Neither likewise can ☿ attract or assume such a silvery Calx as is precipitated out of the solution with salt water, and that by reason of the terrestreity alone, which adheres thereunto by means of the precipitation, by which it is altered and deprived of a pure Metallick form.
The truth hereof may you easily experiment, on this wise. Dissolve a particle of pure ☽ in Aqua-fortis, and dissolve the same quantity of pure ☉ in Aqua-regia, precipitate the ☽ with salt water, and the ☉ with a Lixivium, so as that the ☽ be precipitated into a white, and the ☉ into a yellow Calx; edulcorate both Calxes apart after the best way that possibly you can, with hot water many times, so long till the edulcorating water be wholly sweet, then weigh these dryed Calxes, and you shall see that the ☽ and ☉ you took, are one fourth part heavier than before the solution of them; and this is to be ascribed to the Salts only, that have adjoined themselves to the Metal in the precipitation, and cannot be thence seperated by edulcoration; and therefore such a silvery Calx yields not (when molten,) a pure Lunar body, but a certain Ashy coloured Mass, fluxile and volatile, by reason of the Salts; and this Calx is not changed (or swallowed up) into the ☿ neithar before nor after its being molten, nor (after its melting,) can it ever be dissolved by Aqua-fortis or Aqua-regia, which alteration proceeds meerly from the Salts that have adjoined themselves thereto in the precipitation.
Even just so is it with such a golden Calx, which being separated by precipitation out of the Aqua-regia with a Lixivium, will not have ingress into ☿, by reason of the impurities that accompany it; and therefore this golden Calx (when it is made hot) kindles, and vehemently operateth upon it self, and this is meerly from the Salts.
From hence it is clearly evident that the Calx of ☽ precipitated by Salt, and the Calx of ☉ by a Lixivium, have not any communion with ☿, how then can such a Calx, which is (now) at first forced out from many terrestrial parts, and imperfect Metals, and separated from them, have a greater communion therewithal, have ingress thereinto, and conjoin it self therewith by digesting. Other wayes therefore must be taken, by which you may extract the volatile and fixt Gold, that lies hidden in ♂, ♃, ♄, or ♀: Now many there be who do in vain search into those things which they know not the nature of, and so walk in darkness like one that hath already fallen into a Pit.
But if you come to know such a menstruum or dissolvent, which is an enemy to ☉ or ☽, and yet nevertheless doth plainly dissolve ♂, ♃, ♀, and ♄, then the spiritual ☉ that lies hidden, will manifestly appear corporeally and visibly, and will pass into the Mercurial Magnet.
Besides, this dissolvent must likewise be of such a nature, as that (when in the solution or digestion of the imperfect metals, it makes the spiritual and volatile Gold corporeal, and casts it off from it (as I may say) by antipathy in the form of a powder) this powder may not be environed with any crustiness as abovesaid, but that both the Calx of ☽ and of ☉ may have their natural metallick splendor, whereto the ☿ may adhere, and may attract unto it self whatsoever the dissolvent separates by the continual digestion.
Farther, this Dissolvent must be of such a nature as not to be so sharp as to dissolve the ☿ for then the work would not succeed; indeed it is scarcely necessary to make use of the ☿, to receive into it the spiritual and fixt Gold which is separated in the digestion fixation and separation of the Volatile ☉ of the Metals; for when it is once evacuated it will never again occupy (or seize upon) its impure body; yet notwithstanding this chiefly is done for this reason, viz. that the spiritual ☉ & ☽ in the imperfect metals may be the more willingly made Corporeal, when it finds a fitting subject wherein it may lie hidden and rest. Besides too, this spirituall ☉ and ☽ of the Metals, is indued with such virtues, as that it tingeth some part of the ☿ into ☉ and ☽, when it hath thereinto entred, whereby it yields the more profit.
Thus much likewise are ye to know, that this labour does not only proceed in the moist way, but also in the dry; but yet far easier in the moist than in the dry way; yet in the (dry way) a greater profit is gotten in a shorter time. For like as to one measure of Milk are required 1, 2, 3 or 4 spoonfuls of Salt, that so the Cheese (or Curd) may be separated from the water (or whey), but there needs not the quantity of one spoonful of the Spirit, which is much stronger than the bare Salt: Even so stands the case with Metalline operations; for by how much the greater and more powerful the Agent or Contrary is, so much the sooner and stronger doth it perfect its operations. Hence it is, that where the Agent must be yet more strongly active (as in the dry way, it must of necessity be where the strong fire adds virtue and vigour to the Agent) it being consequently more contrary (or powerful) the separation is sooner perfected. For example, Let us see how it is with Milk, where 10 or 20 drops of Spirit of Salt separate some cold Milk, there will need but half the quantity only when the Milk is boil’d or otherwise heated; even so is it with our Agent, whereby we make the Volatile Gold in the more vile or meaner Metals, corporeal and visible; it operates far more strongly in the dry way, than in the moist way; for in the dry way, the external fire aideth our fire, and hereupon finisheth its operation so much the sooner; but in the dry way must another Magnet be made use of.
Thus much let suffice touching the particular washing or external purgation of the viler Metals; as concerning the internal, central, universal washing, by which the interiour Soul of ☉ and ☽ is extracted for the Tincture, I do not as yet (certain) know any thing thereof, nor desire I to know such abstruse and hidden things: content I am with such things as God of his meer grace hath bestowed upon unworthy me, and if God shall so please, so far to profit mankind either by mine or any others help, he will also present an occasion of laying hold thereon (viz. on the Tincture) for all good things come from God.
Now in this action (or operation) is required an ocular inspection, such great things cannot be understood by Books or Writings, and he that desires to excel in these (operations) let him take it in good part, that (I say) he ought frequently to here me as a master, and to see me labouring about these things, which otherwise he will never learn, for the common Alchymists are plainly ignorant of this work; yea the Ancient Philosophers did hide it as a secret, the most they could, that so it might not be trodden under foot by Swine.