Alchymy is a Science, and Art of destroying, of purging immature
or unripe and impure Metals, by Fire and Salt, and by a singular
Artifice, of converting the more pure part into a better form and kind,
according to the words of _Paracelsus_, who saith, _Every Something
is to be converted into Nothing, and every Nothing into Something_.
Also Corruption renders that which is good perfect, the which is to be
equally understood of particular and universal Operations.
Nevertheless it is not of necessity that I should here tediously treat
of a particular Transmutation of Metals by Fire and Salt, because
that hath been already long since performed in the second part of the
Miracle of the World, and also in the fifth part of the prosperity of
_Germany_.
A Square within a Circle.
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| |
| _In the Sun |
| and Salt are |
| all things._ |
| |
+----------------+
II. _A Demonstration whereby it is proved that Fire and Salt are
most noble Creatures of God, and that in Fire there lies hid the
purest Salt, and in Salt a most efficacious Fire._
That Fire and Salt are most noble Creatures of God I have evidently
enough demonstrated in my little work concerning the nature of Salts.
But that there is a subtile saltish spirit in any fire, and that
between the heat of the Sun, and of our Kitchin fire, as to their
saltish spirit, a great difference doth interpose is sufficiently and
over sufficiently known. But to comprehend or lay hold of, to concenter
such a pure saltish spirit of _Sol_, to render it corporal, palpable or
perceivable, and visible, remains hidden and unknown to us by reason of
our sins; because God reserves so great mysteries for his own alone,
of whom he is honoured and feared: for God himself useth no better
similitude than the fire, whereunto the Ancients exhibited divine
honour, and by the help of the same, perfected all their Sacrifices:
So among the _Caldeans_, Fire, and God are called by one and the same
name of _Esch_: and among the _Heathens_, the chief Philosophers, yea
_Hermes_ himself thought the Sun to be a God, and worshipped it for a
God. These things are found expressed by _Mutius_ concerning the nature
of Gods, and therefore those things are not necessary which may be here
repeated. Yet that is well to be noted, that God hath always appeared
to his Saints under the shew of fire, and hath talked with them out of
it, it being that which is full of the greatest mysteries, yet observed
but by a few, as in a peculiar little work concerning the concentration
of the Heaven and the Earth I will more plainly and fully declare.
I affirm therefore, that it can scarce be, that the admirable, yea
incredible nature of fire should be described without the revelatian of
the highest or greatest mysteries of God. Therefore it is better that
such Secrets are passed by in silence, than that precious pearls should
be cast before Swine, who are wont to receive them with laughter, and
proclaim that they are nothing but the mere sophistries of triflers,
even as is evidently manifest from the description of _J. H. S._ of the
Philosophers Stone, wherein Nature, he saith, makes not use of Glasses,
Vessels, Fire, Salt, Urine, and the like in the bowels of the Earth;
and the universal _Elixir_ may very fitly be prepared by him, who also
hath not handled any Chymical Labours, or was never busied about Fire
or Salt: Let it shame the man of such stinking lies, wherewith he
endeavours to cover his own ignorance, I on the contrary affirm, that
all those that know not how to handle Fire and Salt, do in very deed
know nothing, but do give credit unto those things only which they
hear, or read in others writings, and also for that cause are unworthy
of the name and title of true Philosophers; for true Philosophy is to
be thoroughly or perfectly learned by the help of Fire and Salt alone,
the which God willing shall be more evidently demonstrated.
III. _It is moreover demonstrated, that in all Salts an admirable
Fire doth lurk as being laid up therein, through the indeavour
whereof very many admirable things may be perfected as well
in Medicine as in Alchymy: and also that it may be altogether
performed, that out of Vitriol the Stone of the ancient Wise
men, out of Salt Peter a spiritual Gold, and an excellent
yellow tincture, and out of common Salt the true Pearl of the
Philosophers may be prepared._
In all Salts, that a most potent Fire doth lurk as being laid up
therein, those have best known who have the labours of the fire
thoroughly viewed and certainly known. For through the efficacy and
operation hereof, salts are reduced unto a fiery force, or power, or
unto a moist fire, out of which they before arose, after the laying
down of their earthliness, yet one salt draws out one fire far unlike
to the fire of another, so that this is volatile, the other is fixed,
and remaining constant in the fire; another is partly volatile and
partly fixed, even as the operation shall procure this or the other
property unto them, yet all such fiery salts may by the benefit of Art
be concentred, and made more efficacious than they were made by some
one distillation. For example sake. If any one beholdeth Vitriol, and
considers of the nature thereof, he shall in very deed certainly find
that by the help of, a strong fire, there may be allured or extracted
out of it that which was in the beginning, to wit, a fiery spirit,
which by the aid of external fire, being reduced into a narrow Central
room, or Con-centration, draws out that internal fire, uncloathing
it self of, or displaying so great virtues, that it reduceth into a
Coal all things which it moisteneth or encompasseth, even like as if
it had been burnt up by common Kitchin fire, or by Glasses receiving
the Sun-beams and burning up all things that are objected against it.
Concerning these fiery salts, and the preparation and use of them,
I being here to deliver a few things, I will take my beginning from
the fire of Vitriol, and the preparation of the same, the various and
manifold use whereof shall be afterwards explained in its own place.