/HU-i 
 
 ■OC>J. 
 
 /^'^ 
 
 1. 
 
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 ef^Z^iuJdL W5^o5.Aj^ jocu. 
 
 
 
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!fb^^ unita Tcrrtian 
 
 
 j^S^ESS^ 
 
 
 wrj^: 
 
^phorijmi %)rbtgeram^ 
 
 Or Certain 
 
 R U L E s, 
 
 Clearly demonftrating the Three In- 
 fallible Ways of Preparing the 
 
 GRAND ELIXIR 
 
 O R ^ 
 
 Circulatum majm 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ^lltlofopliers, 
 
 Difcovering The 
 
 Secret of Secrets, 
 
 AND 
 Detecting the Errors of Vulgar Cbymifis 
 in their OPERATIONS: 
 
 Contain'd in One Hundred and One Afhorifms : To 
 which arc ndded, the Three Ways of Preparing the 
 Vegetable Elixir or Circulatum minus : All dcauc d 
 from Ne/cr-Erring EXPERIENCE 
 
 By BARO URBIGERUS, 
 
 A Servant of God in ^he Kingdom of Nature. 
 
 Experto Crede. 
 
 hO N D O N, Printed for Henry ^j^rne^ at the 
 Rcfe in St. Pm"% Church-yard. FS <» o. 
 
Licenfed, 
 
 fan. I 5. i6^o- 
 
 Kob. Midgley. 
 
T O O U R. 
 
 DEAR DISCIPLES, 
 
 Honor'd COADEPTS, 
 
 AND ALL- 
 
 WELL WISHEPvS 
 
 T O O U R 
 
 rmetit ^tu 
 
 Finding you, dear Sons^ who have 
 thro our yneans attain d to the 
 true knowledg of our fir ft Mat- 
 ter, worthy to receive ourfartkr Inftru- 
 Eiions in the remainder of the ^rocefs^ 
 to extirpate all J uch Ambiguities, as you 
 may have conceivd in our Jbfence^ tofa- 
 A 3 cilitate 
 
cilitateyour Labors^ and to precaution 
 
 you in the hringingyour Work to its high- 
 
 efl ^erfeclion , We here^ according to 
 
 your dejtre^'expofe to yoUy and for your 
 
 fakes^ to the Tublic, all the mojl infaUi- 
 
 hie ^Jes^ necejfary for preventing of 
 
 Errors in this great Undertaking. And 
 
 tho yoUy ever 'bono/ d Coadepts, could 
 
 never yet fo far prevail on your f elves ^ 
 
 as to come to a ^S^olution of prefenting 
 
 the World with the full TraEJia of this 
 
 our Jrtyjotrid to the Theory ^ we are ne- 
 
 verthelefs moft certain^ that we fhall 
 
 not receive any ^pri?nand fom you 
 
 for bringing to light thefe our ^les, 
 
 which we have fo penndj that even 
 
 thofe^ who know not our Terfon^ will 
 
 not only foon perceive j that all^ we have 
 
 written^ is the real Truth ^ clearly ex- 
 
 hibtting both the TI?eory and PraBice 
 
 of tJ?e whole Hermetic Jrt^ but alfo 
 
 conclude, that theft Operations mufl of 
 
 necejj:ty 
 
neceffity have very often pafsd thro our 
 'own hands ^ from our giving fuch poji- 
 the ^lesj and infallible InfiruBions^ 
 elucidating all the ynojl obfcure and intri- 
 €.ateEnig7ns of the ^hilofophers^and war- 
 ning them of all the Accidents^ that may 
 happen in the working of our SuhjeEi : 
 We are J we fay^ confident^ you neither 
 will J nor can hlayne us for this : fince 
 you will eajtly difcern^ that our T>e- 
 fign is purely to infiruEi our Dilci- 
 . ples^ and prevent all the Well-wifliers 
 to this moft nohle Art from being im- 
 poidupon-j and cheatedfy any falfe pre- 
 tended Adept ; to the end that thofe^ 
 who p?all from the Divine 'Benignity ^ 
 by the help of thefe our Aphorilms, 
 or othenvife, have receivd the blejfed 
 knowledg of our firfl Matter , which 
 is the very jame in all our three ways 
 of producing the grand Elixir, may 
 thro theje our certain ^dts obtain 
 A 4 the 
 
the accomplijhnent of their De fires. 
 Having in our Travels fortund 
 to meet with fome Terfons of true 
 principles in ^hilojophy and ^ligi- 
 on J we could not hut emhrace them^ 
 and inJlruEl them^ towards its farther 
 ^erfeBion^ which cannot he attai d 
 without the true knowledg of our Ce- 
 lefttal Art , by which comprehending 
 all the Myjierj of MyJierieSy we learn 
 alfo how to ferve God in Faith and 
 Truth. And fince we have no Oh- 
 ligation to any Uving Soul for the know- 
 ledgy we pojfefsy having attain d it 
 all by the only Blejjing of Almighty God 
 on our Industry and Expences : be- 
 ing therefore at more liberty than thofcy 
 tpl?o receive fuch a Favor from 10 , 
 or fome other Adept , \is our Deter- 
 minalion^ whenever we ?neet tpith Tcr- 
 fqns fo qualified , always to do the 
 
 Jame, 
 
fame. Wherefore heing at prefent in 
 England , thb we are no Native of 
 this i\ingdom , ive think it neceffary 
 to fet jorth thefe our Aphorifnns in 
 the Englifli Tongue^ not in the leaji 
 doubting^ hut that the IQiowing^ mind- 
 ing only the Senfe^ mill eaftly pardon 
 any Impropriety^ they may find in our 
 Expressions : and when Providence 
 jl^all carry us into any other Country^ 
 we^ having attain d to fome competent 
 knowledg of mofi European Langua- 
 gesj p?all again take care to publip? 
 them in the Speech of the 'Vlcce^ where 
 ive fJiall he , that we may the fooner 
 obtain the ejfetl of our Vefres^ which 
 aim at nothings but the undeceiving 
 of the World by fetting down certain 
 and evident Marks , diftinguijinng 
 the Worthy from the Unworthy^ and 
 at the bringing of Men to leave their 
 
 unne- 
 
unnecejfary Formsy by inJlruBing them 
 in the true way of Serving God^ be- 
 ing the only means to render them 
 happy both in this JVorUy and the 
 next. 
 
 Apho^ 
 
( 1 ) 
 
 Aphorifmi Urbigerani, 
 
 Or Certain 
 
 ^les^ clearly demonftrating the 
 "Three Infallible Ways of 
 , preparing the Grand Elixir 
 of the Philofophers. 
 
 THE Hermetic Science con- 
 fifts only in the right know- 
 ledg of the firft Matter of 
 the Philofophers , which is 
 in the Mineral Kingdom, not yet deter- 
 min'd by Nature. 
 
 11. 
 
 An undetermin'd Matter being the 
 begirjning of all Metals and Mineral?, 
 
 it 
 
( r ) 
 
 it follows, that,aflbon as any one fhall be 
 fo happy, as to know and conceive it, he 
 iliall eafily comprehend alfo their Na- 
 tures, Qualities, and Properties. 
 
 III. 
 
 Altho fome Perfons, poffefs'd with 
 foolifli Notions, dream, that the firft 
 Matter is to be found only in fome par- 
 ticular places, at fachand fuch times of 
 theyearaand by the Virtue of a Magical 
 Magnet 5 yet we are raofl: certain* (ac- 
 cording to our Divine Mafter //<?rA;/e/) 
 that, all thefe Suppofitions being falfe, it 
 is to be found every where, at all times, 
 and only by our Science. 
 
 IV. 
 
 .The Hernie:jc Art confifts in the 
 true Manipulation of our undeiermin'd 
 Subjeft, which before it can be brought 
 to the hi<T[hefl: degree of Perfeftion, mud 
 of neceffiry undergo all our Chymical 
 Opcrauons. 
 
C I ) 
 
 Our C-hymical Operations are thefe, 
 Amalgamation, Sublimation, Diflolution, 
 Filtration, Cohobation, DiltilJation, Se- 
 paration^Reverberation, ImbibitioD, and 
 Digeftion. . 
 
 Vh 
 
 When we call all thefe Operations 
 ours, they are not all to be underftood 
 according to the common Operations of 
 the Sophifters of Metals, vvhofe Induftry 
 confifts only in difguifing of Subje<Ss 
 from their Form, and their Nature 3 but 
 ours are really to transfigure our Sub- 
 jeft, yet conferring its Nature, Quality, 
 and Property. 
 
 VII. 
 
 This our SubjeO:, after its having 
 pafs*d thrd all thofc artificial Operations, 
 which always imitate Nature, is call'd 
 the Philofophcrs Stone, or the fifth EC- 
 
 fence 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 fence of Metals, being compounded of 
 the Elfence of their four Elements. 
 
 VIII. • 
 
 The Metals and Minerals, which Na- 
 ture has already determin'd, altho they 
 Ihould be retrogradated into running 
 M^r^//r^, Water, and Vapor 5 yet can they 
 by no means be taken for the firfl: Mat. 
 ter of the Pbilofophers. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Our "true and real Matter is only a 
 Vapor, impregnated with the Meralic 
 Seed, yet undetermin'd, created by God 
 Almighty, generated by the Concurrence 
 and Inflaence of the Afirnms^ contained 
 in the Bowels of the Earthy as the Matrix 
 of all created things. 
 
 X. 
 
 This our Matter is call'd undeter- 
 min d, becaufe, being a Medium between 
 a Metal and a Mineral^ and being neither 
 
 of 
 
(5 ) 
 
 of them, it has io it power to produce 
 both, according to the Subjefl", it meets 
 withal. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Such a Metalic Vapor, congeal'd and 
 nourith'd in the Bowels of the Earth, 
 is caird the UKdetermind^ and when it 
 enchants the Serpent with the Beauty of 
 its internal and additional Fire, the deUr- 
 mind Green^Dragon of the Philofophers; 
 and without the true knowledg and 
 right Manipulation of it nothing can be 
 done in our Art. * 
 
 XII. 
 
 This Green.Dragon is the natural 
 Gold of the Philofophers, exceedingly 
 different from the vulgar, which is cor- 
 poreal and dead, being come to the peri- 
 od of its Perfection according to Nature;, 
 and therefore uncapable of generating, 
 unlefs it be firft generated it ielf by our 
 Merchrial Water 3 but ours is fpiritual, 
 and living, having the generative Facul* 
 
 ty 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 ty in it fdf, and in its own Nature , and 
 havins: receiv'd the Mafculinc Quality 
 from the Creator of all things. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Our Gold is calfd Njtural, becaufe 
 it is not to be made by Art, and fince 
 it is known to none, but the true Dif- 
 ciples of Hermes^ who underftand how 
 to (eparate it from its original Lump, 
 'tis call'd alfo Philofophical y and if God 
 had not been fo gracious, as to create this 
 firft Chdos to our hand, all our Skill and 
 Art in the Conftruction of the great Eli- 
 xir would be in vain. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Out of this our Gold, or undeter- 
 ^^/V^Green-Dragon,without the additi- 
 on of any other created thing whatfoever, 
 we know how thro our Univerfal Men- 
 Jlruum to extraft all our Elements, or 
 Principles, neceffary for the performance 
 of our great Work ; Which is our firft 
 way of preparing the Grand Elixir : and 
 
 fince 
 
( 7 ) 
 fince this our firft Chaos is to be had 
 without any Expence, as cofting only 
 the trouble of digging it out of the 
 Mines , This is not unfitly call'd the on- 
 ly way of the Poor. 
 
 XV. 
 
 The Operations in this our firft 
 way being in a manner the fame with 
 thofe of our fecond, which is, when we 
 join our determind Dragon with our 
 Serpent, we (hall (to avoid Repetiti- 
 ons) in the fubfequenc Aphorifras give 
 Inftruftions for them both together. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Our Serpent, which is alfo contain- 
 ed in the Bowels of the Earth, being 
 of all created things whatlbever the 
 neareft fubjeft of a Feminine Nature 
 to our Dragon , thro their Copulati- 
 on fuch an aftral and metalic Seed, con- 
 taining our Elements,isalfo to be brought 
 forth, as can, tho with fomewhat more 
 
 B of 
 
(8) 
 
 of Expence and Time, perform the 
 whole Myftery oi Hermes. 
 
 XVIL 
 
 Since our Serpent is of all creat- 
 ed things the nearcft fubjeft of Femi- 
 nine Nature to our Dragon, (he is 
 after her Copulation to be taken for the 
 Bafis of our Philofophical Work : for 
 out of her Bowels, without the help of 
 any otherMetal or Mineral,we muft draw 
 our Principles or Elements, neceffary to 
 our Work, being retrogradated by the 
 Univerfal Menflrunm, 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 This Feminine Subjeft cannot be 
 retrogradated, unlefs to free her from 
 her Impurities, and Heterogeneous Qua- 
 lities, (be is firft aftuated by her Ho- 
 mogeneous ones, that (lie may be in a 
 better Capacity to receive the fpiritual 
 Love of our Green Dragon, 
 
 XIX. 
 
i 9 ) 
 
 XIX. 
 
 After our Serpent has been bound 
 with her Chain, penetrated with the 
 Blood of our Green-Dragon, and dri- 
 ven nine, or ten times thro the combu- 
 ftible Fire into the elementary Air, if 
 you do not find her to be exceeding 
 furious, and extremely penetrating, 'tis 
 a fign, that you do not hit our Subjeft-, 
 the notion of the Homogenea^ ox their 
 Proportion. 
 
 XX. 
 
 If this furious Serpent, after it has been 
 diflblv'd by the Univerfal Mef^JirhumfiU 
 trated, evaporated, and congeaPd nine or 
 ten times, does not come over in a Cloud, 
 and turn into our Virgin Milk, or Meta- 
 lic argentin Water, notcorrofive at all, 
 and yet infenfibly, and invifibly devour- 
 ing every thing, that comes near it, 'tis 
 plainly to be feen, that you err in the No- 
 -tion of our Univerfal Me^Jirm/^, 
 
 B i X X r 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 XXI. 
 
 The Serpent, of which I now fpeak, is 
 our true Water of the Clouds^ or the real 
 Eagle and Mercury of the Philofophers, 
 greatly different from the Vulgar, which 
 is corporeal, grofs, dead, and full of He- 
 terogeneous Qualities, and a Subjeft, fain 
 from its Sphere, like unripe Fruit from 
 the Tree ^ but ours is fpiritual, tranfpa- 
 rent, living, refiding in its own Sphere, 
 like a King on his Throne. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Tho the vulgar Mercury is fuch an un- 
 ripe Fruit, corporeal, and dead 5 yet if 
 you know how to amalgamate ic with 
 our Dragon, and to retrogradate it with 
 thellniverfal Me»/?r w//«/,you may afiure 
 your felf,that out ofthisalfoyou (hall be 
 able to prepare a Sophie Mercury^ with 
 which you ftrall certainly produce the 
 greatElixirjdifcover the Secret of Secrets, 
 unlock themofl difficult Locks,and com- 
 mand all the Treafures in the World. 
 
 XXIIL 
 
( tl ) 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Our Mercury is called the Mercurj oi 
 the Philofophers, becaufe it isa Subjeft, 
 which is not to be found ready prcpar'd 
 to our hand : for it muft of neceffity be 
 made by our Philofophical Preparations, 
 out of the firft Chaos , and althd it is 
 Artificial, yet is it naturally prepared, 
 Nature, which is imitated in the Prepa- 
 ration of it, contributing likewife there- 
 unto. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Since our Subjeft cannot be call'd the 
 fiery Serpent of the Philofophers, nor 
 have the power of overcoming any creat- 
 ed thing,before it has receiv'dfuch Virtue 
 and Quality from our Green-Dragon,and 
 the Univerfal MenftruHm.hy which it felf 
 is firlt overcome, devoured, and bury'd 
 in their Bowels^ out of which being born 
 again, 'tis made capable of the fame, it 
 follows, that fuch a Virtue of killing and 
 B } vivi- 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 vivifying is natural to our Dragon and 
 the Univerfal Me^Jir/^um. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 The Univerfal Menjlrunm oT the 
 Phtlofophers is that Celeftial on*, with- 
 out which nothing can live nor fub- 
 fift in this World : Tis alfo that noble 
 Champion, which delivers the uncorru- 
 pted Virgin, Andromeda^ who was with 
 a ftrong Chain faftned to the Fvock in the 
 power of the Dragon, of whofefpiritu- 
 al Love having admitted, for fear of be- 
 ing eternally ruin'd and dtvour'd by him 
 ("which could not have been avoided, if 
 this noble Champion had not come to her 
 affiftance) She is to be dt liver 'd of a 
 Child, which will be the Wonder of 
 Wonders, and Prodigy of Nature. 
 
 XXV [. 
 
 If our Virgin in her Confinement, 
 before fhe is fet at liberty, does not ma- 
 nifefl: her extreme Beauty with all her 
 internal, divt^rs, delicate natural Colors, 
 
 won- 
 
( .3 ) 
 
 wonderfully charming, and very pleafan^ 
 to the Eye , it fignifies, that the has no^ 
 fufficicntly enjoy'd the fpiritual Compa 
 ny of the Dragon, 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 If the Univerfa! Merzjiruum has not 
 totally delivered the Virgin from the 
 Claws of the Dragon , it is a fign, ei- 
 ther that (he was not fufficiently free from 
 her Heterogeneous Qualities, or that (he 
 had not receiv'd from the external Heat 
 a fufBcient penetrating Quality, or that 
 the llniverfal Me^Jirnum was too weak 
 to perform its Undertaking. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 To know, whether the Amalgamati- 
 on, Sublimation, Diffolutioo, Filtration, 
 Coagulation,^nd.Diftillation have been 
 Natural and Philofophical , the -whole 
 Body of the Serpent muft come over (pi- 
 ritual and tranfparent, leaving only fome 
 few and very light Feces at the bottom, 
 which can by no Art be reduc'd either 
 B 4 into 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 into a running Mercury yOt any other kind 
 of metallic Subftance. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 After all thefe abovc-mention'd Ope- 
 rations, and the Separation, if cur Ser- 
 pent, being amalgamated with any Me- 
 tal, pure or impure, cannot fuffer the 
 Fufion, it will be in vain for you to go 
 any farther with it : for you may affure 
 your fclf, that you do not walk in the 
 true Paths of the Hermetic Art. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Our Philofophical Diftillations con- 
 fid only in the right Separation of our 
 Spiritual and Mercnrial Water from all 
 its poifonous oily Subftance, which is of 
 no ufe at all in our Art, and from the Ca- 
 ftit Morttmm^ which is left behind after 
 the firft Diftillation. 
 
 XXXL 
 
 If after the firfl: Diftillation an ex- 
 ceedingly corrolwe and extremely pe- 
 
 netra- 
 
( »5 ) 
 
 netrating red Oil does not aftend (which 
 as foon as it begins to appear in the Neck 
 oftheRetortjthe Receiver muft be chang- 
 ed ) it fignifies, that the Diftillation has 
 not been rightly perform'd, and by Con- 
 fequence,that the internal Fireof our me- 
 talic vaporous Water,being burnt up,and 
 corroded by its poifonous Vapor^and the 
 outward Fire, is ftill mixt with it, and 
 with the Caput Mortnum. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 In cafe you (hould commit fo great 
 an Error in the performance of this 
 firft Diftillation, altho it will never be in 
 your power to prepare the Mercury Du- 
 plex of thePhilofopHers,unIefs you (hould 
 begin the whole Work again from the 
 very Beginning 3 yet, if you have any 
 farther Skill in our Art, you may eafily 
 prepare our Mercury fimplex^ with which 
 you will effed: great and miraculous 
 things.. 
 
 XXX in. 
 
 This blood red Oil with its only Fumes 
 penetrates every Part and Atom of a!I 
 
 Metals 
 
{ i6 ) 
 
 Metals and Minerals, and principally of 
 Gold, out of which Diffolution one may 
 eafily extraft the right Tinfture or Ef- 
 fence with highly reftify'd Spirit of 
 Wine, and bring it over the Alembic 
 with it : which is indeed a great Medi- 
 cine for humane Bodies. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 A deep blood-red Tinfture of excel- 
 lent Virtue is to be extrafted alfo out of 
 the above-mention'd Caput MortuHm^zc-' 
 cidentally.and unfortunately intermixt 
 with the intern ^1 Sulphur of our Mercu- 
 rial Water, and wi.h the red Oil, with 
 highly reftify'd Spirit of Wine : with 
 which after it has been evaporated to a 
 Powder, imbib'd,and Philofophically di- 
 gefted, you may aflure your felf of having 
 the Medicine of Medicines, next to the 
 great Elixir, by which you may imper- 
 ceptibly and quickly care all forts of 
 Diftempers, to the great Admiration of 
 all Galenjjif, and to the Aftonifhment 
 of. all Vulgar Chymifts. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
( 17 ) 
 XXXV. 
 
 The moft part of the Philofophers, 
 whilft their Intention was to go farther 
 to the nobleft Perfeftion of our Celeftial 
 Art^either employ'd this red Oiljbrought 
 to a Potabihty, for internal Medicines, 
 or to external Difeafes without any far- 
 ther Preparation of it, till they had ob- 
 tain'd the great Elixir. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Uthe Caput MorUmm has not the Mag- 
 netic Quality in attracting the Spiritus 
 Mtindi into it fcif from the Ajlrums, it is 
 a fign, that at the end of the Diftillation 
 of the red Oil the outward fire was fo 
 violent, as quite to burn up the Magnet, 
 which is contain'd in the firft Feces of 
 our Mercttrul Water. 
 
 XXXVIL 
 
 After the firft Diftillatidn, if the Jeaft 
 Part of the Virgin Mercurial Water can 
 
 by 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 by any Art whatfoever be brought to 
 running Mercury^ or any other kind of 
 a Metalic Subftance^itisan evident iign, 
 that either the Subjeft, or its Preparati- 
 on and Reduftion into Water, has not 
 been real, natural, or Philofophical. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 The above-mcntion'd Spiritus Mnndi^ 
 altho of no ufe at all in this our great 
 Work, is yet a great Mefjjirt^um in ex- 
 tracting of Tinfturesout of Metals.Mine- 
 rals, Animals,and Vegetables, and in per- 
 forming great things inthe Art,volatiliz- 
 ing all fixt Bodies, and principally Gold. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 A great many Pretenders to the true 
 Hermetic Kno wledg prepare MenfiruHms, 
 to diffolve common Mercury yZnd to turn 
 it into Water feveral manner of ways, 
 and by feveral additions of Salts, Sul- 
 phurs, Metals, and Minerals 5 but, fince 
 all thofe Preparations are fophiftical,any 
 
 one, 
 
( 1? ) 
 
 one, expert in our Art, will be able to re- 
 duce ic to its running Quality agian. 
 
 XL. 
 
 The Quality of our Mercurial Water 
 being to volatilize all fixt Bodies, and to 
 fix all thofe, that are volatil, fixing it felf 
 with thofejthat are fixt, according to the 
 Proportion of it, diffolving its own Bo- 
 dy, it unites infeparably with it, conferv- 
 ing always its own Qualities and Proper- 
 ties, and receives no Augmentation from 
 any other created thing,but only from its 
 crude Body. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Our Mercurial Water has fuch a fym- 
 pathy with the Jflru^fs, that, if it is not 
 kept very clofe, and Hermetically feal'd, 
 it will in a very fhort time, like a wing'd 
 Serpent, fly away in a wonderful manner 
 to its own Sphere, carrying along with 
 it all the Elements and Principles of Me- 
 tals, and not leaving fo much as one fingle 
 drpp, or the lead remainder, behind. 
 
 XLII. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Several Pretenders to the Magical Sci- 
 ence prepare Magical Magnets, to draw 
 from the Airland fas they pretend) from 
 the Ajirums fuch Menjhmims, as they 
 think neceflary for the ProduSion of the 
 Great Elixir 5 but their Magnets being 
 compounded of feveral determinate 
 things, altho their Menjlruums are great 
 Diflolvents,yet wedoon affured know- 
 ledg affirm, that they can never perform 
 any real Experiment in our Art. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 Someare of Opinion, that, unlefs the 
 Operator is Matter in the Magical Science, 
 and fundamentally underftands allitsEx- 
 periraents, he will never be able by any. 
 other Art whatfoever to bring forth any 
 (iich things, as can produce thellniverfal 
 Elixir. Now, altho we do not deny, that 
 the Magical Knowledg is required to at- 
 tain to the higheft degree of PerfeiSioa 
 in all Sciences, yec we are mofl: certain, 
 
 that 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 that it is not at all neceflary to the For- 
 mation of the Grand Elixir upon Ani- 
 mals, Metals, Precious Stones^and Vege- 
 tables. 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 Our Virgin Milk, or Metallic Water, 
 being brought to a perftfl: Spirituahty, 
 and excellent Diaphanity, is call'd the 
 true Chaos of the Philofophers : for out 
 of that alone, without any addition of 
 any created, or artificially prepar'd thing, 
 we are to prepare and feparate all the 
 Elements, which are requir'd to the For- 
 mation of our Philofophical Microcofm. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 Tounderftand aright, how out of this 
 our Chaos we are to form our Philofo- 
 phical Microcofm, we rauft firft of neceP- 
 fity rightly comprehend the great My- 
 ftery and Proceeding in the Creation of 
 the Macrocofm ; it being extremely ne- 
 ceffary to imitate and ufe the very fame 
 Method in the Creation of our little 
 
 one. 
 
( 22 ) 
 one, that the Creator of all things has 
 us'd in the Formation of the great one. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 When our Chaos or Celeftial Water has 
 purify'd it felf from its own grofs and 
 palpable Body, it is calTd the Heaven of 
 the Philofophers, and the palpable Body 
 the Earth, which is void, empty, and 
 dark : And if our Divine Spirit, which 
 is carry *d upon the Face of the Waters, 
 did not bring forth out of the palpable 
 Body that pretious Metalic Seed, we 
 fhould never be able by any Art whatfo- 
 ever to go on any farther with the per- 
 fea Creation of our Microcofm accord- 
 ing to our Intent. 
 
 xLVir. 
 
 This Heaven of the Philofophers,after 
 it has feparated it felf from the Earth, 
 containing our Philofophical Seed, and 
 the Magnet of our Salt of Nature, and 
 from the fuptrfluous Waters, is caird 
 the Mercwy [i/;/pIcx of the wife man : for 
 
 who- 
 
( i3 ) 
 
 whofoever attains it, at the fame time at- 
 tains alfo the Knowledg and Power of 
 retrogradating Metals^ Minerals, &c. 
 fo as to reduce them to their firft Being, 
 to perfeft imperfeft Bodies,and to vivifie 
 dead ones, conferving always iti own 
 Property and Qpality to it felf, and to 
 produce the Great Elixir according to 
 the ufual way of the Philofophers. 
 
 XLVIIi. 
 
 After we have feparated the Water 
 from the Waters, by which I mean the 
 Mercurial Celeftial Water frpm the fu- 
 perfloous Watef, which is the Flegm 5 
 by the Bleffing of God and the Infufion 
 of our holy Spirit, we do not intheleaft 
 doubt, but we (hall be able to bring 
 forth out of our Earth fuch Fruits and 
 Subjefts, with which we (hall certainly 
 perform the whole Creation, carrying 
 our Work to the higheft Degree of Per- 
 fcftion. 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Our Mercurial Water being of the 
 fame Brightnefs with the Heavens, and 
 
 C our 
 
( ^4 ) 
 
 our palpable grofs Body, v/hich did fe- 
 parate it felf from our Celeftial Water, 
 having the fame Properties and Quality 
 with the Earth, none, but Ignorants, will 
 deny thera to be the right Heaven and 
 true Elirth of the Philolbphers. 
 
 L. 
 
 If, after the Separation of the Spirit 
 from the fuperfluous Waters, the World, 
 in which it is contain'd^ does not appear 
 mighty de^r, and full of light, and of 
 the fame brightnefs with our Celeftial 
 Water, it if a fign, that the Separation is 
 not fully performed, the Spirit being (till 
 intermixt with the Waters. 
 
 LI. 
 
 If in the fpace of nine or ten Weeks, 
 or two Philofophical Months at longeft, 
 our Mercurial W^i€T has not done fepa- 
 rating it {elf from all its own Earth, con^ 
 taining the Metallic Seed, it is an evident 
 fign, that you have either err'd in the 
 Working of it, or that its Digcftion, hav- 
 ing 
 
( ij) 
 
 Ing been too yioknt, has confounded 
 and burnt up the principal Subjefl: of 
 the Creation. • '^ ^^' 
 
 LIL 
 
 This Philofbphic ^arth, containing 
 our principal Subjeft, after it has been 
 feparated from all the Waters, is very 
 gently to be dry *d by fome external Hear^ 
 to free it from its extraneous Humidity, 
 that it may be in a proper Capacity to 
 receive the Celeftial Moifture of our Ar- 
 gentin Water, to which it unites its moft 
 noble Fruits, with which our Philofo- 
 phical Microcofm is generated ^ nou- 
 lilb'd, and faturated. 
 
 LIIL 
 
 If the Earth, after it has been rever- 
 berated, humeded with our Celeftial 
 Moifture, does not prefcntly enrich our 
 Air with the divine esrpedcd Fruits, you 
 muft certainly believe, that in the dry- 
 ing of it the external Heat has been lb 
 ^iolenty as to burn up the internal K«2t 
 G % and 
 
( 2<J ) 
 
 and Nature of the Earth, and confe- 
 quently fpoil your Undertaking as to 
 the performance of the whole Myftery 
 of the Creation, according to the nobleft, 
 richeftjfliorteft, mofl: natural, and fecret- 
 eft ways of the Philofophers. 
 
 LIV. 
 
 In cafe the Earth (hould be totally de- 
 ftroy'd by the violent external Heat, al- 
 tho it is moft certain/you cannot carry 
 on our noble Creation any farther with 
 it 5 yet if you know how to amalga- 
 mate our Mercury /implex with your 
 common Gold, which is diflblvcd, vi- 
 vify 'd, and renew'd by it, you may be 
 fure of effecting the Great Elixir, althd 
 neither fo quick, (o natural, nor fo rich, 
 as you might have done without it. And 
 this is our third way. 
 
 LV. 
 
 The Amalgamation of our Mercury 
 pmflex with common Gold confiftsonly 
 in the right Proportion,and in the indif- 
 
 foluble 
 
(17) - 
 
 foluble Union of both, which is done 
 without any external Heat in a very 
 fliort time, without which exaft Propor- 
 tion and right Union nothing of any Mo- 
 ment is to be cxpefted from their Mar- 
 riage. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Know then, that this right Proporti- 
 on is ten parts of our Mercury Jimlex 
 to one of your fineft common Gofd in fi- 
 lings, which is diflblved in it, like Ice 
 in common Water, after an impercepti- 
 ble manner, and as foon as the Diffolu- 
 tion is over, the Coagulation and Pu- 
 trefaftion prefently follow, which EP- 
 fefts if you find not, 'tis a fign, that the 
 Aferc«r;'exceedsitsdueProportion.Now 
 when your Gold has been thus well amal. 
 garaated, united, putrify'd, and infepa- 
 rably digefted with our Mercury ftmpkx^ 
 you will then have only our Pnilofophi- 
 cal Sulphur, in which time one might 
 eafily have performed the wKole Work, 
 working without common Gold. 
 
 C ^ LVfL 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 LVH. 
 
 Altho our Mercury Jimplex is exceed- 
 ingly fpiritual and volaril, yetfinceitis 
 the right Agent, digefting the Seed or 
 Eflenceof all Metals and !Vlinerals,it will, 
 tho undigefted, naturally adhere to any 
 of them, akho corporeal, that (hall come 
 near it, and will never leave it, unlefs it 
 be forc'd away by the Ted, tho kept 
 in a great Fufion iFor many hours. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 This Mercury Jimplex^ which before 
 its rctrogradation was of a Feminine Na 
 ture, and before it left all its own Earth, 
 was Hermaphroditic^ being powerful in 
 both Sexes, is now become of a Femi- 
 nine Quality again, and altho it has loft 
 the Mafculine vifibie Fire, yet it has con. 
 ferv'd its own, which is invifible to us, 
 and v^ith which it performs vifibie Ope- 
 rations in cligtfting of imperfed Metals, 
 after its Determination with any of 
 
 ?hero. 
 
 |.IX. 
 
( 2P ) 
 
 LIX. 
 
 U this OUT M^rcHTji C the Proportion 
 rightly obferv'd ) (hould be amalgama- 
 ted with any imperfed Metal, being firft 
 determin d with a fixt one, it will rege- 
 nerate and perfeft the (ame,not lofing the 
 leaft Particle of its Virtue or Quantity : 
 Which Metal after the digeftion of a 
 Philofophical Month will (as moft Philo- 
 fophers teach ) be able to refift all man- 
 ner of TryaLsand will be far better than 
 any Natural one. 
 
 LX. 
 
 The Determination of our Mercury 
 Jiwplex with any of the fixt Bodies is to 
 be done by diflblving a fmall quantity of 
 Filings of red or white according to the 
 Color and Quality of the Metal^that you 
 defire to meliorate, and if you do not 
 err in the Separation and Union of the 
 Subjefts, you may affure your (lif of 
 obtaining your defire after a Philolophi- 
 eal Digeltion. 
 
 C 4 LXL 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 LXL 
 
 To examine aright, whether the Mei*- 
 cHryJimflex is rightly prepar'd, or come 
 to its Perfeftion, one only Drop, put 
 upon a red-hot Plate of Copper, mull: 
 whiten it through and through.and muft 
 not part with it, altho brought into a 
 great Fufion : Whichjif you find, it docs 
 not, it will be a plain Demonftration, 
 that cither your Mercury is not well pre- 
 pared, or that it has not yet done fepa- 
 rating itfelffromitsown Earth. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 If your Mercury Jlmplex, put upon 
 its own dry*d Earth, does not prefently 
 unite with the Effencc of Metals, appear- 
 ing deeper than any Blood, and Ihining 
 brighter than any Fire, which is a mark 
 of the Reception of its own internal Fire, 
 and that the Eagle has fuckc the Blood 
 of our Red-Lion, it is an evident fign, 
 that you haveerr'd in the Manipulation 
 of the Earth. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
( 3^ ) 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 This Mercury^ thus impregnated with 
 its Effencc, or Sulphur of Metals, is 
 caird the Mercury duplex of the Philofo- 
 phers, which is of a far greater Quality, 
 and Virtue than th^ [implex, with whofe 
 Imbibitions in the Salt of Nature, after 
 its being faturated with the [implex, the 
 whole Myftery of the Creation of the 
 Philofophical Microcofra is maintained 
 and perfcfted. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 To know, whether your Mtrcury du- 
 plex is Philofophically prepared, and 
 fuflSciently impregnated with its own 
 internal Natural Fire, put one fmgle 
 Drop of it upon a red-hot Plate of fine 
 Silver: and if the Silver is not by this 
 Drop penetrated through and through 
 with a deep-red Tinfture, enduring the 
 greateft fire of Fufion , it will figni- 
 fie, that you either fail in the Prepara- 
 tion of itj or chat you have not given 
 
 it 
 
( 3* ) 
 
 it time enough to receive a full Satura- 
 tion out of its own Earth. 
 
 LXV. 
 
 This deep-red Tinfture, extrafted 
 out of our Philofophical Earth, is caird 
 our Sulphur, our undigefted, effentifi- 
 cated Goldjoar internal elementary Fire, 
 and our Red-Lion : for without its Help 
 and Concurrence our Philofophical 
 World cannot be nourifh'd, digefted ,or 
 accomplifh'd,being the right Ground,and 
 true Elfence of the whole work of our 
 Creation. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 When the Earth has loft its Soul, the 
 remainder of it is the true Magnet, at- 
 tracting the Salt of Nature from the com- 
 buftible Fire after a violent Calcination 
 for (eveVal hours : which Salt, after its 
 Purification and Clarification, is call'd 
 the clarify'd Earth or Salt of the Philofo- 
 phers, which, uniting it felf with our An- 
 gle and double Mercury^ after their Di- 
 geftion, is call'd by our Mafter Hermes 
 the Univerfal Spirit earthify'd. LXVIl 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 LXVIL 
 
 The Extraftion, Purification, and Cla- 
 rification of our Earth or Salt of Nature 
 is to be perform'd by our Mercury fim- 
 plex : which, being put upon the rever- 
 berated Earth, will prefently draw it to 
 itfelf, and unite it felf with it, yet'(e- 
 parable by gentle Dillillation, after 
 which the clarify 'd Salt of the Philofb- 
 phers is at hard. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 Althp we u(e our Meratry Jimplex in 
 the Extraftion of its own Soul out of its 
 Body,and for the Clarification of the la- 
 ter 5 yet, fince it is a philofophical and 
 perpetual Mefjjirnuw^ it lofes nothing of 
 its connatural Prerogatives, nor does in 
 the leaft diminilh in Quantity, being our 
 true Alk^heji^ as Paracelfus is pleas'd to 
 call it. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 Thofe ihree Principles, or Elements 
 of our Chaos^ perfeftly feparaied from 
 
 their 
 
C 54 ) 
 
 their Impurities, and brought to their 
 highefl PeifedioH, are rightly call'd the 
 three Herculean Works : for after the 
 Preparation of them all the Labor ^Trou- 
 ble, and Danger will be pad. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 Some foolifh Operators pretend, that 
 our Great Elixir is to be prepared in a 
 very eafie manner, and without any trou- 
 ble at all,to whom we will with our Ma- 
 tter Hermes briefly anfwer. That fuch 
 Impoltors neither know our Matter, nor 
 the right Preparation of it. Yet we do 
 not deny, but any Healthy Perlbn, of 
 what Age foever he may be, may under- 
 go all our Herculean Labors, neceffary 
 to the Performance of it. 
 
 LXXL 
 
 Thefe our Operations are therefore 
 caird Herculean in refped to the reft of 
 the Work, which is exceeding eafie, 
 and without the lead TrouUle or Dan-* 
 ger, being for that reafon call'd Chil- 
 
 drens 
 
(35) 
 
 drens Play, becaufe a Child or a Woman, 
 that has any Senfe, may eafily work it, 
 and bring it to the higheft Perfeftion, ac- 
 cording to the Saying of all true Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 Altho all thofe above-mention'd Ope- 
 rations are,according to the common O- 
 pinion of the Philofophers, efteem'd dif- 
 ficult, and dangerous 5 yet we can up- 
 on our Gonfcience affura^you, that we 
 have our felf alone without the help of 
 any Creature living prepar'd them all 
 on a common Kitchin Fire, as is very 
 well known to feveral Coadepts, our 
 Friends, who could not but admire and 
 approve of our Induftry. 
 
 LXXIIL 
 
 No true Adept or perfeS: Artift can 
 deny, but that the whole Work of the 
 Great Elixir may from the very begin- 
 ning to the end be perform'd on one on- 
 ly Furnace, in one only fort of Veffel, 
 
 and 
 
( 5<^ ) 
 
 and by one only Perfon alone, at a vc- 
 ry fmall Charge* 
 
 LXXIV- 
 
 Some Im^oftors v/ould perfwade the 
 Vulgar, that Gold , Silver, and many 
 other Ingredients are required to the 
 making of the Grand Elixir according to 
 our nobleft ways ; which the Dodrines 
 of all the Philofophers, and our own 
 infallible Rules clearly (hew to be falfe : 
 for 'tis moft certain, that we neither ufe 
 any of their Ingredients, nor yet any Sil- 
 ver, or Gold, (unlefs, as we have menti- 
 on'd, in our third way) till we come to 
 the Fermentation of our Elixirs. 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 We do with all true Philofophers af- 
 fure you, that all things, necefJary for 
 our Philofophical Work, befides the 
 Fevvel, Veffels, and feme few Inftru- 
 ments, belonging to the Furnace, are 
 to be purchased for left than the Expence 
 
 of 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 of one fingle Guinea, and that every 
 wherejand at all times of the year. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 Since neither Gold nor Silver is to 
 be us'd at all in the Formation and Ci- 
 bation of our Philofophical Work, it 
 follows, that the old and common fay- 
 ing of fome Authors, viz. That vptthout 
 nporkj^ig '&ith Qold 'tis an mpojfible thing 
 to make Gold^ proves to be only a falfe 
 Notion of Men, who underftood not 
 our Art. 
 
 LXXVIL 
 
 When our Herculean Works are 
 brought to PerfeftioHj which is, when 
 our three Principles , or Elemen-ts are 
 prepared, punfy'd and perfeded, unlefs 
 the Philofophical and unfeparable Union 
 of them is exaftly performed, the Great 
 Myflery of our Creation is not to be 
 expected. 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
( 3» ) 
 Lxxviri. 
 
 Our Principles or Elements being 
 brought to a perfeft and unfepara- 
 ble Union and Digeftion, it is call'd the 
 Triple Mercury of the Philofophers j 
 which being finilh'd, the whole Creati- 
 on andFormation of our work is crown'd. 
 
 LXXIX, 
 
 All our Work of the Creation from 
 its very Beginning to its perfefl: End 
 may, on our certain knowledg, be per- 
 fected in lefs than nine Months by any 
 skilful and careful Artift, that follows 
 our Rules, unlefs fome Accident fbould 
 happen in the Preparation of our Hercw 
 lean Works : which to prevent , we 
 wrought them our felf in an earthen 
 VeflTe), which we count far better and fu- 
 rer than any Glafs, and which is moft 
 agreeable to the Practice of the moft an- 
 cient Philofophers. 
 
 LXXX. 
 
LXXX. 
 
 Before you come to the Union of 
 your Elements, your clarify'd Earth is 
 before all things to be digefted in a 'mo- 
 derate and continual Heat of Aflies, to 
 free it from any unnatural Moifture,thac 
 it might have atKaded after its Purifi- 
 catiotl, to be in ^ St Capacity to receive 
 your Mercury ftmpUx^ by which it is to 
 be nourifh'd in- its Infancy. 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 If your clarify'd Earth, after it his 
 been digefced the fpace of a whole 
 Month, does not appear exceeding dry» 
 fubtil, and frangible, it will fignifie, 
 that you have faifd in the Purification 
 or Clarification of it, or that the exter- 
 nal Moifture, it had attracted, is not 
 lyet parted from it. 
 
 D LXXXII 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 Take great Care,that you do not begin 
 your Imbibitions of your Earth, before 
 you find it to be very well purify 'd, 
 clarify'd, dry'd, and brought to be ve- 
 ry fubtil, and extremely frangible ; for 
 it would be a great Detriment as well 
 to your Work, as to your Mercury 5 
 and,alth6 it (hould not fpoil your Work, 
 yet it would be to you a great lofs of 
 Time. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 After our clarify'd Earth has been 
 brought to a perfeft Purity, Dryncfs, 
 and Frangibihty, it is to be imbib'd with 
 the eighth part oi owi Mercury fimf lex ^ 
 or Virgins Milk, which will in a very 
 fhort time be foak'd into it, as into a 
 Sponge, which (hews the hungry 
 State of our Infant, and then the Fire 
 
 11 
 
( 4» ) 
 
 is to be eontinu'd, till the Infant is hun^ 
 gry again. 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 If in the fpace of two or three days, 
 or four, at the fartheft, the Infant does 
 not (hew it felf to be extreme hungry 
 by becoming very dry and frangible 
 again, it will be an evident fign, that 
 you have overcome it by your exceffive 
 feeding of it. 
 
 LXXXV. 
 
 Great care is to be taken ajfo in the 
 feeding of the noble Infant: for if you do 
 not well obferve all our infallible Rules, 
 you will never be able to bring it to 
 a perfedt Maturity : for in the Notion 
 and Proportion of our Imbibitions, and 
 the Management of them, the profpe- 
 "^ D X reus 
 
( ■ 41 ) 
 
 rous and unfailable End of our Work is 
 to be expefted. 
 
 Lxxxvr. 
 
 'Tis always to be obferv'd, that the 
 Fire be very moderate, as long as you 
 are making your Imt)ibitions, for fear 
 oK forcing any part qJT your Mercnry to 
 leave the Earth: for as a moderate 
 Heat qi^kes the ; Union between the 
 Soul and the Body, and perfects all the 
 Work : (o on the contrary a too vio- 
 lent Heatdifunites ariddeftroys all. 
 
 Lxxxvir. 
 
 .Hi^txifanc being, dry, the Iqibibition 
 i^toberepeated.^gajn,. and this-Mttl^pd. 
 isj,Q bp; us'd, unci! the Matter has re- 
 c^J^i'd. its wtighyt wf the Menwy : ^at 
 v^^y^b, t^ia;e if you do not find- it to flow 
 'r. V ' like 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 like Wax, and be whiter then any Snow, 
 and very fixt, you miift proceed with 
 your Imbibitions, until you perceive 
 the fame. 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 
 The Imbibitions are not to be made 
 any oftner, than once every three or 
 four days, in which time you will find 
 your Matter, having foak'd up all your 
 Mercury^ xo be in great want -of Food, 
 which mufl: be fupply'd, until it be fatu- 
 rated : the Mark of which will be, when 
 it flows like Wax again. 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 Ycur Matter being brought to a per- 
 
 feft Fluxibility, uncomparable White- 
 
 nefs, and unalterable Fixedncfs, knov/ 
 
 then, that you have perfeaioned the 
 
 D 3 white 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 white Elixir, which, being fermented 
 with fine Silver in Filings, will be in a 
 Capacity to tranfmuce all inferior Me- 
 tals into the fineft Silver m the World. 
 
 XC. 
 
 Before the white Elixir is fermented 
 with common Silver, you may multi- 
 ply it, as well in Virtue, as in Quantity, 
 by the Continuation of Imbibitions with 
 the Mercury (implex^ by which it may 
 by Degrees be brought ad Irjfimtum in 
 its Virtue. 
 
 XCI. 
 
 The white Elixir being brought to 
 jts Degree of Muurity,. defiring to go 
 on to us higheft Degree of Perfcftion, 
 inftead of fermenting it with Silver, it 
 niuft be cibated with its own Fledi and 
 
 Bloody 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 Blood, which is the double Mercury^ 
 by which being nourifti'd, multiply *d 
 in Quality and Quantity, and digefted, 
 the whole Work is accomplilti'd. 
 
 XCH. 
 
 As foon as the firft Imbibition is 
 made, you will fee a great Altera- 
 tion in your Vcffel ; for there will be 
 nothing feen but a Cloud, filling the 
 whole fpace of the Veflel, the fixt be- 
 ing in controverfie with the Volati! , 
 and the Volatil with the fixt. The 
 Volatil is Conqueror at the beginning, 
 but at lafl: by its own internal Fire, 
 conjoyn*d with the external, both are 
 united, and fixe infeparably together. 
 
 D 4 XCIIf. 
 
( a6 ) 
 XCIII. 
 
 It is to be obferved, that the Glafs 
 Veffel, which rauft be oval, with a 
 Neck half a foot long, and very ftrong, 
 be of a fit bignefs, and of fuch Capa- 
 city, that your Matter, when it is put 
 into the Velfel, may take up only the 
 third part of ir, leaving the other 
 two vacant : for, if ic (hould be too 
 big, it would be a great hinderance 
 in performing the Work, and if too 
 little, it would break into a thoufand 
 pieces. 
 
 XCIV. 
 
 After you have cibated the noble 
 Elixir with your double Mercury, be- 
 fore it can come to its perfeft Fixed- 
 iwfs, it rauft of neceffity wander thro 
 
 all 
 
( 47 > 
 
 all the States and Colors of Nature, 
 by which vvc are to judg its Being 
 and Temperament. 
 
 xcv. 
 
 The conftant and eflential Colors, 
 that appear in the Digeftionof the Mat- 
 ter, and before it comes to a Perfeftion, 
 are three, vi%,. Black, which fignifies 
 the Putrefaftion and Conjunftion of the 
 Elements 5 White, which denmnftrates 
 its Purification 5 and Red, which de- 
 notes its Maturation. The reft of the 
 Colors, that appear and difappear in 
 the Progrefsof the Work, are only ac- 
 cidental, and unconftanc. 
 
 XCVI. 
 
 By every Cibation of its own Flefh 
 and Blood, Regeneration of its Colors, 
 and Digeftion, the Infant will grow 
 ftronger and ftronger, that at laft being 
 
 fully 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 fully faturated and digcfted, it is calPd 
 the Great Elixir of the Philofophers, 
 with which you will be able to perform. 
 Wonders in all the Regions, as well 
 Animal, as Mineral, and Vegetable. 
 
 XCVII, 
 
 When your Elixir is brought to a 
 Fluxibility, and a perfeft Fixednefs, 
 if you defire to make a Medicine up- 
 on Metals, you mud determinate or 
 ferment it with common Gold in Fi- 
 lings, in which Determination it will 
 vitrify, and then you will have an in- 
 comparable Medicine, c ipable to trand 
 mute all imperfeft Metals into the pu- 
 reft Gold, according to the Do^'^rine 
 of all the Philofophers, tho our felf 
 never defign'd any thing, but an uni- j 
 verfal Remedy for the Cure of all i 
 curable Difeafes, incident to Human 
 Bodies, a« is well known to our Friends. 
 who have enjoy *d the Benefit of thefe 
 our Labors. 
 
 xcviir. 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 XCVIII. 
 
 It is to be obferv'd in the Fermenta* 
 tion, that the Elixir exceed not the Fer- 
 ment in Quantity, otherwife the Spon- 
 fal Ligament of it cannot be adlually 
 perform'd, and when the Ferment is pre- 
 dominant over the Elixir, ail will be 
 prefently turned into duft. 
 
 X C I X. 
 
 The beft Method of Fermentation is 
 to take one part of the Elixir, and put 
 it into the midft of ten parts of Gold in 
 Filings, cad thro Antimony, to free it 
 from all its Impurities, and to keep it 
 in a circulary Fire for the fpace of fix 
 Hours, to increafing the Fire by De- 
 grees, that the two lafl hours it be in 
 a good Fufion, and when cold, you will 
 find all your Matter exceeding frangi- 
 ble, and of the Color of the Granate- 
 Stone, 
 
 C. 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 c. 
 
 Common Mercnrj, amalgamated with 
 Lead^ is counted the moft proper Sub- 
 jed for making Projeftion, which be- 
 ing in Fiifion, your fermented Matter 
 being divided into three parts, one part 
 of it roird,in Wax, is to be flung upon 
 the Amalgam : then prefently cover 
 the Crucible, and continue the Fire, 
 until you hear the Noife of the Separa* 
 tion and Uaion : then the fecond and 
 third parr, as before, and being kept 
 for two hours in a continual Fire of Fu- 
 fion, let it cool by it felf. 
 
 CI. 
 
 Whoever fhall prefume to prepare 
 the Great Elixir according to our mod 
 Secret Ways without following and ob- 
 ftrving all thefe our infallible Rules, 
 will certainly find hirafelf mightily mi- 
 
 ftaken 
 
( 5» ) 
 
 ftaken at laft, having after a great deal 
 of Trouble, Charges, and Pains, reap'd 
 nothing but Difcontent 3 and on the 
 contrary they , that (hall walk in our 
 true and infallible Paths, (hall with ve- 
 ry little Trouble and Expeiices attain 
 to their defired End^which we cordially 
 wifh to all thofe, who are fincere well- 
 wifhers to the Hermetic Philofophy. 
 
 F I J^I S. 
 
Circulatum minus Urhi^eramniy 
 O R T H E 
 
 Philosophical Elixir 
 
 OF 
 
 VEGETABLES. 
 
 WITH 
 
 The Three certain Ways of Pre- 
 
 J>aring it, fully and clearly 
 et forth in One and Thirty 
 
 ^T HO'Rl S MS 
 
 By T^aro aJtbisftus 
 
 A Servant of God in the Kingdom of Nature. 
 Experto Crede. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 I 
 
 Printed for Henry Fatthorm, at the Rofb 
 m St. ?aul\ Church-yard, 1690. 
 
T O A L L 
 
 TRUE LOVERS 
 
 O F T H E 
 HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 HJying tn our Trece* 
 dent Aphorifms 
 clearly deliver d fuch 
 infallible Utiles and Jnflrmli- 
 ons, as are necejfary for fro- 
 ductng our (jrand Elixir, or 
 Circulatum majus, the only 
 real Secret of the true Adepts, 
 commanding tn all the Ktng- 
 £ % domi 
 
(loms of SJ\(ature^ nphich mll^ 
 n^e quejlion not^ he no lejs plea^ 
 (ing to all other lovers of Scu 
 ences^ than to our T>ifciples ; 
 and being farther indind fully 
 to inform them^ honip to preferye 
 themfehes and others inperfeB 
 Health hj ohViattng any T)i^ 
 femper^ that may othermfe o- 
 yercome them^ before they can 
 attain to the Accomplifhrnentof 
 their T)efires : We ha^e thought 
 it convenient to impart Itk^mfe 
 to them our three federal ways 
 of making our Vegetable Elixir, 
 or Circulatum minus, vphich 
 may be prrpard^ and brought to 
 
 Its 
 
its Htmoft TerfeBion in thefpace 
 of a Thilofophical Month by 
 any skilful <t/frti(i, ivho Jhall 
 comprehend and foUoup our cer- 
 tain T^ireBionSf laid down in 
 thefe our fubfequent Apho- 
 rifms, inhere the n>hole JVorl^ 
 isfo eyidently demonjlratedy that 
 none, raho is ever fo little yers'd 
 in Chymiftry, can be liable 
 to mijlake. U^r do 'ive any 
 ypoy doubt, but all thofe, ivho 
 /JjaU Vi>ith afncere and upright 
 Intention peru/e thefe our plain- 
 Ij-iiaritten Aphorifms, mil find 
 themfehes obliged to blefs iJl- 
 mightj (jodfor his infinite Mer- 
 E 3 cy 
 
cy in haying infpir'd us to open 
 their Ejes, that they may fie, 
 vphat is requifite for their pre- 
 fent Healthy and future Happi- 
 nefs, both vehich vee heartily 
 m/h to eyery one, i^ho, as be- 
 comes a true Thilofopher, un- 
 feignedly loyes God and his 
 S\(eighbpr. 
 
 Circii- 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 Circulatum minui Urh'igeranum, 
 OR THE 
 
 PHILOSOPHICAL ELIXIR 
 
 O F 
 
 VEGETABLES, 
 
 WITH 
 
 The Three certain Ways 
 of Preparing it. 
 
 I. 
 
 OU R CinuUtum minm is on- 
 ly a Ipccificated Elixir Jbc- 
 longing to the Vegetable 
 Kingdom, by which without any 
 Fire, or farther Preparation of the 
 E 4 Vcgc« 
 
( 6r ) 
 
 Vegetables, we can in a Mo- 
 ment cxtrad: their true Eflencc, con- 
 taining their Virtue, Quality, and 
 Property : which is a great Chymical 
 Curiofity, performing Wonders in 
 the Practice of Phyfick, and in de- 
 monftrating (bme Works of Nature. 
 
 IL 
 
 We call it GrcuUtum^ becaufe, tho 
 never fo often us'd in any Extradi- 
 pn, or Chymical Experiment what- 
 ever, it lofes nothing of its Quality, 
 or Property : which is a Prerogative, 
 pertaining to the Univerlal Elixir^ 
 caird alio the Circulatum majii^^ be- 
 caufe it commands in all the three 
 Kingdoms of Nature i whilft this, 
 being reftrain'd to one only King- 
 dom; is for that realbn ftil'd Minus. 
 
 III. 
 
( 6; ) 
 
 HI. 
 
 Out of X>i^ias undetermined 
 Tears, when JpoHo has appeared, af- 
 ter the Separation of the three Ele- 
 mcnts^Decermination^Digeftionjand 
 glorious Refurredtion, we can, with- 
 out the Addition of any other 
 created thing, prepare this our deter- 
 min'd Elixir : Which is the firft, no- 
 bleft, and fccreceft way of the Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Deternaination of our Dianas 
 Tears confifts only in their perfect 
 and indiffoluble Union with the fixe 
 Vegetable Earth^philofophically pre- 
 pared, purify 'd, and fpiritualizd : 
 for the love of which they are fore d 
 to leave their firft univerfal unde- 
 
 termin'd 
 
( 6^ ) 
 min'd Property, and be cloath'd 
 with a decermind particular one, 
 which is required to this our CircuU- 
 turn minus. ^^ 
 
 Our iecond way of preparing 
 this our Vegetable Elixir is by a 
 right Manipulation of a Plant of the 
 nobleft Degree, flanding by it felf, 
 or fupported by others : after the 
 Preparation of which, and its Pu- 
 trcfadion, Redu6tion into an Oil, 
 Separation of the three Principles, 
 with their Purification, Union, and 
 Spiritualization, the wliole is to be 
 turn'd into a fpiritual ever-living 
 Fountain, renewing every Plant, 
 that {hall be plung'd in it. 
 
 VI 
 
( ^5 ) 
 
 VI. 
 
 The third and common way is 
 only a Conjundion of a fixt Vege- 
 table Salt with its own volatil luU 
 phureous Spirit, both to be found 
 ready prepar'd by any vulgar Chy- 
 mijiy and fince in their Preparation 
 the pureft Sulphur, containing the 
 Soul, has fuffer d Ibme Detriment 
 by their not being philofophically 
 manipulated, they cannot be infepa- 
 rably join'd without a fulphureous 
 Medium J by which the Soul being 
 ftrengthned, the Body and Spirit 
 are alfo thro it made capable of a 
 perfect Union. 
 
 VII. 
 
 The proper Medium ^ requifite 
 for the indifloluble Union of thefe 
 
 two 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 two Subjedls, is only a fulphureous 
 and bituminous Matter, iffuing out 
 of a Plant, living or dead, which 
 is to be found in feveral parts of the 
 World, and is known to all manner 
 of Men, ( the Copavian we find to 
 be the bcft, and after that the Itali- 
 an^ ) by which, after it has been fe- 
 parated from its feculent parts thro 
 our,Univerfal Menjlruum^ all the 
 Pores and Atoms of the fixt Vege- 
 table Salt, which is extremely forti- 
 fied by it, being dilated, it is made 
 capable of receiving its own Spirit, 
 and uniting it felf with it. 
 
 VIIL 
 
 To fortify the Sulphur, and open 
 the Pores of the Salt, no other Me- 
 thod is to be us'd, but to imbibe the 
 fame with the bituminous Matter in 
 
(67 ) 
 
 a nfodeutc digeftivc Heat, as if one 
 would hatch Chickens, and as the 
 Salt grows dry, the Imbibitions are 
 to be repeated, until you find it fo 
 fully laturatcd, that it refuies to im- 
 bibe any more of the Matter. 
 
 IX- 
 
 In the Courft of Imbibitions the 
 whole Mafs is at Icaft nine or ten 
 times a day to be ftirr'd with a Spa- 
 tula, or fomc other Inflrument of 
 dry Wood, by which reiterated 
 Motion, the bituminous Matter re- 
 ceives a better ingrels into the Body, 
 and perfects its Operation the loonen 
 
 X. 
 
 Great Care is to be taken, that 
 in the performance of the Imbibiti- 
 ons, 
 
( 6i ) 
 ons, no kind of Soil or Duft.fall 
 into your Matter, for the preventi- 
 on of which your Veflel may be 
 kept cover'd with a Paper, prickt 
 full of holes, or any other fuitablc 
 Covering, and that nothing come 
 near it,which has its own internal Sul- 
 phur: for the Pores of the Salt being 
 very much dilated and open'd,it may 
 eafily determine it felf to any other 
 Subje(^,and fo Ipoil your Undertak- 
 ing. 
 
 XI. 
 
 If in three, or four Weeks time 
 at fartheft, your fixt Vegetable 5alt 
 does not manifcft its full Saturation, 
 'twill certainly be in vain for you to 
 go any farther with it : for you may 
 alTure your felf, that you cither err 
 in the Notion of the Salt or of the 
 real fulpluueous Medium, or in the 
 Management of the Imbibitions, 
 
 XIL 
 
C 69 ) 
 XII. 
 
 When your Imbibitions are ful- 
 ly perform'd, your Salt will then be 
 in a convenient readinefs to receive 
 its own Spirit, by which it is made 
 volatil, ipiritual, tranfparent, and 
 wonderfully penetrating, entring of 
 a fudden into the Pores and Parti- 
 cles of every Vegetable, and fepara- 
 ting in a moment their true Enence 
 ©r Elements. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Altho the Salt is fully prepared 
 for the Reception of its own Spirit, 
 yet unlefs you well obferve the right 
 Proportion of them (which is, that 
 the volatil always predominate over 
 the fixt) you will neverJ^e able to 
 
 make 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 make any peifea Union between 
 thefe two Subjefts, contrary in 
 Qiiality, tho not in Nature. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Before you begin your Deftillati- 
 ons and Cohobations, after the Ad- 
 dition of the Vegetable Spirit to its 
 own Salt, a Putrefaction of eight or 
 ten days is to precede, during which 
 time, the fulphureous Spiritjftrength- 
 ned by the bituminous Matter, and 
 finding its Salt fit for Conjunction 
 with it, has the power to enter in- 
 to its Pores, to facilitate its Volati- 
 lization, and Union. 
 
 XV. 
 
 If after fix or {even Dcftillations 
 and Cohobations of the deftilld 
 
 upon 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 upon the Remainder, you do not 
 find your Spirit to be extremely 
 fliarp, and the Remainder in the 
 bottom altogether infipid , it will 
 be an evident 5ign, that you fail in 
 the true knowledge of the Vegeta- 
 ble Spiritp which, being exceeding 
 volatil, has in its Nature power to 
 volatilize its own Body, and unite 
 it felf infeparably with it, finding it 
 capable of its Reception. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 It is to be oblervdj that in the 
 Progrefs of your Deftillations the 
 fulphureous Medium do not in the 
 lead afcend : for as it is a real Mediurriy 
 concurring to unite the Body with the 
 Spirit, before the Spiritualization of 
 the Body, and without the Con- 
 currence of which noperfcd: Union 
 F of 
 
( 7^ ) 
 
 of thefc two Subjcds is to be expe- 
 cted j fo on the contrary in the Pro- 
 grels of the Work its Concurrence 
 would be highly d/fidvantageous to 
 to them both, and totally (ubvcrt 
 your Operation. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Theafcending of the fulphureous 
 Medimfty when the Spirit begins to 
 carry over its own Body, to unite it 
 felf infeparably with it, . evidently 
 and certainly fignifies, that you do 
 not regulate your Fire^as you llhould, 
 and that, inftead of giving a gentle 
 vaporous Heat to facilitate the Uni- 
 on, you give a violent one to de- 
 ftroy it. 
 
 XVIIL 
 
( 71 ) 
 
 XVIIL 
 
 When your Sale is brought to its 
 pcrfed Spiritualization 5 and real 
 Union with its own volatil Spirit, 
 then you will have in your power 
 your Circulatum minus y or Vegetable 
 Elixir^ and Menjlruum^ with which 
 you will be able to perform wonders 
 in the Vegetable Kingdom, feparat- 
 ing in a moment not only their Prin- 
 ciples or Elements, but alfo at one 
 and the fame Operation the Pure 
 from the Impure. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 If into this your Vegetable Eltx'tr 
 you put any green Vegetable, fhred 
 in pieces, it will in lefs than half a 
 quarter of an hour without any ex- 
 ternal Heat putrify, and precipitate 
 F z ic 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 it felf into the bottom quite dead, 
 { which is nothing but the curfed 
 Excremental Earth) and on the 
 Top will fwim a yellow Oil, con- 
 taining the Salt and Sulphur, and 
 the Elixir will be of the Color of 
 the Plant, comprehending its Ve- 
 getable Spirit : which if it does not, 
 'tis a fign, that your Operations have 
 not been Philofophical. 
 
 XX. 
 
 One only drop of this yellowifli 
 Oil, given in Diftempers according 
 to the Virtue and Quality, attribu- 
 ted to the Plant, every Morning and 
 Evening in a Glals of Wine, or any 
 other convenient Vehicle, will in- 
 fallibly and infenfibly cure thole 
 Diftempers, and corroborate the vi- 
 tal Spirirs, if conftantly taken to 
 
 purify 
 
( 75 ) 
 purify the Blood in fickly and infc- 
 d;ious Times. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 If you put Coral into this Men- 
 ftruuniy you will ftc an admirable 
 Experiment : for altho its Pores are 
 compafter^ than in any other Vege- 
 table y yet it will on a fudden tranf^ 
 mit its internal Spirit into the Men- 
 Jiruuniy and lending its Soul and 
 Body, like a blood-red Oil to the 
 Top, will at laft fall to the Bottom 
 like a grayifh Excrement. 
 
 X XI I. 
 
 If Myrrh J Aloes, and Saffron, 
 of each an equal Quantity, are puc 
 into this Menftruuniy the trueft Elixir 
 Troprietatis ( as Taracelfus terms it ) 
 which is a nwft excellent Cordialjand 
 F 3 almoft 
 
(76) 
 
 almoft of as great Efficacy and Vir- 
 tue, as the Univerfal Elixir it felf, 
 in curing all curable Diftempers, 
 will prefently fvvim on the Top, 
 and its Caput Mortuum will feparate 
 it f^lf into the Bottom. 
 
 XXIU. 
 
 This Vegetable Menjlruum dif- 
 folves not only all forts of Gums, 
 .or any other kind of Subftance in 
 the Vegetable Kingdom, but alio 
 all forts of Oils and Balfams, com- 
 ing out of Trees, feparating their 
 true Eflence, by which you may 
 perform wonderful things both up- 
 on living Bodies, and dead ones, the 
 -laft of which it prefervcs for ever 
 without opening or any farther Pre- 
 paration of them. 
 
 XXIV, 
 
( 77 ) 
 XXIV- 
 
 Tho this Menjlruum is only Ipe- 
 cificated upon Vegetables, it will 
 nevertheiefs in a moment draw the 
 Tindure out of Metals and Mine- 
 rals j but it will not fcparare all their 
 Principles , not being the appro- 
 priated Menjlruum for fuch Opera- 
 tions 3 and tho fuch Sulphurs are 
 highly balfamic for the Lungs and 
 Spleen, yet fince our £//x/> Tro^rie- 
 tatis far exceeds thofe pra^ternatural 
 Preparations, we only give this as 
 a curious Chymical Experiment. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Since this Vegetable Menjlruum is 
 
 eternal, you mull pbferve, that you 
 
 loie nothing of its Quaniity or Qua- 
 
 F 4 ii^^. 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 lity in feparating of it from the Oil, 
 
 and Spine of the Vegetable, which 
 is done by a gentle Deftillation in 
 ^alneo vaporofo^ the Veflel being ve- 
 ry well luted and dry*d before. The 
 Menjiruunij coming over w^ith the 
 Flegm of the Vegetable^from which 
 it IS by a Deftillation in ^alneo to be 
 feparated for farther ufcs, leaves the 
 Oil at the Bottom, united with its 
 ovyn Spirit, which will eafily go 
 over in any common Heat^ not leav- 
 ing any thing behind it : which is 
 a Mark of its Spiritualization, Pu- 
 rification, and Regeneraiion, that it 
 has received from the Menjlruum. 
 
 XXVL 
 
 Out of this Oil or Effencc of 
 your Vegetable lb prepar'd, or by 
 any other Philofophical way, (as 
 
 we 
 
( 79 ) 
 we have mention'd in our fccond 
 Manner of making this our Elixir ) 
 if you know how to putrify it natu- 
 rally without any Fire, and to ic- 
 parate all our Principles out of it, 
 purifying and uniting them infepa- 
 rably together, being all made Ipi- 
 ritual and tranfparent, you will then 
 have out of this fecond Regenerati- 
 on the greateft Arcanum in theWorld, 
 as upon Vegetables, fo alfo upon 
 Minerals and Metals, except Gold 
 and Silver. 
 
 XXVIL 
 
 if this regenerated Eflence be de- 
 rermin'd with our firft Matter, it 
 will then be in a Capacity radically 
 to diflblve all forts of Metak or 
 Minerals, and principally Gold, 
 which is imperceptibly diffolv'd in 
 
 it. 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 it, like Ice in common Water, and 
 cin never be (eparated common 
 Gold again, neither by Deftillati- 
 on, nor Digeftion : out of which, 
 after a-Philolbphical DigefHon, Se- 
 paration of the three Principles , 
 with their Purification, Union, Di- 
 geftion, and third Regeneration, 
 you may prepare the great Medicin 
 of Medicins, of equal Virtue and 
 Quality with the Grand Elixir upon 
 Human Bodies, and with our Mer- 
 cury JimpleXy upon Metals or Mine- 
 rals. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 The determinating this regene- 
 rated Mmflruum with our firft Mat- 
 ter is to be performed by its Amal- 
 gamation with it, in which the Ve- 
 getable Men/iruum^ drawing out of 
 !t all "its Qualities 'and' Properties, 
 
 and 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 and uniting them with its own, is 
 made capable of the fame Virtue 
 and Property, as our Mercury Jimplex, 
 in difiblving and volatilizing eve- 
 ry created thing, that fliall come 
 near it. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Some are of Opinion, that both 
 the Elixirs may be produc'd out of 
 feveral determined things, as Human 
 Excrements, Mt)/- dew, (which they 
 call alfo t\-\ciYMenJiruu7?i from above, 
 or Water from the Clouds ) (i^c. as 
 alfo that the Grand Elixir may be 
 prepar'd out of this, or any other Ve- 
 getable regenerated Menjlruumy but 
 nnce we know, that luch Menjiru- 
 umsy which they call their Philofo- 
 phical Mercury^ altho they may dit 
 iblve and volatilize Mer^ls, yet can- 
 not meliorate any of them, this 
 
 Dif 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 Diflblutlon and Volatilization being 
 neither natural nor Philofophical, 
 we therefore with good Reafon 
 judge all thole Opinions to be only 
 falfe Suppofitions and ill-grounded 
 and imaginary Notions. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 We with our Divine Mafter 
 /ir^w^^abiblutely affirm, that, Al- 
 mighty God having, after he had 
 created all things, commanded eve- 
 ry one of them to procreate out of 
 its own kind, our Elixirs are not 
 to be produced by any of thofe fo- 
 phiftical ways, as we have fully 
 made appear in thele and our prece- 
 dent Afhorifms^ in which we have 
 given ample Inftruftions for the 
 preparing the Univerfal Elixir out 
 of our undetermin d Matter, and 
 
 the 
 
( 8; ) 
 
 the rpecificated one out of the Root 
 of Vegetables. 
 
 XXXL 
 
 Out of the true Affedion and 
 Charity, we have for all Lovers of 
 Arts, we advife every one, who 
 fhall defire to prepare either of thcfe 
 our Elixirs J only to follow 9ur In- 
 fallible Rules, being the Compmdium 
 of the whole Practice and Theory 
 according to all true Philofophers, 
 and not to mind any other : for 
 fome having delivered things by 
 Hearfay, others from Reading, and 
 very few from their own Pradice, 
 they may eafily be impos'd upon 
 and deluded by any Tfeudochy??jiJl or 
 pretended Adept. 
 
 . Experto Cred&. 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 A POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 An Explanation of the Figure^ prefixt 
 to the Aphorifmi Urbigerani. 
 
 HAving in our One Hundred and One 
 Jphorifms (o perfpicuoLidy laid open all 
 the Difficulcies, and fo amply caught the con> 
 pleac Theory and Practice of the whole Her- 
 petic Myfteiy, that any ingenious Lover of 
 Chymiltry will not only be enabled to undcr- 
 ftand the iiioil: abftrufe writings of the Philofo- 
 phers, but alio to etFedany real Experiment, 
 which IS to be expedled in the Progreis of our 
 Celeflial Art; and yet being apt to believe, 
 £ihar luch, as are not our Djfciples, may per- 
 haps meet with (bme of the Phtlo(oph:cal Fi- 
 gareSj the meaning of which they may not fo 
 eaiily comprehend, we have judg'd it highly 
 expedient, in the Front of this our little Book 
 CO place this our Figure, by which^ being a 
 perfcd Compendtum of all the Philofbphieal 
 Emblems, the reft may be without any great 
 difEcuky underftood. Now fince this our Fi- 
 gure, myilically reprefenting all our Subjects 
 and Operation^^cannot but admit of many and 
 
 vaii- 
 
various Interpretations, all which if wq Hiould 
 here fet down, our Aphorifms (where they 
 are already dehvcr'd, and of which this would 
 then be a Repetition, ) would be altogether 
 ufelefs and inlignificant : we therefore at firft 
 efteem'd it very (uperfluous to give any farther 
 Illuftration of it. But our defire being to do 
 all the good, we can, to the Public, we have 
 on fecond Thoughts rcfolv'd with our wonted 
 Brevity to dehver the following Explanation 
 for the better Comprehenfion both of it and 
 our Aphorifms. 
 
 The Tree is a Supporter of the Motto, Fir- 
 tus unit a fort tor : which , being to be read 
 from the (ide of the Serpent, reprelenting by 
 the Half Moon on its Head the Planet, under 
 whole Influence it is born, is to be referrd to 
 it according to its particular Motto, which fig- 
 nifies, that, if you take it alone, it can do lit- 
 tle or nothing in our Art, as wanting the Af^ 
 iiftance of others. By the Green Dragon is to 
 be undcijftood ourfirft undetermined Matter^ 
 comprehending all our Principles, (as is de- 
 monltrated by the Half Moon on its Head, 
 the Sun in its Body, and the Ciols on its Tail, ) 
 and denoting by its Motto^ that it can perform 
 the whole work without being join'd with any 
 other created or artificially prepared thing: 
 which is our firit way. But thi^ our Dragon, 
 when copulating with our Serpent, is forced 
 to comply with her, degrading it (elf from its 
 
 unde« 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 undeterminy Being for the produdion of our 
 (econd way. Apollo with the San on his head, 
 and Diana with the H^ilf Moon, embracing 
 each othspj fhew our third way, and the Con- 
 tinuation of our firft and (econd. The River, 
 into which they dcfcend, fignifies the State, 
 they muft be reduc'd into, before they can be 
 in a Capacic^^ ot being born again, and bsfore 
 in any of our three ways they can be brought- 
 to a perfed Spintualization and Union. Afiollo 
 and Diana J coming out of the Rr/cr- in one 
 wonderful Body, Diana having obtain'd ail, 
 reprcfent our Herculean works, ready finifh'd> 
 and the beginningof their Con jandion, and 
 by their going tofet their foot on firm ground, 
 where ihe is to fow the noble Fruits for the 
 Procreation, is to be underflood the Conti- 
 nuation of their Conjunction,, till they are ful- 
 ly united and perfected, in this Scheme alfo, 
 as well as in our Aphorifms, are myfticaily 
 exhibited all the principal Points of Faith and 
 Religion, cOmpris'd in the Volumes of the 
 Old and New Tefiament : whence it mani- 
 feftly appears, that the Contemplation of Na- 
 ture truly leads to the Comprehenlion ofthofe 
 heavenly Verities, by which alone we can ex- 
 pe(5l to arrive ac the Enjoyment of that blef- 
 fed Immortality, to which, as to rhe true and 
 ultimate End of our Creation, all our Endea- 
 vors arc 80 be direded. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
3?3'97f