Part 3
I observe not the Order of the Planets, and not without just grounds; for I observe the order of their Birth, by which I am directed; for because _Venus_ hath much Sulphur, she is sooner digested and ripened together with _Mars_, before other Metals; but because unconstant _Mercury_ shewed them both too little assistance, therefore no room is left him to work harder, by reason of the superfluous Sulphur, so that they could obtain no melioration of their unfixt Bodies. Now I will reveal a Secret unto thee, that Gold, Copper, and Iron have one Sulphur, one Tincture, and one Matter of their Colour; this Matter of the Tincture is a Spirit, a Mist and Fume; as aforesaid, which can penetrate and pass through all Bodies, if you can take it, and acuate it by the Spirit which is in the Salt of _Mars_, and then conjoin the Spirit of _Mercury_ therewith in a just weight, purging them from all impurity, that they be pleasant and well sented, without all Corrosives, you have then such a Medicine, whereunto none in the world may compare, being fermented with the bright shining Sun, you have made an entrance penetrating to work, and to transmute all Metals.
O Eternal Wisdom from the beginning! how shall we thank thee for such great Mysteries, which the Children of Men do no wayes regard, but are despised by the greater number, to know what thou hast concealed in Nature, which they see before their Eyes, and know it not; they have it in their Hands, and comprehend it not; they deal with it, and know not what they have, nor what they do, because the Internal is concealed. I will yet reveal this unto thee in truth, and by the Love of God, that the root of the Philosophical Sulphur, which is a Celestial Spirit, is found with the root of the spiritual supernatural _Mercury_, as also the beginning of the spiritual Salt, are in one, and found in one Matter, out of which the Stone is made, which was before me, and not in many things, though all Philosophers speak as if the _Mercury_, _Sulphur_, and _Salt_ were each one a part by themselves and distinct, that the _Mercury_ is found in one, the _Sulphur_ in another, and the _Salt_ in a third; yet I tell you, this is only to be understood of their superfluity, which is found to abound most in each, and may be used and prepared divers ways particularly with profit, both for Physick and transmutation of Metals; but the Universal, which is the supreamest Treasure of Earthly Wisdom, and of all the three Principles, is one only thing, and is founded and extracted out of one only thing, which can make all Metals into one, it is the true Spirit of _Mercury_, and Soul of _Sulphur_, together with the spiritual Salt, united together, inclosed under one Heaven, and dwelling in one Body, it is the Dragon and the Eagle, the King and the Lion, the Spirit and the Body, which must tinge the Body of Gold to a Medicine, that it may gain power plentifully to tinge his other Companions.
O thou blessed Medicine given by God thy Creator! O thou Celestial Magnet of great attractive Love! O thou valid substance of Metals, how great is thy power, how uninventive is thy virtue, how durable is thy constancy? happy is that man on Earth who knows thy Light in truth, which all the world takes no notice of; he shall not see poverty, no Disease shall touch him, nor no sickness hurt him, till the appointed time of death, and till the last hour predestinated for him by his Heavenly King. It is impossible for all the tongues of Men to utter the Wisdom which is laid in this Treasure of the Fountain, all Orators must be silent and ashamed at it, yea terrified and not able to speak a word, when they shall behold and discern this supernatural Glory, and I my self am afraid when I consider that I have discovered too much. But I hope to prevail with God by Prayer, that he will not charge it on me as a deadly Sin, because I began the Work in his Fear, obtained it by his Grace, and revealed it for his Glory.
O thou holy everlasting Trinity! I praise, honour, and magnifie thee with Heart and Mouth, that thou hast revealed unto me the great wisdom of this earthly World, next unto thy Divine Word, whereby I have known thy Almighty Power, and supernatural Wonders, which Man will not discern; I heartily beseech thee to give me more understanding and wisdom, that I may bestow the use and profit thereof with a continual Sacrifice of Praise before thee, unto the Christian-like Love of my Neighbour, and to my own welfare both spiritual and corporal, in power and virtue, that thy Name may be made glorious, honoured, and praised, for all thy works in Heaven and Earth; and that my Enemies may know, that thou art the Lord full of eternal Wonders, that they may repent and be converted, and not be drowned in the falshood of Darkness. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost help me, and all of us, from his heavenly Throne, exalted above all Glory, Might, and Majesty, whose Wisdom hath neither beginning nor end, and before whom all Celestial, Earthly, and Hellish Creatures must tremble with fear, to him be Glory forever, _Amen_.
O _Seraphin_! O _Cherubin_! how great are thy Wonders and Actions, look graciously upon thy servant, and be entreated to be pacified that he hath manifested this.
The Reader must moreover know concerning the Generation of Copper, and observe, that it is generated of much _Sulphur_, but its _Mercury_ and Salt are in an equality, for there is found to be no more or less of the one than of the other, seeing then that the _Sulphur_ in quantity excels the _Mercury_ and the Salt, thence arises a great coloured redness, which possesses the Metal, that the _Mercury_ cannot perform its fixation, that a fixt Body should be generated thereof. Observe and understand it so of Copper, that the form of _Venus_ Body is so stated as that of a Tree, which abounds in Rosen, as the Larch Tree, the Firr, the Pine, Deal Tree, and other sorts of Trees more, the Rosen of the Tree is its _Sulphur_, which it evacuates at sometimes by reason of its superfluity, for it cannot bear it all; such a Tree which is tinged with abundance of fatness, by the digestion of Nature and the Elements, burns quickly and freely, and is not ponderous, nor so durable as is the Oak, or other hard wood which is close and compact, whose Pores are not so open, as those sorts of light wood, and wherein the Sulphur doth not so predominate, but the Oak hath therefore the more _Mercury_, and a better Salt than the Pine, Firr, and Deal trees have, and such wood doth not float so well above the water, as the Deal, being bound & closed up compactly, so that the Air is easily prevented in bearing it up. So is it to be observed of Metals, and especially of Gold, which by reason of its abundant, fixt, digested and ripe _Mercury_, hath a very close, fast and compact, fixt and invincible Body, which neither Fire nor Water, Air, nor any Corruption of the Earth can prejudice, that the consuming power of the Elements can do them no harm; this fixedness & close compacted Conjunction gives evidence of its natural ponderosity, which cannot be evidenced in other Metals, which is to be observed, not only by weighing it in the scales, but likewise you will find it thus: if you lay but a scruple of pure Gold upon a hundred weight of Quicksilver, it immediately sinks to the bottom, whereas all other Metals being laid upon Quicksilver in like manner, float on the top of it, and sink not to the bottom, because they are more open, that the Air or Wind can penetrate them and bear them up.
Now what further concerns the Spirit of _Venus_ or Copper in Physick, you must last of all take notice and observe, that it is throughout in its virtue and power discerned to be very wholsom and beneficial, not only that Spirit which lies in the first _Ens_, but also that very Spirit which is found in the last Matter, its virtue, power and operation is, that it is preferred before all other Medicines in the Rising of the _Matrix_: It's like is not yet found particularly against the _Falling Sickness_. This Spirit hath also received an especial gift to dry the _Dropsie_ up; it preserves the Bloud from putrefaction, digests all which is adverse to the Stomach, breaks the Stone, of what kind soever it be. Externally in Wounds, this Spirit lays a ground to heal: _Noli me tangere_ and all other Sores cannot defend themselves, nor their ill Qualities, but this Spirit doth assault them, and prepares a good ground for their Cure; externally it mundifies and searches out that whereby the Medicine may operate, fasten, and make a beginning of the Cure. Internally this Spirit penetrates through & through, searching out all that is evil in the Body; even as doth the noblest Vulnerary potion; No Imposthume can withstand this Spirit, but is reformed by it. I say briefly, observe the Spirit of _Venus_ very well, it will manifest it self to admiration both internally and externally, that many will esteem it to be incredible & supernatural. Last of all, you must understand that this Spirit of _Copper_ is a fiery Spirit, penetrating, searching and consuming all evil Humours, and superfluous Flegme in Man and Metals, and may in reason be accounted the Crown of Medicines; it is very fiery and sharp, incombustible, but spiritual and unformal, and therefore as a Spirit it can particularly help to make unformal things fiery, digest and ripen them; and if you are a true Naturalist, I recommend this Spirit unto thee; it will not fail thee in the least, in any necessity of Health or Wealth, in case you observe it rightly, and execute according to Justice. I hope my Call and Request will at last take place, and have a hearing with those who regard Nature, and have an earnest and longing desire to search out, and learn, whereby they may whet their Wits, open their Eyes, and let their Ears hear, and learn such a thing out of my Advice, which was never taken notice of, or learn'd before, and is to be found in this Spirit of Copper, internal and external. He that doth not observe, or truly understand my Writings, will not fathom many Secrets, nor search out to purpose and in truth, nor learn to advantage without me, therefore no Man can direct me, as concerning the Spirit of Copper, except he hath beforehand inverted and turned the Copper inside outwards, and truly learned all the Mysteries of its internal Virtues, as I have done, if he can find out any thing better, which I know not, I earnestly desire him not to conceal any thing, so shall his instruction be well rewarded, with a thousand-fold advantage, and recommend you herewith to the Highest Creator.
V_ain Reason cannot alwayes apprehend_ E_ach matter which_ Venus _can bring to an end:_ N_o man can find it presently in sence,_ V_ain Reason banns it far away from thence;_ S_uch a Spirit only can all things speed,_ _So that_ Mercury _be joyn'd with it indeed._
CHAP. V.
_Of the Spirit and Tincture of_ Mars.
_Mars_ and _Venus_ have a Spirit and Tincture as well as Gold and other Metals, be that Spirit which is in each Metal never so mean and little. It is undeniable and known to all, that many men have many minds, though all men originally are of one first Matter, born and produced from one Seed; yet have they divers different Minds, because the Stars have so operated them, and not without cause; for the influences of the great World operates the next to it in the little World; for all Opinions, Natures and Thoughts, together with the whole complection of Man proceed alone from one Influence of the Stars, manifesting themselves according to the Course of the Planets and Stars, so that nothing can prevent, nor can such Influences hinder it, when the Birth hath attained to the end of its perfection.
As a man is naturally inclined to study; one delights in Divinity, another in the study of the Laws, a third in Physick, a fourth will be a Philosopher; moreover there are many Wits who are naturally inclined to the Mechanicks; as the one is a Painter, another a Goldsmith; the one a Shoomaker, the other a Taylor, a Carver, and so forth, divers and innumerable; all this happens by the Stars influence, whereby the Imagination is supernaturally founded & fortified, and whereupon it is resolved to rest; as it is found, that what a man hath once conceived in his Mind, and framed a foundation thereof, none can divert him from a constant resolution and relying thereon, except Death, which at last concludes all. So is it to be understood of _Alchymists_, who are set upon the search of Natures Secrets, they intend not to cease, till they have discover'd Nature, absolved it quite, and brought all to an end, which cannot well be done.
Even so is it to be understood of Metals, according as the Influence and Imagination is from above, so is the Form; and although the Metals be called Metals in general, and are such, yet you have understood by the various minds of men, which yet proceed from one Matter, that there may be manifold and divers Metals, one hot and dry, another cold and moist, a third assuming a mixt Nature and Complection to it self. Therefore the Metal of _Mars_ being ordained in its degree by a gross Salt before others in the greatest quantity, is found to have the hardest, ungentle, strongest, and grossest Body, which Nature appropriated and granted to it, it hath the least portion of _Mercury_, but more of _Sulphur_, and most of _Salt_, hence, and from such a mixture or composition is its corporal essence descended, and born into the world by help of the Elements. Its Spirit is like to the other Spirits in operation, but if you can know the right and true Spirit of _Mars_, I tell you truly, and in true Wisdom, that one grain of its Spirit or Quintessence drunk with the Spirit of Wine, strengthens the Heart, Courage, and Senses, so that you shall fear no Foes; it raises up in him the Courage of a Lion, and provokes a desire to hunt and fight at _Venus_ sports. When the Conjunction of _Mars_ and _Venus_ are rightly placed in a certain Constellation, they bring Fortune and Victory in Love and Affection, in Battel and joy, remaining in unity though the whole World should be against them: But because I am an Ecclesiastick under Church Government, and dedicated my Soul to God, without provocation of humane desires, and lusts of the Flesh, for they lead a direct way to Hell without leave; but Gods Commands, Fear, and a rejection of Mans Will, which are tollerated by his Commands, prepare a way to Heaven, if they continue in the true calling upon, and in the true and right Faith of the only Throne of Grace, Mediator and Patron _Jesus Christ_ our Saviour. All Martial Diseases are expell'd, cured, and healed in an admirable manner by this Spirit; such as are the _Bloody Flux_, the Disease or Menstruous _Fluxes_ of Women, both white and red, and all other _Fluxes_ of the Belly, and open _Sores_ in the Legs, or any part of the Body, together with all those Diseases, both internal and external, howsoever they are called, which bloody _Mars_ hath caused, which I omit to nominate particularly, being well known unto the discreet Physician what Diseases are subject to the jurisdiction of _Mars_. If the Spirit of Iron be truly known, it hath a secret affinity with the Spirit of _Venus_, so that both may be conjoined in one, both becoming one only matter, of a like operation, form, substance and being, healing and expelling the self-same Diseases, as also to bring the particulars of the Metals into a change with profit, praise, and excess. But properly _Mars_ must be observed thus with its virtues, that in his Corporal form he only hath an earthly Body, which may be used in many things, for to stanch Bloud, externally in Wounds, to graduate _Luna_, internally to stop or bind the Body, which yet is not good at all times, and may be used both internally & externally in mans Body, as likewise in Metallick affairs; because without the true known means, which Nature hath in her secret Closet, much profit cannot be gotten _per se_.
One thing more I must at present propose, that the Magnet and true Iron perform almost a like benefit in Corporal Distempers, having almost one kind of Nature in and with them, as it is with it in the Celestial, spiritual, and Elementary Intellect, between the Body, Soul, and the Chaos, out of which the Soul and Spirit went, the Body at last was found out of the Composition.
How shall we now do? the gross dull-witted Lads will not apprehend it, the middle sort of Wits will take no notice of what I write, and the supernatural wits will descant too much upon it; I must find out a remedy, and would willingly preserve all these over-wise-people to be my Friends still. I will now teach, instruct, and presently inform you, seeing that the Argument it self declares and pronounces its definitive sentence, therefore the resolution lies open, and can be declared and resolved, reserved nor directed to any other sentence of the understanding, further than for it self.
Last of all, reserve this hereupon in this Chapter, that there can be no House kept to stand in unity between the Married Couple, if the one of them turn his Coach and drive to the East, and the other towards the West, for they are not equal, so that they cannot draw the Coach together in an equal weight, whereby there arises a great dissention and hinderance, in obtaining that which was intended: but if true Married People will carry on their House-keeping with a right subsistance, they must be of one spirit, mind, judgment and virtue, to accomplish all whatsoever is in their heart and mind, and that the one operate into the other, if their Love and Truth shall be permanent; for want of one of these things, the three principles cannot be truly together; for the _Mercury_ is banisht, and too little by reason of the firmness and constancy; the _Sulphur_ is too little, it cannot warm the Body of Love, because it is very much extinct; the _Salt_ likewise hath not its right, convenient, natural kind, but is too hard and too much, seeing it makes a hard coagulation, is sharp and biting, because it doth not manifest it self in truth and constancy. Even so it goes now in the World, which goes astray, and is pregnant with such Vices, for the constancy is but small, the Love little, and Truth as little.
I hope you will take this Philosophical Example in good part, because _Syrach_ doth both praise and dispraise the goodness, truth, and wickedness of a false Woman, and both after a different manner; and herewith I bid _Mars_ Farewell, saying, that no man knows how to distinguish the Sentence of one, much less of all things, but he who hath in this point taken notice of them, learned and experimented their Nature and Properties, and truly known and discovered them. God our Heavenly Father, the Everlasting Power, proceeding from all beginning, separate us so in the Form, that the terrestrial corruptible Body may again attain unto, contain, and receive the Celestial, Spiritual and Incorruptible Revelation. _Amen._
M_aist thou not know me alone indeed,_ A_nd procure a pure help for me in need;_ R_esolve then, and hear what I do speak or say,_ S_o shalt thou find what I can do for aye._
CHAP. VI.
_Of the Spirit of_ Gold.
The Clearness of Heaven hath now commanded me to govern my Pen, to reveal a matter of valour and of permanency; for the Sun is a burning and consuming Fire, hot and dry, wherein is concealed the right and true virtue of all Natural things; this virtue of the Sun worketh Understanding, Riches, and Health. My Mind is very much grieved, and my Spirit is terrified within it self to discover it publickly, which was not publish'd in common before, and to make it vocal, which was concealed in the deep with great secresie. But if I consider in my self, and enter into my Conscience, I could find no alteration, nor catch at any thing to disturb my mind, or bring it to another resolution, which might cause many Obstructions: Yet will I speak with discretion, and write understanding, that no evil with may follow, but rather that I may gain a grateful profit, which I have pourtrayed after the manner and occasion, as the Philosophers before me have done.
Mark now, give your Mind perfect Thoughts, refrain all strange matters, which are not serviceable to your speculation of Philosophy, but rather cause a ruine of that benefit, which you pursued with so much diligence; and know if you have a hearty desire and strong affection to gain the Golden Magnet, that in the first place your prayer be truly directed to God, in true Knowledge, Sorrow, Repentance, and true Humility, to know and learn the three distinct Worlds which are subject to Humane Reason; as, there is the Super-celestial World, wherein the right immortal Soul hath its seat and residence, together with its first coming, and is according to Gods Creation the first moveable Sense, or the first moving sensible Soul, which hath operated the Natural Life from a Supernatural Essence; this Soul and Spirit is at first the Root and Fountain, the first Creature which arose to a Life, and the first Mover, whereof there hath been so much Disputing among the Learned.
Now take notice of the second Celestial World, and observe it diligently, for therein the Planets rule, and all the Stars of Heaven have their course, virtue and power in this Heaven, performing that Service therein whereunto they are by God ordained, and in this service they operate the Minerals and Metals by their Spirit.
Go now out of these 2 distinct Worlds into the third, wherein is contained and found what the other two have wrought, to wit, the Super-celestial and the Celestial worlds; out of the Super-celestial arises the Fountain of Life, and of the Soul; out of the other Celestial world the light of the Spirit; and out of the third or Elementary world, the invincible Celestial Fire, which yet may be felt, out of which, that which is tangible is digested; these three Matters and Substances produce and generate the Form of Metals, among all which Gold hath the pre-eminence, because the Sidereal & Elementary Operation hath digested and ripened the _Mercury_ in this Metal the more perfectly to a sufficient ripeness.
And even as the Male-Seed is injected into the Womb, and touches the _Menstruum_, which is its Earth, but the Seed which goes out of the Male into the Female, is operated in both by the Sydereal and Elementary, that they be united, and nourished by the Earth unto the Birth.
Even so understand it likewise, that the Soul of Metals which is formed and conceived out of the _Chaos_ by an intangible, invisible, incomprehensible, concealed, and supernatural, Celestial Composition of Water and Air; afterwards it is further concocted by the Celestial Elementary Light and Fire of the Sun; whereby the Stars move the Powers, when its heat is perceived in the inward parts of the Earth, as in the Womb, for the Earth is opened by the warm operating property of the upper Stars, that their infused Spirit yield a nourishment unto the Earth, that it may bring forth somewhat, as Metals, Herbs, Trees and Animals; where each one in particular brings its Seed with it for its farther augmentation and encrease: And as hath been mentioned, even as Man is begotten spiritually and heavenly, Soul and Spirit, and by the nourishment of the Earth in the Body of the Mother is formally brought up to perfection; even so, and in like manner, is to be observed and understood of the Metals and Minerals in all points.
But this is the true mystery of Gold, which I will make good to you by an Example and Parable to certifie you, whereby the possibility of Nature, and its Mystery is to be found after this manner.