21. _N. B._ These volatile spirits of metals must be cautiously used,
as being of very great force.
22. The manner of preparing them, may be seen in my Book of Fires,
but most plainly set down in my description of the most secret _Sal
Armoniack_.
23. All Spirits act according to their nature and property either good
or ill, as the Bodies are good or evil from whence they are taken.
24. _The Spirit quickens, the Body or Flesh profits nothing, saith
Christ_, John 6.
25. These words are ill interpreted, when understood by some, as if
Spirits onely were of use, and Bodies not at all, which is a great
mistake, as it is applied by some.
26. Indeed in Metals, Vegetables and all Animals without the use of
reason, who grow, move, and live, by the driving of their in-born
Spirit, it does hold true, for when their Spirits are by Art separated
from their Bodies, the said Bodies are thenceforward of no use, as
being upon the separation of their Spirit, dead and without all virtue.
27. But the case is different with Man, who being created in the Image
of God, and endowed besides his Animal Spirit, with an immortal Soul,
which latter onely and immediately derives from God, and not from
nature, as the mortal Spirits of Animals do.
28. Wherefore _Pythagoras_ was much mistaken, in believing that the
immortal Souls of Men, when departed from their Bodies did immediately
enter into those of Beasts.
29. Which mistake of his seems to have been occasioned hence, because
he knew how by Art to take away the Soul, _i. e._ Tincture from _Sol_,
and transfer the same to an imperfect metal, thereby making the same in
all things like to true natural _Sol_.
30. Certain it is that this may be done by art, for the fixt Body of
_Sol_ may be destroyed, its Soul extracted, and by being joyn’d to
another metal make it good _Sol_.
31. When this disanimation of _Sol_ is duely performed, the Body is
left wholly dead, and is in all things like a volatile unmalleable
mineral, and cannot endure the test, but fumes away like Arsenick with
a little Fire.
32. But in case this disanimating of _Sol_ be not rightly done, so that
the Body continues as white as _Lune_, and malleable (which is a sign
that some life is still left in it) then his Colour may be restored
again by means of imperfect minerals, as well as his former fixedness
in the Fire.
33. But when the Body of _Sol_ will no longer endure the fire, but goes
away in smoak, then we can say it is truly dead and no more _Sol_.
34. He that finds difficulty to believe this, let him reade
_Paracelsus_, _Sendivogius_ and other Philosophers.
35. _Sendivogius =saith=, Our Steel, =that is, our Magnet=, can draw
from the Rayes of the Sun, what many have sought for and not found; if
this our Magnet copulate eleven times with =Sol=, the =Sol= becomes
weakned almost to death, and the Steel or Magnet shall conceive and
bring forth a Son more illustrious than his Father._
36. From which words it appears that _Sendivogius_ had the Art to
disanimate _Sol_, else could never have writ so plainly concerning it.
37. It is certain also that there are some, that at this time can do
as much within a few hours, I having lately been an Eye-witness of the
same, with three other persons in company.
38. It is not necessary to say any more how this cheap and speedy
way of disanimating _Sol_ is to be performed; forasmuch as all the
Philosophers writings are full of it.
39. However to pleasure the unskilfull I will add thus much, that this
may be done four several ways.
40. But the easiest and cheapest way is by means of Spirit of Wine, and
a microcosmical saline Spirit; yea this extraction may be performed
by a Spirit of Wine alone, without any animal Spirit, or by an animal
saline Spirit without the Spirit of Wine.
41. If this were not so, we might have reason to accuse both ancient
and modern Philosophers of falshood, who tells us that _Adam_ brought
the Philosophers Stone with him out of Paradise, and after his death
took it with him into his Grave.
42. Which words may seem strange to some, forasmuch as he was driven
bare and naked out of Paradise.
43. Yet the Authority of those who assert this being so great and
incontestable, it cannot well be called in question.
44. What therefore the Philosophers meant by this Stone which _Adam_
brought with him out of Paradise, is well worthy our Enquiry.
45. The Philosophers commonly say our stone is a stone and nostone,
_&c._ which implies thus much, that to outward view it is a stone, but
in deed and in vertue, a Concentrate form of _Sol_.
46. Wherefore _Petrus Bonus_ saith, _We do not seek =Sol=, but the form
of =Sol=_.