It may easily be perceived if a gross Salt and Fire do some good to more gross Metals, that also a more pure Fire and Salt may do more good on purer Metals. Instruments whose edges are made very sharp by whetting, are far more fit for operation than those that are dull, and will perform more. By how much the sharper an Auger or Wimble is, by so much the sooner it boareth thorough the Wood, and on the contrary, by how much the more blunt it is, by so much the slower it pierceth thorough.
He that is earnestly desirous to obtain any good in the amendment of Metals, he must of necessity apply the subtile and strong spirits of Salts, that he may destroy Metals with the same, may kill them, and reduce them unto their former life, and so may procure more noble bodies unto them. When their former body is restored to those moist and cold Fires of Salts, to wit, that they may return unto the form of Salt, but of a more noble and subtile one, Metals may far more speedily be destroyed; a double Fire performs more than a single one, since therefore Salt is by it self no other thing but a meer and con-centred Fire, and the Fire of Wood or Coals joyning it self with the other a greater efficacy must needs be expected from them than by common Fire alone, but we have hitherto made mention of such operations, and therefore its needless here to repeat them. From what hath been hitherto said, every Chymist may gather and learn those things which concern the amendment of Metals, wanting the help of Salt and Fire; more God willing shall follow.
LX. Let us now ascend higher, and demonstrate what incredible miracles or wonders our secret Fires of Salts may effect nigh to that great work of Philosophers.
As in the foregoing Chapters it hath been sufficiently confirmed, that unripe Metals may by the help of Fire and Salt, be particularly promoted to a more perfect maturity: So also in the multiplying of Animals and Vegetables, that thing evidently appeareth; to wit, if sufficient meat and drink be administred to any Infant, that he groweth dayly in bigness, and strength of body, untill he come to the age and perfection of a Man. The same multiplying in Vegetables offers it self to our view, in that a small seed or root do snatch to them their nourishment from an earthly Salt; and the beams of the Sun, and do rise up into a perfect, great, and fruitfull Tree. This particular transmutation is conversant before our eyes, and therefore is a thing most known, but after what sort the most noble part or purest essence is to be extracted out of the bodies of Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, that other more weak bodies may be strengthned and amended by the same Philosophers have always hidden and covered with the greatest endeavour. Hence it is, that there hath been very few, and as yet are, who have had the knowledge of this highest Science.
As to what therefore belongs to the great work of the Philosophers, all the Philosophers do in their writings with one accord affirm, the which I do also in all my writings affirm to be most true, and do as it were shew with my Fingers, to wit, that nothing in the nature of things doth effect a Tincture and Tinge with a most gratefull colour, but Sulphur alone, and that one onely, and that this same combustible immature and volatile Sulphur is fixed and changed by the operation and help of Salts into a true Tincture, the which is as certain as that which is most certain, and yet laborious also, and requiring a space of time long enough, especially if any one doth insist in a moist way. The way of coming unto the end of such a work as I think, yet with the safety of others judgment, this is the best, if any one bind or fix such a Sulphur, which was already brought unto a perfect maturity by nature, they might bring this profit with it, that it should not require a longer time for its maturity.
But such a fixed and tinged Sulphur, is no where more nearly found than in Metals, and especially in Copper and Iron, but the better and more pure in Gold; the finding out whereof notwithstanding (by reason of its most firm and intimate conjunction with its body, as also its separation) hath been always esteemed almost impossible. For unto diligent searchers, a true separator which might separate the pure part from the impure, hath for the most part every where been wanting.
For as it is known such a hard or compacted metallick body, can very difficultly be separated and divided into its parts.
The solution of sharp waters, sups up indeed every Metal, but it effects no separation. For because Metals are Homo-geneal things, and the metallick Sulphur is so strictly bound to its metallick mercury, by the bond of the metallick Salt, it can never be brought to pass, that by such solutions, or by precipitatings, or by other ways, one part should be separated from the other.
If a Metal being dissolved by a water be precipitated all its parts being so mixed as they were before its dissolution do fall down and settle, and admit of no separation. But if any one would also render Metals spiritual, that so the more pure parts might be disjoyned from the more impure ones by distillation, yet there is no separation made, but the more pure body it self ascends, and again as before, it consisteth of three principles, performing indeed more in Alchymy and in Medicine than the more gross bodies of Metals, but is unfit for a true Tincture, because nothing operates in all bodies, but a lively Soul, and that which vivifies or quickens other dead bodies, for it is the spirit, as Christ saith, which quickneth, the body is unprofitable. Let man, or any other living creature be for an example, the which as long as it lives, it moves it self and operates as long as the spirit, the Authour of Life is present with it; but that vanishing away the body wants all motion, and remains a dead Carcass. If now it could be brought to pass, that we could lay hold of such Animal Spirits, and could render them corporal ones, we might also perform incredible things by the same, and perhaps fashion or form a living creature of a lump of earth, the which notwithstanding God hath reserved to his own self. But this that bountifull Father hath granted unto us, that out of unmoveable subjects, or those wanting a moveable and animal life, we may extract their pure Souls or Essences, and render them corporal, and effect thereby things of great moment in Medicine and Alchymy.
But the souls of Metals do excell herein, as being more fixed and constant than the essences of vegetables, but they are far more difficultly attained. For the souls of vegetables do suffer themselves to be easily extracted, but the colours and souls of Metals do hardly admit of extraction, and for that cause are accounted of by the ignorant for a thing impossible to be done, nor indeed is it altogether without some cause; for the separation of the tinging soul from the hard metallick body is a thing of great moment: many are the ways that have been attempted for the procuring of this Sulphur; and some ignorant fellows have written Books, of the acquiring or getting of the same, whereas ’tis evident that they never saw such a Sulphur.