Thirdly, How the Lapis Ignis, or Fire-stone of Basilius, is to be prepared out of Antimony by Art.
And how these Three most noble Stones of the World, are to be used in Physick and Alchymy. Translated out of the High-Dutch.
Reader,
In the end of the Appendix to the Seventh Part of my Pharmacopœa Spagyrica, I have made mention of Three Fires, which are not Common, but unknown to the World. By which are generated three wonderful Stones, which I did intend to publish. First, of the secret Fire of Philosophers, commonly called the Fire of Artephius, because Artephius a very ancient Philosopher did first write of it, who was also envious like others, and would write nothing of it, till he came to be nine hundred Years old which way the Philosophers Stone was to be made by this Fire. These Writings have been long tossed up and down the World, before any could be certain, whether or no this miraculous Fire could be found in Nature. At length some Philosophers attain’d its knowledge, and published it for the good of the World. But because, those Philosophers were very obscure in their Writings, the Art could not be made common, but remaineth secret to this hour: So that one of a Thousand among the now reputed Philosophers, (who have fill’d the whole World with their unexperienced Writings) scarcely one is to be found, who know any thing of it. And because this secret Fire was called by the true Philosophers, Ignis Philosophorum, it would have becomed them, to know somewhat of it. Helmont the most experienced and learned Philosopher of his time, although he had studied long in the Universities, yet he doth not Glory in any Arts he there learned: But on the contrary, he saith, that Physick, as it is taught in the Schools, is of no value. And, that not the Universities, but the Fire, made him a Philosopher. And therefore, he calls himself a Philosopher by the Fire. And without doubt, our secret Fire was known to him, as appears by his excellent Writings. For his Elementum Ignis Veneris, to which he attributes so many Virtues, could not well be made, without this secret Fire. A Quintessence may be drawn out of Venus, but that will not effect, what the Red Element of the incombustible Sulphur can. Paracelsus, in his Book of Sulphur, writes, that an excellent Elementum Ignis may be made out of common Sulphur, which he so highly commends, that he dares to say, that except a Physician hath this Element of Fire, (that is the fixed Quintessence of Sulphur, among his Arcanums, he cannot rightly be reputed a Physician, but a Money Catcher, and Robber of the Sick. In my lately published Treatise of Sulphur, I have also described an Elementum Ignis, which is certainly a very excellent Medicine against all Cold Distempers, but this is not yet fixed, but combustible, but the Element of Fire ought to be incombustible. For as long as a Medicine made out of Sulphur is still combustible, and subject to blacken Silver when touched with it, it cannot be reputed the true Elementum Ignis Sulphuris. For the true Element of Fire of Sulphur doth not make Silver black, but tingeth it with a constant Golden Colour, which cannot be washed off. As also, the Element of Fire ought to be of this Nature, to enter a Red hot Plate of Silver without fume, as Oyl sinks into dry Leather; and to tinge it Yellow. Also, it ought to tinge common ☿ into Gold, when added to it in a due heat. This Quintessence of Sulphur, also must not be burnt by the Fire as other Oyl, but remain incombustible. Therefore, the Philosophers have called it an incombustible Oyl, a permanent Water, Aurum potabile, &c. When it hath those Virtues, then it can perform what Paracelsus attributes to it, viz. Wonders both in Physick and Alchymy; and by this, Aristotle and his followers (who assert, that the Species of Metals cannot be transmuted) are quite out of Doors.
It is true, Aristotle also saith, that the Metals cannot be transmuted, if they be not first reduced to their first matter, of which I have sufficiently treated. This our fixed Oyl of Sulphur transmutes the Metals without any precedent reduction of them to their first matter. For our secret Fire hath taken away whatsoever was pernicious or combustible; so that only the purest and incombustible part remains, by which such great things in Medicine and Alchymy are performed, that it refuteth all those who speak against it; although many Impostors by their cheats, from place to place, have given occasion to speak evil of the Noblest of Arts; which hath had an ill effect heretofore upon my self.
An History of the Poisonous Tayl of Common Alchymy.
Here follows a large Historical Digression of some great Abuses which the Author some time underwent, but pertaining nothing to the scope of this Treatise, I will not trouble the Reader with it.
Now concerning our secret Fire, it is not made of Coals or Wood, or other combustible Matter, but compounded of certain Fiery Waters, which burn, but not like other Fires without the Glass, but always within the Glass; wherefore Artephius, as the first Author of the secret Fire, useth these words. Our Fire is Mineral, Equal, Continual, it Vapours not unless it be too much stirred up, it partakes of Sulphur, and is taken elsewhere than from the matter; it pulleth down all things, dissolveth, congealeth, and calcineth, it is artificial to find; it is a short way without cost, at the least with small cost; it is moist, vaprous, digestive, altering, piercing, subtile, Airy, not violent, not burning, compassing or environning, containing but one, and it is the fountain of living Water which goeth about and containeth the place, when the King and Queen hath themselves.
This is Artephius’s Description of the Fire of Philosophers. Pontanus hath also wrote of this Fire, to whose Epistle I refer the Reader for the more easie introduction to it.
Artephius hath here plainly enough described the Matter, and the Mercurial Water, and Pontanus hath confirmed it. He to whom God will give it, will easily comprehend it; but Artephius and Pontanus teach nothing, but how to ripen the Stone of Philosophers compounded of Gold, Silver, and Antimony, by this secret Fire. But because several others as well universal as particular are to be easily prepared by this our Fire, I think fit to say somewhat of it. Our Fire, maturates whatsoever is put to it, whether Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, and therefore our Fire, as also the Matter of the Philosophers Stone it self, is called Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral; as also a natural, non-natural, and supernatural Fire. He who is not satisfied with this may read Artephius himself, where he will find more of this our secret Fire.