that he go to see both the Indies, that from thence he may bring the most precious gems and the and all the treasure of Kings

is multiplyed in the Stone; the former is found in the Easterne coast, the both of them have the power of colouring and muland unlesse the Stone shal take its first tincture from them, it

will neither colour nor multiply. 58.q The winged Virgin very well washed and clensed, impregnated by the spirituall seed of the first male, and gravidated with the permanent FilI be discovered by her cheeks dyed with seed she shall conceive againe, and shall joyne her to the second male, without Jealousie of glory of her untoucht virginity, a whitish red colour: adultery, by whose corporeall

in time bring forth a reverend off-spring of either sex, from whence an irnmortall Race of most potent Kings shall gloriously arise. (a Practi.ee) 59. Keep up and couple the Eag1e and Lion well clensed in their transparent cloister, the entry door being shut and watched, lest their breath get in. The Eagle shall snap up go out, or the aire without do privily

and devoure the Lion in the copulation; afterwards being affected with a long sleep, and a dropsie occasioned by a foule stomack, she shall be

t7

changed by a wonderflrll

metamorphosis

into a cole-black Crow, which shall he put off his wings of his owne

begin to fly with wings stretched out, and by its ftight shall whisk downe water from the clouds, untill being often moistued, accord, and falling downe againe it be changed into a most white Swan. Those that are ignorant of the causes of things, Day wonder with astonishment, when they consider that the Wor1d is nothing but a continuall Metamorphosis, they may marvel that the seeds of things perfectly digested Let the Philosopher imitate Nature should end in greatest whitenesse. in his work. 60. Nature proceedeth thus in making and perfecting her works, that from an inchoate generation it may bring a thing by diverse meanes as it were by degrees, to the ultimate terme of perfection: taineth her end by little and little, she therefore atnot by leaps; confining and including

her work between two extrepmsr distinct and severed as by spaces. The practice of Philosophy, which is the Ape of Nature, ought not to decline from the way and example of Nature in its working and direction to finde out its happy stone, for whatsoever is without the bounds of Nature, is either an errour or nearest one. 61. The extreaErs of the Stone are naturall Argent vive, and perfect Etixir: the middle parts which lye between, by helpe whereof the work or opergoes on, are of three sorts; for they either belong unto matter, tfeams and merns. 62. The materiall sophically sublimated, in the work of nature, meens of the Stone are of divers kinds; for some The first are Mercury Philoworks they supply the place and perfect metals, which although they be extream yet in the Philosophicall are extracted out of others successively:

ations or demonstrative signs: the whole work is perfected by these ex-'

of meanes: of the former the seconds are produced; niynely, the four elements, which againe are circulated and fixed: of the seconds the thirds are produced, to wit, either Sulphur the multiplication minate the first worke: whereof doth terthe for:rth and last meanes are leaven or ointments

weighed with the mixtion of the things aforesaid, successively produced in By the right ordering of the things aforesaid, the the worke of the Elixir: perfect Elixir is finished, which is the last term of the whole work, wherein

t:

the Philoeophers Stone resteth as in its centre, the multiplication

where-

of is nothing else then a short repetition of the promised operations, 63. The operative meanes (crhich are also called the Keys of the work) are foure: the third, The first is Solution or Liquef action; the second is Ablution; By Liquefaction bodies returne Reduction; the fourth, Fixation.

into their ancient matter,

thiags concocted are made raw againe, and the

copulation between the male and female is effected, from whence the Crow is generated: Lastly the Stone is divided into fotrr confused elements, which of the Lurninaries. The Ablution teacheth wtrich is of Saturne, happeneth by the retrogradation

to make the Crow white, and to create Jupi,ter made by the conversion of the body into Spirit. and spirituall Milk,

The office of Reduction In both

is to restore the ssule to the stone examrnated, and to nourish it with dew untill it shall attaine unto perfect strength: these latter operations the Dragon rageth against hirnseUe, and by devouring his tayle, doth wholly exhaust hinseUe, Stone. Lastly, and at length is turned into the the operation of the Fixation fixeth both Sulphurs upon their

fired body, by the mediation of the spirits tincture; it decocteth the leavens by degrees, ripeneth things ravr, and sweetneth the bitter; In fine, by penetrating and tincturing the flowing Elixir, generateth, perfecteth; and lastly, riseth up to the height of sublivnity. 64. The Meanes or demonstrative signs are Colours, successively and orderly affecting the matter and its affections and demonstrative passions, whereof there are three speciall ones (as criticall) some adde a Fourth. to be noted, to these

The first is black, which is called the Croweshead,

because of its extreame blachresse, whose crepusculum sheweth the beg"inning of the action of nature and solution, and the blackest night the perfection of liquifaction, putrefies and confusion of the elements. Then the graine that it may be the more apt for generation This is called the blessed stone:

and is corrupted,

The white colour succeedeth the black, wherein is given the perfection of the first degree, and of white Sulphur. this Earth is white and foliated, wherein Philosophers doe sow their gold. The third is Orange colour, which is produced in the passage of the white to the red, as the middle, and mixt of both, and is as the morning with her safron -haire a fore-runner of the Sun. The fourth colour is ruddy and rQ tt

sanguine, which ls extracted from the white flre onely: Now because whitenesse is easily altered by any other colour, before day it quickly faileth of its candor. But the dark rednesge of the Sun perfecteth the worke of Sulphur, which is called the Sperme of the male, the fire of the Stone, the Kings Crown, and the son of So1, wherein the first labour of the workman resteth. 65. Besides these decretory signes which firmely inhere in the matter, and shew its essentiall mutations, almost infinite colours appear, and shew themselves in vapours, as the Rain-bow in the clouds, which quickly passe away and are eryeIIed by those that succeed, more affecting the aire then the earth: the operatorrr, must have a gentle care of them, because they are not permanerrt, and proceed not from the intrinsecall the matter, pleasure, or casually by heat in small moisture. 66. Of the stringe colours, some called out of tim.e, give an ill omen Too hasty Redto the work, as the Blacknesse renewed: for the Crowes young ones having once left their nest are never to be suffered to returne. nesse; for this once and in the end onely gives a certaine hope of the harvest; if before it make the matter red, it is an argument of the greatest aridity, not without great danger, which ean onely be averted by Heaven alone, forthwith bestowing a shower upon it. 67. The Stone is exalted by successive digestions, as by degrees, and at length attaineth to perfection. the author whereof is the fire, 68. comes the first Now foure Digestions agreeable to the which makes their difference. foure abovesaid Operations or Governments do compleat the whole rirorke, The first digestion operateth the solution of the Body, whereby conjunction of male and female, the commixtion of both the resolution of the elements into homogeneall wadisposition of but from the fire painting and fashioning every thing after its

seeds, putrefaction,

ter, the eclipse of the Sun and Moon in the head of the Dragon, and lastly it bringeth back the whole World into its ancient Chaos, and dark abysse. This first digestion is made as in the stomack, of a melon colour and weak, more fit for corruption then generation. 69. In the second ligestion the spirit of the Lord walketh upon the waters; the light begins to apped,r, and a separation of waters from the waters;

ao
- r n-

the Snn and Mooa are renewed; the element's are extracted out of the chaos, that being perfectly mixt in Spirit they may constitute a new world; a neyr aII bodies are become spirit-

Heaven and new Earth are made; and lastly, ual.

The Crowes young ones changing their fethers begut to passe into

Doves, the Eagle and Lion embrace one another with an eternall League. And this generation of the World is made by the fiery Spirit descending in the forme of Water; and wrping away OriginaU sin; for the Philosophers Water is Fire, which is moved by the exciting heat of a Bath. But see or those that the separation of Waters be done in Weight and Measure, lest those things that remaine under lleaven be drowned under the Earth, things that are snatched up above Heaven be too much destitute of aridity.
Hi,e, steni -L e m e c ig u u s humo r a ? e n a mHere, lest small moisture, leave a n e d e s e ra t Geong. I

barren Soyle. 70. The third digestion of the newly generated Earth drinketh up the dewy Milk, and all the spirituall virtues of the quintessence and fasteneth Then the Earth the quickning SonI to the Body by the Spirits mediation.

layeth up a great Treasure in it seUe, and is made, like the coruscant Moon, afterwards to ruddy Sun; the former is called the Earth of the Moor\ the latter the Earth of the Sun; for both of them is begot of the copulation of them both; neither of them any longer feareth the pains of the Fire, because both want all spots; for they have been often clensed and have suffered great Mart;rrdome, untill erl the Elefrom sin by fire, ?1.

ments are trrrned downwards. The Fourth digestion consummateth all the Mysteries of the World, and the Earth being turned into most excellent leaven, it leaveneth all imperfect bodies because it hath before passed into the heavenly nature of quintessence. The vertue thereof flowing from the Spirit of the Universe is a present Panaeea and universall medicine for all the diseases of all creatures, the digestions of the first worke being repeated will open to Be right in thy works, that thou thee the Philosophers secret Furnace. in vaine; Nor
*

mayest finde God favourable, otherwise the plowing of the Earth will be

7l

IL L a se g ea demumootie A g ri e o L a

neepondes a oar i

Georg.

Will the expected Harvest etre requite The greedy High-shoot '12. The whole Progresse of the Philosophers work is nothing but Solution and Congelation; the Solution of the body, and Congelation of the Spirit; neverthelesse, there is but one operation of both: the fixed and volatile are perfectly mixed and united in the Splrit, which carurot be By redone, unlesse the fixed body be first made soluble and volatile:

duction is the volatile body fixed into a permanent body, and volatile nature doth at last change into a fixed one, as the fixed Natrrre had before passed into volatile. Spirit, Now so long as the Natures were confused in the that mixed Spirit keeps a middle Nature between Body and Spirit,

Fixed and Volatile. 73. The generation of the Stone is made after the patterns of the Creation of the World; for it is necessary, that it have its Chaos and First matter, wherein the confused Elements do fluctuate, untill they be separated by the fiery Spirit; they being separated, the light Elements 8r carried upwards, and the heavie ones downwards: the light arising, darknesse retraits: the waters are gathered into one, and the dry land appears. arise, amd minerall virtues, vegetable At length the two great Luminaries 7 4. God created

and anineal, are produced in the Philosophers Earth. Adam of the mud of the Earth, wherein were inherent heap: Into this Masse God the virtues of all the Elements, of the Earth and Water especially, which doe more constitute the sensible and corpoisall inspired the breath of Life, Spirit. He gave Eue and enlivened it with the Sunne of the HoIy The Generation of the , for the Mud was

for a Wife to Adam , and blessing them he gave

unto them a Precept and Faculty of multiplying. made of a terrestriall

Philosophers Stone, is not unlike the Creation of Adan served the excellent name of

and ponderous Body dissolved by Water, which de?enna Adamiea , wherein all the virtues At length the heavenly Soule is

and qualities of the Elements are placed.

-2 2

infused thereinto by the Spirit of the quintesse and Solar influr, by the intervening coptrlation of both sexes is given it.

and by

the Benediction and Dew of Heaven; the virtue of multiplyrng in infinitum, 75, The chief secret of this worke consisteth in the manner of working, which is wholly imployed about the Elements: for the matter of the Stone

passeth from one Nature into auother, the Elements are successively extracted.and by turnes obtaine dominion; ever;rthing is agitated by the circles of humidun and there rest. ?6. In the work of the Stone the other Elements are circulated in the figure of Water, for the Earth is resolved into Water, wherein are the rest of the Elements; the Water is Sublirnated into Vapour, Vapour retreats into Water, and so by an unwearied circle, is the Water moved, untill it abide fixed downwards; now that being fixed all the El.ements are fixed: ?7. Thus into it they are resolved, by it they are extracted, with it The order of Nature requireth that every generation begin from and in humidun . In the Philosophers work, Nature is to be they live and dye: the Earth is the Tombe, and last end of them all. hunidum and sieeum r urrtill all things be turned downwards,

reduced into order, that so the matter of the Stone which is temestriall, compact and dry, in the first place may be dissolved and flow into the Element of Water next unto it, and then Saturne 7 8. will be generated of SoL . The Aire succeeds the Water drawne about by seven circles or remay

volutions, which is wtreeltd about with so many circles and reductions, untitl it be fired downwards, and Satunne being expelltd, Jupiter receive the Scepter and Governrrrent of the Kingdome, by whose coming the Philosophers Infant is formed, nourished in the wombe, and at length is borne; resembling the splendor of Luna in its beautifull serene countenance. the Saffron dyeth 7 9. The Fire executing the courses of the Nature of the Elementsr xtream Fire promoving it, of hidden is made manifest: the Lilly: stronger: rednesse possesseth the cheeks of the whitening Chifd now made A Crowne is prepared for him against the time of his Reigne.

This is the consurnrnation of the first work, and the perfect rotation of the Elements, the signe whereof is, when they are all terminated in Si-eeum , and the body void of Spirit lyeth downe wanting pulse and motion: And thus 23
t?

all the Elements do finally acquiesce in lenra

80. Fire placed in the Stone is Natr.rres Prince, Solts Son and Vicar, moving and digesting matter and perfecting all things thereinU if it shall attain its liherty; for it lieth weak under an hard bark, procure therefore its freedome that it may secure thee freely; but beware that thou urge it not above measure, for it being impatieut of Tyrarmy it becomes a fugitive, no hope of returne being left unto thee; call it back therefore by courteous flattery, and keep it prudently. the Moderator of In81. The first mover of Nature is Externall Fire, ternall Fire,

and of the whole work; Let the Philosopher therefore very

well understand the governrrrent thereof, and observe its degrees and points; for from thence the welfare or ruine of the worke dependeth. Thus Art helpeth Nature, and the Philosopher is the Minister of both. 82. By these two Instruments of Art and Nature, the Stone lifteth it seUe up from Earth to Heaven with great ingenuity, and slideth from Heaven to Earth, because the Earth is its Nurse, and being camied in the wombe of the wind, it receiveth the force of the Superiours and Inferiours. 83. The Circulation of the Elements is exercised with a double Wheel, The Wheel exby the greater or extended, and the lesse or contracted: unlesse the work of Sulphur be perfected.

tended fixeth ail the Elements of the Earth, and its circle is not finished The revolution of the minor Wheel is terminated by the extraction and preparation of every Element; Now in this Wheel there are three Circles places, which alwayes and variously move the Matter, by an Erratick and Intricate Motion, and do often (seven tirnes at least) drive about every Element, in order succeeding one another, and so agreeable, that if one shall be wanting the labour of the rest is made void, Elements are prepared. These are Natures Instruments, whereby the Let the Philosopher therefore consider the pro-

gresse of Nature in the Physicall Tract more fully described for this very end. 84. Every Circle bath its proper Motion, for all the motions of the Circles are conversant about the Subject of Humidum and Siecum, and are so concatenated, that they produce the onely operation, and one only concent of Nature: two of them are opposite, both in respect of the causes

-2 4 -

and the effects; for one moveth rpwards,

dryrng by heat; another down-

wards, moistning by cold; a third carrying the form of rest and sleep by digestlng, induceth the cessation of both in greatest moderation. 85. Of the three Circles, the First is Evacuation, the labour of which , aDd also in separating the dreggs. Now

is in snbstracting the superfluous Hunidun

pure, cleane, and subtile, from the grosse and terrestriall

the greatest danger is found in the motion of this Circl,e, because it hath to doe with things Spirituall, and makes Nature plentifull. 86. Two things are chiefly to be taken heed of in moving this Circle; First, that it be not moved too intensly; the other, that it be not moved longer then is meet. Motion accelerated raiseth confusion in the matter, so that the grosse, impure and indigested part may (ly out together with With this precipitated motion the

the pure and subtile, and the Body undissolved mixed with the Spirit, together with that which is dissolved. Ifeavenly and Temestriall Nature are confounded, and the Spirit of the

Quintessence corrupted by the admixtion of the Earth, is made drrll and invalid. Spirit, By too long a motion the Earth is too much evacuated of its and is made so languishing dry, and destitute of Spirit, or turns it into flight. The former Circle that it Either er-

carurot easily be restored and recalled to its Temperament. rour burneth up the Tinctures

8?. The Second Circ1e is Restauration; whose office is, to restore strength to the gasping and debilitated body by Potion. was the Organ of Sweat and labour, but this of Refreshment and Consolation The action of this is imployed in the grinding and mollifying the Earth, (Potter like) that it may be the better mixed. 88. The motion of this Circle must be lighter then that of the former, especially in the begiming of its Revolution, lest the Crowfs young ones be drowned in their nest by a large floud, and the growing world be overflowne by a deluge. This is the Weigher and Assayer of Measures, for There is usually no it distributeth Water by Geometricall Precepts.

greater Secret found in the whole practice of the Worke, then the firme and justly weighed Motion of this Circle; for it informeth the Philosophers Infant and inspireth Soul and Life into him. 89. The Lawes of this Circles Motion are, that it run about geutly; and

d
.ttr

by little

and little,

and sparingly let forth it seUe, left that by mnking and the Fire inherent overwhelrned with

hast it fall from its measure,

the Waters, the Architect of the Work grow dull, or also be extinguished: that meat and drink be adrninistred by tr:rnes, to the end there may be a better Digestion made, and the best terrperarnent of. Humidun and.Sieeun ; for the indissoluble colligation of them both is the End and Scope of the Worke. Fr.rrthermore see, that you add so much by Watering, as shall be as Evacuation hath taken auray by debilitating. wanting in assation, that Restruration may restore so much of the lost strength by corroborating, 90. Digestion the last Circle acteth with silent and insensible motion; and therefore it is said by Philosophers, that it is made in a secret firrnace; it decocteth the Nutriment received, and converteth it into the Homogeneal parts of the body. parts: Moreover, it is called Putrefaction; because as meat is corrupted in the Stomack before it passe into Bloud and Similar so this operation breaketh the Aliment with a concocting and Stothat it may be the better Again, into a Sulphurous Nature. mack heat, and in a manner makes it to putrefie, Fixed, and changed from a Mercuriall it is called Inhumation, dead man buried in the ground. fore needeth a longer tirne. in dissolving,

because by it the Spirit is inhumated, and as a But because it goes most slowly, it thereThe two former Circles do labour especially

this in congealihg, although all of them work both.

91. The Lawes of this Circle are, that it be moved by the Feaverish and most gentle heat of Dung, Iest that the things volatile fly out, and the Spirit be troubled at the time of its strictest Conjunction with the Body, for then the businesse is perfected in the greatest tranquillity or Shewers: Lastly, straight-wayes and ease; therefore we must especially beware lest the Earth be moved by any \trinds as this third Circle may alwayes succeed the second so by interrupted and in its order, as the second the first:

works and by course those three erratick Circles doe compleat one intire circulatiorU which often reiterated, at length turnes all things into Earth, and makes peace between enemies. 92. Nature useth Fire, is Master and Perfector; so also doth Art after its example, as a,n In"struIn both operations therefore Fire Wherefore the knowledge of Fires is most necessary ment and Mallet in cutting out its works.

- 26-

for a Philosopher,

without which as another Ixion (conde"'nfd to labour

in vaine) he shall turne about Wheel of Natrrre to no purpose. 93. The name Fire is Equivogall rmengst Philosophers; for sometimes it is used Metonymically for heat; and so, as maDy fires as heats. In the

Generation of Metals and Vegetables, Nature acboowledgeth a three-fold Fire; to wit, Celestiall, Mercuriall Terrestriall, and Innate. The First flowes from

Sol as its Fountaine, into the Bosome of the Earth; it stimeth up Fumes or and Sulphurous vapours, of which Metals are created, and mirplaced and snorting in the eth it selfe aynongat them; it stimeth up fire,

seeds of the Vegetables, and addeth sparkles unto it (as Spurres) for vegetation. The Second lurketh in the bowels of the Earth, by the Impulse and action whereof the Subterraneous vapours are driven upwards through Pores and Pipes, and thrust outwards from the Centre towards the Superficies of the Earth, both for the composition of Metals, where the Earth swelleth up, as also for the production of Vegetables, by putrefying their seeds, by softning and preparing them for generation. The third of the former, viz . Solar, is generated of a vappid smoak of Metals, and also infused with the monthly provision grows together with the humid rnatter, and is retained as in a Prison w'ithin the strenglh of it; or more truely, as forme is conjoyned with the mixt body: It firmely inhereth in the seeds of Vegetables, untill being solicited by the point of its Fathers rayes it be called out, then Motion intrinsecally Celestriall moveth and informeth the matter, and becomes the Plastes and Dispensator of the whole Mixture. first Agent in Nature: In the generation of Animals, answereth Terrestriall

Fire doth insensibly cooperate with the Animalr; for it is the but the heat of the f enella The Fire implanted in the

heat, untill it putrefie the Seed, and prepare it:

Seed, Solts son, disposeth the matter, and being disposed in formeth it. 94. Philosophers have observed a three-fold Fire in the matter of their work, Naturall, Fiery Celestiall strictly not Naturall, against Nature. The Naturall they call the and most Spirit Innate, kept in the profirndity of matter,

bound unto it, which by the sluggish strength of metall growes du1, untill being stirued up and freed by the Philosophers discretion and externall heat, it shall have obtained a faculty of moving its body dissolved, and so it informeth its humid matter, by explication,
a.?
ct ?,

Penetration, Dilatation

and congelation and Motion. extrinsecally,

In every Eixt body Naturall Fire is the Principle is introduced into the matter wonderfirll artificially;

of Heat

Unnaturall

Fire they name that which being called and coming that it The Fire contrary

may increase and multiply the strength sf nafur.all heat.

to Nature they call that, which putrefiee the Compositum, and corrupteth the temperament of Nature; It is imperfect, because being too weak for generation, it is not carried beyond the bounds of corurrption: such is the Fire or heat of the menstruum: yet it hath the nnme improperly of Fire against Nature, because in a manner it is according to Nature, for salving the specifical form, it so conupteth the rnatter, that it disposeth it for generation. 95. It is more credible neverthelesse, that the corrupting Fire, of it, for the order of nature requireth, called Fire against Nature, is not different from the Innate, but the first degree that comuption precede generation: the fire therefore that is innate agreeable to the Law of Natnre performeth both, by exciting both successively in the matter: pare the body: the other of generation more forcible, disposed by the former. ble Fire. the first of corruption more gentle stimed up by feeble heat, for to mollifie and premoved by a more vehement heat, for to anirnate and fully informe the Elementary body A double Motion doth therefore proceed from a double degree of heat of the same fire; neither is it to be accounted a douBut far better may the Name of Fire contrary to Nature be given to violent and destructive Fire. 96. Ururaturall fire is converted into Naturall or Innate Fire by successive degrees of Digestion, and increaseth and multiplyeth it: wtrole secret consisteth in the multiplication of Naturall Fire, seffe is notable to Work above its proper strength, perfect Tincture hath it any further fully, to imperfect power; but being multiplyed Now the which of it

nor comm.unicate a which

Bodies; for it is sttfficient to it selfe; nor by the unnaturall, doth act far more power-

most aboundeth with the virtue of multiplying,

and reacheth it seUe beyond the bounds of Nature colouring strange and irnperfect bodies, and perfecting them, because of its plentifirll Tincture, and the abstruse Treasure of multiplyed Fire. 9?. Philosophers call their Water Fire because it is most hot, and

L?
oo

lndued with a Fiery Spirit; againe, Water is called Fire by them, because it burneth the bodies of perfect Metals more than common fire doth; for it perfectly dissolveth them, whereas they resist our Fire, and will not sulfer themselves to be dissolved by it; for this cause it is also called Bnrning Water: Now that Fire of Tincture is hid in the belly of the Water, and manuiz . of the bodies Solution and Multi-

ifests it seUe by a double effect, plication.

98. Nature useth a double Fire in the Work of generation, Intrinsecall and extrinsecall: the former being placed in the seeds and mixtures of of Motion and Life, doth whether it be as drowned with Extrinsesrll, things, is hid in their Centre; and as a principle move and quicken the body: But the latter,

poured down from Heaven or Earth, raiseth the former,

sleep, and compels it to action; for the vitall sparks irnplanted in the seeds stand in need of an externall mover, that they may be moved and actuate. 99. It is even so in the Philosophers worke; for the matter of the Stone possesseth his Interiour Fire, which partly lrurate, partly also is added by the Philosophers Art, for those two are united and come inward together, because they are homogeneous: the internall standeth in need of the externall, which the Philosopher administreth according to the Precepts of These Fires are as Art and Nature; this compelleth the former to move.

two Wheeles, whereof the hidden one being smitten of the sensible one, it is moved sooner or later: And thus Art helpeth Nature. 100. The Internall Fire is the middle between the mover and the matter, whence it is, that as it is moved by that, it moveth thus; if so be it shall be driven intensly or remisly, matter. l0l. externall Fire. He that is ignorant of the degrees and points of externall Fire, let him not set upon the Philosophicall Worke; for he will never pull light out it wiU work after the same mFnner in the The Information of the whole worke dependeth of the measure of

of darknesse, unlesse the heats passe through their mediums, like the Elements, whose extreams are not converted but onely by mediurns. lO2. Becuase the whole work consisteth in Separation and perfect Preparation of the foure Elements, therefore so many degrees of Fire are necessary thereunto; for every Element is extracted by the degree of Fire
::

proper to it. 103. The foure degrees of Fire are called the Fire of the Bath, of Ashes, of Coa1es, and of Flame, which is also called Optetick: every degree hath its points, two at leagt, sometines three; for the Fire is to be moved slowly and by points, whether it be increased or decreased, that Matter (after Natures sxa'nple may goe on by degrees and willingly unto Information and completion; for nothing is so strange to Nature as that which is violent; Let the Philosopher propound to his consideration the gentle accesse and reeesse of the Sun, whose Light ard Lamp indulgeth its heat to the things of the world, Lawes of the Universe, according to the times and the and so bestoweth a temperament rrpon them. The first point of the second degree

104. The first point of the Bath heat is called the heat of a Feaver or of Dung; the second, of both sirnply. of Fire, is the simple heat of Ashes, the second is the heat of Sand: Now the points of Coales and Flame, want a proper Name, brd they are distingaccording to intention and remission uished by the operation of the Intellect,

105. Three degrees onely of Fire are sometirnes found amongst Philosophers, piz . of the Bath of Ashes and the hot Bath, which comprehendeth the Fire of Coales and Flarne: the Fire of Dung is sometirnes distinguished from the Fire of the Bath in degree. Thus for the most part Authors doe involve the light in darknesse, by the various expressions of the Phllosophers Fire; for the knowledge thereof is accounted amongst their chief secrets. 106. In the White Work, because three Elements onely are extracted, three degrees of Fire also do suffice; the last, to wit the Optetick, is reserved for the fourth Element, which finisheth the Red Work. degree the eclipse of SoL and, Luna Luna of her splendour: of his glory: begins to be Festored: by the third By the first is made, by the second the light of Luna attaineth unto the fulnesse according to the

and by the fourth So'Z is exalted into the highest apex so as the Agent may answer to the disposition of the

Now in every part the Fire is administred

rr:les of Geometry,

Patient, and their strength be equally poised betwixt themselves. 107. Philosophers have very much set upon their Fire with a desire of Secrecy, so as they scarce have been bold to touch it, but shew it rather

Jo
-?n-

by a description

of its qualities and proprietles, \Bporous,

then by its name: as star-like, because pleaseth.

that it is airie Fire,

humid and dry, clear,

it may easily by degrees be intended or remitted as the Artificer

Hee that desireth more of the knowledge of Fire; may be satisfied by the Works of, LuLLius minds candidly. 108. Of the conflict of the Eagle and the Lion they urrite diversly, be, who hath opened the Secrets of Practice to candid

cause the Lion is the strongest animall of all others; and therefore it is necessary that more Eagles concur, (three at least, or else more, even to ten) to conquer hirn: the fewer they are the greater the contention, and the slower the Victory; but the more eagles, the shorter the Battaile, and the direption of the Lion will more readily follow. of seven Eagles may be taken out of The happyer nurrrber . LuLLius , or of nine out of Senior

109. The Vessell wherein Philosophers decoct their urorke, is twofold; the one of Nature, the other of Art; the Vessell of Nature which is also called the Vessell of Philosophy, is the Earth of the Stone, or the FemelLa or Matria , whereinto the Seed of the MaIe is received, it putrefies and is prepared for generation; the Vessell of Art is of three sorts: the secret is decocted in a threefold Vessell I10. The First VesseLI is made of a transparent Stone, or of stony description; sometimes affirming that it is compounded of two Glasse, the forme therof seme Philosophers have hid by a certrin Enigmaticall peeces, to wit, an Alembick, I I l. and a Bolts head, sometimes of three, of for

the two former with the addition of a Cover. Many have feigned the multiplyrng of such like Vessels to be neclVork, salling them by divers narnes, with a of operations; for they called it Distillatory for distillaete. for calcination, essary to the Philosophicall

desire of hiding the secret by a diversity Solutory of solutiory Ptrtrefactory tion; Sublimatory for sublimation; I12.

for putrefaction; Calcinatory

But that ell deceit being removed u/e may spealc sincerely, one onely for the diversity of digestions requireth not

Vessell of Art sufficeth to terminate the Worke of either Sulphur, and another for the Work of the Elixir; the change of Vessels; yea we must have a care left the Vessell be changed or opened before the First work be ended.

3r
?l -

I13.

You shall make choise of a forme of the glassy Vessell round in or at least ovall, the neck an hand breadth long

the bottom or cucurbit,

or more, large enough, with a straight mouth, made Uke a Pitcher or Jogg, coutinued and rrncutt and thick in every part, that it may resist a long, and sometimes an acute Fire: The cucurbit or Bolts-head is called seal, Iest any thing

blind, because its eye is blinded w'ith the llermetick from without should enter in, or the Spirit steal out. I t4.

The second Vessell of Art may be of Wood, of the trunk of an ?repi-

Oake, cut into two hollow Hemisphears, wherein the Philosophers Egge may be cherished till. it be hatched; of which see the Fountaine of
Sq nugr

I15.

The third Vessell Practitioners have called their Furnace, which

keeps the other Vessels with the matter and the whole work: this also Philosophere have endeavoured to hide a'nongst their secrets. 116. The Furnace which is the Keeper of Secrets, is called Athanor, from the immortall Fire, which it alwayes preserveth; for although it afford unto the Work continuall Fire, yet sometimes unequally, which reason requireth to be administred more or lesse according to the quantity of matter, Il7. and the capacity of the Furnace. The matter of the Furnace is made of Brick, or of fatt Earth, or

of Potters clay well beaten, and prepared with horse dung, mixed with haire, that it may stick the faster, let the walls be thick, I18. and may not be chiroked by long-heat; to the end that it may be of three or forre fingers,

the better able to keep in the heat and withstand it. Let the form of the Furnace be ror.rnd, the inward altitude of two about the thickresse of a Penknifers back, in Iron or Brazen plate must feet or thereabouts, in the midst whereof a^n be set, of a round Figure, napower a manner possessing the interiour latitude of the Furnace, but a little then it, lest it touch the walls, which must leane upon three or fotrre props of Iron fixed to the walls, and let it be fulI of holes, that the heat may be the more easily carried upwards by them, and between the sides of the Furnace and the P1ate. Below the Plate let there be a little door left; and another above in the walls of the Furnace, that by the lower the Fire may be put in, and by the higher the temperament of the heat may

- 32-

be sensibly percelved;

at the opposite part wtrereof let there be a little winUpon the middle of the foreLastly

dow of the Figure of a Romboides fortifyed with glasse, that the Ught ovragainst it may shew the colours to the eye. sald plate, let the Tripode of secrets be placed with a double Vessel

let the Furnace be very well covered with a shell or covering agreeable rurto it, and that alwayes the little doores closely shut, lest the heat go out. I19. Thus thou has{ ell things necessary to the first Work, the end whereof is the generation of two sorts of Sulphur; the composition and perfection of both may be thus finished. . Take a Red Dragon, couragious, warlike, to whom no Natrrrall R strength is warrting; and afterwards seven or nine noble Eag1es (Virgins, ) whose eyes will not wax dull by the rayes of the Sun: cast the Birds with the Beast, into a clear Prison and strongly shut up, under which let a Bath be placed, that they may be incensed to figtrt by the warm vapour: in a short time they will enter into a long and harsh contention, untill at length about the 45 day or 50, the Eagles begin to prey upon and teare the beast to pieces; this dying it will infeet the whole Prison with its black and direfull poyson, whereby the Eagles being wounded, they will also be constrained to give up the ghost. From the putrefaction of the dead Carcasses a Crow putting forth its head, and the stretch forth its wings and will be generated, which by little and little,

Bath being somewhat increased it urill forthwith hover about; take heed that it find not any.

begin to fly; but seeking chincks from the Winds and Clouds, it will long At length being made white by In a gentle and long Raine, and with the dew of Heaven it will be changed into a White Swan, but the new borne Crow is a sign of the departed Dragon. the order prescribed, like, untill they be fixed in their Earth, making the Crow White extract the Elements, and distill them according to and end in Snowand most subtile dust, which being finished thou shalt enjoy thy first

desire to the White Worke. 120. If thou intendest to proceed further to the Red, adde the Element of Fire, which is wanting to the White Work: the Vessell therefore being fixed, and the Fire strengthned by little and little through its points, force the matter untill the occult begin to be made manifest, the signe whereof will be the Orange colour arising: order the Fire of the Fourth degree

-11-

by its points, untill by the helpe of Vulean of the Lilly, of bloud:

purple Roses be geuerated

and lastly the Amaranthus dyed with the darkish Redneese nntill thou

but thou mayest not cease to bring out Fire by Fire,

shalt behold the matter terminated in Reddest ashes, and insensible to the touch. This Red Stone may reare up thy minde to greater things, by the They that thinke they have brought their worke to an end by perblessing and assistance of the holy Trinity. 12l.

fect Sulphur, not knowing Nature or Art; and to have fulfilled the Precepts of the secret; are much deceived, and will try their Project in vaine: for the Praxis of the Stone is perfected by a double Worke; the First is, in creating 166 $rrlFhur, the other in malcing the Elixir. 122. The Philosophers Sulphur is most subtile Earth, most hot and dry, in the belly whereof the Fire of Nature abundantly multrplyed is hidden; Therefore it deserveth the name of the Stone; for it hath in it selfe the virtue of opening and penetrating the bodies of Meta1s, and of turni'tg them into its own temperament and producing something like it selfe, wherefore it is called a Father and Masculine seed. 123. That we may leave nothing untouched, let the Students in Philosophy know that from that first be multiplyed everylasting in Srrlphrrr, a second is generated which may keep it diligeutly. inf ini,tum : let the wise man, after he hath got the of that Heavenly Fire, Now of a small

minerall

what matter $r'lphur is generated, of the sarne it is multiplyed, portion of the first being added, yet as in the Ballamce. frestrman see in LuLLius 124. The Elixir is compounded of a threefold matter,

The rest rnay a namely of Metalall in

, this may suffice onely to point at it.

lick Water or Mercury sublimated as before; of Leaven White or Red, according to the intention of the Qperator, Weight. 125. There are Five proper and necessary qualities in the perfect E1ixir, that it be fusile, permanent, penetrating, colouring and multiplyand fixation from the Leaven, its penetration and of the Second $rrlphlrr

ing; it borroweth its tincture joyning Tinctures,

from the Sulphr.rr, its fusion from Argent vive which is the medium of con-: to wit of the Ferment and $rrlphurr and its multiplicative virtue from the Spirit infused into the Quintessence,

126. Two perfect Metalls grne a perfect Tincture,

becauge they are

dyed with the pure Sulphur of Nature, ard therefone no Ferment of Metals may be sought besidee these two bodies; dye thy E1ixir Wtdte and R,ed with S'oL and Luna , Mercury first of all receives their Tincture, ard hav-

ing received it, doth sernmuoicate it to others. 127. In compounding the Elixir Ferments, for either Elixir ta"ke heed you change not or mlxe the and desireth must have its proper Ferment,

its proper Elements; for it is provided by Nature, that the two Lr'rninaries have their different Vesse[ Sulphurs and digtinct tinctures. in the seyne or like 128. The Second work is concocted as the First, fected in a shorter time. 129. There are three humours in the Stone, which are to be extracted successively; namely, Watery, Airy, and Radicolr; and therefsrs elr ffis besides the huIabour and care of the Workrnan is srnployed about the humour, neither is any other Element in the Worke of the Stone, circulated, and melted into humour. Fire, mic one. For it is necessary in the first place, that the Earth be resolved Now the Radicall humour, of all things, accounted is most tenacious, because it is tyed to the Centre of Nature, fromdissolving and congealing them by their Wheels; for by the of Solution and congelation the Wheel is ex-

the sarrre Furnace, and by the same degrees of fire, but is per-

which it is not easily separated; extraet therefore those three humours slowly, successively, multiplyed alternate reiteration 130. The Elixirts but the Sieeum

tended, and the whole work finished. perfection consisteth in the strict Union and indissoluble Matrimony of Steeum and Eumidum , so that they may not be separated, may flow with moderate heat into the Humidun abiding The signe of perfection is, if a very little of it every pressure of Fire. out smoake. Let three wrights of Red Earth, or Red Ferment, and a double weight of Water and Aire, well beaten, be mixt together: let an AnaLl3l. . g6ma be made like Butter, or Metalline Paste, so as the Earth being mollifyed may be insensible to the touch; Add one weight and an haUe of Fire: Let these be ordered in their Vessell, the Fire of the first degree being most

cast in above the Iron or Brazen Plate being very hot, it flow forthwith with-

-3 5 -

closely sealed; afterwards of Fire in their order,

let the Elemests be e$racted

by tbeir degrees

which berng turned downwards with a geutle motion so as nothing Volatile may be raised up

they may be fixed in their Earth,

from thence, the matter at length shaU be terrninated in a Rock, Illuminated, Red and Diaphanous; a part whereof take at pleasure, it into a Crucible smoake. and havrng cast

with a little Fire by drops give it 16 dlink with its Red for the Earth being mollifyed

O5rle, and incere it, untill it be quite poured out, and goe away without Nor mayst thou feare its flight, then take the Eli*ir with the sweetnesse of the Potion will stay it, having received it, \nlthia its bowels: thus perfected into thine owne power, and and be silent. keep it carefully. In God rejoyce,

132. The order and method of composing and perfecting the white Eti:rir is the sarne, so that thou irsest the white Elements onely in the geynposition thereof; but the body of it brought to the terme of decoction, will end in the plate, white, splendid, and crystall-like, Oyle will obtaine the help of Fusion. astonishment. 133. Becauge in the Elixir the strength of Naturall Fire is most aboundantly multiplyed by the Spirit infused into the Quintessence, and the naughty acciderrts of bodies, which beset their purity and the true ligtrt of Nature with darlrnesse, are taken a\ilay by long and manifsld sulliynations and digestions; therefore Fiery Nature freed from its Fetters, the aid of Heavenly strength, this our fift Element: wer: and fortifyed with workes most powerfully being included in which incerated with its ltrhite upon Cast one weight of either Elixir,

ten weights of Argent vive well washed, and thou wilt admire its effect with

Let it not therefore be a wonder, if it obtaine strength is in the Prince of the Luminaries,

not onely to perfect imperfeet things, but also to multiply its force and poNow the Fountaine of Multiplication who by the infinite multiplication our Orbe, and multiplyeth virtue into the seeds of things. 134. The way of multiplyrng the Elixir Mingle one weigtrt of Red Elixir, is threefold: By the first; w'ith nine weights of its Red Water, and curdle the matter well disuntill it be made strong of his bearnsr begetteth all thiqgs in this

things generated, by infusing a multiplicative

dissolve it into Water in a solutory Vessell,

solved, and unite by decocting it with a gerrtle Fire,

-3 6 -

into a Rubie or Red Lqmell,

which

after the manner prescribed untill t ftos; i

ten tirnes more powerfirll then the firgt.,'.,

in a short tlne. 135. By the Second manner R6 what

mixed with its Water, the weights being

Vessell of Reduction, dissolrre it in a Bath, by

distill it, Separating the Elements by thslr p"Op"r n, incere it and project it. This is the loager, bi downwards, as \ras done in the first and second wofq. lastly, for the virtue of the Elixir is increased unto an

much the more subtile it ls made by reiterated operationel.,;

more both of superiour and inferiour strength it retaine-tfu;'+ff

werfi:lly operates. take one Ounce of the said Elixir lrlereuny muftrpfy,e4jSil..yi|!@ , and 1o ana 136. Lastly,

project it upon an hundred of purifyed cu"g

".$S!,',:ffi,';,,g"omade hot amongst burning Coals, will be couverted irdo pnrre efir,ir;

whereof if thou castest every ounce upon an other hundred ofthe Uhe Mereu?v , SoL will shine most purely to thine eyes. The multiplication of White Elixir may be made the same way. Take the virtues of this Medide uilla Nova, cine to cure all kinds of diseases, and to preserve good health, as also the use thereof, out of the Writings of Arnoldus Lulliusn 137. The Philosophers and of other Philosophers, may be fetched. Signifer will instruct him that seeketh the tirnes must be terrnirrated in the House

of the Stone; for the first Work ad ALbu

of Luna ; the Second, in the second Eouse of Mereuty ; the First Work ad Rubeum , will end in the Second House of Venue , Fpd the last in the other Regall Throne of Jote , from whence our most Potent King shall receive a Crowne decked with most Precious Rubies:
S ie in ee s u d p e " o e e t ig ia Annue. Thus does the winding of the circling Yeare Trace its owne Foot-steps, and the o o lo it u r

sarne appeElre.

37

138. A three-headed Dnagonkeeps thrn Goklen Fleece; the first head proceedeth from the Waters, the second from the Earth, the third from the Aire; it is necessar1rthat these three heads do end in one most Potent, which will derrcur alL the other Dragons; then a \pay is laid opeu for thee to the golden Fleece. Farewell diligent Reader , in Reading these things invocate the Spirit of Eternal Ligtrt; Speak little, Meditate mueh, and Judge aright.

-3 8 -

to rHE LovERS oF HEFIIETICK

p H IL o S o PHY, I.C.
wls heth

Chgnier astes

prosperity.

Such is the difference the dead Philosophy inspired into the first

between the Hermeticks

living

Philosophy,

arld

of the Ethnicks; Masters

that the former

hath been Divinely

of Chymistry

(the Queen of all Sciences, ) of Truth for its onely Author;

and therefore

may challenge the HoIy Spirit where he lifteth, whereof,

who by breathing their

doth infuse the true Light of Nature into of emours is straightmay

minds; by virtue

all the darknesse

wayes chased away from thence and ufterly ascribe its Invention trnto Pagans, of Learthg, from their

expelled:

but the latter

who having left,

or rather

neglected and

the pure Fountains causes, (proceeding

have introduced

false Principles

own brain) for true ones, to the great And indeed what good were th of Truth, the Eternall Wisedome f esus

darnmage of the Reipublique

of Learning.

they abbe to do, upon whom the Day-Star of God, the Fountaine hath never risen?

of all Knowledge and Understanding

Chnist

We cannot wonder therefore, and foolish toyes,

that they have onely propure

posed old wives Fables, dotages, and innr:nerable

that they have introduced

inventions of lyes,

whereby they have so be-

dawbed holy Philosophy,

that we can find nothing of Native beautSr in it. himseU the Prince of Vitall Philo-

But you will object that Hermes sophy was an Heathen also, by whose decrees Philosophy plause of almost eth? This all men,

yea and lived before other Authors in every place entertained, But granting

many ages,

with greatest apthat, what follow-

now flourisheth.

Hermes Tnismegistus priviledge rnanners from

indeed was borne in an Heathen Country, God he was one, who worshipped nrho freely the true

yet by a peculiar God in his life, the Father,

and Religion especially;

confessed God

and that he was the Creator

of Man, and made no other partalcer

-3 9 -

of Dtvinity

with him:

He acknowledged the Son of God the Father by whom was unknowne to Men, and even to Angels themselves, his geaeration. What more? He was our

all things wttich are existen were made; whose narne because it was wonderfull and lneffable, Eermee who admire with astonishnent

who by the singular irrlulgence and revelation of the most great

and gracious God, foreknew that the sarne Son should come in the Flesh, and that in the last ages, to the end he might blesse the Godly for ever. He it was who so clearely taught, that the mystery of the most Holy Trinity ought to be adored, as well in the Plurality Unity of Divine Egsence, in three H;postases, ly be found anywhere more clearly and plainly: T h e re u a a a n rn te l l i g ent Light of Persons, as in the (as any quick-sighted and for thus he:

intelligerrt man may gather from that which followes;) as that it can scarce-

befone the r ntelligent Li ght, a nd th e re u a s a L u a yes a eleane Mi.nd of the l[ind: and th e r nuth h ere o f, a n d th e sp i rit eontaining aLL thinge, Das no other thi ng: Be si d e s th i s, Go d i s not, nor AngeLL, no? ana other Ese eneel for h e i s L o n d o f a L L , both Eather , and God, atl things a?e under hi n a n d f.n h i m. r b e se e eh thee oh Heatsen, and the uise uonk e of the g n e a t Go d ; I b e se e e h thee thou uoiee of the Father , uhie h he f t ' rst sp a ke , u h e n h e fonned the uhoLe uor ld; r besseeh thee by t h e o n l y b e g o tte n w or d, and Fathep eontaining aLL things be pr op i ti o u s u a to me . Now yee sons of Hemres , turne over and over againe, both night and day the Volumes of Heathen Philosophers, Catholick things in them. Our Eermes was an Heathen, I confesse, yet such an Heathen as knew and inquire with what diligence you possibly can, whether you are able to find such HoIy, such Godly and

the 1rcwer and greatnesse of God, by other creatures and also by himselfe, and glorified God, as God: I shal not spare to ad, that he far excelled in godlinesse most Christians now a dayes in name onely; and gave irnrnortal Hear I pray, yee sonnes of Learning, From the rising of thanks unto hirrr as the Fountaine of all good things, with a deep submission of mind for his benefits received. whether God was as much conversant, and wrought as equally in the Heathen Nation, as arnongst his own people, when he saith:

*c
-an-

t h e S u n u n to th e g o i ng doun ther eof his nctne ie gneat an onget t h e C e n ti l e s; a n d i n eDe?V plaee d pute oblation ie eaeni fi eed a n d o ffe re d N a ti o n e , u n to mg ncr me, beeauee ng ndme ie gr eat am on g the sa i th th e Lond of Eosts by his Pr ophet.

Rub up Jrorr memory, Magi they might worship Christ, hanged upon a Tree. favourers besides

I intreat you, and speake plainly

were not the

Heathens, wtrich ca"ne from ihe East by the guidance of a Star, that whom neverthelesse the unbeleeving people Lastly consider well I beseech you, yee faithfull of their Learning, Sleare and

of true Wisedome onely; from what Fountaine other tseathens Eernee harre taken the Principles with difigenee, that yee may discerne them

better weare out their Volunes

to refer their wisdome not unto God, but to attribute it, as gotten by their owne Industry. On the contrary cast your eyes upon the beginning of the Heymes conPhgsi.eal Stone, and observe how holily he Hepmes saith: admirable Tractate having seven Chapters of your Father cerning the Secret of the thinketh of God the bestower of this Secret Sclences for

f n so g n e a t a n d g e , f haoe not eeased to tnA eopenim ents , no? h a ue I sp a re d my so ul fr om Laboun. I had thie Ar t and Se i enee bg o f the Lioing God only, uho hath touehe afed to t h e fn sp i n a ti o n o p en i .t to me h i s se r pant. t?is tr ue, he hath gioen pouer of j u d g i n g to ra ti o n a l eneatu?es, but hath not Left unto an y an o e e a si o n o f si n n i n g . But f, unlesee f fear ed the day of D oom , o? t h e so u l 's d a mn a ti o n for the eoneealing of this Scienee; f uoul d n a ke kn o u n n o th i n g o f thi,s Seienee, nor pr opheti.ze to an y , But f their due, ds the to r enden to the Faithfull haue been uilling Au th o n o f F a i th h a th been pleased to bestou upon m e. Thus Eenmes : then which nothing could have ever bin said more wise, or Religion. And hence it is, that so marrJras are Eermes , with all their Soul

more agreable to Christian the Living,

or have been of a more srrblime \rit and marrly judgement, have imbraced Ifo1y, and Divine Philosophy of and Strenglh (rejecting that deadr prophanre, and hunane Philosophie of the Ethnieks Writings ) and have comm.ended and illustrated it in divers of their and Watchings. Of aU which, that I may confesse ingenously, more true, neat,

seeing that I could never read unto this day any Writer

{l
il -

Anongmoue irdeedr Jrt one that truly desernes the name of an Adepted Philosq)her; I harrc thought and clear, then the Author of tttls Tractate, it worth my pains, and hane deemed hereby to confer not the least fanotry upon the sons of Henmee , lf I shall againe prrbltsh the hidden Work of Eenmetiek Philosophy , with the philosophens Si.gnifiet, accord-

ing to the inteution of this most nrlse Author.

FAREITELL.

Yz

THE

TII!ES

(!F

THE

ST (IIIE

The Figure described is the Philospphers

Signifi,en. SoZ

To every and Luna

Planet a double House is assigued by the Anciente, ercqtted; adjoyning.

wtrereof every one borroweth oae House onely, both of them ID the said Figure every Planet possesseth its proper lfouses. work, begin their yeare in

Philosophers in handling their Philosophicd Winter, to wit, the Sun being in

Caprieonyls I which is the former House of Saturne , and so come towards the tight hand. In the Second place the other House of Satunne is found in Aquan)us , at wfiich time Satutne , i e, tbe Blaclsresse of the Dominary work begins after 5 or 50. day. SoL coming into Pisees the worke is black, blacker then b1ack, and the head of the Crow begins to appear. and SoL entring into Aries ments begins. Caneer Those which follow unto The third month being ended, , the sublimation or separation of the EIeCaneer make the Worke White.

addeth the greatest whitenesse and splendour, and doth perfectly sitting aad reigning gloriously il her House.

fill up all the day'es of the Stone or white Sulphur, or the Lqnar worke Of Snlphur, Luna In Leo the Libra is terRegal Mansion of the Sun, the Solar work begins, which in minated into a Rubie-Stone, or perfect $rrlFhur. end Sagitarius Elixir.

The two Signes Seorpius

which remaine, are indebted to the compleating of the , and in end and perfection in the Dominion of

And thus the Philosophers 4drnin4lfs young taketh its beginning

in the R,eigne of Saturne J u p i te n .

FINIS

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