Part 1

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Please be aware that in the centuries since this book was written, medical science has progressed. The medical treatments and medicines recommended in this book should only be used under guidance of a trained medical professional. Many of the medicines suggested are now known to be deleterious to your health or poisonous.

Archaic, obsolete and inconsistent spellings have been included as in the original book. Obvious typos have been fixed. Details of these changes are at the end of the book.

A NEW LIGHT OF ALCHYMIE:

Taken out of the fountaine of NATURE, and Manuall Experience.

To which is added a TREATISE of SVLPHVR:

Written by _Micheel Sandivogius_:

_i.e._ Anagrammatically,

_DIVI LESCHI GENUS AMO_.

Also Nine Books _Of the Nature of Things_, Written by _PARACELSUS_, _viz._

{ _Generations_ }{ _Renewing_ } { }{ } { _Growthes_ }{ _Transmutation_ } _Of the_ { }{ } _of Naturall things_. { _Conservations_ }{ _Separation_ } { }{ } { _Life : Death_ }{ _Signatures_ }

Also a Chymicall Dictionary explaining hard places and words met withall in the writings of _Paracelsus_, and other obscure Authors.

All which are faithfully translated out of the _Latin_ into the _English_ tongue,

By _J. F._ M.D.

London, Printed by _Richard Cotes_, for _Thomas Williams_, at the Bible in Little-Britain, 1650.

A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK.

_The Epistle to the Reader._ _The Preface._

_A New Light of Alchymie._ Page 1. _The First Treatise: Of Nature, what she is, and what her Searchers ought to be._ 1. _The Second Treatise: Of the operation of Nature according to our intention in Sperm._ 5. _The Third Treatise: Of the true first matter of Metalls._ 9. _The Fourth Treatise: How Metalls are generated in the bowells of the Earth._ 11. _The Fifth Treatise: Of the generation of all kinds of Stones._ 14. _The Sixth Treatise: Of the second Matter, and putrefaction of things._ 17. _The Seventh Treatise: Of the vertue of the second Matter._ 22. _The Eighth Treatise: How by Art Nature works in Seed._ 24. _The Ninth Treatise: Of the commixtion of Metalls, or the drawing forth their Seed._ 26. _The Tenth Treatise: Of the supernaturall generation of the Son of the Sun._ 28. _The Eleventh Treatise: Of the Praxis, and making of the Stone, or Tincture by Art._ 30. _The Twelfth Treatise: Of the Stone, and its vertue._ 36. _The Epilogue, or Conclusion of these Twelve Treatises._ 39. _A Preface to the Philosophicall Ænigma, or Ridle._ 47. _The Parable, or Philosophicall Ridle, added by way of conclusion, and superaddition._ 51. _A Dialogue between Mercury, the Alchymist, and Nature._ 59. _A Treatise of Sulphur._ 75. _The Preface._ 75. _Of Sulphur, the Second Principle._ 81. _Of the Element of Earth._ 83. _Of the Element of Water._ 85. _Of the Element of Aire._ 95. _Of the Element of Fire._ 99. _Of the three Principles of all things._ 111. _Of Sulphur._ 126. _The Conclusion._ 143.

_Of the Nature of Things._ 1. _The First Book: Of the generations of Naturall things._ 1. _The Second Book: Of the growth, and increase of Naturall things._ 14. _The Third Book: Of the preservations of Naturall things._ 19. _The Fourth Book: Of the life of Naturall things._ 29. _The Fifth Book: Of the Death, or ruine of all things._ 35. _The Sixth Book: Of the Resurrection of Naturall things._ 51. _The Seventh Book: Of the Transmutation of Naturall things._ 61. _The Eighth Book: Of the Separation of Naturall things._ 79. _Of the Separation of Metalls from their Mines._ 85. _Of the Separation of Mineralls._ 90. _Of the Separation of Vegetables._ 92. _Of the Separation of Animalls._ 95. _The Ninth Book: Of the Signature of Naturall things._ 100. _Of the Monstrous Signes of Men._ 104. _Of the Astrall Signes of Physiognomy in Man._ 106. _Of the Astrall Signes of Chiromancy._ 118. _Of Minerall Signes._ 123. _Of some peculiar Signes of Naturall and Supernaturall things._ 135.

_A Chymicall Dictionary: Explaining Hard Places and Words met withall in the Writings of Paracelsus, and Other Obscure Authours._ _A._ _B._ _C._ _D._ _E._ _F._ _G._ _H._ _I._ _K._ _L._ _M._ _N._ _O._ _P._ _Q._ _R._ _S._ _T._ _V._ _W._ _X._ _Y._ _Z._

_Transcriber’s Note._

To the Reader.

_Judicious Reader_,

There is abundance of knowledge, yet but little truth known. The generality of our knowledg is but as Castles in the aire, or groundlesse fancies. I know but two ways that are ordained for the getting of wisdome, _viz._ the book of God, and of Nature; and these also, but as they are read with reason. Many look upon the former as a thing below them, upon the latter as a ground of Atheisme, and therefore neglect both. It is my judgement, that as to search the Scriptures is most necessary, so without reason it is impossible. Faith without reason is but implicite. If _I_ cannot understand by reason how every thing is, yet _I_ wil see some reason that a thing is so, before _I_ beleeve it to be so. I will ground my beleeving of the Scripture upon reason, I will improve my reason by Philosophy. How shall we convince gain-sayers of the truth of the Scriptures, but by principles of Reason? When God made Man after his own image, How was that? But by making him a rational creature? Men therfore that lay aside Reason in the reading of sacred mysteries, do but un-man themselves, and become further involved in a Labyrinth of errors. Hence it is that their Religion is degenerated into irrationall notions. Now to say, that pure Philosophy is true Divinity, will haply bee a paradox, yet if any one should affirm it, he would not be heterodox. When _Job_ had been a long time justifying himselfe against God, which I conceive was by reason of his ignorance of God, and himselfe; God undertakes to convince him of his errour by the principles of Nature, and to bring him to the knowledge of both: as you may see at large, _Job_ 38. Can any deny that _Hermes_, _Plato_, _Aristotle_ (though pure Naturalists) were not most deep Divines? Doe not all grant that the two first cha. of _Gen._ are true Divinity? I dare also affirm that they are the most deep and the truest Philosophy. Yea, they are the ground, and sum of all Divinity, and Philosophy: and if rightly understood, will teach thee more knowledge of God, and thy selfe, then all the books in the world besides. Now for the better understanding of them, make use of most profound _Sandivogius_ the author of the first of the ensuing Treatises, as the best Expositor of them: in that treatise of his thou shalt see the mystery of the Deity, & Nature unfolded, even to admiration: as to see what that light, and fire is which is the throne of Gods Majesty. How he is in the heaven most gloriously, & in the creatures providentially. How he is the life of that universall Spirit which is diffused through the whole world. What that Spirit of his is that moved upon the Waters. What those Waters are which are above the Firmament, and which are under the Firmament. What that Sperm and Seed was which God put into all creatures by which they should be multiplyed. The true manner of Mans Creation, and his degenerating into Mortality. The true nature of the Garden of _Eden_, or Paradise. Also the reason why Gold, which had a Seed put into it, as well as other creatures, whereby it should be multiplyed, doth not multiply. What the obstruction is, and how it may bee removed, that so it may be digested into the highest purity, and become the true Elixir, or Philosophers stone; the possibility whereof is so plainly illustrated in this book of _Sandivogius_, that let any judicious man read it over without all partiality and prejudice, but three or four times, and he shall _nolens volens_ be convinced of the truth of it, and not only of this, but of many other mysteries as incredible as this. So that if any one should ask me, What one book did most conduce to the knowledge of God and the Creature, and the mysteries thereof; _I_ should speake contrary to my judgment, if I should not, next to the sacred Writ, say _Sandivogius_. All this I speak for thy encouragement, that thou shouldst lay aside other frivolous bookes, and buy this, and read it over, & thou wilt (I question not) thank mee for my advice.

And as this booke doth in generall, so the second of these Treatises doth in particular illustrate the possibility of Nature, and the mysteries thereof, as also the nature and manner of the Generation, Growth, Conservation, Life, Death, Renewing, Transmutations, Separations, and Signatures of all naturall things, in the explication of which many rare experiments and excellent mysteries are discovered and found out.

To these is added a Chymical Dictionary, explaining hard places, and words met withall in obscure Authors. But this, and the other I speak more sparingly in the commendations of, because if read they will speak more for them selves then I can speak for them: only _I_ was willing for the _English_ nations sake, whose spirits are much drawn forth after knowledge, to translate them into the _English_ tongue. _I_ did not doe it to multiply books, (for there are too many books already; and the multitude of them is the greatest cause of our ignorance, and in them is a great vanity) but to let thee see the light of Nature, by which thou maist judg of truths, and the better conceive of the God of Nature, of whom all naturall things are full, and whose goings forth in the way of Nature are most wonderfull, even to the conviction of the greatest Atheists.

_Courteous Reader_, thou must excuse me for not affecting elegancies in these Translations, for if I were skilled in them, yet the matter of the books would not bear them. If I have sometimes used uncouth words, it was because the sense, to which _I_ kept me close, would not properly bear any other, or at least better came not at the present into my mind. If any _Errata’s_ have passed through the slips of my pen, or the _Printers_ mistake, be thou candid, and mend them. If thou shalt not approve of what _I_ have done, convince mee of my errour by doing better; for thereby thou shalt oblige the lovers of truth, and amongst the rest, thy friend

_J. F._

The Preface.

The Author wisheth all health to, and prays to God for a blessing upon all the Searchers of _Alchymie_, namely the true Sons of _Hermes_.

_Courteous Reader_,

When I considered with my self, that many adulterated books, and false Receipts (as they call them) of _Alchymists_, composed through the fraud, and covetousnesse of Impostors, in which not so much as one spark of truth appears, were in request with the Searchers of Naturall, and mysterious Arts, by which even very many have been, and still are deceived: I thought I could do no better service, then to communicate that talent, committed to my trust by the Father of Lights, to the Sons and Heirs of Wisdome. And to this end, that future ages may take notice, that this singular Philosophicall blessing of God hath not been denyed to some men, not only in former ages, but also in this. It seemed good to me for some Reasons to conceal my name, whilst I doe not seek praise to my selfe, but endeavour to be assisting to the lovers of Wisdome. Therefore I leave that vain desire of honour to those that had rather seem to bee, then to bee indeed. What here I write by way of testimony to that undoubted Philosophicall truth, comprehended in few lines, have been taken out of that Manuall experience, which the most High hath vouchsafed to mee, that they which have laid the principall, and reall foundations in this commendable Art, may by this encouragement not forsake the practise of the best things, and so bee secured from that wicked swarm of smoke-sellers, whose delight is to cheat. They are not dreams, as the ignorant vulgar call them; neither are they foolish inventions of idle men, as fools, and men void of understanding (who deride the Art) conceive them to be. It is the Philosophicall truth it selfe, which as _I_ am a lover of the truth, I ought not, nay _I_ could not for supporting and confirming the truth of _Alchymie_, undeservedly cryed out against, keep close, or bury in silence. Although it may bee much afraid in these times (when vertue and vice are esteemed alike) by reason of the unworthinesse of this age, and ingratitude, and treachery of men (to say nothing of the curses of Philosophers) to come forth upon the publick stage of the world. _I_ could produce witnesses of this Chymicall truth, _viz._ sage Authors, according to the unanimous consent of divers honorable Ancients in so many severall nations: but those things which are manifest by ocular experiment, need no further proof. Many men both of high, and low condition in these last years past, have to my knowledge seen _Diana_ unvailed. And although there may be found some idle, and ill-employed fellowes, who either out of envy, or malice, or fear of having their own frauds discovered, cry out that the soule may bee extracted out of Gold, and with the specious, and deceitfull delusion of ostentation, say it may be put to another body; not without losse and detriment of time, pains, and costs: yet let the sonnes of _Hermes_ know for certaine, that such a kind of extraction of souls (as they call them) whether out of Gold, or out of Silver (by what vulgar way of _Alchymie_ soever) is but a meer fancy: which thing indeed is not beleeved by many, but at length by experience, the onely, and true Mistris of truth is verified, and that with losse. On the contrary, hee which (in a Philosophicall way) can without any fraud and colourable deceit make it, that it shall really tinge the basest metall, whether with gain, or without gain, with the colour of Gold, or Silver (abiding all requisite tryalls whatsoever) I can justly averre hath the gates of Nature opened to him, for the enquiring into further, and higher secrets, and with the blessing of God to obtain them. Moreover, I present these present Treatises, composed out of mine own experience, to the Sonnes of Art, that whilst they are busied with all their thoughts and intentivenesse of mind in searching into the secret operations of Nature, they may thence know, and cleerly understand the truth of all things, and Nature it selfe: in which thing alone the perfection of the whole sacred Philosophicall Art consists, so that they go on in the common high-way of Nature, which shee prescribes in all her operations. Therefore _I_ would have the Courteous Reader be here admonished, that he understand my Writings not so much from the outside of my words, as from the possibility of Nature; lest afterward he bewaile his time, pains, and costs, all spent in vain. Let him consider that this Art is for the wise, not for the ignorant; and that the sense, or meaning of Philosophers is of another nature then to bee understood by vapouring _Thrasoes_ or Letter-learned scoffers, or vicious against their owne consciences, (who whilst they cannot rise by their vertues, attempt it by their villanies, and malicious detractings from honest men) or ignorant Mountebanks, who most unworthily defaming the most commendable Art of _Alchymie_, have with their Whites, and Reds deceived almost the whole world. For it is the gift of God, and truly it is not to be attained to, but by the alone favor of God, enlightning the understanding together w^{th} a patient and devout humility (or by an ocular demonstration from some experienced Master:) wherefore God justly thrusts them far from his secrets that are strangers to him. Finally, My only request to the Sonnes of Art is this, that they would take in good part my endeavouring to deserve well of them, and when they shall have made that which is occult manifest, and through the good pleasure of God in a constant way of diligence shall arrive to the longed for haven of the Philosophers, that they would, according to the custome of Philosophers, debarre all unworthy men from this Art; and not forgetting to love their poor neighbor in the feare of God (setting aside all vain ostentation) let them sing everlasting praises of thankfulnesse unto the great and good God, for so speciall a gift, and use it wel with a silent and religious joy——

Simplicity or plainnesse is the seal of truth.

A NEW LIGHT OF ALCHYMIE.

_THE FIRST TREATISE._

_Of Nature, what she is, and what her searchers ought to be._

Many wise, and very learned men many ages since, yea (Hermes testifying the same) before the floud wrote many things concerning the making the Philosophers stone; and have bequeathed so many writings unto us, that unlesse Nature should daily worke things credible to us, scarce any one would beleeve it as a truth that there were any nature at all: because in former ages there were not so many devisers of things, neither did our Ancestors regard any thing besides nature it selfe, and the possibility of nature. And although they were contented with the plaine way alone of nature, yet they found out those things, which we now imployed about divers things could not with all our wits conceive. This is because nature, and the generation of things in the world is esteemed of us meane, and plaine. And therefore we bend our wits not to things knowne, and familiar, but to such things, which not at all, or very hardly can be done. Wherefore it happens that we are more dexterous in devising curious subtilties, and such which the Philosophers themselves did never thinke of, then to attain to the true processe of nature, & the right meaning of Philosophers. And such is the disposition of mens natures, as to neglect those things they know, and to be alwaies seeking after other things; such also and much more is that of mens wits, and fancies, to which their nature is subjected. As for example; You see any Artificer, when he hath attained to the highest perfection of his Art, either searcheth into other Arts, or abuseth the same, which he already hath, or else leaves it off quite. So also is generous nature alwaies active and doing to its very Iliad (_i_) utmost period, and afterward ceaseth. For there is given to nature from the beginning a certaine kinde of grant, or permission still to attaine to things better, and better through her whole progresse, and to come to her full rest, towards which she tends with all her might, and rejoyceth in her end, as a Pismire doth in her old age, at which time nature makes her wings. Even so our wits have proceeded so farre, especially in the Phylosophicall Art, or praxis of the stone, that now we are almost come to the Iliad it selfe. For the Art of Chymistry hath now found out such subtilties, that scarce greater can be invented, and differ as much from the Art of the Ancient Philosophers as a Clock-smith doth from a plaine Black-smith: And although both worke upon Iron, yet neither understands the others labours, although both are masters of their Art. If Hermes himselfe, the father of Philosophers, should now be alive, and subtil-witted _Geber_, together with most profound _Raimundus Lullius_, they would not be accounted by our Chymists for Philosophers, but rather for Scholars: They would be ignorant of those so many distillations, so many circulations, so many calcinations, and so many other innumerable operations of Artists now adayes used, which men of this age devised, and found out of their writings. There is one only thing wanting to us, that is, to know that which they effected, _viz._ the Philosophers stone, or Physicall Tincture, we, whilest we seeke that, finde out other things: and unlesse the procreation of man were so usuall as it is, and nature did in that thing still observe her owne law, and rules, we should scarce not but erre. But to returne to what I intended; I promised in this first treatise to explaine Nature, lest every idle fancy should turne us aside from the true and plaine way. Therefore I say Nature is but one, true, plaine, perfect, and entire in its owne being, which God made from the beginning, placing his spirit in it: but know that the bounds of nature is God himselfe, who also is the originall of nature. For it is certaine, that every thing that is begun, ends no where but in that, in which it begins. I say it is that only alone, by which God workes all things: not that God cannot worke without it (for truly he himselfe made nature, and is omnipotent) but so it pleaseth him to doe. All thing proceed from this very nature alone; neither is there any thing in the world without nature. And although it happens sometimes that there be abortives; this is not natures fault, but of the Artist, or place. This nature is divided into foure places, in which she works all these things, which appeare to us under shadowes; for truely things may be said rather to be shadowed out to us, then really to appeare. She is changed in male, and female, and is likened to Mercury, because she joynes her selfe to various places; and according to the goodnesse, or the badnesse of the place she brings forth things; although to us there seeme no bad places at all in the earth. Now for qualities there be only foure, and these are in all things, but agree not, for one alwaies exceeds another. Moreover, nature is not visible, although she acts visibly; for it is a volatile spirit, which executes its office in bodies, and is placed, and seated in the will, and minde of God. Nature in this place serves us for no other purpose, but to understand her places, which are more sutable, and of nearer affinity to her; that is, to understand how to joyne one thing to another, according to nature, that we mixe not wood and man together, or an oxe or any other living creature, and metals together: but let every thing act upon its owne like: and then for certaine nature shall performe her office. The place of nature is no other then, as I said before, what is in the will of God.