I have several times made this stone of Salt and a Coal, but never had time as yet to bring it to a perfect fixation, and therefore I cannot determine certainly, what may be farther hereof made. However I would not have the lover of the wonders of GOD to be unacquainted with this, that (viz.) my said Stone of a Coal, or my red Carbuncle, if it be dissolved in the air, it yields a green fiery Liquor, which if smeared upon any Silver it gilds it as Sulphur does. If the Divine Clemency shall supply me with life and strength and that my enemies, and opportunity shall permit, I will some time or other set about the work of fixation, that so it may appear what is thence to be hoped for.

And now friendly Reader who art not addicted to either party tell me, whether or no there does not redound unto thee more light from this most brief treating of the Carbuncle, than from the obscure Lucerna or Candle of I. H. S. in whose Book there are indeed the names of a many Authors cited, but none of their Writings are explained, and therefore it is rather a bringing others into a Labyrinth, than a showing of the true way.

Paracelsus adds, that this Carbuncle is hid in a little Chest made of Gold and Gems, this Chest in a Golden Coffin (or Tomb), this in a Silver one, and finally this Silvery one in a Tin one; which sayings verily are to be taken or understood in a far other sence than they are uttered, as well as the words foregoing: For to what end should there be such a multitude and variety of Coffins? My opinion hereabouts is this: Forasmuch as there lies in Tin (as Paracelsus testifies in his Book of Vexations, when he saith, that Jupiter has much Gold in it, and not a little Silver) a spiritual Gold and Silver hidden, and that ☽ contains ☉, and ☉ contains Tincture, we are to understand these things of them, they being as so many Coffins.

But some may say, to what use serve the Tin and Silver, if they are to be removed afore we can come to the Golden Coffin, and get to that which contains the Carbuncle, may we not presently even at first dash seek such a stone in ☉, and leave Tin and ☽ untoucht? I could most easily satisfie such an objection, and give a sufficient reason of Paracelsus his Writing such things, but that I judge it inconvenient to communicate such things of so great a consideration (or moment) to wicked Zoilists or Carpers.

However I cannot here let this slip, viz. that there lies hid in ♃ an excellent Mercurial Liquor, which is thence extractable by the benefit of that Key which lies upon the Sepulchre or Tomb, viz. by the benefit of Salt-petre. This mercurial Liquor, loosens the bonds of ☽, and makes it fit, so as to be extracted (or made into the best ☉, out of which the Carbuncle is to be afterwards made, for every (kind of) ☉ doth not at all resemble the nature of a seed, but supplies the place only of an House or covering, which containeth seed in it, and which (covering) must of necessity be removed by him who desires the seed it self.

I have in other places shown how properly the metalline stock or nature may be compared to a Vegetable Apple: Saturn is the root of the Tree; Mars the Trunk or Body; Jupiter the Bark of the Trunk; Mercury the Juice contained betwixt the Bark and the Trunk; Venus the green Leaves; Luna the white Flower or Blossom; Sol the Fruit or Apple of the Tree containing the seed of the Vegetable.

Now then, even as it is a thing evident to all, that the Apple it self is not the seed of the Tree, but the Nut or Kernel is hidden in its inward part, so that the Apple doth only keep or hold in it the seed; even so in like manner ☉ is not at all to be accompted as the seed of Metal, but only as a preserver (and coverer over) of the seed. He now that lights on the true Key, which Paracelsus hath put upon the Golden Coffin, (viz.) the inside of Salt-nitre, he will be able to open, not only the Tin Coffin, but the Silver and Gold Coffin too, and to take that Coffin thereout of, which contains the Carbuncle and other Gems.

These are the things I was willing to publish according to my opinion, concerning that great Carbuncle lying so deeply hidden in those Coffins: I permit others to expound them otherwise, for I do not offer these things to the old Men who stiffly contend for their own conceptions as it were for the best thing they have, it being an hard matter to tame an old dog; but I present them to such only as are the younger students of the true Hermetick Physick or Medicine, and who are not already drawn into various errors by the reading of many Authors. And he that refuseth to believe that even the greatest Arcana may be handled or treated of in a meer simple or plain Stile, and that they need not at all any prolixity, shall never attain his wish’d for end, though he were able to recite by heart even all the Philosophers Books. And thus much may suffice in this place.

Lastly, Paracelsus adds at the end of the Prophecy, that the most Great and Blessed GOD will grant to the finder out of these Treasures notable Power and Fortitude, whereby he may oppress all evils, detect good things, and get every profitable thing, certainly whoever he be that shall find such an universal Treasure, he will labour to suppress every noxious thing, and to disclose (on the other hand) whatsoever is any ways profitable for man-kind, and necessary, and this to the very utmost of his power. For the Philosophers say, Our Art doth either find a Man honest and godly, or it even makes him such an one; that is, it is altogether impossible for such an one that lights on such Treasures to be an ungodly Man, so, as for those highly precious gifts of God not to stir him up to godliness and Mercy.

I could render this Prophecy of Paracelsus more clear, but that I study to be brief, and could manifestly prove, that it is not to be understood according to the bare Letter, but that Paracelsus had regard to this great universal of the Philosophers, which is clearly enough hinted in these words which are mentioned at the end of the said Prophecy, viz. That all evils may be kept under, (or abolished) and that all good things may be drawn forth or advanced, and withal, all necessary and useful things may be gotten. These words do openly enough point at the universal Treasure of the Philosophers, by which all evil is kept under, and all good educed, and all necessary and profitable things acquired. On this wise are my Conceptions of them, let another interpret them according as seems him good. For when the Lion shall have found the said mineral Treasure, he will be incited or stirred up to such a great passionate wrath and power, that is able easily to dull the edge of the Eagles Claws, that is, his adversaries. ’Tis impossible for the Eagle to get such a Treasure, but a thing most easie to the Lion; For there is not a subject in all nature that can make the Lion so fiery and powerful as the magnesia Saturnina can, and therefore it easily tames all Corrosives, and cuts off their Claws. Experience confirms the things I here mention, and therefore I will say no more: Yet however I think it expedient to add this one thing more of the nature and properties of the Lion and Eagle.