Physician
Sir, besides the above commemorated, there are also other Observations; strenuously refuting the Operation on an Universal Medicine, partly in respect of the Age and strength of Man, partly by reason of the Sex, and other Circumstances, whilst a difference is to be made between the tender, and the Robust, whether from Nature, or from Education; or between the Male and Female, or between a Young Man and a Virgin, or between the Beginning, Middle, or End of Diseases; or it is to be understood whether a Disease, be inveterate, or the Sick be lately invaded; or lastly, whether the Ferment be promoted in this Disease, or be precipited in in another. Effervescency is made either in the Stomach or in the Intestines. Assuredly there are many contradictions of the Wonderful effect, of the Universal Medicine. For the greatest part of rational Physicians want the Perspicil of Thomas Didymus in their Fingers.
Artist
Indeed, Sir; you have philosophised rightly, and well, yea, Arthodoxly, against the universal Medicament, according to that notorious, and far spred proverb. As many Heads, so many Senses. For as Sweet sounding Musick delights not the Ears of every Midas; nor doth the Same History related please all Historians; nor of Bread and Wine, of the same Taste, is there a like relish in all Palats. So also the judgements of Skilful Men do strangely differ, touching the wonderful Effect of this Universal Medicine, on Humane and Metallick Bodies. For this Universal Medicine, in its way of Operating, vastly differs, from a particular Medicine, which may in some sense be called Universal, as the Herb Scurvy-grass, curing every Scorbutick marked with blew Spots; or Sorrel, healing every Scurvy, noted with red Spots; or Brook-lime, healing an Atrophia of that Kind, or Fumitory remedying Tumors of that Kind: and that especially with such Physicians, with whom the Observation you before recited, is of any esteem. Moreover, there is an exceeding great difference between the Universal Medicine of Philosophers, refreshing the vital Spirits, and between a Particular Medicament of Proletary-Curation, with which is corrected the venom of Humors; viz. such as boyles up against Nature, in this Man, Acid; in that Man, the Bitter is predominant; in one, what is Saline, in another, what is sharp, grow potent. But, if these Corrupt humors be not without all delay presently expelled out of the Body, by the ordinary Emunctories of Nature either by the Belly, or by Urine of the Bladder, or by the Sweat through the Pores, or by the Spittle of the Mouth, or by the Nostrils, assuredly the corruption of one, becomes the Generation of another, viz. of a Disease. For, from every spark, if we do not timely extinguish it, an exceding great burning will arise. Also, if there be a defect, of the Vital Spirits, it is impossible to effect this. Therefore the only care of a Conscientious Physician should be, how to deduce the motion of the Vital Spirits to a digestible natural Heat, and that is best of all, and most securely performed by the Operation of our Universal Medicament, by which they are found to be notably recreated. For as soon as this more than perfect Medicine hath driven the Morbifick Evil from the Seat it occupies, then immediately it infuseth the lost Sanity, and that only from the Harmony, or Sympathy it self, which the Vital Spirits, and this Medicine, have mutually in themselves. Wherefore, it, by the Adept, is called the Mystery of Nature, and the Defensive of old Age, against all Diseases. Which, I say, even in a most pestilent Season, most full of contagious Diseases every where raging, makes of man a Salamander, bearing such Epidemical Plagues of Heaven displeased, until the utmost term of his Life be expired.
Physician
As far as I, beloved Friend, can understand, this Medicine makes not for the Emendation of depraved Humours, but is chiefly conducent for the recreation of the Vital Spirits. Besides, among practical Chimists, this Secret is taught, viz. that by the Spayrick Art, it may be commonstrated, how the pure should be separated from the impure, and by the same, how the Immature are rendred mature, and how the Bitter are corrected into sourish, and the sourish into Sweet, and the Sharp into Gentle, and the Gentle into Sharp; and the Acid into Sweet, and the Sweet into Acid. Also this Laudable Medicine of Philosophers, according to my understanding, cannot prolong Life, beyond the term prefixed from above, but only preserve from the Effect of all Venimous, or otherwise mortiferous Diseases: and so it is certainly true, as is commonly believed, that the prolongation of Humane Life depends, on the Will of the Omnipotent God only. But, omitting these, I would here ask this one Question. Whether by the use of this Universal Medicine, the pristine Nature of Man may be converted into New, so as a Slothful Man may degenerate into a Diligent, or stirring Man, and a Man, who before was by Nature Melancholy and Sad, afterward became Jovial, Chearful, and full of Joy, or like alterations, reformations, permutations, or vicissitudes happen in the Nature of Man?
Artist.
Not at all Sir. For so great power was never conferred on any Medicament, that it could change the Nature of Man. Wine inebriating, taken by diverse individual Men, in him, who is drunk, changeth not his Nature but only provokes, and deduceth into act, what is naturally, and potentially in him, but before was as it were, dead. Even so is the Operation of the Universal Medicine, which by recreation of the Vital Spirits, excites Sanity, for a time only suppressed, because it was naturally in him before; even as the heat of the Sun changeth not Herbs, or Flowers, but only provokes the same, and from the proper potential nature of them, deduceth them into act only. For a Man of a Melancholy temper, is again raised up to exercise his own Melancholy matters; and the jovial Man, who was pleasant, is recreated in all his chearful actions, and so consequently, in all desperate Diseases it is a present, or most excellent Preservative. Hence a Man, presaging that some evil will befal him, will rather prevent than be prevented. But if any prolongation of Life, by some Philosophick Medicament, could have been induced, against the predestination of the Omnipotent God, undoubtedly neither Hermes Trismegistus, nor Paracelsus, nor Raymundlully, nor the Count Bernhard, and many more like illustrious Possessors of this great Mystery, would not have yeilded to the common death of all Mortals, but perhaps have protracted their Life until this very Day, Therefore, it would be the part of a fanatick, and foolish Man to affirm this, yea of a most foolish Man, to believe, and assent to the same, touching any one Medicament in the things of Nature.
Physician.
My Friend, whatsoever you have spoken no less regularly, than fundamentally, touching the Operation of the Universal Medicine, I indeed cherefully, and willingly grant, but as long as I am ignorant of preparing the same rightly, I do no other than attempt to carry my Boat from a very small Lake, into the Vast Ocean, because it will certainly be driven back to the Shore, without any Fruit. For although many of those illustrious Men have written somewhat touching that laudable preparation, yet they involved that in such a Wrapper of shadowed Caution, as the Footsteps of them latently demonstrated, can be known by few or none of the most diligent Readers, who should follow them so far, as until they come where they would be. Also, who is so wealthy, and well informed, as to be able, and to know where to buy all those Books, in which, here, and there an Hypothesis of this kind is handled: betides, you may consume the greatest part of your life, before you can gather thence any sufficient knowledge, or the direct manual Operation. Therefore it is best for us to abide patiently in our Laboratory, praying to the blessed God, according to that Saying:
Ora, ac Labora; & Deus dat omni hora.
Labour, and Pray; God gives alway.