_Of the maner of working, and of moderating, and continuing the fire._
I hope ere this time thou hast already found out by the words alreadie
spoken (if thou beest not most dull, ignorant, and foolish) the
certaine matter of the learned Philosophers blessed stone, whereon
_Alchimy_ worketh, whilest we indeuour to perfect the imperfect, and
that with things more then perfect. And for that nature hath deliuered
vs the imperfect onely with the perfect, it is our part to make the
matter (in the former Chapters declared vnto vs) more then perfect by
our artificiall labour. And if we know not the maner of working, what
is the cause that we do not see howe nature (which of long time hath
perfected mettals) doth continually work? Doo wee not see, that in the
Mynes through the continuall heate that is in the mountaines thereof,
the grosnesse of water is so decocted & thickned, that in continuance
of time it becommeth Argent-uiue? And that of the fatnesse of the
earth through the same heate and decoction, Sulphur is engendred? And
that through the same heate without intermission continued in thẽ, all
mettals are ingendred of them according to their puritie and impuritie?
and that nature doth by decoction alone perfect or make al mettals,
as well perfect as imperfect? O extreame madnesse! what, I pray you,
constraines you to seeke to perfect the foresaide things by straunge
melancholicall and fantasticall regiments? as one sayth: Wo to you that
will ouercome nature, and make mettals more then perfect by a newe
regiment, or worke sprung from your owne senselesse braines. God hath
giuen to nature a straite way, to wit, continuall concoction, and you
like fooles despise it, or else know it not. Againe, fire and Azot,
are sufficient for thee. And in an other place, Heat perfecteth al
things. And elsewhere, seeth, seeth, seeth, and be not wearie. And in
an other place, let thy fire be gentle, & easie, which being alwayes
equall, may continue burning: and let it not encrease, for if it do,
thou shalt suffer great losse. And in an other place, Know thou that
in one thing, to wit, the stone, by one way, to wit, decoctiõ, and
in one vessel the whole mastery is performed. And in an other place,
patiently, and continually, and in another place, grinde it seuen
times. And in an other place, It is ground with fire. And in an other
place, this worke is verie like to the creation of man: for as the
Infant in the beginning is nourished with light meates, but the bones
beeing strengthened with stronger: so this masterie also, first it must
haue an easie fire, whereby wee must alwaies worke in euery essence of
decoction. And though we alwayes speake of a gentle fire, yet in truth,
we think that in gouerning the worke, the fire must alwayes by little
and little bee increased and augmented vnto the end.