Chapter LXXI: Part II (10)

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=_.

47. What is then properly this form of _Sol_?

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.

READER,

_I will now address my self to the discovering of the wonders of God, not hitherto heard of; to wit, that throughout the whole Earth, no less in cold than in hot Countries, where there are Sand and Stones to be had, good Gold may be extracted from thence with profit. Because a Man cannot set his foot in any place where Gold doth not exist. Nevertheless Chalk, or Lime-Stones, are to be thence excepted; because they onely seldom or never contain any thing of Gold, otherwise all sandy and rocky Stones, all Flints of what colour soever, as also all Sand, fine and course, all sandy Stones upon high Mountains, in deep Valleys, in the bowels of the Earth, in Ponds and Rivers, and lastly, all the Sand on the Sea-shore, none excepted, although it hath as yet obtained no colour, but be white and clear. The which indeed will seem incredible to very many, but is asserted by me as a sincere truth, which I never found, by reading or hearsay, but have proved by many and various experiments. Some of which I will here set down for the confirming and demonstrating the truth of my Writings, that by those, all Men of a sound mind may be able to discern, that my Assertion is no Dream, nor fabulous trifle, but sufficiently founded upon experience in the light of nature._

_Therefore I would not have thee judge of those things which thou understandest not, nor canst not at present apprehend, but remember that the wonders of God triumph with magnificence and power. But search out those things in every part before thou presumest to interpose thy immature judgment. And although in the proof thou shouldst be mistaken as may easily happen to one making tryal, yet do not impute the errour to my Writings, but rather to thy own unready Wit. For I will here write nothing but what I have oftentimes performed, and can yet perform at any time. Consult other searchers after this matter, among which I think all cannot err, in a matter so easie, that even a Boy of ten years of Age may apprehend it, for what belongs to the possibility of it, but it will be evident to many of them with me, =That there is Gold in all Sand and Stones=, through all places of the =World=. But there is no need that I should here shew the way of extracting it from them, in a great quantity or large use, but rather I shall beware, that I put not so sharp a Dart into the hands of my Adversaries, to wound my self, for I have published this to gratifie candid Friends, not Counterfeits, but least of all the Compilers of notorious Libels, in which opinion, I will remain and acquiesce._

We will now proceed to the Trial whether those things which I have here written be true, and are able to abide the Examen of the Cupel, to wit, that in all Sand, there is good Gold.

_The first Specimen of Probation._

_Recipe_ one Ounce of white Sand or Flint, which you esteem to be altogether void of Gold, with which mix three parts of _Minium_, or of any other Ashes of _Saturn_. Put this mixture into a Wind Furnace, or to the Bellows, let it flow well together for an hour, and it will turn to a yellow glass; suffer it not to stand too long lest the glass of _Saturn_ perforate the Crucible, and run out into the Ashes. Pour out the glass and powder it, and mix it with half its weight of _Sal Alcali_ or Pot ashes, put this mixture into an Iron Crucible, into which you have first put some bits of Iron, or old Nails; give fire and cause the matter to flow, and the glass of _Saturn_ will be continually reduced by the _Mars_, and at length return into Lead: Pour it out into a Cone, and the _Regulus_ of _Saturn_ will sink to the bottom, and the Sand or Flint will be uppermost as a dross. After all is cold, take out the _Regulus_ of _Saturn_, which hath drawn to it self so great a roughness and blackness from the Iron, that it cannot easily be cupellated: which you may remedy thus: put this black _Regulus_ of _Saturn_ into a Crucible in a Wind Furnace, cause it to flow well; and if there be of that one Ounce, cast upon it a Drachm or somewhat more of Salt-peter, and make them flow together, then the Salt-peter will attract the roughness from the _Saturn_ and turn it into _Scoria_. Which being poured out and the _Regulus_ of _Saturn_ separated from the _Scoria_, it will be white and tractable, and easily runneth upon the Cupel. This I call washing. But if thou knowest not how to perform this Lotion, which yet in it self consisteth in an easie labour, put thy black and rough _Regulus_ of _Saturn_ into such an Instrument (as they call =Treib Scherbe=) or, a close Cupel, under a covering [or Muffle,] and suffer it so to be defecated for the space of half or at least a quarter of an hour, pour it out and separate the _Scoria_ from the _Regulus_; which will be white and tractable. But the Lotion by Salt-peter is much the better.

Of this _Regulus_ of _Saturn_, and of that same Lead of which the Ashes of _Saturn_ were made, take equally the same weight, exactly weighed with the lesser weights, put each of them apart upon a dephlegmed Cupel, suffer them to run; compare one with the other, and you shall find, that _Saturn_ which was blown off with the Sand or Flint to leave behind it a grain of Gold, but on the contrary, the common _Saturn_ will onely leave a grain of Silver. Who now can deny, but that the grain of Gold proceedeth from the white Sand or Flint? For no Gold could come from the Salts. This Specimen of Probation is a palpable Argument, that Gold is contained in all Sand and Flints of what Colour soever. But that there is no difference between one Sand or Flint, and another, so that there is no more Gold in one than another, I do not assert, for (in that respect) they greatly differ. Also that the Sand of hot Regions containeth more Gold than that of cold Countreys, is in no wise to be doubted, as every prudent Man will easily think. For we have let down this Specimen of Probation, onely to the end that you may find Gold to be in all the Sand and Flints of the whole World.

_The second Specimen of Probation._

_Recipe_ one part of white Flint or Sand, with which mix three or four times as much Salt of Tartar, or of any other Alcaly, which mixture put into a Crucible, so that it be not above a third part full, because this mixture in the melting might rise up and run over the Crucible; let it stand half an hour, that it may be well melted, and it will be turned into a white transparent glass. Pour it out and dissolve it in water, or rather in a _Lixivium_, and the Sand or Flint will be dissolved, and converted into a thick Liquor. In this Liquor digest for the space of an hour or two, half an Ounce of Filings or Raspings or rather thin shavings of Lead, and the Lead will extract the spiritual Gold from the Water of Flints, and will thence grow yellow: Which being taken out of the Water dry, cupel it, and you shall find a grain of Gold. Also cupel another half Ounce of the same Lead, and you shall find a grain of Silver, as is commonly wont to be had from all Lead, from which you may be certain that white Flints and Sand, contain spiritual Gold, which becometh corporeal with Metals.

_A Third Specimen of Probation._

Dissolve _Saturn_ in _Áqua Fortis_, and pour into the solution Salt water, and all the Lead will fall from the Water like a white Powder: mix three parts of this edulcorated and dryed _Calx_ of _Saturn_ with one part of Sand, to which add half so much of the Salt of a _Lixivium_ or other Alcaly; which mixture put into an Iron Crucible, into which you have first put some bits of Iron, which being covered, suffer it to melt for the space of full half an hour, untill the sharp Spirits of Salt which were in the Lead be mortified by the Iron, for then the _Saturn_ is reduced and rendered corporeal, which being poured out into a Cone, the _Regulus_ of _Saturn_ falleth to the bottom, which you may wash with Salt-peter as we have taught above, or purge it from the Fæces on the =Treib Scherbe= [or Muffle] weigh it exactly by the lesser Probatory Weights, weigh also as much of any other common Lead, which is not melted with Sand, cupel each by it self, and that Lead which was melted with the Sand, will leave a grain of Gold in the Cupel, but the other common Lead leaveth onely a grain of Silver. Which sufficiently proveth that there is Gold in all Sand, none excepted. But I do not assert that all Sand containeth so much Gold as that it may be thence extracted with profit. Because some Sand is poor, other rich, another richer. Therefore whosoever intendeth any profit by this ought before hand to know the difference of Sand and Stones, that he may not lose his labour. The which may easily be found out by experience, to wit, if you do nothing in great Quantities, before you have made trial in lesser, that is, such as may be performed by the lesser Specimens of Probation.

_A Legitimate and Infallible way and manner of finding out and
proving every Flint, Stone, and Sand, whether it containeth much
or little Gold._

_Recipe_ four ounces of Sand, Flint, or other Stones or Rocks, which you have a mind to prove; heat them red hot in a Crucible, and cast them so into cold Water, where they will become tractable, and may easily be brought to fine Powder, to those four ounces of powdered Flints, Sand or Stones, put into a small Glass Cucurbit, pour two ounces of _Aq. Regis_, that the Sand may be well moistned; set the Cucurbit upon warm Sand for half an hour, and the Aqua Regis will attract to it self the Gold which is contained in the Sand or Flint. To which if two ounces of hot Water be poured into the Cucurbit, and mixed by a strong shaking it together, and filtred through a brown Paper, the Water with the Gold goeth through the filter, and the Sand will remain in the Paper, to which if you pour a little common Water, and let it run through it will take out the residue of the Gold, which yet adhereth to the Sand, which is to be added to the first. Upon this Solution if you pour a _Lixivium_, but rather Spirit of Urine; that _Lixivium_ or Spirit of Urine, mortifieth the _Aqua Regis_ and precipitateth the Gold which is in it in form of a yellow Powder, from which the Water is to be poured off, and the Sol to be edulcorated with fresh Water, and dryed, and that very warily, because Gold of this sort, when it groweth hot, fulminateth, so that it is shattered into minute parts. To this fulminating Gold if you add a little common Sulphur, and make it red hot in a Crucible, it doth not fulminate. If you reduce such a _Calx_ of Gold mixed with Borax in a clean Crucible, you will find how much Gold that four Ounces of Sand or Flint contained. _N. B._ Except the Sand or Flint should happen also to be impregnated with Iron, which would render the _Sol_ brittle and pale. For in that case, the _Sol_ precipitated from the _Aqua Regia_, and burned with Sulphur would not flow with Borax, because the Iron being mixed with it, would adulterate the Probation: But if you cupel such Gold partaking of Iron, with _Saturn_, the Iron may be separated from the _Sol_, and the proof will be void of errour. _N. B._ That Sand and Flints, may indeed be proved another way, but seeing this which we have here prescribed, is easie to be practised, we will rest in that.

But this one thing is also necessary to be known, _viz._ It is indeed true, that in all Sand and Flints there is Gold, as the above mentioned proofs do witness; nevertheless know that there is a difference between native, corporeal, and solid Gold, and the volatile spiritual first Ens of Gold. For the corporeal Gold is easily extracted by the help of corrosive Waters or Salts; but the spiritual not so. And because corporeal Gold is always elicited by the benefit of the above mentioned Probation it may thence happen, that although in white Sand there should plainly be no corporeal Gold, nevertheless by the help of the aforesaid Probations it would be thence elicited, indeed not much, nor no more than what the Lead which was used for the proof, did contain of Silver: because the _Lune_ in the melting or dissolving hath attracted to it self the spiritual Gold, from the Flint or Sand, so that it is thence tincted and transmuted into Gold. Which is manifest in that the grain of _Sol_ doth not exceed the magnitude of the grain of Silver, which is gotten from other common Lead. But if besides the spiritual, there be also corporeal Gold in the Sand, the grain of _Sol_ will necessarily exceed that of _Luna_, for the Silver which was contained in the _Saturn_ doth not vanish into Air but remaineth and because it doth not remain the same Silver but passeth into Gold, that change is ascribed to the notable Operation of the first Ens of Gold or spiritual Gold in the Sand. Wherefore who soever intendeth to extract Gold from Sand, Flint or Stones with profit, ought to know certainly before by smaller experiments, that besides spiritual, they also contain corporal Gold. For I have written this Book onely upon the account of extracting from them corporal Gold, leaving the spiritual Gold to Philosophers that of it they may make their Stone. But necessity required that I should lightly touch at those few things. For if according to my prescribed Probations, any one in working should have found a grain of Gold of equal quantity with the grain of Silver, he might wonder in his mind, which way the Silver had made its escape, seeing that he had found Gold instead of Silver. Wherefore I thought it necessary to shew the reason of that, for the taking away all scruple from every ignorant mind. Wherefore whosoever seeketh Gold from Sand or Stones, let him chuse such, from which corporal Gold may be extracted with profit. For they will afford him such profitable fruit, as the white Sand denieth. But that for the performing my Specimens of Probation, I have taught to take white Sand, I have done it for this reason, that I might make it evident to every one that there is Gold in all Sand, but that it cannot be extracted from all with gain. For white Sand or Flint is very often void of corporal Gold, but never of spiritual, by which Silver may be converted into good Gold. I might have passed by this admonition with silence, seeing that those things are not necessary to be known by the vulgar, in asmuch as corporal Gold will abundantly satisfy their desire; but a Philosopher neither wanteth, nor seeketh corporal Gold, but onely spiritual, to prepare of it a Tincture. Add, that to him it is sufficiently known, in what subjects the first Ens of Gold is plentifully contained. Hence, although the first Ens of Gold be also in white Sand, as is manifest by the foregoing proofs, he useth not that, but rather seeketh such Stones for his work, as contain much Tincture. Neither also doth any true Philosopher so tie himself to this or that subject onely, that he will not elicit his Tincture from any other, inasmuch as it is evident to him that the first Ens of Gold may be found in all things in the whole World. For wheresoever there is Sulphur, there may also be had the first Ens of Gold, whence a Tincture may be prepared. But it is evident that in all Vegetables, Animals and Minerals there is Sulphur. For the matter of the Stone of Philosophers, every where offereth it self, so that the poor as well as the rich may attain it without cost, according to that saying of the Philosopher; _That their matter is every where obvious, and prepared without money, trod under foot and thrown to Dunghils_. So the true Philosophers speak and write. But Sophisters, who falsly assume the name of Philosophers, wandring up and down from Court to Court, where they offer their service for the acquiring the Philosophers Stone, by their lying Fables, perswade credulous Noble men, that the matter of the Stone is to be sought in this or that place or mountain, as in _Hungary_, _Transylvania_, the Forrest of _Hercynia_, _Thuringia_ or _Bohemia_, or in the Rocks of _Sueden_ or _Norway_, and elsewhere. Others again perswade credulous Persons, that the Stone of Philosophers, can be made of nothing but common Gold, and therefore require of their Patrons not onely some ounces, but some pounds of Gold, for their own greater profit. One of those Pseudo-philosophers was lately here at _Amsterdam_, who by perswading certain Merchants, trickt them out of two and twenty Marks of Gold, thence to make the Philosophers Stone. He indeed put the Gold into the Vessel according to his own manner, before those Merchants, giving to it a continuall Fire. But after much time being elapsed, when they expected to reap the Fruit, he, who had plaid the Philosopher, privately withdrew himself into I know not what Countrey, and would not return to take out the two and twenty marks of gold. Therefore the Merchants themselves being about to take them out, found those solar Birds were flown, and had left onely the empty nest. Which empty nest as yet lies in a place in this City, nor doth any one know how to convert it to his own use. But if the Merchant had given to that impostor in hand, onely two, or at the most three ounces of gold, they had not received so great a loss. But as they unadvisedly credited his fine Clothes, and his finer words, so they were intollerably deceived.

A true Philosopher wanteth not so much gold for his Medicine, inasmuch as if he bringeth but one half ounce to perfection, it may suffice for his whole life, and may be in his own power to do the same again as often as necessity shall require, so that he will have no need to run up and down from one to another who are greedy of gold, to blemish the noble art of Chymistry, and bring it into hatred with the whole World.

Some years since, when I had written of the Prosperity of _Germany_, and from a good intention had taught _how Wine and Corn might be concentrated, and in case of necessity, might be commodiously carried from one Countrey to another, and there safely kept in Garrisons or Fortresses for future use_; fearing that at sometime while the Shepherd slept, that most ravenous Wolf the _Turk_ might break into the _German_ Fold, and cut the throats of what Sheep he could not carry away. Against which, _Farner_ with his accomplices, hath set forth notorious Libels, and hath every where traduced me for a false Prophet: Whose Calumnies I have not opposed, because he hath sheltred himself under the protection of Princes. Moreover, this _Farner_, with a consort of ruiners of fame, or good name, have reproachfully wounded my Honour, by falsely accusing my Writings, and traducing them for Lyes: And seeing that almost all of them abide in great Men’s Courts, and have not put their names to their invective Papers, I have not indeed been able to reach them. But yet at length those Men of darkness, who have concealed their names, that they might give the greater reputation to their slanderous Papers, do come to be more and more known to me. Besides at last the event hath shewed those things to be true, which I had predicted should happen; to wit, that the depraved Christians should be chastised by the _Turks_ and _Tartars_. But it is to be pitied that also Men of better note, should be ensnared and captivated by the common judgment, by reason of that Company of the Devils attendants. For the unerring truth declareth, that the righteous scourge of God, will not be taken away from us, before such spoils of a Man’s good name be restrained by the Magistrate.

Now, to return to our purpose, to demonstrate, that not onely Gold, but also somewhat more rare; to wit, a true Tincture is hidden in Stones, and by the help of Art may be extracted from them, which the Ancients have hinted at in these words: _Auro quid Melius? Jaspis_, &c. And that there is much Tincture contained in the Jasper, I have long since inculcated in other places of my Writings. _Paracelsus_ highly commendeth _Red Talck_, _Granates_, _Antimony_, and _Lapis Lazuli_, adding that Tinctures or the first Ens of Gold, may be gotten from them by the help of sublimation. Moreover the first Ens of Gold, may also be found in other Stones, especially in the _Hematitis_, _Scythis_, _Magnesia_ of _Piedmont_, _Smiris_, and others of that kind, in which it is so fixed, that there is nothing wanting to obtain it but onely the way of extracting, and giving it ingress by _Sol_. On the contrary, the first Ens of Gold is indeed in Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral Sulphur, Marcasites, and Antimony, and that abundantly, but so volatile that Stones are to be preferred to them.

And although my intention in this Book extendeth no farther than the extracting of Gold out of Stones, Sand, and Flints, yet nothing hinders but that in a few words, I may also shew, that in Stones, there is not onely fixed Gold, but also volatile, whence a true Tincture may be perfected. Which Tincture I have not as yet made, but nevertheless I am certainly perswaded that it is in no wise impossible to be done. For whosoever can render the first Ens of Gold, in Stones, volatile, and draw it out by Distillation, he will continually obtain a gradatory water, whereby he may coagulate every running Mercury into good Gold. But he that knoweth how to joyn this volatile Gold with corporal _Sol_, to unite them and procure ingress, may thence expect a far greater good. For the first Ens of Gold is more conducible for the preparing Tinctures, than corporal Gold, as one of the Philosophers hath signified in the following words: _Thou canst not make Gold or Silver, except thou shalt obtain their first Ens_. The first Ens of Gold, which is hidden in all Vegetables and Animals, coagulateth Mercury also into a yellowness, but not constant; but if it shall be fixed, it also coagulateth and fixeth with constancy, but not before. Therefore it is most certainly true, that where Sulphur is, there is also the first Ens of Gold; and where there is the first Ens of Gold, there is also Tincture. Therefore seeing that Sulphur may be found, in all things in the World, even in the smallest Herb, it followeth that also from every Herb, Wood, Stone, or Bone, a true Tincture may be prepared. Whosoever will believe, let him, it matters little to me whether it be believed or not, I think my self satisfied in that I have not put that light which I have received under a Bushel, but have exhibited it to the World for information. For the light conduceth nothing to him who is blind, and resolveth to remain so. You shall find more in my third Century, as also in the sixth part of my _Pharmacopœa Spagyrica_.

_How it may be known whether Sand, Flints, and the like Stones,
being pregnant with Gold, contain much Gold, or but little._

White Sand and Flint, contain the least Gold of all; which Sand indeed is never without Gold, although it cannot be extracted from it with profit. In the white and red, there is more Gold than in the white, nevertheless not always so much as will pay the cost. In the yellow, brown, or black, there is commonly much Gold contained, whensoever veins of white or yellow Sand run through them, and especially when such Sand shineth with abundance of small golden sparks, closely adhering to each other. In like manner that Sand is rich in _Sol_, which is like to Talck, or when Stones are found in it, in which there is red or brown Talck, even as _Sol_ is contained almost in every Talck, nevertheless in some more, in other less.

All River Pebbles (which although outwardly they appear white, yet when heated red hot and broken, are stained with yellowness, and contain _Sol_) are in extracting sufficiently rich in Gold.

Green, yellow, or blue Stones, being transparent like horn [called in the _German_ Tongue _Hornstein_] are also for the most part fruitfull in Gold. Also all red, dark-coloured and black Flints contain Gold, with which Iron is frequently admixed, which in the extraction is drawn out with the _Sol_, and weakneth the _Menstruum_, and rendereth it unprofitable.

All Quarries or rocky Stones, whether they be found in the Earth after the manner of Ducts, or whether they lie in the open Air, when they are coloured, contain Gold. Every _Hæmatites_, and that which is a kin to it, the _Smiris_, the Granate, and _Lapis Lazuli_, all contain Gold, nevertheless always one more than another, so that some of them are rich in Gold.

All Granates contain Gold, and besides Gold, also the first Ens of gold; but they are endowed with so hard a body, that _Aqua Fortis_ cannot exercise its power upon them. But there may be a remedy found, by whose help their extraction may be instituted.

In every golden Stone called _Chrysocolla_, _Saphyr_, _Ruby_, _Amethyst_, and _Hiacynth_, there is gold, but difficult to be extracted. All Fluors or things fluxing, which are applied to the Mines of _Sol_ and _Lune_, for the bringing their Oars to a flux or melting, whether they be of a violet colour, or purple, yellow, red, or green) are all endowed with unripe and volatile gold. Which if you shall make red hot, the colour evaporateth like a green, yellow, or red smoke, leaving the Stones white. But if any Man shall know how to intercept, and detain such fugacious _Sol_, he may therewith coagulate _Mercury_ into gold. In like manner from all Stones, in which is the first Ens of gold, a green-water may be extracted by the help of Distillation, in which _Mercury_ coagulateth it self into gold. The Ancient Philosophers have called such a green-water, their _Green Lyon_, which devoureth gold, and of it prepareth a Tincture for _Lune_ and _Mercury_.

Concerning this matter, I could indeed say somewhat more, did not the avarice and improbity of Men, who seek nothing but the damage of their Neighbour, restrain me. Hence all those in which any light of God shall arise, ought diligently to beware that they communicate nothing of it to wicked Men, although they put on the shape of an Angel. For Faith is now no where kept among Men, as these following words of a golden Alphabet do witness.

_Soli Deo tu Confidas,
Promissis hominum diffidas,
Deus solus fidem servat
A mundo fides exulat._

In God alone repose thy trust,
With Mens pretence be not beguil’d;
God onely keepeth Faith, is Just,
Which from the World is quite exil’d.

If many years ago, I had known those things which I now do, it would have profited me much in being aware of the dissembled sanctity of impostours. But what is past cannot be recalled: Let these things at this time suffice to be spoken of the knowledge of Sand and Stones, every Man may look further for himself, and search out and learn more. If any Man findeth any good from what I have written in this Book, let him give God thanks, and be mindfull of the Poor; if not, let him look upon himself as unworthy to be partaker of it. For I have here written more perspicuously, than any Philosopher hath done before me, in which I rest. It now remains that we should say something concerning the easie way, and incomparable invention, by whose benefit _Sol_ may be extracted from Sand and Stones, in great quantity and with a considerable gain. Which invention hath been hitherto unknown to the World, and it is almost impossible that a better should be found. But that the searcher into Art may see that this new invention of mine, is of all the most easie for the extracting of Gold from Sand or Flints, and that the World hath never known the like, I have thought fit to shew in what this _Compendium_ consists, and it is thus. It is sufficiently known with what labour and costs the ancient Workers in Metals, and even those at this day, have extracted, and do extract Gold from Sand and Stones, _viz._ when first they burn the Oars or Stones, then grind it in peculiar Mills accommodated to that purpose, with _Argent-vive_ and water, where the _Argent-vive_ draweth to it self the _Sol_, and the Stone goeth away in the washing, and the greatest part of the _Argent-vive_ is strain’d from the gold through Leather, which may again serve for the same use. Then in Iron Retorts they drive out the residue of the _Argent-vive_, which yet adhered to the _Sol_, which is saved; then they melt the _Sol_. In which operation they lose much of the _Argent-vive_, which in the grinding and washing goeth away: so that often times the charge of the _Mercury_ is no less than the gain of the gold. Therefore by this way nothing can be gotten from a poor Mine. But this is the easiest way they have to separate _Sol_ from its Oar or Stones.

Another way is, when they mix the washed Oar (which the _Germans_ call _Schlicht_) with its weight of Litharge, and melt it with Bellows, then cupel the _Regulus_ of _Saturn_, and so they obtain the _Sol_ which was in the Oar. Which way of melting, is also dear, because much of the Lead is lost: But yet they are obliged to follow this way, who know no better. Now I will compare my way with this, that it may be evident which of them is the most easie and profitable. As for my method of extracting, it chiefly depends upon four singular _Compendiums_, by which the operation is rendred easie. The first of which is a water of small cost, which may be copiously prepared, without Distillation.

The second is a singular Metal, of which the Kettles or Pans are made, in which the Stones or Sand is boiled with the water of small cost, and yet are not corroded nor consumed. And when the water shall have dissolved and imbibed the _Sol_ in the Sand, the Oar, Sand, or Stones, with the water are to be taken out of the boiling Vessel, and put into another Vessel adapted to this use, with a bottom all over perforated with small holes [like a Colender] and first covered with inside, with a thin Matt, then the water will drop down through the Sand and Matt into another Vessel placed under it; moreover more hot water is to be poured upon the same Sand, and let to run through it, which water will also extract the gold which as yet remained in the Sand. And after this Elixiviation, the Sand, (which is now of no use) is to be taken out of the filtering Vessel, and this labour to be continued so long, untill no more Sand is to be extracted.

The third _Compendium_ is this, when the _Lixivium_ of Gold, is collected to a just quantity, a singular Water of small cost, is poured into the Solution of Gold, whence all the _Sol_ is precipitated from the Solvent, the Solvent by inclination is decanted from the _Calx_ of _Sol_, and may again be used for the like extraction, seeing that it still retaineth its strength, being nothing weakened by the precipitation. Therefore we may use this Solvent a long time. And that which is lost by pouring too and again, is of small charge, because it may be recruited again by the like cheap Water. But if one should mortifie that dissolvent with other contrary _Lixiviums_, to precipitate the _Sol_, as otherwise is wont to be done, and I have taught above, about the proving of Sand, what a loss should we undergo, if at every time we should destroy our Solvent? Besides such an extraction is costly and laborious, when made in glass or earthen Cucurbits.