I _Philip Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast_, say That (after the
manifestation of Divine Grace) many waies to the Tincture of natural
things, were found out, which did all finally tend to the same scope
and end: For _Hermes Trismegistus_ the _Egyptian_ set about this Work,
according to his own Reason. _Orus_ the _Grecian_ observed the same
Process. _Hali_ the _Arabian_ persisted in his own order; but _Albertus
Magnus_ followed a Process very prolix. Every one of these proceeded
in his own manner, yet they all attained to one and the same end at
last, _viz._ to long Life, and an honest sustentation and Conservation
of the same in this vale of miseries. At this time, I _Theophrastus
Paracelsus Bombast_, Monarch of Secrets, am endowed with peculiar
Gifts of GOD, _viz._ in such a manner, as every searcher of this
high natural Work must needs imitate and follow me, whether he be an
_Italian_, _Polonian_, _French-man_, _German_, or whatsoever he is,
and whosoever he is. Hither must you all, Philosophers, Astronomers,
and Spagyrists, how high soever you be, come after me. I by my own
immense Labours, will shew and open to you, Alchymists and Doctors,
that corporeal Regeneration. I will teach you that Tincture, Arcanum,
or Quintessence, in which the Foundations of all Mysteries and Works
are latent: For every man may and ought to give credit to another in
those things only, which he hath experienced by Fire. If any one,
otherwise than by this experience, offer any thing in Chymistry, he is
not to be believed, because the true must be separated from the false
by Experience in Fire. Assuredly the Light of Nature was created for
this end, _viz._ that by it the trial or Proof of every thing should
appear; yet to those only who walk in that Light. With this Light
we shall be taught by the best demonstrations, That all those who
ever before me entred this so difficult Province, with their proper
phantasies and acute speculations, have made trial to their own hurt.
Therefore, by my Foundation, many Rusticks have been made Noble-men;
but on the contrary, by the putatitious and opinionative Art of those
men, of Nobles, many have been transmuted into Rusticks; because
they could bear golden Mountains in their Heads, before they had put
their Hands into Coals. But first are to be learned _Digestions_,
_Destillations_, _Sublimations_, _Reverberations_, _Extractions_,
_Solutions_, _Coagulations_, _Fermentations_, _Fixations_, and every
Instrument requisite for this Work, is to be known by use, as Glasses,
Cucurbits, Circulatories, Vessels of _Hermes_, Earthen Vessels,
Balneums, Wind-Furnaces, Reverberatories, and other such-like; as also
a Marble, Mortars, and Coals; so may you at length proceed in _Alchymy_
and _Medicine_.
But as long as you by Phantasie and Opinion adhere to your Fictitious
Books, you will be apt for, and predestinated to none of these.