_Of the Separation of the Elements of the Stone._
Thou must afterward bother, take this precious Stone, which the
Philosophers haue named, magnified, hiddẽ & concealed, & put it in a
_Cucurbit_ with his _Alembick_, & diuide his natures: that is, the
foure elemẽts, the Earth, the Water, the Aire, and the Fire. These are
the body and soule, the spirit and tincture. When thou hast diuided
the water from the earth, and the aire from the fire, keepe both of
them by themselues, and take that which descendeth to the bottom of
the glasse, beeing the lees, and wash it with a warme fire, til his
blacknesse be gone, and his thicknesse departed: then make him very
white, causing the superfluous moysture to flie away, for then hee
shall bee changed and become a white calx, wherein there is no cloudie
darkenesse, nor vncleannesse, and contrarietie. Afterward returne back
to the first natures, which ascended from it, and purifie thẽ likewise
from vncleannes, blacknesse, and contrarietie: and reiterate these
works vpon thẽ so often, vntil they be subtiliate, purified, and made
thin: which when thou hast done, thou shalt acknowledge that God hath
bin gracious vnto thee. Know brother, that this work is one stone,
into which _Gatib_ may not enter, that is to say, any strange thing.
The learned work with this, and from hence proceedeth a medicine that
giueth perfection. There must nothing be mingled herewith, either in
part or whole. This Stone is to be found at all times, in euerie place,
and about euery man, the search whereof is not troublesome to him
that seeketh it, wheresoeuer he be. This Stone is vile, blacke, and
stinking: It costeth nothing: it must bee taken alone: it is somewhat
heauie, and it is called the Originall of the world, because it riseth
vp like things that bud forth. This is his reuelation and apparence to
him that maketh inquirie after it.