If God prolong my Life, and grant me opportunity, I will hereafter, for the good of Mankind, openly declare what Salt and Fire are, that the incredible Vertues of those two bodies, as yet unknown to the World, may be made manifest to all Men. One thing I will add, that the Philosophers pointing out the Universal matter, speak obscurely, when they say, that it is everywhere to be found, that the Poor hath it as well as the Rich, and that no man can live without it, whence many have sought for Air, Rain, Snow in March, May-dew dreaming the universal matter to be in those, and when their labour hath happily ceased, they have obtained somewhat of a nitrous salt. It is certain, that the Stars do impregnate the Air and Clouds with their Catholick seed, which presently falling in form of Rain, Snow, and Dew, render the Earth fruitful and fit for germination, and that they are again drawn upwards by the warmth of the Air, leaving their Nitre in the earth, to be again impregnated by the stars, and again to descend to conciliate the fertility of the earth, lest the earth at any time should labour under a want of this universal seed, but continually applieth it self to the vegetation of things, and preserveth a perpetual Circulation of the Elements. Hence Hermes hath written, that That which is above is as that which is below. Yet nevertheless, we need not seek it among the stars, seeing that it may sufficiently be had, by a far shorter way, at hand, and before our feet. For so much the words of Hermes intimate.
The Words of the Secrets of HERMES.
True it is, and remote from every cloak of a Lye, that whatsoever is below, is like to that which is above; by this the wonderful things of the work, of one thing, are acquired and perfected, even as also things are made of one, by the consideration of one, so all things are made of this one by conjunction. Its Father is the Sun, its Mother the Moon, the Wind carrieth it in its belly, the Earth is its Nurse, the Mother of all perfection. Its power is perfect, if it be changed into Earth; the subtile and thin being separated by the fire from the gross and thick, and indeed prudently with moderation and wisdom; this ascendeth from the Earth unto Heaven, and again descendeth from Heaven to the Earth, and receiveth the power and efficacy of the superiours and inferiours. In this manner thou shalt acquire the glory of the whole World; thou shalt drive away all darkness and blindness, for this is a Fortitude excelling all other power and strength, for it is able to penetrate and subdue all things, as well those which are thick and hard, as those which are subtile. In this manner the World was made, and hence its admirable conjunctions and wonderful effects, seeing that this is the way by which those wonderful things are effected, and for this reason I am called by the name of Hermes Trismegistus, seeing that I have three parts of the wisdom and philosophy of the whole World. So I conclude my Speech which I have made concerning the Solar Work.
These are the words of the most ancient Philosopher Hermes, who for his perfect knowledge of Nature, is deservedly stiled The Father of Philosophers; in which words he hath sufficiently hinted, That his little Bird without wings (which flying day and night is not wearied) is the Spirit and Life of the superiour and inferiour Elements, the Conserver of the superiour and greater, and of the inferiour and lesser World, and that it lies hid in Nitre: For the better understanding of which, let a man throughly consider the Air, in which the Universal Spirit, the first Ens or Being of all things, dwelleth, without which no Animal can live a quarter of an hour, nor any Vegetable or Mineral be produced; neither can the Sun shine, nor the Fire burn. Even as the Excrements of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, by a continual Circulation, are transmuted into Elements, the Elements into Excrements, and those again return into Aliments, by an uncessant renovation and transmutation, which Man only doth not attain.
The Husbandman knoweth that the Leafs, which every year fall from the Trees, afford a new vigour and nourishment, that the Excrements of Cattel produce very good Grass, that the Fæces or Recrements of Minerals, from which a Metal hath been once separated, is in a short time impregnated by the Stars, that being melted, they again yield the same Metal which they had done a little before: and the Scoria of metals are every where returned to their Mines, where in a years time being recruited by the attractive power of the Universal Spirit, they are again impregnated, so that they again by melting afford metal. Doth not the Earth, from which Salt-Petre hath been extracted, being exposed to the Air in the interval of some months, yield other Salt-Petre, and this as often as you will, as if nothing had been extracted from it? Doth not all things which are calcined, viz. Lime made of Stones, Shells, Woods, Herbs, from which the Fire hath forced the Universal Spirit, by a very strong Appetite or Magnetism, draw the Universal Spirit again afresh, and return into a Corporeal Nitre? Is not the heat and vertue of the sun, the excrement or superfluity of the sun, by which it is nourished and sustained? If heat were nothing to the sun, the Air, by its Nitrous Essence, could never render it weighty, nor cause it to distill in fruitful Rains; nor could the Earth bring forth Fruit, and afford fresh nutriment and food to the sun, its conserver: Whence it followeth, that an Excrement is alwaies the conservation and nourishment of that thing which makes or separates it. But here Plato commandeth to rest; at another time (God willing) more shall be spoken. We have heard, that in salt especially in Nitre, although slighted by the unskilful, there are found most potent and profitable vertues, as well for true Medicine, as for Alchymy. Nor is it reasonable that any man should be offended with its cheapness or low esteem; but he may rather think, that that which is despisable before the World, and imaginary Philosophers, is most precious with God, and those who know the mysteries of Nature. Therefore it remains, that in the nature of things there is not a better subject, by which more and greater wonders may be performed, than Sal-Nitre. Therefore, I also constantly affirm, That of it may be prepared the true Mercury of Philosophers: but I will not say, that I know the Preparation of the Stone of Philosophers from it, because I never went so far: But those things which I have delivered concerning it in the correction of metals, and other good Arts, Experience alone hath taught me; in which I acquiesce, and all those things, if the matter should require, and it should conduce to a good end; I should not blush to demonstrate singly through their parts, that it may be laid open to all men, that all these things may be performed, but not by every man; seeing that I have not written for that end, that they should be prostituted to all men, for then I should have wrote more fully, but that they might remain in the power and custody of Friends. It can hardly be believed, what great troubles my Writings have created me, while one accosts me from this place with long Letters, willing me to unfold this or that. Others address me with a great Catalogue of Questions, of which, if I should answer the tenth part, I should scarcely have Bread to eat.
If the LORD see good, he will afford me time and occasion of doing yet better things, but if not, let the Reader accept the will for the deed: Truly, there are many Sciences of great moment in my Possession, by which I could point out a safe path to Posterity, for the attaining of higher things, but because I have alwaies studied to maintain my Family, with my own honest labour, without detriment to my Neighbour, I am (contrary to my genius) prohibited to publish more, being constrained to apply my hands to ancient labours. Some may inferr; If thou hast found out more, act by others, thy hands being suspended from the Work, let it suffice thee to have disposed of thy labours. But he that shall thus say, confesseth himself, not to know the World to be perfidious: If I could have been made partaker of faithful Operators, I should long since have had a free prospect of my affairs.
But it is not at that pass as many believe, men are now perfidious, keeping no promises, every one seeketh his own, right or wrong; Benefits are rewarded with evil, which hath happened to me more than once; when I have adopted one for a faithful fellow-labourer, the contrary hath happened: For as soon as he hath learned any Secret, believing himself to be more learned than me, hath feigned divers excuses to get away, which if he could not effect openly, and with Consent, he hath attempted it privately; or hath carried himself so petulantly, that I should thank GOD to be freed from him. Whence it came to pass, that I alwaies lost my purpose, perceiving the Proverb to be true, He that will have his business well done, must be both master and servant.
But I trust, that in a short time after my death, those who shall, distribute my Laboratory among them, where I have made a stand, will further search out the secrets of Nature, and being lighted by my Torch, will come to the desired end: but it will be much more grateful to me, if my Secrets, which I have found out with great Costs, Labour, and Care, should be known to many, than that they should be intombed with me, without Usury. To which end I will alwaies, according to my power, be a most ready helper and Counsellor, for the sake of Posterity.
