CHAP. I.
I Philip Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast, say That (after the manifestation of Divine Grace) many waies to the Tincture of natural things, were found out, which did all finally tend to the same scope and end: For Hermes Trismegistus the Egyptian set about this Work, according to his own Reason. Orus the Grecian observed the same Process. Hali the Arabian persisted in his own order; but Albertus Magnus followed a Process very prolix. Every one of these proceeded in his own manner, yet they all attained to one and the same end at last, viz. to long Life, and an honest sustentation and Conservation of the same in this vale of miseries. At this time, I Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast, Monarch of Secrets, am endowed with peculiar Gifts of GOD, viz. in such a manner, as every searcher of this high natural Work must needs imitate and follow me, whether he be an Italian, Polonian, French-man, German, or whatsoever he is, and whosoever he is. Hither must you all, Philosophers, Astronomers, and Spagyrists, how high soever you be, come after me. I by my own immense Labours, will shew and open to you, Alchymists and Doctors, that corporeal Regeneration. I will teach you that Tincture, Arcanum, or Quintessence, in which the Foundations of all Mysteries and Works are latent: For every man may and ought to give credit to another in those things only, which he hath experienced by Fire. If any one, otherwise than by this experience, offer any thing in Chymistry, he is not to be believed, because the true must be separated from the false by Experience in Fire. Assuredly the Light of Nature was created for this end, viz. that by it the trial or Proof of every thing should appear; yet to those only who walk in that Light. With this Light we shall be taught by the best demonstrations, That all those who ever before me entred this so difficult Province, with their proper phantasies and acute speculations, have made trial to their own hurt. Therefore, by my Foundation, many Rusticks have been made Noble-men; but on the contrary, by the putatitious and opinionative Art of those men, of Nobles, many have been transmuted into Rusticks; because they could bear golden Mountains in their Heads, before they had put their Hands into Coals. But first are to be learned Digestions, Destillations, Sublimations, Reverberations, Extractions, Solutions, Coagulations, Fermentations, Fixations, and every Instrument requisite for this Work, is to be known by use, as Glasses, Cucurbits, Circulatories, Vessels of Hermes, Earthen Vessels, Balneums, Wind-Furnaces, Reverberatories, and other such-like; as also a Marble, Mortars, and Coals; so may you at length proceed in Alchymy and Medicine.
But as long as you by Phantasie and Opinion adhere to your Fictitious Books, you will be apt for, and predestinated to none of these.