But, some One may ask, how those needy People can from Urine onely, acquire things necessary for Life, although they should know, that in it is contained a Treasure? To such an One I thus answer: It may very well be effected, because in this little Book I have explained, not onely that in it is an abstruse Treasure, but also how it may easily be extracted. Insomuch as I doubt not, but that some of the Lovers of the Poor will do their endeavour to extract that Treasure from the same. Which being done, if the World (which will believe nothing but what it sees) take notice of it, and finds the verity of our Assertion proved in Fact, then many more will use a like endeavour to get their living from such a Subject, every-where to be had, and preparable for little or no charge. If such Operators shall need more Urine, than they themselves make, they must necessarily buy it of poor Families, abundance of which you will every-where find, readily desiring to gather the same for their daily Bread, and to bring it to the Artist: that way one hand cherisheth and helpeth another. For by this means every Re-publick might be brought to a flourishing state, so as no Man (unless he will himself) needs to want Bread in what part of the World soever he lives. I indeed have not buried in the Earth my five Talents gratiously granted to me by God, but have put them into the publick Bank. What if the mad and blind World will neither see nor hear, it may for all me follow its own desperate humour. It is sufficient for me that I have divulged such Mysteries for the safety and well-being of Mankind, as no other Philosopher before me hath ever discovered the like. For since the Subject is so very vile, vulgar and obnoxious to vast contempt and hatred among proud Fools, many of them did involve its genuine Name in the secret Cabinet of Silence. But, that I may speak my mind freely, I openly confess and aver, that in Urine is contained a Mercury, by the help of which very much may be effected in Chymistry and in Medicine; and which is especially very conducent to deduce Metals to their first Matter; and thence may be reaped a notable Fruit of Utility, as well universally as particularly. For whatsoever I have now writ, I composed the same in the extremity of my discomposure and sickness, that this admirable Secret might not be buried with me in the Earth, where even all the highest Arts of the most excellent Artists seem to putrefie together with them, not being by them (before their Death) communicated to Mankind remaining; that so I may say with the Vulgar (not rightly understanding) All Habits of Understanding are not so much hospited in the mortal Body, as retained in the immortal Mind.
If all things here answer not the desire of the diligent Searcher of Art, or be not clearly and plainly enough discovered, let him look into the following Treatise, which is intituled, A Treatise of the Mercury of Philosophers, where perhaps he will find so many desirable things, as will compleatly satisfie the hunger of his Mind covetous of learning. But for the sake of the benevolent Reader, I cannot chuse but communicate to him this Information, viz. that the very Inscription of this Treatise discovers a Secret Sal-Armoniack, and in divers places of the Sixth Part of my Spagyrick Pharmacopcœa, mention is also made of a Secret Sal-Armoniack; wherefore I would have you to understand, that the Sal-Armoniack mentioned in my former Book, is of a property variously different from this, of which I purpose here to write. For this is prepared of Urine, but in the preparation of that, no Urine is to be used; because that is no other than pure Silver dissolved in Aquafortis, and precipitated by the help of a sharp Salt-water. Where it is to be observed, that the Silver, in such a Precipitation, attracts to it self so many Spirits of the Salt, as by reason of them it is no more fusible, like other Luna into a Metallick Form, but becomes penetrable as Oil into a Skin. That, in my Writings, is called the Mercury of Luna.
Note. Of Saturn also, after this manner such a Mercury may be prepared, which is almost of the same efficacy as the Mercury of Luna; but in some Chymical Labours it may not so safely be used as the Mercury of Luna. This must be necessarily minded by those who are unwilling to err in their Labours. Moreover, touching this Secret Sal-Armoniack, I think it needfull farther to advise, that either Sal-Armoniack (although both are diversly prepared) being added to Metals or Minerals, takes to it self and carries upward the purest part of that Metal or Mineral. Yet it is to be understood, that this is effected thus, viz. that the Metal is corroded by the sharp Spirits existant in the Sal-Armoniack, and so is carried upward by distillation; or volatilized, no otherwise than as if you should add Sublimate Mercury to any Metal or Mineral for extracting Butter thence. Also it is to be minded, that whatsoever shall be prepared by the help of either Sal-Armoniack (made with Luna, or with Urine) all that riseth much more pure than any sublimate Mercury or common Sal-Armoniack can cause to ascend. These few things I thought necessary to be premised, touching the difference of either Secret Sal-Armoniack, that no Man may err through mistake.
Although much more should be spoken here, touching our Sal-Armoniack, which is made of Urine; yet Time, and my present Condition, prohibit my insisting more at large thereabout.
But that every unskilfull Man may be rendred more skilfull in the Knowledge of this Definition, it is good for him to learn, that Urine is no other than the volatile Salt of those Meats and Drinks, which we receive for the nourishment and sustentation of the Body; and which are so digested and separated by the Stomach, viz. that the Sulphur, as a superfluity, is by Nature discharged by the Bowels; but the Urine, as a volatile Mercurial Salt, seeks and finds for it self an Exit through the Bladder. Now, it is more than sufficiently manifest, that the greatest part of Men live of Vegetables, as of Bread, Beer and Wine; also for Nutriments they use Flesh, Fish, Butter and Cheese: which kinds of Meat and Drink, so soon as put down into the Stomach by a certain natural Coction and Fermentation are so inverted, as some natural Mercury is thence progenited. Whence, it is clearly enough apparent, that the before mentioned Mercury (which we with the assistance of Art know how to extract out of Urine) must necessarily have been an invisible Mercury in Vegetables, before it passed into Urine, and when it was not inverted in our Body. Which is a thing most surely true, and is confirmed to us by experience, viz. that in all Vegetables (no one of them excluded, whether Wine or Grain, Honey or Sugar, or other fat Fruits, in which our vegetable Mercury is most copiously abundant; also by what name soever those Fruits or Vegetables are called) the same Mercury is hospited; yea, it may be extracted from all Fruits, Trees, Herbs, or any common Grass of the Fields or Meadows, and from all Boughs and Leaves of wild and manured Trees, if after you have cut them small, you pour on them hot water, and then ferment the same.
Indeed lean Herbs, according to quantity, give not forth so much burning Spirit, as Corn, Wine, or Sugar: But note; Grass is prepared with much less cost than Corn, Wine, or the Fæces of Wine or Beer. Also a good burning Spirit may be made of Grape-Stones, or the pressings of Grapes; yet as for the sweetness of that, you need not to take any care; because in operating it is so amended, as it is rendred full as good as the best Spirit of Wine that is most rich.
This Arcanum of preparing a true Universal Medicine of all Vegetables, for those three known Kingdoms of ours, I take to be as great a Secret as was ever known to Philosophers, or for the future can be known. For it is that, of which many have notably writ, yet in such a Style, as they have obscured, involved and hid the whole Work in so many Parabolical, Allegorical and Enigmatical phrases, as it is almost plainly impossible for any one profitably to learn any thing out of their Writings, unless his Eyes be singularly illustrated by God. But among others, Albertus Magnus, Thomas Aquinas, Arnold, Lully, Bracescus, and especially Basilius, have writ of it evidently enough to such as can see; but all they writ in obscure words: And as Paracelsus knew the same, so it seems that was also known to Helmont: yet they were afraid to write of it for their own sakes. But I now freely and openly divulging all things, do that chiefly for this Reason, viz. because the most wise God (to whom I give Immortal Thanks) revealed this Secret to me not many weeks since; and I, according to the weakness of my Age, could labour but little therein, and that very difficultly; therefore keeping my Bed, by reason of my Illness, I caused some Proofs to be made of the same: whence I so found the verity of the matter, as I am now able safely to confirm the same to others, and can aver, that the true Mercury of Philosophers is reconded in them. Although that hath hitherto been unknown to most Men, yet by me (because in Philosophy, Medicine and Chymistry, never any thing more magnificent than it, easier to be elaborated, or preparable with less cost, at any time before came into my hands) it is so published, as I doubt not, but that many well-disposed Persons will confidently, readily and happily set their hands to the Work. For it is easie to acquire burning or distilled Wine in abundance, without any great charge: also an Instrument made of Copper, fit for separating the Mercury from the Sulphur, will not cost much: And lastly, the Fixation of the Mercury will cost little or nothing, because it may easily be absolved, in a very short time, by One well skilled in the method of fixing. The Burning Spirit may be prepared, and the separation of its Mercury from the Sulphur be compleated in the space of one day: but yet it is to be understood, that this is spoken onely to those who desire but a small quantity to experience the possibility of Art. If any one would have a larger quantity of Tincture, he indeed will have need of a longer time to prepare it in, as every one may easily conjecture.
Whilst I lay diseased in my Bed, and afflicted with a grievous Disease (after I had by a long and serious speculation day and night fundamentally searched the power of Art) in the space of one Week, by the hands onely of my little Sons (for I could not trust such a Work with the unworthy Sons of this World) I made three small trials or proofs onely in a very small quantity, because, by my Bed side, there was no place for doing any great Work. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that I could do much more in eight or ten Days, and a far greater quantity, if God will be pleased to grant me strength for so many Days.
Indeed to an ignorant Hearer, what Wise men have asserted will seem incredible to be believed; namely, that in every Herb and Grass, the true Stone of Philosophers lyes hid. For the ignorant of Nature wonder at this. But Spagyrick Philosophers have, now for many years past, published their Books touching the same, and affirmed, that of all things, from which the Elements may be separated, the Stone of Philosophers may be extracted and made; of the same I also, if need were, could alledge many Testimonies. May we not by Distillation and Rectification much more easily separate the Elements from Vegetables, than from rude and hard Metals? And may we not most purely and most subtilly cleanse their Element of Fire from them? That indeed is impossible to be extracted from Metals. But if we can, by the help of Art, turn the most pure Fire again into Earth, may not of this new Earth (when it is by the benefit of Art fixed, and rendred constant in Fire) be made a Matter purer, than all things in Nature? Every Man knows, that in Spirit of Wine is contained a great virtue comforting the Heart, but by reason of the burning heat, which it manifests in those that immoderately use it, the same is avoided not without Reason.
Now, if you shall separate the Burning Sulphur from the Mercury, in the bottom will remain onely a temperate, and to all Constitutions (which are vulgarly called Complexions) gratefull pure Mercury, in the form of a clear sweet Water, which Philosophers call their Water of Life, and that not imprudently. For the Alimonies of Life are included in it, and this Mercurial Water, or true Aqua-vitæ, may be safely adhibited in all Diseases; always, provided that this Spirit be prepared of Wine, Corn, or of Herbs not stinking and venomous. But for Metallick Transmutation, every distilled Wine is conducent, of whatsoever matter it shall be prepared. Yet that, in the form of Water, is able to exercise no power over Metals, but must first be reduced into a Red fixed Powder, called by Philosophers Gold of Philosophers, Horizontal Gold, Tinging Gold, and Living Gold. And, in a word, I say you cannot find any thing pertinent to Medicine and Chymistry, more excellent than our Red fixed Mercury of Wine: for it is the true Phœnix or Bird of Titan, feeding its Young with its own Blood; also a true Salamander, which dyes not, but is nourished and augmented in Fire: and more briefly, It is all in all things. Moreover, Philosophers confess that all things lye absconded in all, and in good Aqua-vitæ all Metals are spiritually found; which I my self have in very deed experienced, being otherwise unable to verifie the same. O noble Hermetick Art, and Queen of all Sciences! how basely and unworthily art thou cast down, trod under foot by stinking Swine, and contemned by ignorant proud Fools! Nevertheless, I doubt not but that this little Book of mine will open the Eyes of many blinded with Ignorance, and direct many Readers unto the path of Verity; as my Treatise lately published, intituled, Of the Salt of Philosophers, hath already been the Authour of much good to many. For more than one of many, who have slighted Chymistry, having perused that Enchiridion, according to my Information, have again fallen in love with Chymistry, set about the Work (renewing their omitted labour) and prepared the Salt of Philosophers, gave good proofs thereof, and having wrought in it for certain Days, at length gloried of their successes in Transmutation of Metals. Which Stone notwithstanding is not to be compared with that which is made of Wine or Corn; but in comparison of that is to be reputed as a Clod of Earth to a most beautifull Pearl.