Of the Secrets of Alchymy, discovered in the nature of the planets

Paracelsus Of the Secrets of ALCHYMY; Discovered, in the Nature of the PLANETS.

CHAP. I. Of simple Fire.

IN the first place, we shall endeavour and undertake to declare, what this Art comprehendeth, and what is the subject thereof; and what are its proprieties.

The prime and chief subject to this Art belonging, is fire; which always liveth in one and the same propriety and operation; neither can it receive life from any thing else. Wherefore it hath a condition and power, as all fires that lie hid in secret things, have, of vivification, no otherwise then the Sun is appointed of God, which heateth all the things of the world, both secret, apparent & manifest; as the Spheres of Mars, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Luna, which can give no other light but what they borrow from the Sun, for they are dead of themselves. Nevertheless, when they are kindled, as above is spoken, they worke and operate according to their properties. But the Sun himself receiveth his light from no other but from God himself, who ruleth him by himself, so that he burneth and shineth in him. It is no otherwise in this art. The fire in the furnace is compared to the Sun, which heateth the furnace and the vessels, as the Sun in the great world; for even as nothing can be brought forth in the world without the Sun, so likewise in this Art nothing can be produced without this Simple fire; no operation can be made without it: it is the greatest secret of this Art; comprehending all things which are comprehended therein, neither can it be comprehended in any else; for it abideth by it self: it lacketh nothing; but other things which want that, do injoy it, and have life from it; wherefore we have in the first place undertooke to declare it.

CHAP. II. Of the multiplicity of fire, from which varieties of Metalls do arise.

WE have first written of simple fire which liveth and subsisteth of it self: now we come to speake of a manifold spirit or fire, which is the cause of variety and diversity of creatures, so that there cannot one be found right like another, and the same in every part; as it may be seen in Metals, of which there is none which hath another like it self; the Sun produceth his gold; the Moon produceth another Metal far different, to wit, silver; Mars another, that is to say, Iron; Jupiter produceth another kind of Metal, to wit, Tin; Venus another, which is Copper; and Saturn another kind, that is to say, Lead: so that they are all unlike, and several one from another: the same appeareth to be as well amongst men as all other creatures, the cause whereof is the multiplicity of fire. As by some heat is produced a mean generation by the corruption thereof; the washing of the Sea another, Ashes another, Sand another, Flame of fire another, and another of Coales, &c. This variety of creatures is not made of the first simple fire, but of the regiment of elements, which is various; not from the Sun, but from the course of the seven Planets. And this is the reason that the world containeth nothing of similitude in its individuals: for as the heat is altered and changed every hour and minute; so also all other things are varyed: for the transmutation of the fire is made in the elements, in which bodies it is imprinted by this fire. Where there is no great mixture of the elements, the Sun bringeth forth; where it is a little more thicke, the Moon; where more gross, Venus: and thus according to the diversity of mixtures, are produced divers Metals; so that no Metal appeareth in the same mine like another. It is therefore to be known, that this variety of Metals is made of the mixture of the Elements, because that their spirits are also found divers and without similitude; which if they were brought forth from the simple fire, they would be so like, that one could not be known from another: but the manifold variety of forms interceding, hath introduced the same among the creatures. From this it may easily be gathered, why so many and so various forms of Metals are found, and wherefore there is none like unto another.

CHAP. III. Of the spirit or tincture of ☉︎.

NOw we come to the spirits of the Planets or Metals. The spirit or tincture of the Sun taketh its beginning from a pure, subtil, and perfect fire; whereby it cometh to pass, that it far excelleth all other spirits and tinctures of Metals: for it remaineth constantly fixed in the fire, out of which it flyeth not; neither is it consumed thereby, much less burnt, but rather appeareth more cleere, faire and pure by it; also no heat nor cold can hurt it, nor no other accident, as in the other spirits or tinctures of Metals: and for this cause, the body which it once putteth on, it defendeth from all accidents and diseases, that it may be able to sustain the fire without detriment. This body hath not this power and virtue in it self, but from the spirit of the Sun which is included therein: for we know that the Sun is the body of Mercury, and that this body cannot sustain nor suffer this fire, but flyeth from it; when as it doth not fly from the fire when it is in the Sun, but remaineth constant and fixed therein. This affordeth unto us a most certain Judgement, that it receiveth such a constancy from his spirit or tincture: wherefore if that spirit can be in this Mercury, every one may judge that it may worke the same in the bodies of men, when it is received of them; as we have sufficiently spoken in our Magna Chirurgia, of the tincture of the Sun, that it will not onely restore and preserve them that use it, from infirmities, but also preserve them to sound and long life. In like manner, the strength & virtues of all other Metals are to be known from true experience, not from the wisdom of men and of the world, which is foolishness with God & his truth; and all those who do build upon that wisdom, and repose their hope thereupon are miserably deceived.

CHAP. IV. Of the tincture and Spirit of the ☽︎.

HAving now spoken of the tincture of the Sun, it remaineth that we come now to speak of the tincture of the Moon, and of the white tincture, which is also created of a perfect spirit, but less perfect then the spirit of the Sun. Nevertheless it excelleth the tinctures of all other Metals following, both in purity & subtilty; which is very well known to all that treat of the Moon, and also to Rusticks: for it suffereth not rust, neitheir is it consumed by the fire; as all other Metals, as Saturn, which fly from the fire; but this doth not: from whence it may be gathered, that this tincture is far more excellent then the other following, for it preserveth its body that it assumeth constantly in the fire, without any accident or detriment: and from hence it is sufficiently manifest, if this in his own corruptible body by himself maketh Mercury, what will it be able to effect, being extracted from it self into another body? will not that also save and defend from infirmities and accidents after the same manner? Yes surely, if it make this Mercury in its own body, it will do the same in the bodies of men: neither doth it onely preserve health, but causeth long life, and cureth diseases and infirmities, even in those who subsist beyond the ordinary course of nature: for the more high, subtile and perfect the medicine is, so much the better and more perfectly it cureth; wherefore they are Ignorant Physitians, who practice their Art onely upon vegetables, as herbs and such-like things, which are easily corrupted: and by these, they endeaour to effect & bring to pass such workes as are firme and stable; but in vain, whenas they occupy the Aire. But wherefore should we speake much concerning these? They never learned any better things in their Universities: therefore if they have been compelled so to learn and study from their beginning, they think it a great disgrace to them to do otherwise for the future: whereby it comes to pass, that they still continue in their old Ignorance.

CHAP. V. Of the spirit of ♀︎.

WE have even now made mention of a white spirit, or candid tincture: now we come to speake of a Red spirit, which is derived out of a Gross Elementary mixture of the superiours, to which also it is joyned, & is of a more perfect substance, then the spirits and tinctures of the other subsequent Metals, because it endureth the fire longer then the other, and is not so soon melted or dissolved as the other spirits which follow. Also the ayre, and the humidity of the fire, are not so nocent unto it, as unto Mars; by reason whereof, it doth the longer endure the fire. This power and property hath Venus, that is his body, from the spirit that is infused into it. Now the same effect that it worketh in its own body, that is, in Venus, the same effects it also produeth in the bodies of men, so far forth as nature hath granted unto it; for it preserveth wounds in such manner, so that no accident can invade them, nor the Air or water hurt them; and expelleth all such diseases as are under the degree thereof. This spirit also breaketh the bodies of Metals, so that they will endure the hammer; and also in the bodies of men, when it is taken of them with whom it agreeth not, it effecteth things not convenient. Wherefore it is very necessary, that the Physitian that desires to make use of these spirits, be very expert in the knowledge of Metals. Therefore it is far better to use the more perfect spirits, which may be taken without any such feare of danger: nevertheless, seeing the spirits of the Sun and Moon are dear and precious, so that every one is not able to accomplish them, to perform cures with, therefore every one must take according to his ability, what he is able to attain unto: also every one is not so wealthy, that he can be able to prepare these medicines; therefore he is forced to take such as he can have. Every one may from hence easily gather, that the Metallike medicines do far exceed vegetables and Animals in strength and power of curing and healing. And thus-much of the spirit of Venus.

CHAP. VI. Of the Spirit of ♂︎.

THat we may now come to speake of the Spirit of Mars, that is of a more Gross and combustible mixture of Elements, then the other spirits going before; but the Spirit of Mars is endued with a greater hardness then the other Metals; so that it doth not so easily melt and dissolve in the fire, as the other following. But it suffers much hurt both by the water and the Aire, so that it is consumed by them, and is burnt with the fire, as experience makes appeare: Wherefore the Spirit thereof is more imperfect then any of the superiour spirits: but in hardness and dryness it exceedeth all other Metals, both superiour and inferiour: for it doth not onely retain a perfect substance, and resist the hammer, as the Sun and Moon, but also as those which are within it self, as Jupiter and Saturn, and the like. Whereas therefore it thus worketh in Metals, it sheweth that it hath the same effect in the bodies of men, that is, it produceth reluctancy; especially where it is taken for a disease not convenient, it grievously afflicteth the members with pain. Nevertheless, when it is taken and applyed for wounds, such as do not exceed its own degree, it cleanseth and mundifieth them, &c. Wherefore this spirit is not much less in power and virtue then one of the superiours, in those things for which it was by God and Nature ordained.

CHAP. VII. Of the Spirit of ♃︎.

OF the spirit of Jupiter, we are to know, that it is derived of a white and pale substance of fire; but it is of a frangible and brittle nature, not enduring the hammer, so as Mars: wherefore it is a brittle Metal: an example thereof appears, if it be mixed with the Moon, it can hardly be wrought to its first malleation, without great labour: the same effect it hath in all other Metals, except in Saturn onely. And the same operation which it hath in the bodies of metals, it also produceth the same effects in humane bodies; but burneth & corrodeth the members, hindring them from their own perfect operations, thereby disabling them form performing the work which nature requires, & necessitates them unto. Nevertheless, this spirit hath in it this virture, that it taketh away the ulcers of cancers, fistula's and such like, especially such as exceed not the degree of its nature which God and Nature have given unto it.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Spirit of ♄︎.

THe Spirit of Saturn is formed and created of a dry, cold and blacke mixture of the Elements; whereby it comes to pass, that amongst all other Metals, it endureth least in the fire: Whereas the Sun and Moon are proved to be durable: if Saturn be added to them, it clearly refineth them; nevertheless the nature thereof is to diminish their hardness. The same operation it hath in the bodies of men, but with great pain and dolour, as Jupiter and Mars, by reason of the mixture that it hath with the cold, wherefore it cannot so mildly operate. But it hath great power and vertue in the cures of fistula's, cancers and ulcers, which are under the degree and nature thereof: it expelleth outward diseases, and the outward impurities of the Moon. Nevertheless if it be not carefully applyed, it doth more hurt then good; wherefore he that would rightly use it, ought necessarily to know the nature thereof, and what diseases it cureth, and may be applyed unto: which being necessarily considered, no hurt will follow thereby.

CHAP. IX. Of the Gross Spirit of ☿︎.

THe Spirit of Mercury, which is onely subjected to the other superiour Spirits, hath no certain determinate form or substance in it self: hereby it comes to pass that it admitteth every other Metal: even as wax receiveth the impression of all forms of Seales, so this Elementary Spirit cometh to be compared to the other Spirits of Metals: for if it receive into it self the Spirit of the Sun, this shall be made out of it self; if the Moon, she is made out of it self: the same effect this Spirit worketh with all the other Metals with whom it agreeth, and receiveth their properties into it self: for this cause, according to its body, it is appropriated to the other Spirits above written, even as the Male to the Female: for the Sun is the body of Mercury, except onely that the Sun fastneth and fixeth the Mercury; but the common Mercury is inconstant and volatile: nevertheless it is subject to all the Spirits aforesaid, and generateth again, not onely the metallicke Spirits and tinctures afore spoken of, but the Metal it self, by which the aforenamed tinctures do come into their operation: But if the mean be not observed, it will be inpossible ever to bring those kind of tinctures to perfection: for if the fire be too high which should vivifie this tincture, it doth extinguish it, that it cannot operate; and the same effect is, if it be too weake: wherefore in this place it is necessary to be known what medium is to be observed in this Art, and what are the strength and properties thereof; and also after what manner it is to be ordered, and how the tinctures are to be coloured, and to bring them to a perfect worke, that they may germinate and appeare. Thus briefly do we conclude and end our first Treatise.

The end of the first Treatise.

The second Treatise; of the Philosophers Mercury, and the medium of Tinctures.

In the first Treatise we have written of the Spirits and Tinctures of Metals, &c. Declaring all their properties and natures, and what every Metal generateth. In this second, we shall treat of the medium of Tinctures, that is, of the Philosophers Mercury; whereby are made the Tinctures and Leaven of Metals, in seven Chapters following.

CHAP. I. Of what the Tinctures and Leavens are made.

WHosoever desireth to have the tincture of Metals, he ought to take the Philosophers Mercury, & let him cast the same into its own end, that is, into quick Mercury, from whence it proceedeth; & hereby it wil come to pass, that the Philosophers Mercury shall be dissolved in the quick Mercury, and shall receive its strength: so that the Mercury of the Philosophers killeth the quick Mercury, & maketh it remain fixed in the fire of the same existence with it self: for there is the like concordancy between these Mercuries, as is between Male and Female, man and wife; for they are both derived of the gross spirits of metals, except that the body of Sol remaineth firm & fixed in the fire: but the quicke Mercury is not fixed; nevertheless they may be appropriated one to another, as graine of corn or seed are to the earth; which we will demonstrate by an example, after this manner: If any one sowe barley, the same he shall reape; if Wheat or Rye, or any other grain, the same he shall gather, &c. even so it is in this art; if any one sowe the Gold of Sol, the same he reapeth; & of the Moon, he shall gather; and so also of all other Metals. For this reason we say in this place, that the Tinctures do spring out of Mettals, that is, out of the Philosophers Mercury, and not from the quicke Mercury; but this produceth the Seed which first conceiveth.

CHAP. II. Of the Conjunction of Male and Female, of man and woman.

IT is first of all necessary to be known, that the Mercury of the Philosophers, and the quicke Mercury, are both to be conjoyned and firmly united and fixed together; how much thereof is to be taken: neither more nor less then equal, is to be taken, lest it hindreth, or altogether destroyeth the whole worke; For the seed is suffocated with superfluity, that it cannot live so long until it be joyned and fixed to the Philosophers Mercury. But if there be too little, that it cannot be dissolved into a body, it is also destroyed, that it cannot be able to bring forth any fruit: wherefore the Artificer ought certainly to know how much of the one, and the other ought to be taken, if he would bring this worke to its perfect end; the Receipt thereof is this: Take one part to two, or three to four, and thou canst not erre, but shalt attain to thy desired end.

CHAP. III. Of the form of the Instruments of Glass.

THe Materials being thus rightly and duly prepared and mixt together, then you must have Glass-vessels, of due proportion, and even fitness and capacity; neither too great nor too little, but fit: For if the vessels be too big, the Female, that is, the flegme, is dispersed and lost; whereby it comes to pass that the seed cannot bring forth: where the vessels are too little, the growth is suffocated that it cannot come to fruit, no otherwise but as if seed should be sowne under trees or under thornes, so that it cannot bud and spring up, but perisheth without any fruit; therefore no little error may happen by the vessels; which being once committed, cannot be any more mended in the same worke: neither can that worke be perfected or brought to any good end. Wherefore, note what follows, to wit, that you take three ounces with the half, and four pounds; so the proceeding is right, and you shall preserve the matter that it be not dispersed, nor the Phlegme nor the generation impedited, &c.

CHAP. IV. Of the properties of the fire.

WHen you have placed the matter in fit vessels, you shall carefully keep and maintain the natural heat, that the externall heat do not overcome or abound over the internal; for if the heat be too much, there can be no conjunction made, by reason that the matter is dispersed and burnt by the vehemency of the heat, so that no good ariseth thereby. Wherefore the middle region of the air is by nature ordained between heaven and earth; otherwise the Sun and Stars would burn up all the creatures upon the earth, so that nothing could be produced or spring forth from it: therefore so work, that you put such an Airy part or distance between the matter and the fire; after this manner let it be done, that the heat may not easily do hurt any wayes, nor disperse the matter, much-less burn it: but if the fire be too little, and not quick enough, the Spirit then resteth, the fire nothing operating upon its humidity; neither will it be exsiccated nor fixed: for the Spirits of Metals are dead of themselves, and do rest, so that they cannot at all operate of themselves, unless they are quickned by the fire. It is no otherwise in the great Universe of the world, where seed being cast into the earth, is dead, and cannot grow nor increase of it self, unless it be quickned by the heat of the Sun; It is chiefly necessary therefore in this worke, to erect and build the fire right and proportionably, neither too great nor too little; otherwise this worke will never be brought to a perfect and desired end.

CHAP. V. Of the Signes appearing in the union of Conjunction.

THe fire being moderately kept & maintained, the matter by little and little will be moved to blackness; afterwards, when the dryness begins to worke upon the humidity, there will likewise arise in the Glass, various flowers of divers colours, such as appeare like the taile of a Peacocke, and such as no man ever saw before. Also somtimes the Glass appeareth as if it were almost drawn into Gold; which being perceived, it sheweth certainly that the seed of the Male doth rule and operate upon the seed of the Female, and that the same is fixed together; that is, this Mercury is fixed and worketh upon the quick Mercury, and beginneth to be mixed with it: afterwards, when the humidity begins to weare away by the dryness, those colours do disperse, and the matter then beginneth at length to wax white, and so proceedeth until it come to the highest degree of whiteness. But especially it is to be noted, that the thing is not to be hastened, according to their opinions who suppose such work to be like unto that which is discerned in the production of corn, and of mankind; to wit, the time of bringing forth the one, is in the Space of nine moneths; the other, ten or twelve moneths. For so soon the Sun and Moon do cause Maturity, and bring to the birth, as the infant from the belly of his Mother; so the grain from the bowells of the earth. For it is to be known, that every thing that is quickly or hastily made or born, doth soon perish: An example hereof, both men & herbs do afford. They which are soonest produced or born, their life is short: it is not so with the Sun and Moon; for they cause a far more perfect nature in men; whereby it comes to pass, that they produce long life to them, and preserve them from many accidents and diseases.

CHAP. VI. Of the knowledge of the perfect Tincture

IN the foregoing chapter, we have set forth how the matter it self worketh by degrees: but in this, we shall declare, by what means it may be known when it is perfect. Thus do: take the white stone of the Moon, by which the white springeth, and separate a little peece from it with a paire of Scissars, and put it upon a plate of Copper, heating it glowing hot in the fire: if it smoke, then the stone is not perfect, therefore it must remain longer in the decoction, until the stone come to its degree of perfection: but if it do not smoke, then be assured it is perfect: the same is to be done with the Red stone of the Sun, in the degrees of the operation thereof.

CHAP. VII. To Augment or Multiply the Tinctures.

WHen you would Multiply or increase the Tincture you have found, mixt it together again with common Mercury, and worke it in all things as at first, and double one part a hundred times more then it was coloured before; this do often-times over again, until you have as much matter as you will: and by how much the longer it remaineth in the fire, by so much the higher and more sublime will the degrees thereof be; so that one part thereof will change the infinity of the quick Mercury, into the best and most perfect Luna and Sol. Now you have the whole progression from the beginning to the end; wherewith we end this second Treatise, and begin the third.

The end of the second Treatise.

In the second Treatise, we have told how the Tinctures or Leavens ought to be made; in the third, we shall declare and amply set forth wherewith the Tinctures of the Sun and Moon are made; and after what manner Sol and the other Planets ought to be made; to wit, with the Furnace and the Fire.

CHAP. I. Of the building of the Furnace; and, of the Fire.

MErcurius Hermes Trismegistus, saith, That he which would perfect this Art, must, as it were, build a new World; for after the same manner as God created the Heaven and Earth, the Furnace with the Fire is to be built and governed. That is to say, after this manner: First, Let there be a Furnace built of the height of six spans, extended from the top of the fingers to the thumb; and in breadth one handful; in the inside, let it be round and plain, lest the Coals cleave unto it; from whence let it a little decline to the border thereof; and let there be holes left underneath four fingers broad, and let every hole of the Furnace be supplied with a Copper Cauldron to contain the Water. Afterwards, take good and hard Coals, which you shall break in Gobbets about the bigness of a Walnut; with these fill the long Furnace; which then is to be stopped up, that they may not burn out. And afterwards, let some Coals be kindled to the holes below: if the Fire be too great, lay a stone before it; if too little, stir the Coals with an Iron-instrument, that they may be pierced with the Air, and the Heat may be increased. This way you may keep your Fire, according to the true Exigency of Nature; neither too excessive, nor too small; but most fit and apt for the motion of the Matter: this is compared to the Firmament. There is also in this place another Firmament, to wit, the Matter contained in the Glass; after which followeth the form of the World. Therefore the Furnace is to be placed as the Sun in the great World, which giveth Light, Life and Heat to the universal Furnace, and all Instruments, and to all other things whatsoever concluded under it.

CHAP. II. Of the Conjunction of the Male with the Female.

HAving now treated of the Furnace and the Fire wherein the Tinctures are to be prepared, now we intend largely to write how the Man and Woman do agree, and how they are joyned together: that is to say, after this manner: Take the Mercury of the Philosophers, prepared and mundified in its highest degree; this resolve with his Wife, to wit, with quick Mercury; as the Woman receiveth the Man, and as the Man cleaveth to the Woman: and even as a Man loveth his Wife, and the Woman loveth her Husband, so do the Philosophers Mercury and the quick Mercury, prosecute the greatest love, and are moved by Nature with a great affection towards us: So therefore the one and the other Mercuries are conjoyned each to other, and one with another, even as the Man with the Woman, and she with him, according to their bodies, that there is no difference between them; and they are congruent in their strength and proprieties, save onely, that the Man is firm and fixed, but the Woman is volatile in the Fire. And for this Cause, the Woman is united to the Man, so that she receiveth the Man, and he fixeth and fastneth her firm and constant in any balance; as it followeth, They are both to be so close luted and covered, that the Woman may not evaporate or breath out, otherwise the whole Work will come to nothing.

CHAP. III. Of the Copulation of the Male and Female.

WHen you have placed the Man and the Wife in the Matrimonial Bed; if you would that he may operate upon her, so that she may bring forth, it is necessary, and must be, that the Man have his operation upon the Woman, so that the seed of the Woman may be coagulated and joyned together into a Mass, by the seed of the Man; otherwise it produceth no Fruit.

CHAP. IV. Of the Philosophical conjunction of the Man and Woman.

AFterwards if you perceive the Woman to be of a black colour, then certainly be assured that she hath conceived, and is made pregnant: and when the seed of the Woman embraceth the seed of the Man, this is the first Signe and Key of this whole Art; therefore be careful continually to preserve the natural Heat, and the blackness will appear, and be dispersed and consumed away by the natural Heat; as one Worm eateth and devoureth another, and continueth consuming so long, until there be no more blackness left.

CHAP. V. Of the black Colour.

THe blackness manifestly appearing, then know, that the Woman is pregnant; but when the Peacocks Tail begins to appear, that is, when many various colours will appear in the Glass, it sheweth the working of the Philosophers Mercury upon the vulgar Mercury, and stretcheth out her Wings until she hath overcome it. Therefore when the driness operates upon the moisture, these Colours do appear.

CHAP. VI. Of the Buds springing and appearing in the Glass.

VVHen you perceive these various Colours, then be constant in your work, continuing the Fire, until the Colour of the Peacock's Tail be fully consumed, and until the Matter of the Moon appear white and candid as Snow, and that the Vessel hath brought it to the very degree of its perfection. Then at last break a little piece thereof, and put it on a Copper-plate in the Fire; if it remain constant and firm, and keep its Tincture, it is then brought to the most perfect substance of Luna. This King hath strength and power, not onely to transmute and change all metals; but also to cure all diseases and infirmities. This King is laudable, and adorned with many vertues, and with so great power, that he can transmute and change Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury, into the most constant Luna, to every touch-stone; and also frees and delivers the bodies of men from infinite diseases, as from Fevours, Feebleness, Leprosie, the French disease, or Morbus Gallicus, and from a great many other infirmities and diseases; which no Herbs, Roots, or the like Medicines can possibly Cure, or take away. Whosoever maketh daily use of this Medicine, shall attain to, and preserve himself in a sound and perfect long life.

CHAP. VII. Of the red Colour.

AFter this King is indued with a perfect whiteness, the Fire is constantly to be continued, until the whiteness begins to take a yellow Colour; which Colour follows next after the whiteness: for by how much the longer the Heat worketh upon the white and dry Matter, the more Yellow and Saffron-like groweth the Colour, until it come to perfect redness, which by degrees the Fire worketh to the highest degree of the red Colour; then is the substance of Gold prepared, and there is born an oriental King, sitting in his Throne, and ruling over all the Princes of the World.

CHAP. VIII. Of the augmentation or multiplication hereof.

THe multiplication of this Matter is to be after this manner, to wit, let it be resolved into its moisture, and then put the Fire to it, to the height as at first, and it will work upon its moisture oftner then before, and change the same into its own substance, turning the whole quantity of the matter into the substance it self: wherefore the Treasures of the Earth are unspeakable, the world cannot compare unto them; witness Augurellus.

The Conclusion.

This secret was kept by the most ancient Fathers amongst their most occult and hidden secrets; who kept the same, lest it should come to the hands of wicked men, who might thereby be inabled the better, and more fully to accomplish their wickedness and evil ends. We therefore do require you whosoever shall attain to this gift of God, that you will imitate the Fathers, and secretly use and preserve this divine Mystery: for if you tread it under your feet, or cast Pearls before swine; you shall receive a great judgement from God the great Judge and Revenger of all things.

But unto those whom God by his singular and special Grace, hath given abstinency from all vices, this Art shall be more fully revealed then to any other; for with one such man shall more wisdom be found, then among a thousand sons of the world, by whom this Art shall never be found out.

Whosoever shall finde out this secret, and attain to this gift of God, let him praise the most high God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the Grace of God let him onely implore, that he may use the same to his glory, and the profit of his Neighbour. This the merciful God grant to be done, through Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord, Amen.