As to what concerns my self, because I daily behold sometimes this Man, sometimes that Man being snatched away by death, to be carried forth and committed to the Earth, I may easily conclude rationally with my self, that those changes or chances will in a short time happen also unto me; I should commit a very grievous offence or errour, that so many costs, labours and troubles, of so many and so great Secrets being consumed in vain, I should carry them away with me under ground, and not bestow them for a common good: I shall here perform the office of a good House-holder, or skilfull House-keeper or Steward, who after that he hath made abundant of Provision for Winter-cloathing for himself, his Wife, Children and whole Family, if he hath as yet plenty of Linnen and Woollen Cloth remaining, he doth not cast them away, but rather casts them together into a Chest, so long to be kept, untill he shall obtain an occasion of administring them for the use of his Neighbour. In the name of the Lord therefore, in making a beginning with the opening of my Chest of Treasures, I will empty it out by little and little by degrees, and will offer it for a common use, that out of so many Treasures, every one may convert unto his own use, what things he shall judge to be profitable unto him; to wit, a Physician Medicinal things, and a Chymist Chymical things, even as every one shall discern any thing to be fit for his own use, every one of what rank soever shall find those things wherewith he might be content, so indeed that whatsoever he shall not meet withall in the first, second, or third Century may be found in the rest, for which things sake, if ten Centuries shall not be sufficient, I will adjoyn other ten or more, that so I may remove from me all those cares, and carefulnesses wherewith the custody of so great Treasures hath importuned and affected me for so many years. Like unto a travelling Woman, who with the greatest desire expecteth the hour of her delivery, and who desireth the beholding of her Fruit, do I desire that time wherein all things shall be printed in Letters. The Almighty God bestow on me so much presence of mind, health, and strength, and prolong my Life so far, that I may finish it to his Honour, and the Succour, Comfort and Profit of all Mankind. Amen.
THE
FIRST CENTURY:
OR
GLAUBER’S Wealthy Store-House of Treasures.
PART II.
In the Name of the most Holy Trinity I begin to write the First Century of my General Appendix, or an Exposition of all my Writings hitherto set forth.
I. Concerning Fire and Salt, and what Alchymy is.
Alchymy is a Science, and Art of destroying, of purging immature or unripe and impure Metals, by Fire and Salt, and by a singular Artifice, of converting the more pure part into a better form and kind, according to the words of Paracelsus, who saith, Every Something is to be converted into Nothing, and every Nothing into Something. Also Corruption renders that which is good perfect, the which is to be equally understood of particular and universal Operations.
Nevertheless it is not of necessity that I should here tediously treat of a particular Transmutation of Metals by Fire and Salt, because that hath been already long since performed in the second part of the Miracle of the World, and also in the [fifth part of the prosperity of Germany].