_That there is but one Stone, and of his nature._
_Bauzan_ a Greeke Philosopher, when it was demaunded of him, whether
a stone may be made of a thing that buddeth, made answere, yea, to
wit, the two first stones, the stone _Alkali_, and our stone, which
is the life and workmanship of him that knoweth it: but he that is
ignorant of it, and hath not made it, and knoweth not how it is
engendred, supposing it to be no stone, or that conceiueth not with
himselfe whatsoeuer I haue spoken of it, and yet will make a tryall
of it, prepareth himselfe for death, and casteth away his money: for
if he cannot finde out this precious stone, another shall not arise
in his place, neither shall natures triumph ouer him. His nature is
great heate with moderation. He that now knoweth it, hath profited
by reading this booke, but he that remaineth ignorant, hath lost his
labour. It hath many properties and vertues, for it cureth bodies of
their accidentall diseases, and preserueth sound substances, in such
sort, that their appeareth in them no perturbations of contraries,
nor breach of their bond and vnion. For this is the sope of bodies,
yea their spirit and soule, which when it is incorporate with them,
dissolueth them without any losse. This is the life of the dead,
and their resurrection, a medicine preseruing bodies, and purging
superfluities. He that vnderstandeth, let him vnderstand, and he that
is ignorant, let him bee ignorant stil: for it is not to be bought with
mony, it is neither to be bought nor sold. Conceiue his vertue, value,
and worth, and then begin to worke: wherof a learned man hath said:
God giueth thee not this masterie for thy sole audacity, fortitude &
subtilitie, without all labour, but men labor, and God giueth them good
successe. Adore thẽ God the creator, that hath vouchsafed thee so great
fauor in his blessed works.