What use are such intricate and obscure Writings of? would it not have been better that they had not Written at all? If they had but onely disclosed the true matter, it would have afforded the searching inquirers more light, and they would have been able more easily to have apprehended the truth?
Answer.
No surely, it would not have been better, if they had passed over so weighty a thing in silence. Whence I pray should we their Successours have known, that there is such an excellent Medicament in nature? The Books they have written do remove from us even every Scruple of doubt, and cause us to believe, that there hath been, is, and may be made such an universal Medicament, if God permits. The reason why they have not jumpt together in disclosing the matter of the Stone with one unanimous consent, is this, because one used this matter, another that, for the making of their universal Tincture, and so each of them have described the way of making the same after his own way. Hence it is, that one hath delivered this manner, but another that hath proceeded another way could not give us the self same accompt of making it just as the other did, but hath hinted unto us onely, the way which he himself used.
The greatest difference is about the matter onely of the Stone; one part of them saith that the common and fixt Sol and Luna is the matter of the Stone, and lays by or rejects all other Subjects. Another part affirms that a volatile and an unripe Gold is the Master of the same, and that the common Sol and Luna are to be wholly waved as being unprofitable for the matter of the Stone. Moreover the Philosophers in their description of making the Stone mention a dry way and a moist way, a long way and a short way, a common Fire and a secret Fire, which they used in the ripening of their Tinctures. And now (on this accompt) it could not otherwise be; but that they should publish such unlike, dubious, and thwarting Writings, which have rendred the way of finding out the truth so difficult and intricate, and have led the Lovers of the Art into such abundance of Errours, and fruitless Labours. The common Fire I wish, is destitute of the power of ripening volatile Gold, and reducing it into a Tincture, which that secret Fire, continually burning with its flame in the glass upon the matter of the Stone, is able to effect. Now besides the common Fire, there must necessarily be the assistance of the moist Fire, which being kindled by the Fire of Coals and made efficacious, doth radically conjoin the fixt Gold and Silver, brings them unto a volatility, and makes them again constant in the Fire. This way (in my judgment) is the shortest, easiest and safest of all; for it makes the fixt Sol and Luna spiritual and volatile in three days time, and turns them into the Mercury of the Philosophers, which white Mercury of the Philosophers doth afterwards pass in one days space, into the black Lead of the wise men, if a small Fire be administred thereunto. This Lead being put into its requisite glass, may (by the help of common Fire) be reduced (after its changing of Colours) into a constant Tincture.
And now though the ripe and fixt Gold cost and be far dearer than the immature Sol is, yet that’s no matter, for there needs not a pound of Gold to be used about the compleating of this work, but half a pound onely, or else but two or three ounces, that so the operation may be the sooner ended. Nor will he that shall once have brought one half Ounce unto a due perfection, need such a deal of Gold, for he wants not Gold any more, wherewith to begin the operation a new. And although on the other hand the maturation of the immature Gold by the secret Fire doth not require so much expence as the common Gold doth, yet it requires more time for its perfection. Besides too, the moist way is always subject to more Casualty and Hazard, and requires a much longer time to bring it to the desired perfection. It is therefore at every man’s pleasure, to choose which of these two ways pleaseth him, onely he must proceed warily and prudently. And if he should chance to commit some Errour once or twice, yet will not such Errours be of any great detriment unto him, if he can but at last arrive unto the wisht for end, and reap the multiplied and manifold Fruits of his Crop. Thus much was I willing (and indeed ought) to communicate of my opinion (concerning the universal Medicine) unto the Disciples of Hermes, but yet without prescribing (or obtruding my thoughts) upon any one, but leaving every one to his own Conceptions.
Mean while I would advise every one not to attempt a thing of so great a moment, rashly and inconsiderately, but in the first place accurately to weigh all things in his mind, as to what may be done, and what may not, lest he repent him at last and be quite tired with his fruitless Labours. For it is no mean slight business to prepare the true Tincture of the Philosophers, neither is it given unto every man to have the knowledge and possession of so great a Work.
Question 21.
Would it not be a very convenient thing for two or three Friends to joyn their hands together, and help each other by their mutual Labour and Expences, and so ease that trouble which otherwise one alone must undergo? Or if any one be so minded as to attempt the work alone, would it not be better for him to get him some faithfull and diligent Operatour, whose help he might make use of, in the promoting and forwarding of his Operations.
Answer.
For my part, I would not advise any one to do thus. For when a work of so great a moment is to be undertaken, and to be accomplished by the common mutual Expence and Labour of others, the Affairs are then obnoxious to no small hazard, and for the most part come short of the hop’d for event, by reason of the most different Opinions amongst men, concerning which the Comœdian said very right, so many heads so many opinions, every one hath a peculiar fancy.