Paracelsus treating of the Transmutation of Metals, because he was not willing to insignize The Salt of Philosophers with its true name, refers the Reader to Elias the Artist, who, he saith, when he comes, will teach the way by which the Transmutation of Metals may be effected. Here Men imagine Wonders, and generally regarding the words themselves, expect the coming of a certain Man sent from GOD, whom they believe, shall in the later Ages of the World, discover occult Arts, and make known the Secrets of Nature. Whereas, if the Name Elias the Artist be rightly considered, or a transposition of the Letters be made, we read Artis Salia, and these Salts indicate Elias the Artist of Paracelsus. These perform Wonders, so as a man possessing the Salt of Art, or knowing the nature thereof, may effect Wonders. Elias the Artist to such a man appears to be the cause of effecting marvellous things.
Basilius, in his Testament, did very obscurely describe this Salt, where he sheweth the way of making The Stone of Philosophers of common Vitriol; yet no man is able from those Writings to gather which way he should prepare the same.
Also he that considers the words of Paracelsus, where he foretells the coming of Elias the Artist, will find, that in that he describes Vitriol, both obscurely and openly; obscurely indeed in his Treatise entituled, The Tincture of Naturalists; openly, in that which he left, touching Vitriol in Species. He would not expresly say, that Elias the Artist, or The Salt of Art, was expresly contained in Vitriol; only this he was willing to shew to Posterity, viz. That the Art of changing vile Metals into better, was descended from the Ancients unto him, and with him should perish, until the coming of Elias the Artist, who should shew the true Transmutation of Metals, viz. in the 58th. year of the following Age. This time many have expected with grief and trouble, but in vain hitherto.
Many Philosophers, besides Paracelsus, have predicted the Coming of Elias the Artist, who coming from the North, attended with a strong Lion, shall teach Arts, find out and manifest the secret Treasures of Nature, and dispose the various mutations of mundane things for the benefit of Mankind. These have many men in vain believed to be spoken touching some one man; for if we consult the Writings of those men, who have set down this Prediction, we shall find them not to have intended a Man, but Salt-petre only, and his Brother the Salt of Art: Hence it is that they cry out, O our Salt! O our Salt-petre! O our Radical Salt! Hence also it is, that they write, If GOD had not created this Salt, it had been impossible to make our Medicine; and various expressions like to this, in many places of their Writings they use, as I have declared in several of my Tracts, especially in the [Third Part of The Prosperity of Germany], where (among other things) I said, I hoped that in time to come, by me should be unto all men exhibited Salt-Petre, or The Salt of Art, sitting (like some Monarch) in a Triumphal Chariot.
I doing this, take Paracelsus out of his Sepulchre, and (as himself predicted) turn him towards the Orient, that is, I expose him to the Light, by which the verity of that Prediction may be discerned by All.
Perhaps my Disciples may do the same; and they seeing the verity of the Transmutation of Metals, or restoring the Sick to health in a way unheard of, draw me after I am dead, or whilst I live, out of the Sepulchre into which my evil-minded Enemies have cast me. And when they do these things, they will effect so notable a mutation in Medicine and Alchymy, as indeed for the future there will be even no Artist, who will not see and understand the frauds, ignorance, or hatred of the proud and high-flown Adversaries of Art and Truth, and justly oppose themselves against such malicious Enemies of true Verity. Thus may those who have long before been blind, receive sight, profess themselves to have been Opposers of Truth, and strenuously labour to suppress and amend what’s amiss. In such a time not only true Medicine, and the most noble Art of Chymistry would begin to flourish, but also all Arts would ascend to a greater degree of perfection; and so one Age will exhibit it self much more excellent than others. Wherefore my Prayer is, that the Gates may be opened to divine and natural Arcanums, that Elias the Artist, and the Salt of Art would discover the predicted Golden Age, and that the most Wise GOD would unto pious men grant an entrance into the Land of Promise, that they may thence bring Fruits, and present them to their Neighbours, for the Honour of GOD most high, and the solace and comfort of the Needy. Amen.
Indeed Paracelsus makes some mention of this Salt in his Works, calling it Sal Enixum; but we in our Treatise (published in the year 1658.) of the nature of Salts, have somewhat more largely expounded the matter, calling that Sal Mirabile. In the present Treatise of the Salts of Art it is expresly called Elias the Artist; the verity of which Appellation, we shall by the help of GOD clearly demonstrate, viz. that Elias the Artist of Paracelsus signifies no other than the Salt of Philosophers, prepared of Salt-petre, common Salt, or Vitriol. Indeed it is in taste like Salt-petre, yet it is not inflammable, although it may be procured by Art. Paracelsus and Basilius made it of Vitriol, as several parts of their Writings shew, which for better knowledge sake I shall here insert.
Elias and Elisha, what men they were, and what miracles they wrought, Sacred Letters shew. The Miracles they wrought were Divine; the same almost is our Salt able to perform in a natural way: Therefore not without reason have we called it The Monarch of the World, or Elias the Artist; for there is no subject found in the nature of things, by help of which we are able to do the same, as may be effected by the benefit of This. The truth of this all Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals do witness, as we shall demonstrate variously anon.
But some One may say, Since Chymistry is treated of in so various Tongues, and there are found almost infinite numbers of Chymical Books, How comes it to pass, that this Salt hath so long remained unknown, even until this day, and it was never so clearly described by any Writer, as we thence could understand what it is, or which way it should be made? I answer, Writers and Readers also are found of a twofold condition. They, who writ by the guidance of Experience, did all acknowledge, and obscurely describe this Salt: Otherwise they, who compiled their Books from the Writings of others, being ignorant of the thing it self, proposed nothing but Fictions, leading the Reader into a Labyrinth and various By-paths.
Writers are diligently to be considered; regard is not so much to be had of their Words as of their Sence; if this be minded by you, you will find none of the true Writers, who did not make mention of this Salt, which, as it is manifest to those that understand, so it is hid from those who are yet ignorant of these things. You may find very many, who in Writings seek the Stone of Philosophers, and yet are ignorant what they seek, or what the Stone is, whether it be something black or white, hot or cold. And if such a thing should be presented to those men, they would neglect it, and after their fashion leaving the most precious Jewel, proceed to please themselves in Dung. Many men handle this Salt with their hands, yet what they have in their hands they know not, because they are blind, and their arrogant mind instigates them to betake themselves to things more vile. But on the contrary, not a few may be found, who will divulge none of those excellent things which they know. Oh, how happy is he that studies Taciturnity! he is permitted to lead a quiet life. I indeed do seriously bewail my so liberal Communication of Secrets, but I did that to discover the Wonders of GOD, to serve my Neighbour, and to preserve our Art. Egregious things would often be exhibited to the World, did not the high Ingratitude of mortals deterr the Writer, and prevent his good intention. When they find a man endowed with the Knowledge of some things beyond others, they flock about him, entreating him to impart his Secrets to them: there are found divers of this sort. The Wealthy come, the Needy come, and men of a middle condition also come. The first sort of men being, for the most part, very covetous, will return nothing in exchange; the second sort have not any thing to give; but the third only we have sometimes found grateful. What we have acquired with very great labour, we cannot easily impart to Enemies. Yet it often happens, that those who are judged good, are afterward found evil, and in a Farnnerian manner, for Benefits received, return Calumnies and Reproaches. Therefore, in such cases there is need of great circumspection, and we must not discover all we know, lest afterward we repent. But as for my self, I have not changed my mind, I have begun to make known the Wonders of the Omnipotent, and will go on (GOD willing) and kindle an unextinguishable Light to this blind World. In this Treatise I shall only describe the wonderful Virtues of the Salt of Art, reserving the way of preparing or use to my Friends; for what are our Arms, we must not cast them away, lest our Enemies take them up, and wound us with them, after the example of Farnner.