There remains yet another thing very profitable to Countrymen. The juice of Apples or Pears being pressed out, by the help of this subject, such an effervescency or working is promoted, as Wine may be thence made, having the relish of the natural, and but little inferiour in durability and strength, &c.
In this point mention is made how the juice of Apples, and Pears, may be corrected, that it may be like to Wine, keeping many years uncorrupted: which certainly is a Secret of great moment and profit. Apples, when ripe, of their own accord fall from the Trees, every thing hath its period; what advantage may be made by this Art in those places, where a great quantity of Fruit groweth; whether is it not better to make this use of them, than to leave them to rot and be lost? I will do what lies in me, and not bury my Talent, that I may be rendered excusable before GOD and the World, although that which I teach may not be received, as becometh it to be used. At length, after my Decease, it will be observed, what is hidden in my Writings, but the Phrygians were wise too late. Therefore I again affirm, that all things contained in this point, are purely true, and may be perfectly effected. [See Apology against Farnner.]
Point XXXVIII.
If Husband-men moisten their Seed with this Menstruum, it will sooner be ripe, and have larger and fatter Grains than ordinary: which being done, I will shew by what means they may make great profit of their Grain, &c.
The 35 Point confirms the truth of this, That Grain will grow the more plenteously, if it shall be humected with the Nitrous Water above-mentioned, before it be sown, but common Nitre is not here to be understood. The other is also consentaneous to Truth, which is written about the most profitable use of Grain, which none need doubt; for as yet more may be done in that than I have here spoken of, for without much labour and cost, by that water, every good and kernelly substance, as I may so speak, of Grain, is extracted, which Extract may be kept for many years, as a Treasure of great moment, of which afterwards, at any time or place, (by the addition of Water of Hops) good Beer may be made, and Vinegar, and burning Spirit; it is also of such a very Nutritive substance, that in case of necessity it may be used instead of Bread, one pound of which will afford more nourishment than two or three pound of Bread made after the common manner. It may also be kept in Garrisons with great commodity: Also it may be used at Sea, by those who sail to the Indies, and trade about in Ships, when they want Bread; of which by the addition of warm water of Hops, may be made very good Beer, at any time of the year, for it is easily and wholly dissolved in warm water. For this reason also it may be most commodiously carried from place to place by Armies in time of War, which in the Field, at any time, Winter or Summer, with the water of Hops, it may be boiled into Beer, and there is no need to carry the water far, because it is to be found in all places; neither are Hops of any great burden; therefore in one only Tun there may be carried of this Extract as much as sufficeth for the brewing of six or eight Tun of Beer; and which is more, by this means, wholesome Beer may be made in the Dog-daies, as well in Camps, as in Cities and Ships, without any fear of impediment or future sowrness; at which time good Beer is not otherwise made, because then it is wont presently to grow sowre; and many other Commodities are procured by this means, all which to declare, would be superfluous. Let what hath been said suffice.
Point XXXIX.
I have yet one thing to add among my Wine-Arts, concerning Grain, and the Fruits of Trees and Shrubs, which is to be received with Thankfulness, as a great Gift of God to Mankind, viz. It is found by industry and manifold experience, that from Rie, Wheat, Oats, Rice, Millet; also from Apples, Pears, Peaches, Cherries, Plumbs, Sloes, Damscens, Quinces, Figgs; as also from Goose-berries, Mulberries, Barberries, Black-berries, Elder-berries, and other like Fruits of Trees and Shrubs; from all these, I say, may be prepared with little labour and cost, a Drink very like to Wine, both in taste, smell, and strength, being grateful, wholesome, and durable, &c.
In this point mention is made, That of the Fruit of Trees and other Bushes and Shrubs, a clear Drink may be made, which is also grateful and durable, being like to Wine in taste, colour, and virtue; which thing, although it may seem strange to those who are ignorant of the matter, nevertheless it is most true; so that those things which are contained in this point, may be boldly credited. For what should it profit me to write those things which I am not able to prove, it would only turn to my disgrace and detriment. For this reason I have determined to have such a Laboratory prepared, in which not only the owners of Metallick Mines (if they desire it of me) may learn the manner by me newly invented, for the compendious melting of Minerals, so that they shall yield more Metal, than by the known and common manner; but will also shew other Secrets, that the Magnalia and wonders of God may be made manifest, and We stirred up to give Thanks to the Giver of all Good: Which Elaboratory shall continue open for one whole year, which being past, it shall again be shut up and cease; for I purpose not to render the whole course of my Life obnoxious to those great Labours, but at length to enjoy a quiet tranquility; which thing I am willing that all men should know, that they may spare me with their Letters, which it is impossible for me to answer, much less that I should see the Persons, seeing that the burden of journying is to me altogether insupportable; but whatsoever I may perform at home, I will not refuse. [See for this point Apology against Farnner.]
Here thou hast, benevolent Reader, a fundamental Explication of my Miraculum Mundi, (as for those last points, to wit, 36, 37, 38, and 39, they might indeed have been very commodiously explained here, but because this is done at large, in a peculiar Treatise, entituled, The Prosperity of Germany; there is no need to explain them in this place; therefore what the benevolent Reader finds wanting here, there he shall find it at large, to which I remit him) whereby it will appear to all men, unless to those who are wilfully blind, that I have not ascribed too much to the Salt of the Earth, as a universal subject, but that I have proved to the whole World, that every thing which I have attributed to it, is possible, and plainly agreeable to Truth. But that these Secrets which I have proved, may be performed by the benefit of the Salt of the Earth, may not be done by other waies, and perhaps nearer, I go not about to deny, but do necessarily affirm, that the mentioned Metallicks, as well as the Mechanicks, may be performed after other manners. Only here it is verified, That the Salt of the Earth is deservedly esteemed a universal subject, which no man will deny, nor will be able to refute by Arguments, supported by truth, how wise soever he may seem to himself. Therefore let its vileness offend no man, for the best of things is oftentimes hidden in things of small price. Wherefore all men erre, who attribute good to outward splendor, in which yet it is not, but is only to be sought, found, and obtained in things vile, and of low esteem. Note this, believe this, otherwise thou wilt never attain to any Good.
But here some Man may object in this manner: If Nitre be a Universal Menstruum according to my praises of it, it will thence necessarily follow, that the stone of Philosophers should be made by it, of which nevertheless I have here made no mention. To obviate this Objection, I do indeed readily confess, that I have not proceeded in this subject, any further than those things which I have now proved; but without doubt it containeth in it self greater things, than are manifested to me and others. I have made a beginning, I have strowed the way, let others follow me, and prosecute the thing further, if God shall grant it to them; as for me I am content with small things, and do not anxiously, or sollicitously aspire after the highest. Yet in the mean time, this I freely confess, if I were not so old as I am, I should not leave this Matter unessay’d. It is not to be doubted, but many men have sought the Universal stone in Nitre, but what they have found, that themselves know; and of this I am the more assured, because there Matter in the end of the Work taking fire, hath vanished like a Clap of Thunder; hence the ancient Philosophers have performed their work in Winter, lest they should be hurt by Corruscations; it is most true, and void of all errour, that a most noble essence of this sort, obtaining a power of expelling all the Natural Diseases of Mortals, and of transmuting all the imperfect Metals into Gold cannot be prepared from an impure Metal, or Mineral, nor also of Gold it self. Much less of viler and more unlikely things in which Fools are miserably Occupied, prodigally, and unprofitably wasting their Goods; but in my judgment, it should be no other thing than a Concentrated Astral fire, exalted by Art, into the form of a stone, without any other Adventitious matter. For in the nature of things, no purer Essence can be found, than fire, exercising a very great power in all things, especially in Metals: For if we had not fire (I pray consider it) all Arts, and Mechanicks would grow cold, and be involved in the dark silence of Cessation. Arts were invented, and draw their Original from the fire, otherwise how should Metals be got out of their Minerals, and prepared for use? truly they would be of no use at all. Therefore the fire containeth more than can be believed. He that doth not know fire to be a most powerful Element, knoweth nothing, nor without this, can he find out any thing, neither by any just right can he assume the Name of a Philosopher. The fire alone, without the addition of other things, is sufficient to make Metals of stones, and particularly, the best Metals out of the vilest stones, provided we know how to use it; but universally, being concentrated into a stony matter; which last although I have not experienced, nevertheless I have observed, if (by the favour of the Almighty) a man could exalt the fire into a Corporeal fixed substance, he would certainly have a Tincture for men, and the imperfect Metals. But some man may object, by what way is this Crown to be obtained? Truly by no other than by Divine Revelation. For the Secrets of God of this sort, are not so easily to be found out, nor will they be manifested to Impious men, although the whole World is infected with a foolish madness, who doatingly think by force to extort Gold from things in which it is not, and one that hath understanding of the fire and Metals, cannot sufficiently admire those foolish and doltish Labours, which they who are Captivated by the hunger of Gold, undertake for the making the stone of Philosophers; many being willing to ascend the Ladder, are presently sollicitous about the uppermost Round, when notwithstanding they are as yet far from the lowermost step: But this is a matter of a higher and more diligent search. In the fire, I say, are contained Secrets of great moment, yea, insomuch that some Philosophers (among whom Plato is the chief) write that God is most clearly discerned and apprehended in Fire and Salt. Fire, and the Immortal God alone can make light of darkness, which is granted to no Mortal to do; without fire is darkness and death: Without fire nothing can live, nothing groweth or encreaseth.