48. _Answ._ It is a substance which to outward view looks like a
contemptible stone, and yet is of such superlative Vertue, that when
joyned with imperfect metals on the Fire, it transmutes them into the
highest perfection of _Sol_.
49. It may further be demanded, whether _Adam_ brought such a matter
with him out of Paradise, whereby this transmutation of metals into
_Sol_ may be performed?
50. _Ans._ Yes he did bring such a matter with him out of Paradise, and
after death took it with him to his Grave, wherewith all Diseases of
mankind may be cured, and all metals changed into the finest _Sol_.
51. If this be so, might some say, _Adam_ must either have been very
blind, in not discerning the Treasure he was possessed of; or very
envious in not communicating the same to his Posterity.
52. I cannot believe that _Adam_, out of envy withheld this secret from
his Children, but rather suppose that the blindness into which his fall
had cast him, was the cause of his not percieving the great Jewel he
had about him.
53. But how could he be blind, who was made by God himself, and after
his own Image?
54. _Adam_ was certainly blind, and his blindness proceeded from his
Pride, because he aspired to be like to God; he was not blind as to
his outward Eyes, but his heart was blinded, which is by far the worst
blindness of the two: For all sin and wickedness blinds the hearts of
men, that they cannot percieve the folly of their doings.
55. Thus _Adam_ also by means of his disobedience to God, became so
blind, as not to percieve, or be sensible of the Love that God had for
him before his Fall, and how richly he had endowed him.
56. Whence also his Children were so wicked and blind, that the one
Brother slew the other; which wickedness hath still encreased in their
Posterity, as appears by the deluge, and the destruction of _Sodom_ and
_Gomorrah_.
57. And thus the World from day to day still grows worse and worse,
notwithstanding the Examples of God’s Vengeance against Sinners.
58. And all this proceeds because men are so generally blinded by the
Devil in sin and wickedness.
59. But to leave this, it may be further question’d; that seeing all
mankind is become so blinded through _Adam_’s fall, as not to discern
the Jewel they carry about them; who then was the Person that first
discovered, that man was the Possessour of so great a Treasure?
60. _Ans._ Who was the first discoverer of this Treasure I cannot tell,
but thus much is certain, that it was an honest man and fearing God;
because God doth not reveal his secrets to the wicked; wherefore _Tho.
Aquinas_ saith, _Our Holy Art, either finds a man holy, or makes him
so_.
61. But some will say, don’t we reade of Heathens that have been
Possessours of the Philosophers stone; and how can we imagine that
those who have no knowledge of God, and are blinded with sin, should
ever be able to find out So great a Mystery?
62. _Ans._ Those Heathens that have been Possessours of this great
secret, were not without the knowledge of God; for they lived according
to the Law of Nature, honouring God and loving their Neighbour;
wherefore also God accepted of them. They learnt to know God from his
Works of Wonder, and according to their knowledge, loved, honoured and
feared him; and so were made Partakers of his grace, light, and the
knowledge of his secrets.
63. We are also to know that the Ancient Philosophers know more than
one way to attain the Philosophers Stone; though indeed the most of
them sought it in minerals and metals, which is the longest way.
64. And that because it is impossible to change the metallick species,
without bringing metals back into their first matter. _See my Treatise
of the principles of metals, and the seventh part of my =Pharmacopœa
Spagyrica=._
65. But others have taken a nearer way to attain this secret; and to
some Christians God hath been pleased to discover the shortest way of
all, by revealing unto them that he made _Adam_ every way perfect,
giving him all that was necessary, either for his Soul or Body.
66. Now that _Adam_ could not discern how richly God had endowed him,
was his own fault, because he was disobedient to God, following the
deceitfull Serpents advice.
67. And after this manner doth the Devil yet daily deceive Men, by
perswading them to do against the commands of God, and that their
disobedience shall not bring any such mischief upon them as God’s
threatnings seem to import.
68. This then is the reason why Men do not understand the secrets
of God, because they give too much way to Sin, whereby they become
blinded, that they can neither see nor hear the good that comes from
above.
69. Now the reason why most of the Alchymists have sought for this
great gift of God in minerals and metals, and especially in _Sol_,
is this, because their intention was to multiply _Sol_, which they
supposed could no way better be done than by sowing it like other Seeds
in the Earth, but could not imagine that besides common _Sol_, there
were other subjects, wherein the _Sol_-making virtue did reside.
70. Which opinion of theirs was probably grounded upon that saying of
the Philosophers. _What you sow, that you will reap._
71. This seems at first sight very rational, that from filth or
excrements no good, and so no _Sol_ can come; but let us hear the other
side also, and we shall be otherwise informed.
72. For the Philosophers say that their Medicine is Vegetable, Animal
and Mineral; so that Vegetables and Animals are not excepted.
73. _Albertus Magnus_, writes that the greatest mineral aurifying
virtue is in Man, and especially in his Head between the Teeth, and
proves it; because in dead Men’s Skuls he had found grains of _Sol_
sticking between the Teeth.
74. The same is also confirmed by _Thomas Aquinas_, _Rhasis_, _Janus
Lacinius_, and others.
75. There is also an old Book, whose Authour is unknown, which
treats at large of that subject which _Adam_ brought with him out of
_Paradise_, wherein the Operator is warned to have a great care of the
fumes of the matter as he would avoid the Plague, or the most deadly
Poyson. From this Authour I have alledged some passages in my other
Writings, and shewed that the Philosophers Stone may be prepared of any
subject whose Elements may be separated.
76. Now certain it is that from all Animals and Vegetables, the
Elements may be separated, and consequently follows, that from all
Vegetable and Animal Subjects, the Philosophers Stone, or universal
Medicine for the Bodies of Men, and Metals may be prepared.
77. _Morienus Romanus_, who prepared this Medicine for King _Calid_,
declares that he took the subject matter of it from Man.
78. For when the King asked _Morienus_, in what kind of subject the
Philosophers Stone was to be lookt for; he answered, the Medicine is in
thy self O King; wherefore also after that he had finished the Work, he
wrote round about the Glass, in which the Medicine was, these words:
_He who carries all about him, needs not the help of another_.
79. Thereby intimating, that he always carried about with him,
whatsoever was necessary for the preparing of the Medicine, and
therefore did not stand in need of the King’s assistance.
80. This same honest _Morienus_, writes plainly concerning the
preparation of this Medicine, and doth as it were with his finger point
us to the matter, in these words of his, quoted by _Arnoldus de villa
nova_; _Grind the Phlegmatick and Cholerick with the Sanguin, untill it
become a tinging Heaven_, &c.
81. _Arnoldus_ explains these words of _Morienus_ thus: _The
Phlegmatick is cold, as =Mercury=, the Sanguin is warm and moist, as
the =Sol= or =Gold=, the Cholerick is hot and dry, as =Sal Armoniack=_:
intimating that of these three, _Mercury_, _Sol_, and _Sal Armoniac_,
the Philosophers Stone is to be prepared.
82. But that he meant not this concerning common _Mercury_, _Sol_, and
_Sal Armoniack_ is apparent from this, that _Morienus_, as soon as he
had prepared the Medicine for the King, went away privately, without
expecting any reward from the King; it also appears from the answer
before mentioned, which he made to the King, that he spoke of such a
_Mercury_, _Sol_, and _Sal Armoniack_ which every Man carries about
with him.
83. This is abundantly confirmed by all the Philosophers that went his
way, forasmuch as they declare that no charges are required to the
preparation of it, that their subject is a contemptible matter cast out
upon Dunghills, and trod under feet, and that the Poor have it as well
as the Rich.
84. _Morienus_ yet more clearly intimates this, in telling us that the
matter whilst it is preparing, exhales a smell like to that which comes
from the Graves of the Dead, which is a very offensive smell.
85. Now like as Vegetables whilst they are putrifying give forth an ill
scent, and Animals a worse, as appears in the stink of rotten Eggs, and
the putrefaction of Man’s Blood, especially when the same are putrified
in a close Glass in warm Horse Dung.
86. For without putrefaction, there can be no separation of the
Elements by Distilation, and if no separation be made, neither can any
melioration or exaltation be expected.
87. We know that every _Chaos_, as it is a product of the four
Elements, contains many impurities, and in particular much dead Earth,
and Water void of all virtue; and that the Element of Fire alone is
proper to heal and meliorate Men and Metals.
88. Wherefore seeing that no separation of the Elements can be without
a foregoing putrefaction we must conclude putrefaction to be the
beginning of our Work, without which no good end can be expected.
89. Now he that knows our Horse Dung, and how to putrifie the well
known and every where to be found most universal natural subject by
means of the same, he will easily afterwards by Distillation separate
the most pure and all things penetrating and meliorating Element of
Fire, from the gross Chaos to his great satisfaction, and make use of
the same to the astonishment and wonder of the ignorant.
90. But in this state it is onely good for the health of Man; and
therefore in order to its meliorating of Metals, the pure Element of
Fire must be first fix’d with _Sol_, by which means it obtains ingress
into imperfect Metals, reducing them to the perfection of _Sol_.
91. Now when the pure Element of Fire is separated from the Chaos,
and reduced to the highest degree of purity, then it stinks no more,
neither is poisonous as it was before purification, but is an Antidote
against all poisons whatsoever, wherefore also the Philosophers have
called their Medicine _Theriaca_.
92. But all this is to be understood onely of that subject which every
man carries about with him, and brings with him out of his Mothers Womb.
93. If any one following the Letter of _Morienus_, should take for his
subject common _Mercury_, _Sol_ and _Sal Armoniack_, neither will he
be mistaken, but if he rightly proceeds will have a good Work, though
it be not at all necessary to make use of common _Sol_ and _Mercury_,
because our natural subject contains both a living _Sol_ and _Mercury_.
94. It is no prejudice to our Animal Subject, if we join Minerals with
it, because our _Sol_ joins it self with all subjects, and unites it
self readily with them. But if we be ignorant of the due proportion
and composition of _Sol_, _Mercury_, Sulphur, or any other metal or
mineral, then it is better to prepare our Medicine out of this one
subject onely, because so there is less danger of erring, as I can
witness by experience.
95. I have also found by experience that this Microcosmical Subject is
alone sufficient, without the addition of any minerals or metals, to
meliorate all imperfect metals.
96. As to a particular this of all others hath pleas’d me best, _viz._
_Recipe_ common _Sol_, and with the help of our Magnet disanimate it
so, that it may be no longer _Sol_, as not enduring the Test, and
smoaking away with a small Fire like Arsenick.
97. Then take this _Sol_ and conjoyn it with our Microcosmical Subject,
with which digest a solution of Lune, by which means the _Lune_ will be
meliorated, and on the Cupel leave _Sol_ to good profit.
98. But if we joyn common _Mercury_ and common _Sol_ with it, and cast
this mixture into a solution of _Mars_, and digest it for some days
then the pure _Sol_ and easily flowing _Mercury_ graduates a good part
of the gross and difficultly flowing _Mars_ into good _Sol_, to the
great satisfaction of the Artist.
99. And if we unite _Lune_ and _Jupiter_ therewith, and cast this
mixture into a solution of _Venus_, and digest it the moist way, then
by means of our secret Salt these two white united metals change the
red _Venus_ with little loss of weight into good _Lune_ that will abide
the Test. And it is indeed matter of wonder, that our universal Salt,
should be of so great virtue, when fermented with white or red metals,
to change other imperfect metals into good _Sol_ and _Lune_ on the Test.
100. Wherefore this shall be my conclusion, that in Man is hid the
greatest virtue of changing all metals, as well as the Bodies of
Men, both universally, and particularly; which if intended for the
melioration of metals, the adding of fixt _Sol_ and _Lune_ for a
ferment will facilitate the ingress into other metals, and further
diffuse its tinging virtue.
_N. B._ I shall not be satisfied till I have given a fuller and plainer
description of this Royal Labour, which I intend to do in the sixth
Century, if God permit.
Novum Lumen Chymicum:
OR A
NEW CHYMICAL LIGHT.
Being a Revelation of a certain new invented secret, never before
manifested to the World.
Whereby a clear and unextinguishable light is set before the Eyes
of the blind World, and, as it were, palpably demonstrated, that
good Gold may be found and attained with profit, every where
throughout the whole World, as well in cold as in hot Regions,
so that in all those places, where Sand and Stones are found, a
Man cannot set his Foot, where, not onely Gold, but also the true
matter of the Stone of Philosophers is afforded.