_Since thou, =Sophister=, with foolish and lying Words, hast reproached
me in all places, because I was born in =Helvetia=, that I am rude,
and understand or know nothing; also, that being one Letter more than
a Physician, I rove and wander about from one Region to another:
Therefore I purpose in this small Treatise to discover and lay open to
the World, ignorant and unexperienced men; also that in the first Age
good Arts were in being; and what your Art is able to effect against
mine and mine against yours, and what is to be judged of either, and
how Posterity in the Age of Grace will imitate me._
_Consider =Hermes=, =Archelaus=, and others in the First Age, what
=Spagyrists= they were, and how great Philosophers. That they were
such, is witnessed even by their Enemies, who are thy Patrons, (or
Idols rather at this time) O Sophister. But if this had not been
testified by your Authentick Fathers and falsly-reputed Saints; yet
the ancient =Smaragdine-Table= discovers more of Art and Experience
in =Medicine=, =Alchymy=, =Magick=, and other like Sciences, than can
ever be taught by you and all your Tribe. If from the Precedent you
do not yet understand what, and how great Treasures these be, tell me
why no Prince or King was able to subjugate the =Egyptians=? Then why
did =Dioclesian= the Emperour command all Books of Chymistry (how many
soever they were he could come by) to be burnt? For their Books being
destroyed, they were long since compelled to bear such an intolerable
Yoke, as will in time fall upon the neck of thee and thy Collegues, O
Sophister._
_In this Middle Age the Monarchy of all Arts is at length derived to
me, =Theophrastus Paracelsus=, Prince of Philosophy and Medicine; for
unto this am I chosen by GOD, that I may extinguish all Phantasies of
devised, putatitious, and false Works, and presumptuous Words, whether
they be the Placets of =Aristotle=, =Galen=, =Avicen=, =Mesue=, or
any other Follower of them. And my Theory proceeding from the Light
of Nature, shall never fail through its unconstancy, nor be changed,
but begin to flourish in the 58th. year of the following Age. Then the
Practice following, it shall be proved by admirable and incredible
Signs, so as it shall be openly manifest to Mechanicks and the Common
People, how constant and unmoved the =Paracelsick Art= stands against
the Trifles of Sophisters; in the mean while that Sophistick Art hath
need of Papal and Imperial Privileges, to strengthen and uphold its
Impertinencies. But whereas I am by thee, O Sophister, accounted a
Beggar and Vagabond, the =Danube= and the =Rhine=, I being silent,
shall answer for me to thee. Often hath those impertinently-devised
Calumnies of thine against me, displeased many Princes and Earls, also
Imperial Cities, Noblemen, and Knights; for I have a Treasure in a
certain City of =Forum Julij=, called =Weiden=, hid in the Hospital
there, which neither thou =Leo the Roman=, nor thou =Charles the
German=, with all your Substance, are able to purchase. Although a
signate Star fell upon the =Arcanum= of your Names, yet it was known
by none but the Sons of the Divine =Spagyrick Art=. Wherefore since,
thou Verminous and Lowsie Sophister, judgest the Monarch of Secrets to
be an ignorant Fool and prodigal Decocter, I will now, in the middle
Age, openly discover (as an honourable prosecution of those things I
have asserted) the Virtues and Preparation of that Tincture, for the
profit and honour of the Lovers of Truth, and that the Contemners of
true Arts may be reduced to Beggary. The latter Age will be illustrated
and honoured with this =Arcanum=, as the Gift of GOD, and manifest
Endowment of the true Spirit, so as from the Beginning of the World the
like sprout of Understanding and Wisdom was scarcely ever heard of. In
the mean while, Vice shall not be able to suppress the Just, nor the
Riches or power of those that are evil, be any Damage to the Upright._
Of Philip Theophrastus Paracelsus
His Tincture of Natural Things, _&c._