Collectanea Hermetica

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CoLLECTAN EA HERMETICA EDITED

BY

W. WYNN WESTCOTT, M.B., D.P.H. (Supreme Magus of the Rosi&rttcian Society, Master of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge.)

VOLUME I.

AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE

HERMETIC ARCANUM OF

PENES NOS UNDA. TAGI. 1623 WITH A PREFACE AND NOTES

BY

' SAPERE AUDE ", FRA. R.R.

ET

A.C. '

PRE FA C E TO THE

" C OLLE C TA N EA

H E RMET I CA."

HERMETIC students find very great copies of the

old

difficulty in

Rosicrucian tracts and

securing

'other notable

volumes of occult lore, and I have been urged by many earnest members of the Rosicruci an Society to undertake the Editor­ ship of a series of small volumes, which are to provide some of the texts of the greatest value in search.

Hermetic re­

Among my personal friends and fellow-students are

many who have made a long study of the Occult Sciences, of the Kabalah, of Alchemy, and of the Higher Magic, and these have assured me of their support in this undertaking.

The

Notes which are added to each volume are partly taken from medireval commentators, and are partly those of my coadjutors. The Societas Rosicruciana, as an Institution, is not answer­ able for the opinions expressed ; all responsibility falling upon the actual writers. The Notes are intended to assist those who have made some progress in the study of Hermetic Philosophy; to the casual reader they may be as incomprehensible as the text itself, and where the general reader finds a simple definite statement• such is probably a

Reveiling and not a Revelation.

w. w. w.

Arcanum Hermeticce Philosophicre

Opus.

IN QUO OCCULTA NATUILE ET ARTIS CIRCA LAPIDIS PHILOSO· PHORUM MATERIAM

ET

OPERANDI MODUM CANONICE

ET ORDINATE FIUNT MANIFESTA.

Opus authoris anonymi,

PENES

NOS

UNDA

TAGI.

MDCXXIII.

THE SECRET WORK OF THE •

HERMETIC PH I LOSQPHY WHEREIN THE SECRETS OF

NATURE AND ART CONCERN­

ING THE MATTER OF THE PHILOSOPHERS' STONE AND THE

MANNER

OF

WORKING

ARE

EXPLAINED

0

AUTHENTIC AND ORDERLY MANNER.

The WtWk

PENES

EDITED

of an Anonymous Autluw,

NOS

BY 11

UNDA TAGI.

SAPERE

AUDE.'

IN

AN

PREFACE TO THE

" A R C A N U lVI . "

THE Arcanum Hermeticum has been chosen for the first volume of the C ollectanea Hermetica, because since its first publication in 1623, in the Latin language, no alchymic tract has been more widely read, and no other has been so often reprinted, alike in Latin, German, French and English. The author, Jean d'Espagnet, was sometime President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, he flourished from x6oo to 1630� and obtained a great reputation as an Hermetic philosopher and alchymist. Two of his alchymic works are alone extant; Enchiridion PhysictZ RestituttZ, and Arcanum PhilosojJhicz Her· meticcz; of these, the former treats of those theories ot chemical constitution upon which the possibility of Transmutation of Metals depends, and the latter of the Practice of Alchymy. The Arcanum was first published in 1623 in France; five sub· sequent French editions ia the original Latin are known, and an edition in the French tongue was printed in 1651 from the translation of Jean Bachon. Several editions were also pub­ lished at Geneva, Kiel, Lubeck, Tubingen and Leipzig. The works of Espagnet are also included in Manget's Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa and in the Bibliotheca Chemica of Albineus. Jean d'Espagnet followed the usual Rosicrucian custom of using a motto instead of his name when publishing Hermetic books. The Hermetic Arcanum is signed" Penes nos unda Tagi;" he also at times added the motto,"Spes mea in Agno est." These mottoes are anagrams. Each contains the letters of" Espagnet," and the two taken together contain also the letters of" Deus (IHVH with the Shin interposed) omnia in nos;• but there are two letters over, "As." The French biographer says, in error, that only one letter, an"E "-his initial-remains over.

8 Espagnet was not only an Alchymist, but a Mystic as well; he contributed a preface and a sonnet to a work by Pierre de Lancre, entitled Tableaz£ de l'inconstance des mauvaises Anges; r6rz. He is also notable as having taken a leading part in the prosecution of persons who were supposed to be black magicians, living in the ·district called Les Landes and among the Pyrenees; but this action appears to have been the result of his position in the Parliament of Bordeaux. He ornamented the fa9ade of his house in the Rue de Bahutiers, at Bordeaux, with allegorical sculptures and de­ vices; the house has been destroyed, but these ornaments are still to be seen preserved in the gardens of the mayoral residence. As a natural philosopher, Jean d'Espagnet declined to be led by the notions of Aristotle, and preferred those of the Alexandrian schools. He postulated the ideal of one material universal basis, or hyle, from which all varieties of matter have been evolved by stages of development, a necessary doctrine for one who taught the mutual convertibility of the so-called chemical elementary substances. He also insiste d upon the importance of representing all manifestation as separable into three worlds, elementary, celestial, and arche­ typal; this division is related to the scheme of the Four Worlds of the Kabalists, by a concentration which is recog­ nized by such philosophers. He taught the origin of created things from the chaos of the first matter, which under the energetic impulse of the Divine Force, proceeds from stage to stage of development into heterogeneity. He recognized three stages of matter, the subtle, the mean, �nd the gross: analogous to the airy, moist, and earthy natures of the Hermetists. Upon these bases his Enrhiridion is almost a text-book of Rosicrucian Philosophy. The Arcanum describes at considerable length, and with obvious good faith, the procedure ·of one school of Alchymists in the search for the secret of the Stone Philosophical, and it formulates the stages of the work so that he or she who can. read may run. Yet it must be confessed that he has well succeeded in reveiling, as well as revealing, the secret of what was meant by the Prima Materia and the real nature alike of The Sulphur, The Salt, and The �Iercury. Such a work as the Arcanum, written by one who knows, is· not sent to print, to teach the public, to show a cheap and easy way to wealth and luxury, or to assist coiners of spurious moneys, but is intended as a treasure house in which those who have devoted life and love to the quest may find stored

9 up the data and experiences of such as have trodden the Path and have borne tribulation and persecution, counting all loss to be gain in their progress to success and to the possession of that Stone of the Wise, which when obtained can indeed transmute the things of the material world, but does also equally work upon all higher planes, and enables an Adept to soar unheeding into worlds of joy, wisdom, and exultation, which are unseen, unknown, and inconceivable to ordinary mortals, who have chosen the alternative of physical content­ ment and material happiness. The original Latin title is given at the first page, together with an English translation. The German edition of r685, L eipzig, was entitled: Das

geheime �Verck der Hermetischen. Philosophic, vo1� ]oannes d'Espa�net. Anagr-e-in :�'· mut. Penes nos unda Tagi. This

has an additional preface, and cap. r38 is numbered I37· Joannes " must be taken as " Joannus." An English translation was made by James Hasolle, Qui est Mercuriophilus Anglicus ; this is the anagram and pseudonym of Elias Ashmole, famous as an antiquary. Copies of his third edition of r6so are not uncommon. The present editor of the Hermetic A rcanum had at first intended to reprint Ashmole's version in its entirety, but a comparison with the original Latin has induced him to make a revision of Ashmole's translation, because he discovered many im­ portant inaccuracies, and also because in some places the language was more forcible and plain than our present delicate manners would appreciate. S. A. is responsible for most of the Notes ; a few are from Sigismund Bacstrom, Frater R.R. et A.C., and others are from the marginal references of an anonymous Adept writing in 1710. "

SAPERE AUDE.

TH E

HERMETIC ARCANUM.

CANON

I.

HE beginning ot this Divine Science is the fear of T the Lord1 and its end is charity and love toward our Neighbour; the all-satisfying Golden Crop is properly devoted to the rearing and endowing of temples and hospices; for whatsoever the Almighty freely bestoweth on us, we should properly offer again to him. So also Gauntries grievously oppressed may be set free; prisoners unduly held captive may be released, and souls almost starved may be relieved. · 2 . The light of this knowledge is the gift of God, which by His will He bestoweth upon whom He pleaseth. Let none therefore set himself to the study hereof, until having cleared and purified his heart,2 he devote himself wholly unto God, and be emptied of all affection and desire unto the impure things of this world. 3 · The Science of producing Nature's grand Secret, is a perfect knowledge of universal Nature and of Art concerning the Realm of Metals; the Practice thereof is conversant with finding the principles of Metals by Analysis, and after they have been made much more perfect to conjoin them otherwise than they have been before, that from thence may result a catholic Medicine, most powerful to perfect imperfect Metals, and for restoring sick and decayed bodies, of any sort soever. 4· Those that hold public Honours and Offices or be

12

always busied with private and necessary occupations, let the m not strive to attain unto the acme of this Philosophy; for it requireth the whole man1, and being found, it possesseth him, and he being poss-essed, it debarreth him from all other long and serious employ­ ments, for he will esteem other things as strange, and of no value unto him. 5· Let him that· is---desirous of ·this- Knowledge, clear his mind from all evil passions, especially pride\ which is an abomination to Heaven, and is as the gate of Heil; let him be frequent in prayer and charitable6; have little to do with the world7; abstain from company keeping; enjoy constant tranquillityB; that the lVIind may be able to reason more freely iri private and be highly lifted up0; for unless it _be kindled with a beam of Divine Light, it will not be able to penetrate these hidden mysteries of Truth. : 6. The Alchymists who. have given their minds to their well - nigh innumerable Sublimations, Distillations-, Solutions, Congelations, to manifold Extraction of Spirits and Tinctures, and other Operations more subtle than profitable, and so have distracted them­ selves by a variety of errors, as so many tormentors, :will never be inclined again by their own Geni_us to the plain way of Nature and light of Truth; from whence their industrious subtilty hath twined the m , and by twinings and tu rnings, as by the Lybian Quicksands hath drowned their entangled Wits: the only hope qf safety for them remaineth in finding out a fait_hfu l Guide10 and lVIaster�, who may make the Sun clear and conspicuous unto them and free their eyes from : darkness. 7· A .studious Tyro of a q uick wit, constant mind� infl�med with the study of Philosophy , very skilful in natural Philosophy, of a pure heart, complete in manners, mightily devoted to God, though ignorant _of practical Chymistry, may with confi_dence enter into the highway of Nature and peruse the Books of the best Philosophers ; let him seek out an ingenious and

�

·

sedulous Companion for himself, and not . despair of obtaining his desire. 8. Let a Student of these secrets carefully beware of reading or keeping company with false Philosophers12; for nothing is more dangerous to a learner of any Science, than the company of an unskilled or deceitful man by whom erroneous princi pies are stamped as true, whereby a simple and credulous mind is seasoned with false Doctrine. g. Let a Lover of truth make use of few Authors, but of the best note and experienced truth ; let him suspect things that are quickly understood, especially in Mystical Names and Secret Opera t'ions18; for truth lies hid in obscurity; for Philosophers never write more deceitfully-than when plainly, nor ever more truly-than when obscurely. Io. As for the Authors of chiefest note, who have discoursed both acutely and truly of the secrets of Nature and hidden Philosophy, Hermes and Morienus Romanus amongst the Ancients are in my judgment of the highest esteen1; amongst the Moderns, Count Trevisan, and Raimundus Lullius are in greatest reverence with me; for what that most acute Doctor hath omitted, none almost hath spoken; let a student therefore peruse his works, yea let him often read over his Former Testament, and Codicil, and accept them as a Legacy of very great worth. To these two volumes let him add both his volumes of Practice, out of which works all things desirable may be collected, especially the truth of the First Matter, of the degrees of Fire, and the Regirnen of the Whole, wherein the final \Vork is finished, and those things which our Ancestors so carefully laboured to keep secret. The occnlt causes of things, and the secret motions of nature, are demon­ strated nowhere more clearly and faithfully. Concern­ ing the first and mystical Water of the Philosophers he hatJ! set down few things, yet very pithily. I I. As for that Clear Water sought for by many, ound by so few, yet obvious and profitable unto all,

f

I4

which is the Basis of the Philosophers' Work, a noble Pole, not more famous for his learning than subtilty of wit, who wrote anonymously, but whose name notwith­ standing a double Anagram hath betrayed14, hath in his Novum Lumen Chymicum, Parabola and £nigma, as also in his Tract on Sulphur, spoken largely and freely enough; yea he hath expressed all things concerning it so plainly, that nothing can be more satisfactory to him· that desireth knowledge. r 2 . Philosophers do usually express themselves more pithily in types and enigmatical figures (as by a mute kind of speech) than by words; see for example, Senior's Table, the Allegorical Pictures of Rosarius, the Pictures of Abraham T udaeus in Flame!, and the drawings of Flame! himselfl5; of the later sort, the rare Emblems of the most learned Michael Maierus wherein the mysteries of the Ancients are so fully opened, and as new Perspectives they present antiquated truth, and though designed remote from our age yet are near unto our eyes, and are perfectly to be perceived by us. I J. Whosoever affirmeth that the Philosophers' grand Secret is beyond the powers of Nature and Art, he is· blind because he ignores the forces of Sol and Luna. 14. As for the m atter of their hidden Stone, Philoso­ phers have written diversely; so that very many disagreeing in Words, do nevertheless very well agree in the Thing; nor doth their different speech argue the science ambiguous or false, since the same thing may be expressed with many tongues, by divers expressions, and by a different character, and also one and many things may be spoken of after diverse manners. 15. Let the studious Reader have a care of the mani­ fold significations of words, for by deceitful windings, and doubtful, yea contrary speeches (as it should seem), Philosophers wrote their mysteries, with a desire of veiling and hiding, yet not of sophisticating or destroy­ ing the truth ; and though their writings abound with ambiguous and equivocal words; yet about none do they more contend than in hiding their Golden Branch.

rs

Quem tegit omnis Lucus; et obscuris claudant convallibus umbrre15• Which all the groves with shadows overcast, And gloomy valleys hide.

Nor yieldeth it to any Force, but readily and willingly will follow him, who

Matemas agnoscit aves, . . geminre cui forte Columbre Ipsa sub ora viri crelo venere volantes17• Knows Dame Venus Birds . And him to whom of Doves a lucky pair Sent from above shall hover 'oout his Ear.

Whosoever seeketh the Art of perfecting and multiplying imperfect Metals, beyond the nature of Metals, goes in error, for from Metals the Metals are to be derived; even as from Man, Mankind; and from an Ox only, is that species to be obtained. 17. Metals, we must confess, cannot be multiplied by the instinct and labour of Nature only; yet we may affirm that the multiplying virtue is hid in their depths, and manifested itself by the help of Art : In this Work, Nature standeth in need of the aid of Art; and both do make a perfect whole. Perfect Bodies as Sol and Luna are endued 18. with a perfect seed; and therefore under the hard crust of the perfect Metals the Perfect Seed lies hid; and he that knows how to take it out by the Philosophers' Solution, hath entered upon the royal highway; for-

16.

. In auro Semina sunt auri, quamvis abstrusa recedant Longius. In Gold the seeds of Gold do lie, Though buried in Obscurity.

Most Philosophers have affirmed that their Kingly Work is wholly composed of Sol and Luna; others have thought good to add Mercury to Sol; some have chosen Sulphur and Mercury ; others have attri­ buted no small part in so great a \Vork to Salt mingled

-9·

16

with the other two. The very same men have professed that this Clear Stone is made of one thing only, some­ times of two, or of three, at other times of four, and of five; and yet though writing so variously upon the same subject, they do nevertheless agree in sense and _ meaning. 20. Now that (abandoning all blinds) we may write candidly and truly, we hold that this entire Work is perfected by two Bodies only; to wit, by Sol and Luna rightly prepared, for this is the mere generation which is by nature, with the help of Art, wherein the union of male and female doth take place, and from thence an offspring far more noble than the parents is brought forth. 21. Now those Bodies· must be taken, which are of an unspotted and incorrupt virginity19; such as have life and spirit in them20; not extinct as those that are handled by the vulgar; for who can expect life from dead things ; and those are· called impure which have suffered combination; those dead and extinct which (by the enforcement of the chief Tyrant of the world21) have poured out their soul with their blood by Martyrdom; flee then a fraticide from which the most imminent danger in the whole Work is threatened. 22. Now Sol is Masculine, forasmuch as he sendete forth active and energizing seed; Luna is Feminine or Negative and she is called the �Iatrix of Nature, because she receiveth the sperm, and fostereth it by monthly provision, yet doth Luna not altogether want in positive or active virtue22• 23. By the name of Luna Philosophers understand not the vulgar Moon, '\\hich also may be positive in its operation, and in con1bining acts a positive part. Let none therefore presume to try the unnatural combina­ tion of two positives, neither let him conceive any hope of issue from such association; -but he shall join Gabritius to Beia28, and offer sister to brother infirm union, that from thence he may receive Sol's noble Son.

17

2 4 . They that hold .Sulphur �nd Mercury to be the First Matter of the Stone, by the name of Sulphur .they understand Sol; by Mercury the Philosophic Luna; so (without dissimulation) good Lullius24 adviseth his friend, that he attempt not to work without Mercury and Luna for Silver; nor without Mercury and Sol for Gold. 25. Let none therefore be deceived by adding a third to two : for Love admitteth not a third; and wedlock is terminated in the number of two; love further extended is not matrimony. 26. Nevertheless Spiritual love polluteth not any virgin; Beia might therefore without fault (before her betrothal to Gabritius) have felt spiritual love, to the end that she might thereby be made more cheerful, more pure, and fitter for union. 2 7 . Procreation is the end of lawful Wedlock. Now that the progeny may be born more vigorous and active, let both the combatants be cleansed from every ill and spot, before they are united in marriage. Let nothing s uperfluous cleave unto them25, because from pure seed comes a purified generation, and so the chaste wedlock of Sol and Luna shall he finished when they shall enter into combination, and be conjoined, and Luna shall receive a soul from her husband by this union; from this conjunction a most potent King shall arise, whose father will be Sol and his mother Luna. 28. He. that seeks for a physical tincture without Sol and Luna, loseth both his cost and pains : for Sol afforded a most plentiful tincture of redness, and LUll a of whiteness, for these two only are called perfect; because they are filled with the substance of purest Sulphur, perfectly clarified by the skill of nature. · Let thy Mercury th�refore receive a tincture from o�e or other of these luminaries; for anything must of necessity p�ess a tincture .before it can tinge other. bodies. . g. ··-:. erfect m�,tal�. c�ntain in t emselves t�o t4i,ngs which they are ab1e· to commWltcate to the Imperfect Tincture and Power of fixation; 'for pure metals. n1etals, because they are dyed and fixed with pure ·

·

)�

�

?

18

Sulphur to wit both white and red, do therefore perfectly tincture and fix, if they be fitly prepared with their proper Sulphur and Arsenic: otherwise they have not strength for multiplying their tincture. 30. Mercury is alone among the imperfect metals, fit to receive the tincture of Sol and Luna in the work of the Philosophers' Stone, and being itself full of tincture can tinge other metals in abundance; yet ought it (before that) to be full of invisible Sulphur, that it may be the more coloured with the visible tincture of perfect bodies, and so repay with sufficient Usury. 3 I. Now the whole tribe of Philosophers do much assert and work mightily to extract Tincture out of gold : for they believe that Tincture can be separated from Sol, and being separated increases in virtu� but-

Spes tandem Agricolas vanis eludit aristis. Vain hope, at last the hungry Plough-man cheats With empty husks, instead of lusty meats.

For it is impossible that Sol's Tincture can at all be severed from his natural body, since there can be no elementary body made up by nature more perfect than gold, the perfection whereof proceedeth from the strong and inseparable union of pure colouring Sulphur with Mercury; both of them being admirably pre-disposed thereunto by Nature; whose true separation nature denieth unto Art. But if any liquor remaining be extracted (by the violence of fire or waters) from the Sun, it is to be reputed a part of the body made liquid or dissolved by force. For the tincture followeth its body, and is riever separated from it. That is a delu­ sion of this Art, which is unknown to many Artificers themselves. 32 . Nevertheless it may be granted, that Tincture may be separable from its body, yet (we must confess) it cannot be separated without the corruption of the tincture : as when Artists offer violence to the gold destroying by fire, or use Aqua fortis, thus rather cor-

19 roding than dissolving. The body therefore if despoiled of its Tincture and Golden Fleece, must needs grow base, and as an unprofitable heap turn to the damage of its Artificer, and the Tincture thus corrupted can only have a weaker operation. 3 3· Let Alchymists in the next place cast their Tincture into Mercury, or into any other imperfect body, and as strongly conjoin both of them as their Art will permit; yet shall they fail of their hopes in two ways. First, because the Tincture will neither penetrate nor colour beyond Nature's weight and strength; and therefore no gain will accrue from thence to recompense the expense and countervail the loss of the body spoiled, and thus of no value; so-

Cum labor in damno est, crescit mortalis egestas. Want is poor mortal'� wages, when his toil Produces only loss of pain and oil.

;

Lastly that debased Tincture applied to another body will not give that perfect fixation and permanency re­ quired to endure a strong trial, and resist searching Saturn. 3 4· Let them therefore that are desirous of Alchemy, and have hitherto followed impostors and mountebanks, found a retreat, spare no time nor cost, and give their minds to a work truly Philosophical, lest the Phrygians be wise too late, and at length be compelled to cry out with the prophet, "Strangers have devoured his strength."• 3 5 · In the Philosophers' work more time and toil than cost is expended: for he that hath convenient matter, need be at little expense; besides, those that hunt after great store of money, and place their chief end in wealth, they trust more to their riches, t�an their o.wn art� Let, therefore, the too credulous tyro beware of pilfering pickpockets, for while they promise golden mountains, thr �lay in wait for gold; they demand bright gold (vjz., money beforehand), because they walk in evil and darkness. 3 6. As those that sail between Scylla and Charybdis11

20

are in danger from both sides : unto no less ·hazar - d are they subject who 'pursuing the· prize of: the. Golden fleece are carried between 'the uncertain Rocks of the Sulphur and Mercury of the Philosophers. The more acute students by their constant reading of grave and credible Authors, and by the radiant sunlight, have at­ tained unto the knowledge of Sulphur, but are at a stand at· the entrance of their search for the Philosophers' Mercury; for \i\Triters have twisted it with so many "windings and meanderings, involved. it with so many equivocal names, that it may be sooner met with by the force of the Seeker's intuition, than be found by reason or toil. 37· That Philosophers might the deeper hide their 1\tlercury in darkness, they have made it manifold, and placed their 1\tiercury (yet diversely) in every part and in the forefront of their work, nor will he attain unto a perfect knowledge thereof, who shall be ignorant of any part of the Work. 38. Philosophers have acknowledged their Mercury to be threefold; to wit, after the absolute preparation of the First degree, the Philosophical sublimation, for then they call it " Their Mercury," and "Mercury Sublimated." 39· Again, in the Second preparation, that which by Authors is styled the First (because they omit the First) Sol being now made crude again,78- and resolved into his first matter, is called the Mercury of such. ·like· bodies, or the Philosophers' Mercury; then the m�tt� is called Rebis,29 Chaos, or the Whole World, wli�reili' are all things necessary to the Work, . because thatonly' is sufficient to perfect the Stone. 40. Thirdly, the Philosophers do sometimes call Perfect Elixir and Colouring Medicine-Their Mercury, though improperly; for the name of Mercury doth only properly agree with that which is volatile; besides that which is sublimated in every region of the work, they call Mercury: but Elixir-that which is most fixed cannot have the simple name of Mercury ; and therefore

21 they have styled it " Their Mercury., to differentiate it fr?m that which is volatile. A straight. way is only la1d down for some to find out and discern so many Mercuries of the Philosophers, for those only-

-Quos aequus amavit Jupiter, aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus.30 -Whom just and mighty ove Ad vanceth by the strength of ove ; Or such who brave heroic fire, :Makes from dull Earth to Heaven aspire.

l

4 1 . The Elixir is called the Philosophers' Mercury for the likeness and great conformity it hath with heavenly Mercury ; for to this, being devoid of elemen­ tary qualities, heaven is believed to be most propitious; and that changeable Proteus 31 puts on and increaseth the genius and nature of other Planets, by reason of opposition, conjunction, and aspect. In like manner this uncertain Elixir worketh, for being restricted to no proper quality, it embraceth the quality and disposition of the thing wherewith it is mixed, and wonderfully multiplieth the virtues and qualities thereof. 42� In the Philosophical sublimation or first prepar­ ation of Mercury, Herculean labour must be undergone by the workman; for J a son had in vain .attempted his expedition to Colchos without Alcides. Alter in auratam nota de vertice pellem Principium velut ostendit, quod sumere possis; Alter onus quantum subeas.8'.1 . One from on high a Golden Fleece displays Which shews the Entrance, another says H ow hard a task you,ll find. For the entrance is warded by horned beasts, which drive away those that approach rashly thereunto, to t�ir great hurt; only the ensigns of Diana 33 and the Doves of Ven us are able to assuage their fierceness, if the fates favour the attempt. 43· The Natural quality of Philosophical Earth and

22

the tillage thereof, seems to be touched upon by the poet in this verse ;

Pingue solum primis ex templo a mensibus anni Fortes invertant Tauri, Tunc Zephyro putris se gleba resolvit.� Let sturdy oxen when the year begins Plough up the fertile soil, , For Zephyrus then destroys the sodden clods.

44 · He that calleth the Philosophers' Luna or their lVIercury, the common Mercury, doth wittingly deceive, or is deceived himself; so the writings of Geber teach us, that the Philosophers' Mercury is Argent vive, yet not of the common sort, but extracted out of it by the Philosophers· skill.35 45· The Philosophers' Mercury is not Argent vive in its proper nature, nor in its whole substance, but is only the middle and pure substance thereof, which thence bath taken its origin and has been made by it. This _?pinion of the grand Philosophers is founded on expenence. 46. The Philosophers' Mercury bath divers names, sometimes it is called Earth; sometimes Water, when viewed from a diverse aspect; because it naturally ariseth from them both. The earth is subtle, white and sulphurous, in which the elements are fixed and the philosophical gold is sown; the water is the water of life, burning, permanent, most clear, called the water of gold and silver ; but this Mercury, because it bath in it Sulphur of its own, which is multiplied by art, deserves to be called the Sulphur of Argent vive. Last of all, the most precious substance is Venus, the ancient Hermaphrodite, glorious in its double sex. 47· This Argent vive is partly natural, partly un­ natural; its intrinsic and occult part bath its root in nature, and this cannot be drawn forth unless it be by some precedent cleansing, and industrious sublimation; its extrinsic part is preternatural and accidental. Sepa­ rate, therefore, the clean from the unclean, the sub-

23 stance from the accidents, and make that which is hid, manifest, by the course of nature; otherwise you make no further progress, for this is the foundation of the whole work and of nature. 48. That dry and most precious liquor doth constitute the radical moisture of metals, wherefore by some of the ancients it is called Glass; for glass is extracted out of the radical moisture closely inherent in ashes which offer resistance, except to the hottest flame; notwith­ standing our inmost or central l\'Iercury discovers itself by the most gentle and kindly (though a little more tedious) fire of nature. 49 · Some have sought for the latent Philosophical earth by Calcination, others by Sublimation; many among glass, and some few between vitriol and salt, even as among their natural vessels; others enjoin you to sublime it out of lime and glass. But we have learned of the Prophet that " I" tlze beginning God created

the Heaven and the Earth, and the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the Deep, and the spirit of God moved ·upon the Waters, and God said, Let there he Light, and there was L ight ; and God saw the Light that it was good, and he divided the light from the darkness, etc. "18 Joseph's blessing spoken of by the same Prophet will be sufficient to a wise man. " Blessed of the Lord be /z.is Land, for the Apples of Heaven, for tile dew, and jOY the Deep that liveth beneath: for the Apples of fruit both of sun and moon, for the top of the ancient mountains, for the Apples of the everlasting hills, etc.,"37 pray the Lord from the bottom of thy heart (:ny son) that he would bestow upon Thee

a portion of this blessed earth. so. Argent vive is so defiled by original sin,88 that it floweth with a double infection; the first it hath con­ tracted from the polluted Earth, which ha th mixed itself therewith in the generation of Argent vive, and by cQg_gelation bath cleaved thereunto; the second borders rlpon the dropsy and is the corruption of intercutal• W ater, proceeding from thick and impure water; mixed with the clear, which nature was not able to squeeze

·

out and separate by constriction ; but because it is extrinsic, it flies off with a gentle heat. The Mercury's leprosy infesting the body, is not of its root and sub­ stance, but accidental, and therefore separable from it; the earthly part is wiped off by a warm wet Bath and the Laver of nature; the watery part is· taken away by a dry bath with that gentle fire suitable to generation. And thus by a threefold washing and cleansing the Dragon putteth off his old scales and ugly skin is renewed in beauty. 5 r . The Philosophical sublimation of lVIercury is com­ pleted by two processes; namely by removing things superfluous from it, and by introducing things which are wanting. In superfluities are the external accidents, which in the dark sphere of Saturn do make cloudy glittering upiter. Separate therefore the leaden colour of Saturn which cometh up out of the water until upiter's purple Star40 smile upon thee. Add hereunto the Sulphur of nature, whose grain and Ferment it bath in itself, so much as sufficeth it; but see that it be sufficient for other things also. Multiply therefore that invisible Sulphur of the Philosophers until the Virgin's milk come forth: and so the First Gate is opened unto thee. 5 2. The entrance of the Philosophers' garden is kept by the Hesperian Dragon, which being put aside, a Fountain of the clearest water proceeding from a seven­ fold spring floweth forth on every side of the entrance of th� garden; wherein make the rago� drink thrice the magical number of Seven, until havtng drunk he put off his hideous garments; then may the divine powers of light-bnnging Venus and horned Diana, be propitious unto thee. . 53· Three kinds of most beautiful flowers are to be sought, and may be found in this Garden of the wise :'i Damask-coloured Violets, the milk-white Lily, and the purple and imn1ortal flower of love, the Amaranth. Not far from that fountain at the entrance, fresh Violets do first salute thee, which being watered by streams from

J

J

�

2'" -

the great golden river, they put on the most delicate colour of the dark Sapphire ; then Sol w ill give thee a sign. Thou shall not sever such precious flowers from their roots 1,1ntil thou make the Stone ; for the fresh ones cropped off have mor� juice and tincture ; and then pick them carefully with a gentle and discreet hand ; if the F ates frown not, this will easily follow, and one White flower being plucked, the other Golden one will not be wanting ; let the Lily and the Amaranth succeed with still greater care and longer labour_. 54· Philosophers have their sea also, wherein small fishes plump and shining with silver scales are gener­ ated ; which he that ··shall entangle, and take by a fine and small net shall be accounted a most expert fisher­ man . 55· The Philosophers' Stone is found in the oldest mountains, and flows from everlasting brooks ; those mountains are of silver, and the brooks are e'en of gold : from thence gold and silver and all the treasures of Kings are produced. . 56. vVhosoever is minded to obtain the Philosophers' Stone, let hi� resolve to take a long peregrination, for it is necessary that he go to see both the Indies, that from thence he may bring the most-precious gems and · : the purest gold. 57. Philosophers extract their stoiJe out of sev�n stones, the two chief whereof are _of a diverse nature and efficacy ; the one infuseth inyisible Sulphur, the other spiritual-Mercury ; that one induceth · heat and dryness, and this one cold and mois�ure : chu� by their help, the strength of the elemenfs is multiplied in the Ston� ·; the former is found in the Eastern coast, the latter in the West ern : both of them have �he power of colouring an d multiplying, and unless the Stone shall take its first Tincture from them it will neither colour nor multiply. 58. Recipe then the Winged Virgin very well·washed and �ansed , impregnated by the spiritual seed of the firs t; m � le, and fecundated in the perman�nt glory of her untouched - virginity, she will qe discovered by her ·

·

,

·

cheeks dyed with a blushing colour ; join her to the second, by whose seed she shall conceive again and shall in time bring forth a reverend off-spring of double sex, from whence an immortal Race of most potent Kings shall gloriously arise. 59· Keep up and couple the Eagle and Lion42 well cleansed in their transparent cloister, the entry door being shut and watched, lest their breath go out, or the air without do privily get in. The Eagle shall snap up and devour the Lion in this corn bin a tion ; afterwards being affected with a long sleep, and a dropsy occasioned by a foul stomach, she shall be changed by a wonderful metamorphosis into a coal black Crow, which shall begin to fly with wings stretched out, and by his flight shall bring down water from the clouds, until being often n1oistened, he put off his wings of his own accord, and falling down again he be changed into a most White Swan. Those that are ignorant of the causes of things may wonder with astonishment when they consider that the world is nothing but a continual Metamorphosis ; they may marvel that the seeds of things perfectly digested should end m greatest whiteness. Let the Philosopher imitate Nature in his work. 6o. Nature proceedeth thus in making and perfecting her works, that from an inchoate generation it may bring a thing by divers means, as it · were by degrees, to the ultimate term of perfection : she therefore attain­ eth her end by little and little, not by leaps ; confining and including her work between two extremes ; distinct and severed as by spaces. The practice of Philosophy, which is the imitator of Nature, ought not to decline from the way and example of Nature in its working and direction to find out its happy stone, for whatsoever is without the bounds of Nature is either an error or is near one. 6 1 . The extremes of the Stone are natural Argent vive and perfect Elixir : the middle parts which lie between, by help whereof the work goes on, are of three sorts ; for they either belong unto matter, or operations,

27

or demonstrative signs : the whole work is perfected by these extremes and means. 62 . The material means of the Stone are of divers kinds , for some are extracted out of others successively : The first are Mercury Philosophically sublimated, and perfect metals, _which although they be extreme in the work of nature, yet in the Philosophical work they sup­ ply the place of n1eans : of the former the seconds are produced ; namely the four elements, which again are circulated and fixed : of the seconds, the third is pro­ duced, to wit, Sulphur, the multiplication whereof cloth terminate the first work: the fourth and last means are leaven or ointments48 weighed with the tr.ixture of the things aforesaid, successively produced in the work of the Elixir. By the right ordering of the things afore­ said, the perfect Elixir is finished, which is the last term of the whole work , wherein the Philosophers' Stone resteth as in its centre, the m ultiplication whereof is nothing else than a short repetition of the previous operations. 63 . The operative means (which are also called the Keys of the Work) are four : the first is Solution or Li­ quefaction ; the second is Ablution ; the third Reduction ; the fourth Fixation. By Liquefaction bodies return into their first form, things concocted are made raw again, and the combination between the position and negative is effected , from whence the Crow is generated : lastly the Stone is divided into four confused elements, which happeneth by the retrogradation of the Luminaries. The Ablution teacheth how to make the Crow white, and to create the J upiter of Saturn, which is done by the conversion of the Body into Spirit. The Office of Reduc­ tion is to restore the soul to the stone exanimated, and to nourish it with dew and spiritual lllilk, until it shall attain unto perfect strength. In both these latter opera­ tions the Dragon rageth against himself, and by devouring his tail, doth wholly exhaust himself, and at length is ( one. Lastly, the operation of the Fixa­ turned into thfr-st t h bo tion fixeth the White and the Red Sulphurs upon

their fixed body, by the mediation of the spiritual tinc­ ture ; it decocteth the Leaven or Ferment by degrees, ripeneth things unripe, and sweeteneth the bitter. In fine, by penetrating and tincturing the flowing Elixir it gen.e rateth, perfecteth, and lastly, raiseth it up to the height of sublin1ity. 64. The Means or demonstrative signs are Colo:urs, successively and orderly affecting the matter and its affections and demonstrative passions, whereof there are three special ones (as critical) to be noted; to these some add a Fourth. The first is black, which is called the Crow's head, because of its extreme blackness, whose crepusculum'" sheweth the beginning of the action of the fire of nature and solution, and the plackest midnight sheweth the perfection of liquefac­ tion, and confusion of the elements. Then the grain putrefies and is corrupted, that it may be the more apt for generation. The white colour succeedeth the black, wherein is given the perfection of the first degree, and of the White Sulphur. This is called the blessed stone ; this Earth is white and foliated, wherein :philosophers do sow their gold. The third is Orange colour, which is produced in the passage of the white to the red, as the middle, and being mixed of both is as the da\v n with his saffron hair, a forerunner 0f the Sun. The fourth_colour is Ruddy and Sanguine, which is ex­ tracted from t�e white fire only. Now because whiteness is easily altered· · by any other colour before day it quickly faileth of its candour. But the deep redness of the Sun perfecteth the work of Sulphur, whicli is called the Sperm of the male, the fire of the Stone, the King's Crown, and the Son of Sol, wherein the first labour of the workman resteth." 65. Besides these decretory signs which firmly inhere in the matter, and shew its essential mutations, almost infinite colours appear, and shew themselves in vapours, �s the Rainbow in the clouds, which quickfy pass a way �nd are expelled by those that succeed, more affecting tlie air than the earth: the operator must have a gentle

29

care of the�, because they are not permanent, and pro­ ceed not from the intrinsic disposition of the m atter, but from the fire painting and fashioning everything after its pleasure, or casually by heat in slight moisture. . 66. Of the strange colours, some appearing out of time, give an ill omen to the work : such as the black­ ness renewed ; for the Crew's young ones having once left their nest are never to be suffered to return. Too hasty Redness ; for this once, and in the end only, gives a certain hope of the harvest ; if therefore the matter become red too soon it is an argument of the greatest aridity, not without great d anger, . whtch can only be averted by Heaven alone forthwith bestowing a shower upon it. 67. The Stone is exalted by successive digestions, as by degrees, and at length attaineth to perfection. Now four Digestions agreeable to . the four abovesaid Opera­ tions or Governments do complete the whole work, the author whereof is the fire, which makes the difference between them. . 68. The first digestion operateth the solution of the Body, whereby comes the first conjunction of male and female, the commixtion of both seeds, putrefaction, the resolution of the elements into homogeneous water, the eclipse of the Sun and Moon in the head of the Dragon, and lastly it bringeth back the whole World into its ancient Chaos, and dark abyss. This first digestion is as in the stomach, of a melon colour and weak, more fit for corruption than generation. 6g. In the second digestion the Spirit of the Lord walketh upon the waters ; the light begins to ap�· · pear, and a separation of waters from the wat e rs occurs ; Sol and Luna are renewed ; the elements are . extracted out of the chaos, that being per­ fectly mixed in Spirit they may constitute a new world ; a new Heaven and new Earth are made ; and lastly all bodies become spiritual. · The Crew's young ones 9h�ging their feathers begin to pass into Doves ; the Eagle and Lion embrace one another in an ·

30

eternal League of amity. And this generation of the World is made by the fiery Spirit descending in the form of Water, and wiping away Original sin ; for the Philosophers' Water is Fire, which is moved by the excit­ ing heat of a Bath. But see that the separation of Waters be done in Weight and Measure, lest those things that rt_emain under Heaven be drowned under the Earth, or those things that are snatched up above the Heaven, be too much destitute of aridity. Hie, sterilem exiguus ne deferat humor arenam,w Here let slight moisture leave a barren Soil.

70. The third digestion of the newly generated

Earth drinketh up the dewy Milk, and all the spiritual virtues of the quintessence, and fasteneth the quicken­ ing Soul to the body by the Spirit's mediation. Then the Earth layeth up a great Treasure in itself, and is made like the coruscating Moon, afterwards like to the ruddy Sun ; the former is called the Earth of the Moon, the latter the Earth of the Sun ; for both of them are begot of the copulation of them both ; neither of them any longer feareth the pains of the Fire, because both want all spots ; for they have been often cleansed from sin by fire, and have suffered great Martyrdom, until all the Elements are turned downwards. 7 r . The Fourth digestion consummateth all the Mysteries of the vVorld, and the Earth being turned into most excellent leaven, it leaveneth all imperfect bodies because it bath before passed into the heavenly nature of quintessence. The virtue thereof flowing from the Spirit of the Universe is a present Panacea and universal medicine for all the diseases of all creatures. The digestions of the first work being repeated will open to thee the· Philosophers' secret Furnace. Be' right in thy works, that thou n1ayest find God favourable, otherwise the ploughing of the Earth will . be in vaip ; Noc Illa seges demum votis respondet avari'4 ·

Agricolz-

vVill the expected H arvest e'er requite The greedy husbandman.

The whole Progress of the Philosophers' work is nothing but Solution and Congelation ; the Solution of the body, and Congelation of the Spirit ; nevertheless there is but one operation of both : the fixed and volatile are perfectly mixed and united in the Spirit, which cannot be done unless the fixed bady be first made soluble and volatile. By reduction is the volatile body fixed into a permanent body, and volatile nature cloth at last change into a fixed one , as the fixed nature had before passed into volatile. Now so long as the Natures were confused in the Spirit, that mixed spirit keeps a middle Nature between Body and Spirit, Fixed and Volatiie. 73 · The generation of the Stone is made after the pattern of the Creation of the vVorld ; for it is neces­ sary, that it have its Chaos and First matter, wherein the confused Elements do fluctuate, until they be separated by the fiery Spirit ; they being separated, the Light Elements are carried upwards, and the heavy ones downwards : the light arising, darkness retreats : the waters are gathered into one place and the dry land appears. At length the two great Luminaries arise, and mineral, vegetable and animal are produced in the Philosophers' Earth. 74· God created Adam out of the mud of the Earth, wherein were inherent the virtues of all the Elements, of the Earth and Water especially, which do rnore constitute the sensible and corporeal heap : Into this Mass God breathed the breath of Life, and enlivened it with the Sun of the Holy Spirit. He gave Eve for a vVife to Adam , and blessing thern he gave unto them a Precept and the Faculty of multiplication. The generation of the Philosophers· Stone, is not unlike the Creation of A dam, for the M ud was made of a terres­ trial and ponderous Body dissolved by Water, which deserved the excellent,name of Terra Adamica, wherein 72 .

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all the virtues and qualities of the Elements are placed. At length the heavenly Soul is infused thereinto by the · mediun1 of the Quintessence and Solar influx, and by the Benediction and Dew of Heaven ; tlie virtue of multiplying ad injinitzem by the intervening copulation of both sexes is gi ven it. 75 · The chief secret of this work consisteth · in the m anner of working, which is wholly employed about the Elements : for the matter of the Stone passeth from one Nature into another, the Elements are successively extracted, and by turns obtain dominion ; everything is agitated by the circles of hzem£dmn and sicct,m?1 until all things be turned downwards, and there rest. 76. In the work of the Stone the other Elements are circulated in the figure of Water, for the Earth is re­ solved into Water, wherein are the rest of the Elen1ents ; the Water is Sublimated into Vapour, Vapour retreats into Water, and so by an unwearied circle, is the \Vater moved, until it abide fixed down wards ; now that being fixed, all the elements are fixed. Thus into it they are resolved, by it · they are extracted, with it they live and die ; the Earth is the Tomb, and last end of all. 77· The order of N ature requireth that every gener­ ation begin from ht1midum and in humidmn. In the Philo­ sophers' work, Nature is to be reduced into order,48 that so the m�tter of the Stone which is terrestrial, corr.pact and dry, in the first place may be dissolved and flow into the Element of Water next unto it, and then Saturn will be generated of Sol. 78 The Air succeeds the Water, drawn about by e s ven circles or revolutions, which is wheeled about with so many circles and reductions, until it be fixed downwards, and Saturn being expelled, Jupiter may receive the Sceptre and Government of the Kingdom, by whose coming the Philosophers' Infant . is formed, nourished in the womb, and at length is born ; re­ sembling the splendour of Luna in her beautiful and serene countenance. 7 9 · The Fire executes the courses of the Nature of

33

the Elements, extreme Fire assisting it ; of the hidden is made the manifest ; the Saffron dyeth the Lily ; Red­ ness possesseth the cheeks of the blushing Child now made stronger. A Crown is prepared for him against the time of his Reign. This is the consummation of the first work, and the perfect rotation of the Elements, the sign whereof is, when they are all terminated in Siccun1, and the body void of Spirit lieth down , want ing pulse and motion ; and thus all the Elements are finally resolved into Terra. So. Fire placed in the Stone is Nature's Prince, Sol's Son and Vicar, moving and digesting matter and perfecting all things therein, if it shall attain its liberty, for it lieth weak under a hard bark ; procure therefore its freedom that it may succour thee freely ; but beware that thou urge it not above measure, for being impatient of tyranny it may become a fugitive, no hope of return being left unto thee ; caJl it back therefore by courteous words, and keep it prudently. 8 1 . The first mover of nature is External Fire, the M oderator of I nternal Fire, and of the whole Work ; Let the Philosopher therefore very well understand the government thereof, and observe its degrees and points ; for from thence the welfare or ruin of the work depend­ eth. Thus Art helpeth Nature, and the Philosopher is the Minister of both. 82 . By these two Instruments of Art and N ature, the Stone lifteth itself up from Earth to Heaven with great ingenuity, and slideth from Heaven to Earth, because the Earth is its Nurse, and being carried in the womb of the wind, it receiveth the force of the Superiors and Inferiors. 83 . The Circulation of the Elements is performed by a double Whorl, by the greater or extended, and the less or contracted. The Whorl extended fixeth all the Elements of the Earth, and its circle is not finished unless the work of Sulphur be perfected. The revolu­ tion of the minor Whorl is terminated by the extraction and preparation of ev�ry Element. Now in this Whorl c

34 there are three Circles placed, which always and variously move the Matter, by an Erratic and Intricate Motion, and do often (seven times at least) drive about every Element, in order succeeding one another, and so agreeable, that if one shall be wanting the labour of the rest is made void. These Circulations are Nature's Instruments, whereby the Elements are prepared. Let the Philosopher therefore consider the progress of Nature in the Physical Tract49, more fully described for this very end. 84 . Every Circle hath its proper Motion, for all the Motions of the Circles are conversant about the subject of Humidum and Sicczem, and are so concatenated that they produce the one operation, and one only consent of N at11re : two of them are opposite, both in respect of their causes and the effects ; for one moveth upwards, drying by heat ; another downwards, moistening by cold ; a third carrying the form of rest and sleep by digesting, induceth the cessation of both in greatest moderation. 85. Of the three Circles, the first is Evacuation, the ' labour of which is in extracting the superfluous Humidum, and also in separating the pure, clean and subtle, from the gross and terrestrial dregs. Now the greatest danger is found in the motion of this Circle, because it bath to do with things Spiritual and makes Nature plentiful. 86. Two things are chiefly to be taken heed of in moving this Circle ; first, that it be not moved too intensely ; the other, that it be not moved for too long a time. Motion accelerated raiseth confusion in the matter, so that the gross, impure and undigested part may fly out together with the pure and subtle, and the Body undissolved be mixed with the Spirit, together with that which is dissolved. With this precipitated motion the Heavenly and Terrestrial Natures are con­ founded, and the Spirit of the Quintessence, corrupted by the admixture of Earth is made dull and invalid. By too long a motion the Earth is too much evacuated

35 of its Spirit, and is made so languishing, dry and desti­ tute of Spirit, that it cannot easily be restored and re­ called to its Temperament. Either error burneth up the Tincture, or turneth it into flight. 87. The Second Circle is Restoration ; whose office is to restore strength to the gasping and debilitated body by Potion. The former Circle was the Organ of sweat and labour, but this of restoration and consolation. The action of this is em played in the grinding and mollifying the Earth (Potter-like), that it may be the better mixed. 88. The motion of this Circle must be lighter than that of the former, especially in the beginning of its Revolution, lest the Crow's young ones be drowned in nest by a large flood, and the growing world be drowned by a deluge. This is the vVeigher and Assa yer of Measures, for it distributeth vV ater by Geometrical Precepts. There is usually no greater Secret found in the whole practice of the Work than the firm and justly weighed Motion of this Circle ; for it informeth the Philosophers' I nfant and inspireth Soul and Life into him. 8g. The Laws of this Circle's motions are, that it run about gently : and by little and little, and sparingly let forth itself, lest that by making haste it fall from its measure, and the Fire inherent be overwhelmed with the Waters, the Architect of the vVork grow dull, or also be extinguished : that meat and drink be adminis­ tered by turns, to the end there may be a better Diges­ tion n1ade, and the best temperament of Humidum and Siccum ; for the indissoluble colligation of them both is the End and Scope of the Work. Furthermore see, that you add so much by Watering, as shall be found wanting in assaying, that Restoration may restore so much of the lost strength by corroborating, as Evacua­ tion hath taken away by debilitating. go. Digestion , the last Circle, acteth with silent and insensible Motiori ; and therefore it is said by Philoso­ phers, that it is made in {Secret furnace ; it decocteth

·

the Nutriment received, and converteth it into the Homogeneous part s of the body. Moreover, it is called Putrefaction ; because as meat is corrupted in the Stomach before it passeth into Blood and similar parts ; so this operation breaketh the Aliment with a concocting and Stomach heat and in a manner makes it to putrefy that it may be the better Fixed, and changed from a Mecurial into a Sulphurous Nature. Again, it is called Inhumation,50 because by it the Spirit is inhumated, as a dead man buried in the ground. But because it goeth most slowly, it therefore needeth a longer time. The two former Circles do labour especially in dissolv­ ing, this in congealing although all of them work in both ways. g r . The Laws of this Circle are, that it be moved by the Feverish and most gentle heat of Dung, lest that the things volatile fly out, and the Spirit be troubled at the time of its strictest Conjunction with the Body, for then the business is perfected in the greatest tranquillity and ease ; therefore we must especially beware lest the Earth be moved by any Winds or Showers. Lastly, as this third Circle may always succeed the second straightways and in due order, as the second the first : so by interrupted works and by course those three erratic Circles do complete one entire circulation, which often reiterated doth at length turn all things into Earth, and makes similarity between oppqsites. g2. Nature useth Fire, so also doth Art after its example, as an I nstrument and Mallet in cutting out its works. In both operations therefore Fire is Master and Perfecter. vVherefore the knowledge of Fire is most necessary for a Philosopher, without which as another Ixion (condemned to labour in vain) he shall turn about the Whorl of Nature to no purpose. 93· The name Fire is Equivocal amongst Philoso­ phers ; for sometimes it is used by Metonymy for heat ; and so there be as many fires as heats. I n the Genera­ tion of Metals and Vegetables Nature acknowledgeth a Three-fold Fire ; to wit, Celestial, Terrestrial and

37

Innate. The First flows from Sol as its Fountain into the Bosom of the Earth ; · it stirreth up Fumes, or Mer­ curial and Sulphurous vapour::;, of which the Metals are created, and mixeth itself amongst them ; it stirreth up that torpid fire which is placed in the seeds of Vege­ tables, and addeth fresh sparks unto it, as a spur to vegetation. The Second lurketh in the bowels of the Earth, by the Impulse and action whereof the Subterra­ neous vapours are driven upwards as through pores and pipes, and thrusts outwards from the Centre towards the surface of the Earth, both for the composi- ­ tion of Metals, where the Earth swelleth up, as also for the production of Vegetables, by putrefying their seeds, by softening and preparing them for generation. The third Fire, viz., Innate is also indeed Solar ; it is generated of a vapid smoke of Metals, and also being infused with the monthly provision grows together with the humid matter, and is retained as in a Prison ; or more truly, as form is conjoined with the mixed body ; it firmly inhereth in the seeds of Vegetables, until being solicited by the point of its Father's rays it be called out, then Motion intrinsically moveth and informeth the matter, and becomes the Moulder and Dispenser of the whole Mixture. In the generation of Animals, Celestial Fire doth insensibly co-operate with the Animal, for it is the first Agent in Nature ; for the heat of the femal_e · answereth to Terrestrial Fire ; when the Seed putrefies, this warmth prepareth it. For truly the Fire is implanted in the Seed ; then the Son of Sol disposeth of the matter, and being disposed, h e informeth it. . 94 · Philosophers have observed a three-fold Fire in the matter of their work, N atural, Unnatural, and Contra-Natural. The Natural they call the Fiery Celestial Spirit Innate, kept in the profundity of matter, and most strictly bound unto it, which by the sluggish strength of metal grows dull, until being stirred up and freed by the Philosophers' discretiprtand external heat, it shall have obtained a faculty of moving its body dis­ solved, and so it may inform its humid matter, by Un..

folding Penetration, Dila tation and Congelation . In every mixed body Natural Fire is the Principle of Heat and Motion. Unnatural Fire they name that which being procured and coming from without is introduced into the matter artificially ; that it may increase and m ultiply the strength of the natural heat. The Fire Contrary to Nature they call that which putrefieth the Compositum, and corrupteth the temperament of N ature. It is imperfect, because being too weak for generation, it is not carried beyond the bounds of cor­ ruption : such is the Fire or h eat of the menstruum : yet it bath the name improperly of Fire against Nature, because in a manner it is according to Nature, for although it destroys the specific form, and corrupteth the matter, yet it disposeth it for reproduction. 9 5 · It is more credible nevertheless that the corrupt­ ing Fire, called Fire against Nature, is not different from the Innate, but the first degree of it, for the order of nature requireth, that Corruption should precede Gener.ation : the fire therefore that is innate, agreeable to the Law of Nature, performeth both, by exciting both successively in the matter : the first of corruption more gentle stirred up by feeble heat to mollify and pre ­ pare the body : the other of generation more forcible, moved by a more vehement heat, to animate and fully inform the Elementary body disposed of by the former. A double Motion doth therefore proceed from a double degree of heat of the same fire ; neither is it to be accounted a double Fire, for far better may the name of " Fire contrary to Nature " be given to violent and des­ tructive fire. g6. Unnatural Fire is converted into Natural or I nnate Fire by successive degrees of Digestion, and in­ creaseth and multiplieth it. Now the whole secret consisteth in the multiplication of Natural Fire, which of itself is not able to Work above its proper strength, nor communicate a perfect Tincture to imperfect Bodies ; for although it be sufficient to itself, yet hath it not any further power ; but being multiplied by the unnatural,

39

which most aboundeth with the virtue of multiplying, cloth act far more powerfully, and reacheth itself be­ yond the bounds of Nature-colouring strange and im­ perfect bodies, and perfecting them , because of its plentiful Tincture, and the abstruse Treasure of multi­ plied Fire. 97· Philosophers call their \tVater, Fire, because it is most hot, and indued with a Fiery Spirit ; again, Water is called Fire by then1, becawse it burneth the bodies of perfect Metals more than common fire cloth, for it perfectly dissolveth them, whereas they resist our Fire, and will not suffer themselves to be dissolved by it ; for this cause it is also called Burning \Vater. Now that Fire of Tincture is hid in the belly of the Water, and manifests itself by a double effect, viz., of the body's Solution and M ultiplication. g8 . Nature useth a double Fire in the \tVork of gener­ ation, Intrinsic and Extrinsic ; the former being placed in the seeds and mixtures of things, is hid in their Centre ; and as a principle of 1\-Iotion and Life cloth move and quicken the body. But the latter, Extrinsic, whether it be poured down from Heaven or Earth, raiseth the former, as drowned with sleep, and compels it to action ; for the vital sparks implanted in the seeds stand in need of an external motor, that they may be moved and act. 9 9 · It is even so in the Philosophers' work ; for the matter of the Stone possesseth his Interior Fire, which is partly Innate, partly also is added by the Philoso­ phers' Art, for those are united and come inward together, because they are homogeneous : the interna� standeth in need of the external, which the Philosopher administereth according to the Precepts of Art and Nature ; this compelleth the former to move. These Fires are as two Wheels, whereof the hidd_en one being moved by the visible one, it is moved �oner or later ; and thus Art helpeth Nature. \ 1 00. The Internal Fire is the middle agent between the Motor and the Matter ; whence it is, that as it is ·

40

moved by that, it moveth this ; and if so be it shall be driven intensely or remissly, it will work after the same manner in the matter. The Information of the whole Work dependeth of the measure of External Fire. 1 0 1 . He that is ignorant of the degrees and points of external Fire, let him not start upon the Philosophical Work ; for he will never obtain light out of darkness, unless the heats pass through their middle stages, like the Elements, whose Extremes are not converted, but only their Means. 102 . Because the whole work consisteth in Separa­ tion and perfect Preparation of the Four Elements, therefore so many grades of Fire are necessary there­ unto ; for every Element is extracted by the degree of . Fire proper to it. 103. The four grades of Heat are called the heat of the Water Bath, the heat of Ashes, of Coals, and of Flame, which is also called " Optetic :" every grade hath its degrees, two at least, sometimes three ; for heat is to be moved slowly and by degrees, whether it be in­ creased or decreased ; · so that Matter, after Nature's example, may go on by degrees and willingly unto formation and completion ; for nothing is so strange to Nature as that which is violent. Let the Philosopher opound for his consideration the gentle access and recess of the Sun, whose Light and Lamp bestoweth its heat to the things of the world, according to the times and Laws of the Universe, and so bestoweth a certain temperament upon them . r o4. The first degree of the Bath of Heat is called the heat of a Fever ; the second, of Dung. The first degree of the second grade is the simple heat of Ashes, the second is the heat of Sand. Now the degrees of Fire, Coals and Flame want a proper Name, but they are distinguished by the operation of the intellect, according to their intensity. 1 05 . Three grades only of Fire are sometimes found amongst Philosophers, viz., the Water Bath, of Ashes and of Flame : which latter comprehendeth the Fire of

4!

Coals and of Flame : the H eat of Dung is s o metimes distinguished from the H eat of the Bath in degree. Thus for the most part Authors do involve the light in darkness, by the various expressions of the Philosophers' Fire ; for the knowledge thereof is accounted amongst their chief secrets. ro6. In th e White Work, because three Elements only are extracted, Three degrees of Fire do suffice ; the last, to wit the " Optetic, " is reserved for the Fourth Element, which finisheth the Red Work. By the first degree the eclipse of Sol and Luna is made ; by the second the light of Luna begins to be restored ; by the third Luna attaineth unto the fulness of her splendour ; and by the fourth Sol is exalted into the highest apex of his glory. Now in every part the Fire is adminis­ tered according to the rules of Geometry ; so that the Agent may answer to the disposition of the Patient, and their strength be equally poised betwixt themselves . 1 07. Philosophers have very much insisted upon secrecy in regard to their Fire, they scarce have been bold to describe it, but shew it rather by a description of its qualities and properties, than by its name : as that it is called Airy Fire, Vaporous, · Humid and Dry, Clear or Star-like ; because it may easily by degrees be increased or remitted as the Artificer pleaseth. He that desireth more of the knowledge of · Fire may be satisfied by the Works of L ullius5\ who hath opened the Secrets of Practice to worthy minds candidly. r o8. Of the conflict of the Eagle and the Lion also they write diversely, because the Lion Gs the strongest animal, and therefore it is necessary uf;t more Eagles act together (three at least, or more, even to ten) to conquer him : the fewer they are, the greater the con­ tention, and the slower the Victory ; but the more Eagles, the shorter the Battle, and the plundering of the Lion will more readily follow. The happier number of seven Eagles may be taken out of Lullius, or of nine out of Senior. 5!1 r og. The Vessel wherein Philosophers decoct their

42

work is twofold ; the one of Nature, the other of Art ; the Vessel of Nature which is also called the Vessel of Philosophy is the Earth of the Stone, or the Female or M atrix, whereinto the sperm of the Male is received, putrefies, and is prepared for generation ; the V esse! of N ature is of three sorts, for the secret is decocted in a threefold Vesse!. I I o . The First Vessel is made of a transparent Stone, or of a stony Glass, the form thereof some Philosophers h ave hid by a certain Enigmatic description ; some­ times affirming that it is compounded of two pieces, to wit, an Alembic and a Bolt- head ; sometimes of three, at other times of the two former with the addition of a Cover. I I I . Many have feigned the multiplying of such like Vessels to be necessary to the Philosophical vVork, calling them by divers names with a desire of hiding the secret by a diversity of operations ; for they called it Dissolvent of solutions ; Putrefactory for putrefaction ; Distillatory for distillation ; Sublimatory for sublima­ tion ; Calcinatory for calcination, &c. I 1 2 . But all deceit being removed we may speak sin­ c.e rely, one only Vessel of Art sufficeth to terminate the Wark of either Sulphur ; and another for the Wark of the Elixir ; for the diversity of digestions requireth not the change of Vess�ls ; yea we must have a care lest the V esse! be changed or opened before the First work be ended. 1 1 3 . You shall c hoose a form of glass Vessel round in the bottom (or cucurbit), or at least oval, the neck a band's breadth long or more, large enough, with a str3.ight mouth made like a Pitcher or Jug, continuous and unbroken and equally thick in every part, that it may resist a long, and sometimes an acute Fire : The cucur­ bit is called a Blind-head because its eye is blinded with the Hermetic seal, lest anything from without should enter in, or the Spirit steal out. I 14. The. second Vessel of Art may be of Wood, of the trunk of an Oak, cut into two hollow Hemispheres,

43

wherein the Philosophers· Egg may be cherished till it be hatched ; of which see the Fountain of Trevisan.68 I I S . The third Vessel Practitioners have called their Furnace, which keeps the other Vessels with the matter and the whole work : this also Philosophers have en­ deavoured to hide amongst their secrets. I I 6. The Furnace which is the Keeper of Secrets, is called Athanor, from the immortal Fire, which it always preserveth ; for although it afford unto the Work con­ tinual Fire, yet sometimes unequally, which reason requireth to be administered more or less according to the quantity of matter, and the capacity of the Furnace. I I 7. The matter of the Furnace is made of Brick, or of daubed Earth, or of Potter's clay well beaten and prepared with horse dung, mixed with hair, so that it may cohere the firmer, and may not be cracked by long heating ; let the walls be three or four fingers thick, to the end that the furnace may be the better able to keep in the heat and withstand it. I I 8. Let the form of the Furnace be round, the inward altitude of two feet or thereabouts, in the midst whereof an I ron or Brazen plate must be set, of a round Figure, about the thickness of a Penknife's hack, in � manner possessing the interior latitude of the Furnace, but a little narrower than it, lest it touch the walls ; it must lean upon three or four props of. iron fixed to the walls, and let it be full of holes, that the heat may b e the more easily carried upwards by them, and between the sides of the Furnace and the Plate. Below the Plate let there be a little door left, and another ahove . in the walls of the Furnace, that by the Lower the Fire may be put in, and by the higher the temperament of the heat may be sensibly perceived ; at the opposite part whereof let there be a little window of the Figure of a Rhomboid fortified with glass, that the light over against it may shew the colours to the eye. Upon the middle of the aforesaid plate, let the Tripod of secrets be placed with a doubl� Vessel. Lastly, let the Furnace

44 be very well covered with a shell or covering agreeable unto it, and take care that the little doors be always closely shut, lest the heat escape. r r g. Thus thou hast all things necessary to the First Work, the end whereof is the generation of two sorts of Sulphur ; the composition and perfection of both may be thus finished. T H E P RACTICE oF THE S u LPH UR. Take a Red Dragon, courageous, warlike, to whom no natural strength is wanting ; and afterwards seven or nine noble Eagles (Virgins), whose eyes will not wax dull by the rays of the Sun : cast the Birds with the Beast into a clear Prison and strongly shut them up ; under this let a Bath be placed, that they may be incensed to fight by the warmth ; in a short time they will enter into a long and harsh contention, until at length about the 45th day or the s oth the Eagle$ begin to prey upon and tear the beast to pieces, which dying will infect the whol.e Prison with its black and direful poison, whereby the Eagles being wounded, they will also be constrained to give up the ghost. From the putrefaction of the dead Carcasses a Crow will be generated, which by little and little will put forth its head, and the Heat being some�hat increased it will forthwith stretch forth its wings and begin to fly ; but seeking chinks from the Winds and Clouds, it will long hover about ; take heed that it find not any chinks. At length being made white by a gentle and long Rain, and with the dew of Heaven it will be changed into a White Swan, but the new born Crow is a sign of the departed Dragon. I n making the Crow White, extract the Elements, and distil them according to the order prescribed, until they be fixed in their Earth, and end in Snow-like and most subtle dust, which being finished thou shalt enjoy thy first desire, the White Work. 1 20. If thou intendest to proceed further to the Red, add the Element of Fire, which is not needed for

45

the vVhite Work : the Vessel therefore being fixed, and the Fire strengthened by little and little thro ugh its grades, force the matter until the occult begin to be made manifest, the sign whereof will be the Orange colour arising : raise the Fire to the Fourth degree by its degrees, until by the help of Vulcan, purple Roses be generated from the Lily, and lastly the Amaranth dyed with the dark Redness of blood : but thou mayest not cease to bring out Fire by Fire, until thou shalt behold the matter terminated in most Red ashes, im­ perceptible to the touch. This Red Stone may rear up thy mind to greater things, by the blessing and assist­ ance of the holy Trinity. I 2 I . They that think they have brought their work to an end by perfect Sulphur, not knowing Nature or Art, and to have fulfilled the Precepts of the secret, are m uch deceived, and will try Projection in vain ; for the Praxis of the Stone is perfected by a double Work ; the First is the creation of the Sulphur ; the Second is the making of the Elixir. r 22 . The aforesaid Philosophers' S ulphuris most suhtle Earth, most hot and dry, in the belly whereof the Fire of N ature abundantly multiplied is hidden. Therefore it de­ serveth the name of the Fire of the Stone, for it hath in itself the virtue of opening and penetrating the bodies of Metals, and of turning them into its own temperament and producing its like, wherefore tt" 1s called a Father and Masculine seed. ) r 23 . That we n1ay leave nothing untouched, let the Students in Philosophy know that from that first Sulphur, a second is generated which may be multiplied ·· ad infinitum : let the wise man, after he hath got the everlasting mineral of that Heavenly Fire, keep it dili­ gently. Now of what matter Sulphur is generated, of the same it is multiplied, a small portion of the first being added, yet as in the Balance. The rest, a tyro may see in Lulliusu, it may suffice only to point to this. r 24. The Elixir is compounded of a threefold matter,

namely, of Metallic Water or Mercury sublimated as before ; of Leaven White or Red, according to the in­ tention of the Operator ; and of the Second Sulphur, all by Weight. 1 25 . There are Five proper and necessary qualities in the perfect Elixir, that it be fusible, permanent, pene­ trating, tincturing, and multiplying ; it borroweth its tincture and fixation from the Leaven ; its penetration from the Sulphur ; its fusion from Argent vive, which is the medium of conjoining Tinctures ; to wit of the Ferment and S ulphur ; and its multiplicative virtue from the Spirit infused into t he Quintessence. 1 2 6 . Two perfect Metals give a perfect Tincture, because they are dyed with the pure Sulphur of Nature, and therefore no Ferment of Metals may be sought except these two bodies ; therefore dye thy Elixir White and Red with Luna and Sol ; Mercury first of all receives their Tincture, and having received it, doth communicate it to others. 1 2 7 . In compounding the Elixir take heed you change not or mix any thing with the Ferments, for either Elixir must have its proper Ferment, and desireth its proper Elements ; for it is provided by Nature that the two Luminaries have their different Sulphurs and dis­ tinct tinctures. I 28. The Second work is concocted as the First, in the same or a like Vessel, the same Furnace, and by the same degrees of fire, but is perfected in a shorter time. 1 29 . There are three humours in the Stone, which are to be extracted successively ; namely, Watery, Airy, and Radical ; and therefore all the labour and care of the Workman is employed about the humou:tv neither is -any other . Element in the Work of the Stone circulated beside the humid one. For it is .necessary, in the first place, that the Earth be resolved and melted into humour. Now the Radical humour of all things, accounted Fire, is most tenacious, because it is tied to the Centre of Nature, from which it is not easily separated ; extract, therefore, these three humours

47

slowly and successively ; dissolving and congealing them by their Whorls, for by the multiplied alternative reiteration of Solution and Congelation the Whorl is extended and the whole work finished. 1 3 0. The Elixir's perfection consisteth in the strict Union and indissoluble Matrimony of Siccum and Humidum, so that they may not be separated, but the Siccum may flow with moderate heat into the Hzemidum, abiding every pressure of Fire. The sign of perfection is that if a very little of it be cast in above the Iron or Brazen Plate while very hot, it flow forthwith without smoke. Let three weights of Red Earth or of Red Ferment, and a double weight of Water and Air well ground up be mixed together. Let an Amalgama be made like Butter, or M etalline Paste, so that the Earth being mollified may be insensible to the touch. Add one ·weight and a half of Fire ; let these be transferred to the Vesse! and exposed to a Fire of the first degree ; most closely sealed ; . afterwards let the Elements be extracted out of their degrees of Fire in their order, which being turned downwards with a gentle motion they may be fixed in their Earth, so as nothing Volatile may be raised up from thence ; the matter at length shall be terminated in a Stone, -Illuminat � Red and Diaphanous ; a part whereof take at pleasur�, and hav­ ing cast it into a Crucible with a little Fire by drops give it to drink its Red Oil and incerate it/6 until it be quite melted, and do flow without smoke. Nor mayest thou fear its flight, for the Earth being mollified with the sweetness of the Potion will retain it, having received it, within its bowels : then take the Elixir thus perfected into thine own power and keep it carefully. In God rejoice, and be silent. 1 32 . The order and method of composing and perfect­ ing the white Elixir is the same, so that thou usest the white Elements only in the composition thereof ; but the body of it brought to the term of decoction will end in the plate ; white, splendid, and crystal-1i� e, which

incerated with its White Oil will be fused. Cast one weight of either Elixir, upon ten times its weight of Argent-vive well washed and thou wilt admire its effect with astonishment. 1 33 · Because in the Elixir the strength of Natural Fire is most abundantly multiplied by the Spirit infused into the Quintessence, and the depraved accidents of bodies , which beset their purity and the true light of Nature with darkness, are taken away by long and manifold sublimations and digestions ; therefore Fiery Nature freed from its Fetters and fortified with the aid of Heavenly strength, works most powerfully, being included in this our Fifth Element : let it not therefore be a wonder, if it obtain strength not only to perfect imperfect things, but also to multiply its force and power. Now the Fountain of Multiplication is in the Prince of the Luminaries, who by the infinite multipli­ cation of his beams eegetteth all things in this our Orb, and multiplieth things generated by infusing a multipli­ cative virtue into the seeds of things. 1 34· The way of multiplying the Elixir is threefold : By the first ; R, Mingle one weight of Red Elixir, with nine times its weight of Red Water, and dissolve it into Water in a Vessel suitable for Solution ; the matter being well dissolved and united coagulate it by decoction with a gentle Fire, until it be made strong into a Ruby or Red Lamel, which afterwards incerate with its Red Oil, after the manner prescribed until it melt and flow ; so shalt thou have a medicine ten times more powerful than the first. The business is easily finished in a short time. 1 35· By the Second manner. R, What Portion thou pleasest of. thy Elixir mixed with its Water, the weights being observed ; seal it very well in the Vessel of Reduction, dissolve it in a Bath, by inhumation ; being dissolved, distil it separating the Elements by their proper degrees of fire, and fixing them downwards, as was done in the first and second work, until it become a Stone ; lastly, incerate it and Project it. This is the

49

longer, but yet the richer way, for the virtue of the Elixir is increased even an hundred fold ; for by how much the more subtle it is made by reiterated opera­ tions, so much more both of superior and inferior strength it retaineth, and more powerfully operateth. 1 36. Lastly, t ake one Ounce of the said Elixir multi­ plied in virtue and project it upon an hundred of purified Mercury, and in a little time the Mercury made hot amongst burning Coals will be converted into pure Elixir ; whereof if thou castest every ounce upon an­ other hundred of the like Mercury, Sol will shine most purely to thine eyes. The multiplication of vVhite Elixir may be made in the same way. Study the virtues of this Medicine to cure all kinds of diseases, and to preserve good health, as also other uses thereof, out of the Writings of Arnold of Villa Nova56, Lullius and of other Philosophers. 1 37· The Significator of the Philosopher will instruct him concerning the Times of the Stone, for the first Work " ad Album " must be terminated in the House of Luna ; the Second, in the second House of Mercury. The first Work " ad Rubeum," will end in the Second House of Venus, and the last in the other �gal Throne of Jupiter, from whence our most Pote � King shall , : receive a Crown decked with most precious Rubies Sic in se sua vestigia volvitur Annus. Thus doth the winding of the circling Year Trace its own Foot-steps, and the same appear.

1 38. A Three-Headed Dragon keepeth this Golden Fleece ; the first Head proceedeth from the Waters, the second from the Earth, the third from the Air ; it is necessary that these three heads do end in One most Potent, which will devour all the other Dragons ; then a way is laid open for thee to the Golden Fleece. Farewell ! diligent Reader ; in Reading these things in­ vacate the Spirit of Eternal Light ; Speak little, Medi­ tate much, and Judge aright. 57 D

50

THE TIMES

OF T H E STO N E .

The interpretation of The Philosophers' Significator. To every Planet two Houses were assigned by the Ancients, Sol and Luna excepted ; whereof the planet Saturn hath his two houses adjoining. Philosophers in handling their Philosophical work, begin their years in Winter, to wit ; the Sun being in Capricorn, which is the former House of Saturn ; and so come towards the right hand. In the Second place the other House of Saturn is found in Aquarius, at which time Saturn, £.e., the Blackness of the work of the Magistery begins after the forty-fifth or fiftieth day. Sol coming into Pisces the work is black, blacker than black, and the head of the Crow ·begins to appear. The third month being ended, and Sol entering into Aries, the sublimation or separation of the Elements begin. Those which follow unto Cancer make the \Vork White. Cancer addeth the greatest whiteness and splendour, and doth perfectly fill up all the days of the Stone, or white Sulphur, or the Lunar work of Sulphur ; Luna sitting and reigning gloriously in her .House. In Leo, the Regal Mansion of the Sun, the Solar work begins, which in Libra is terminated in to a Ruby Stone or per­ fect Sulphur. The two signs Scorpio and Sagittarius which remain are required for the completing of the Elixir. And thus the Philosophers' admirable offspring taketh its beginning in the Reign of Saturn, and its end and perfection in the Dominion of Jupiter.

SI

N OTES.

Due reverence for Divine powers i s a n absolute necessity in the search for occult wisdom , and can alone lead any student in safety to success in the · arts of High Magk. 2 . Theosophic Eastern teaching (as well as \Vestern Hermetic ritual) insists upon mental and moral as well as bodily purity in every candidate for esoteric instruction. 3 · A warning that complete success can hardly be achieved, unless the student is able to devote himself entirely to the pursuit of the occult sciences. Non omn£a I.

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possumus omnes. 4·

A warning against spiritual pride ; the besetting sin of one who has gone up some steps of the mystic ladder, and who realizes for the first ti � that there is something he can teach, as well as so m�ch that he has \ to learn. 5 · " Orare est laborare " is the true motto of the Hermetist. Work inspired by enthusiasm and the will to progress, so as to fit oneself to raise others, is ideal prayer in action. 6. If you freely receive k n owledge and power you must freely give : the epigram attributed to a fellow student was, " I give , I give ; but the more I give, the .more do I receive." 7· James i. 27, " Keep h imself unspotted from the world," it is more easy to remain clean away from a dirty world ; yet if one can keep clean amid the turmoil of a city, such conduct is deserving of a higher reward tha n is due to a clean but ascetic life.

8. In tranquillity alone can meditation be fertile the flower can only bloom in the calm after the violence of the storm of contest with the passions. g . In peaceful meditation is the opportunity of that aspiration to the Divine which may lead to union (even if momentary) with the Higher and Divine Genius-the Light that may light every man that cometh into the world. 10. A teacher and guide is almost an absolute necessity in the Higher Magic ; not to drag on the pupil, but to point out the path that has been trodden with success, and to warn against tempting bye-paths with meretricious attractions, but " whose splendour is but �eeming. " Among the Rosicrucians each Adept was authorized and encouraged to choose one or more pupils to follow in his steps and to take up the mantle and wand when his time came to lay them down. 1 1 . Apart from the help of a Master, it is nearly always found that a fellow student is a great help to progress. A few there · are who succeed most in soli­ tary study ; others are much helped by the presence of a responsive zeal and reflected desire. A trio of students has also a certain advantage. History has but few examples of two fellow students of the same sex achiev­ ing great results : but there are many instances of great progress and high results from the corn bined work of a truly high minded woman and man developing by mutual and reciprocal interaction ; the female providing knowledge by intuition, and the male formulating and developing the practical aspect of the matter. Even in the preliminary grades of mystic study the same result is obtained : unrestrained and unconven­ tional social and intellectual communion may (in the absolute absence of passion) lead to rapid mental and spiritual progress. Compare the narratives of Moses and Miriam, Paul and Thecla, Theon and Hypatia, Flamel and Pernelle, Gichtel and Sophia, Anna Kings_ford and her still living collaborateur. Analogy supports

53 the proposition, through all the forms of the manifested universe ; wherever the Dyad is developed, the presence of the contrasted forces alone leads to a due result. I 2 . Beware of false guides : perhaps i t i s wisest to add, follow only one path at once ; even if it be granted that two parallel paths exist, and that they meet farther on-yet it is most easy to attempt one only ; still the attempt to traverse both at once is not absolutely forbidden, either by the chiefs of the vVestern or Eastern Schools. I 3 . Whenever a student happens upon a very definite assertion in a book certainly the work of a high adept, it is generally safe to seek further ; for the ancient writers, when they did publish, never threw pearls of learning away, although willing to tender them to earnest students. I4. Michael �endivogius ; the anonymous inscription on his books was " Author sum qui Divi Leschi Genus A mo." The last four . words form an anagran1 of his name ; he flourished I 604-46 ; his chief works are

Novum Lumen, De Sulphure, LtecertJa Salis� de Lapide, Dialog·us Mercurii and Epistolte. 1

I5· Flamel's work has been reprinted With a preface by W. Wynn· Westcott. Nicolas Flan1el flourished I 357-I4I 3 · I6. See Virgil. .IEneid vi. 1 38. The original has " hunc " not " quem." I 7. Virgil. .lEneid vi. I go- I 9 3 . I8. See the Chrysoptzia of Aurelius Augurellus, liber x. ; this author died I 5 I 4· I g . By t h ese words is meant that the chemical sub­ stances used should be quite pure, otherwise the adul­ terations will hinder the desired result. 20. Probably meaning freshly prepared ; perhaps what the modern chemist calls " in a nascent state. " 2 1. Oeath, the inevitable changer, Siva.

54 22. In almost all cases where sexual symbolism is used, any principle which is positive to that which is inferi r, is also negative or female to that which is supenor. 23 . These names vary with different authors­ Gabritius is also called Gabertius and G abricus. Beia also is Beya. As brother and sister they mean positive and negative. See David Laqueus. Harmonia Chemica ; and the dicta of Arislreus in the Turba Philosophorum. Gabritius is the fixed and Beia the volatile. 24. Raymond Lully. Prior Testamentum, cap. 62. 25. See Note r g . 26. Hosea vii. g . 2 7. The rocks of Scylla and the whirlpool of Charybdis lie on either side of the strait between Sicily and Italy. 28. Query, dissolved . 29. Rebis is generally explained as that which ts " double," or is hermaphrodite, or is the result of the union of two substances. 30. Virgil. ./Eneid vi. 1 29, 1 30. 3 I . The planet Mercury is said in Astrology to act by influence upon other planets in aspect with it, rather than with independent force. 32. See the Chrysopr.e£a of Augurellus, 2. 33· Ensigns of Diana and the Doves of Venus : query purity and love on the spiritual plane ; or is the reference to Silver on the material plane. For some notes on Alchymy on the _spiritual plane, see Alchymy, by Sapere Aude. 34· Virgil. Georgics, Book I., lines 64 , 65, 44· 35· See Cap. 4 , libr. x . , of the Perfect Magistery of Geber ; he lived about A. D. 830. 36. See Oe�esis i. verses I to 4· _

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55

·

37· See Deut. xxx1n. v. 1 3 to 16. These words differ from the version of the English Bible. For " apples of Heaven," read " precious things." For " the apple of fruit both of the sun and moon/' read " the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and the pre­ cious things put forth by the moon." For " the top," read " the chief things." The Hebrew word translated " apple " is MGD. Parkhurst gives " precious fruits." The Hebrew word for " top " or " chief things " is RASH, meaning head, chief or beginning. Godfrey Higgins laboured to teach that it also meant " wisdom :" it is the first word of Genesis, preceded by a Beth­ B-RASHITH. . 38. This means adulteration, impurity from its mineral origin. 39· Or interstitial, intimately combined with it ; yet such as can be easily driven off by a suitable heat. 40. Compare this purple Jovian star with the purplP. flower of love, the Amaranth i n paragraph 53 · T here is a scale of colours in which Jupiter is Violet. 4 1 . A versification of this beautiful passage may be found in Ainsworth, as spoken by the Sylph appearing to Ruggieri. 42. Note the change from she to he, negative to positive in this paragragh. N othing is more realistic than sexual symbolism, but one has to · exclude it as far as possible for the sake of the Pharisee reader. 43 · Let the practical Alchymist note this wGi-d, and indeed the whole paragraph, and remember th k t there is a butter besides butter. 44· That is twilight, gloom of evening, the first darkening. 45 · · Virgil. Georgics. I . , 7o . 46. Virgil. Georgics. I . , 4 7 . 4 7. That is " moist " and " dry."

48. Note this order-earth, water, air, fire ; and back to earth. See end of paragraph 79· 4 9 · See the Enchiridion in Manget's Bibliotheca, liber. I l l., section 3 · s o. From humzes the groun d, earth or soil. s r . Raymond Lully was martyred in Africa, 1 3 1 5 . 52 . Senior : very little is known of this author ; his name is not in the list of Lenglet de Fresnoy. 5 3 · Bernard, Count of Treves ; died about 1490� His chief works are, Natural Philosophy of Metals, The Secret Work of Chymia, and L a Parole delaissee. 5 4 · His most valued works are Lullii Testamentum, Codicillu,s sett Vade Mecum aut Cantzlena and Practica. 55· Definition of some terms. Inceration must not be confused with incineration, which means reducing to ashes by means of heat. Inceration implies the gradual addition of a liquid (as our mercury) to a solid powder (as our sulphur), until the mixture is of the consistence of wax, of which the Latin word is cera. See Rulandus. Cohobation is a process of continuous volatilization and condensation of a volatile liquid in a closed vessel subjected to heat. Anger : when it is written that you are not to provoke anger, it is meant, do not overheat the matter. The Goose of Hermogenes is the solvent of the Philo­ sophers, which Bernard of Treves calls the Gate of the Palace of the King. 56. Arnold of Villanova, died 1 3 1 0 ; his chief works are Novum L t�men, Flos Floru'tn., Rosarium, Liber Peifec­ tionis, Speculum A lchymi�, and A rcanum Philosophicr�m. 57 · The original Latin work ends with paragraph 1 38 ; the English edition of Elias Ashmole has an addi­ tional chapter by I . C. Chymierastes : this has n6 Alchymic value and is but an apology for Hermes, that he was not a Christian. ·

·

Co LLECTA N EA H E R M ETICA EDITED

W

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.

V\'Y N N

BY

vV E ST C OTT,

M .B . L O N D . , D . P . H .

(Sup1·enze Magus

of tlze Rosicrucian

Society,

Master of tlze Quatuor Coro11ati Lodge.)

VO L U M E

TH E

II.

PY M A N D E R OF

HERM ES WITH

A PREFACE

BY

T.H E EDITOR

P R E FA CE

THIS volume contains the English translation by Dr. Everard, r6so, of seventeen tracts (of which the Pymander is one) .attributed to H ermes Trismegistos, otherwise Mercurius Termaximus, or in the Egyptian language, Thoth, or Taautes .or Tat. Of this Hermes no reliable historical details have come down to us, but many of the ancient authors have referred to Hermes as an inspired teacher who instructed the priests and rulers of the Egyptian nation at a time almost .certainly anterior to that commonly associated with Moses. It has been asserted by men who have been called learned, that this Hermes was really identical with Enoch, and by others he has been identified as Gautama­ the Buddha. If the name H ER�IES be taken and the suffix ES be neglected, and the word formed of the letters H , R, M , be traced through Chaldee, Coptic, Greelc and Latin forms, an analogy will be observed between H ermes, and Hiram the hero of the myth of Freemasonry,' a symbolical system of morals and theosophy which is but a reconstruction of a portion of the Ancient Mysteries. Now the Mysteries of Egypt, named Osirian, Serapian and Isiac, are the most ancient known to us, and were the parents of the Eleusinian Mysteries of the Greeks. All these Mysteries were initiations, OI' forms of Esoteric instruction relating to theosophy, properly so-called, that is the knowledge of divine powers and beings, and the connection between Man and the Divine Source from which he is animated and inspired. Now the tracts which have come down to us, associated with the ·name of Hermes as their author, are all concerned with that .arcane wisdom which was developed in three directions :­ Theosophy,-religious and ethical teaching; Alchymy-the Telation of the material to the spiritual and the transmutations ·ot the former into the latter ; and Magic-the employment of the higher powers latent in man upon the physical plane. In the Hermetic tracts these several objects are not kept dis­ tinct, but on the contrary, are almost invariably combined ;

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lV

P R E FA C E .

hence the great value to a true student of Occultism of these very ancient writings. It is not of course asserted that the Pymander or other H ermetic work has come down to us in its original form, but it is contended that although varied in many a line and possibly in many a doctrine by the N eo­ Platonists and Alexandrian school, and perhaps in later days by Christian philosophers, the Pymander, A £&reus, etc , do yet enshrine the very old Egyptian ideals, and are almost the only remains now existing of the vVisdom of the hierophants of the Nile valley. . Kenealy has asserted that the name Hermes meant in the ancient Egyptian language an interpreter, and in a certain sense the later Hermes of the Greeks and the Mercurius of the Romans conveyed the same notion ; this author, in his quaint conceit of Twelve Saviours, places Hermes under the name of Thoth as the Sixth Messiah, and assigns to him the era of r8oo years before Christ. This Thoth, as an Egyptian divinity, is often represented as a human form with an Ibis head ; now the bird Ibis was notable as being the great destroyer of snakes, and the snake as apart from the regal serpent, was an emblem of evil, sin and error ; hence the Snake Destroyer fits in well with the character of Hermes as a Teacher of divine truths, which would serve to crush and beat down evil thoughts and actions. The earliest record of the title Trismegistos, as applied. to this Egyptian sage, is found in Greek authors who lived some four centuries s . c . The Neo-Platonists, who were of Greek culture, looked upon H ermes as the embodied LOGOS, or Word or Manifestation of the Divine Spirit. The title may hav� had reference to his mastery over the Three Div4Je sciences-Theosophy, Alchymy and . Magic-as : indeed is. stated in paragraph twelve of the Emerald Tablet assigned to him, of which the words following are an old Latin version : .

-

Itaque vocatu s sum Hermes Trismegist·us, habms tres partes divi11te" philo"'ophice totius m u n di that is " possessing the three parts -

of the divine philosophy of the whole world." The name Pymander is of Greek and not Egyptian type ; it is variously spelled Pimander and Poemandres. Its deriva­ tion appears to be from po imen. a shepherd, and aner,. genitive plural andrun, and so the Guide of Man, Shep­ herd of men, and is nearly equivalent to Messiah. In this tract the Pymander is giving instntction to Hermes the sage,. n the capacity of Divine teacher to human. pupil. A parallel -

P R E FA C E .

V

conception is seen in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna teaches Arjuna. Blavatsky in The Secret Doctri�te refers to the Pymander as the " Thought Divine," the Inspired Teacher of that Race­ Vol. 1 . , 63 ; and again at page 74, she speaks of Pymander as " the oldest and most spiritual of the Logoi of the West em continent." She also notices the possibility of a Hebrew derivation from PI, mean ing a mouth, and command, or instruction. I observe that Parkhurst associates with this word, the Greek Phemi-to speak, so perhaps another form of title may be Phemander-one who spoke to man. There are two other persons mentioned in the Pyma11der ; these are Tat assumed to be a son of Hermes, and Asclepius a grandson. The Pymander has been m any times printed, but it is a very difficult- volume to obtain. Recent editions have been those of Hargrave 1ennings, t 88-f., a reprint of Everard's English version ; 1 ohn David Chambers, Edinburgh, r882, a new translation from the Greek ; and that of L. �Ienard, Paris, r867. Of earlier date are the Greek text of C. Parthey Berolins, r 854 ; an Italian version by C. Lenzoni, I548 ; a German edition by 1 . Scheible, r855 ; a French translation, Franc;ois en or belong to the body, to be finished and brought to perfection in . them ; but being the Porter and Door-keeper, I will shut up the entrances of Evil, and cut off the thought­ ful desires of filthy works. 56. B:�t to the foolish, and evil, and wicked, and envious and covetous, and murderous, and profane, I am far off giving place to the avenging Demon, which applying unto him the sharpness of fire, tormenteth

such a man sensibly, and anneth hin1 the more to all wickedness, that he may obtain the greater punishment. 57· And such a one never ceaseth, having unful­ fillable desires and unsatiable concupiscences, ·a nd always fighting in darkness for the Demon afflicts and tormenteth him continually, and increaseth the . fire upon him more and more. 58. TRISM. Thou hast, 0 Mind, most excellently taught me all things, as I desired ; but tell me more­ over, after the return Is made, what - then ? 59· P n tA�D. First of all, in the resolution of the 1naterial Body, the Body itself is given up to alteration, and the form which it had, becometh invisible ; and the idle manners are permitted, and left to the Demon, and the Senses of the Body return into t heir Fountains, being parts, and again made up into Operations. 6o. And Anger and Concupiscence go into the brutish or unreasonable Nature ; and the rest striveth upward by Harmo ny. 61 . And to the first Zone it giveth the power it had of increasing and diminishing. 62 . To the second, the n1achinatipn or plotting of evils, and one effectual deceit or craft. · 63. To the third, the idle deceit of Concupiscence. 64 . To the fourth, the desire of Rule, and unsatiable Ambition. · 65. To the fifth, profane Boldness, and headlong rashness of Confidence. 6 6. To the sixth, Evil and ineffectual occasions of Riches. 67. And to the seventh Zone, subtle Falsehood always lying in wait. 68. And then being made naked of all the Opera­ tions of Harmony it cometh to the eighth Nature, . hav­ ing its proper power, and singeth praises to the Father with the things t hat are, and all they t hat are pr.e sent_ rejoice, and congratulate the coming of it ; and being made like to them with whom it converseth, it heareth

als o the Powers that are above the eighth Nature , sing­ ing praise to God in a certain voice that is peculiar to the m. 6g. And then in order they return unto the Father, and themselves deliver themselves . to the powers� and becoming powers they are in God. 70. This is the Good, and to them that know to be deified. 7 r . Furthermore, why sayest thou, vVhat resteth, but that understanding all men, thou become a guide, and way-leader to them that are worthy ; that the kind of H umanity or lVIankind, may be saved by God ? 72. When Pimander had thus said unto me, he was mingled among the Powers. 73· But I giving thanks, and blessing the Father of all things, rose up, being enabled by him, and taught the Nature, of the Nature of the whole and having seen the greatest sight or spectacle. 74· And I began to Preach unto men, the beauty and fairness of Piety and Knowledge. 75 · 0 ye People, Men, born and made of the · Earth, which have given Yourselves over to Drunkenness, and Sleep, and to the Ignorance of God, be Sober, and Cease your Surfeit, whereto you are allured, and invited by Brutish and Unreasonable Sleep. 76. And they that heard me, come willingly, and · with one accord, and then I said further. 77· Why, 0 Men of the Off-spring of the Earth, why have you delivered Yourselves over unto Death, having Power to Partake of I mmortality ; Repent and Change your Minds, you that have together Walked in Error, and have been Darkened in Ignorance� . . 78. Depart from that dark Light, be Partakers of Immortality, and Leave or Forsake Corruption. 79· And some of Them That Heard 1\Ie, mocking and scorning, went away and delivered themselves up to the way of death. So. But others, casting themselves down before n1y

30 feet, besought me that they might be taught ; but I causing them to rise up, became a guide of mankind, teaching them the reasons how, and by what means they may be saved. And I sowed in them the words of Wisdom, and nourished them with Ambrosian Water of Immortality. 8 r . And when it was Evening, and the Brightness of the same began wholly to go down, I commanded them to give thanks to · God ; and when they had finished their thanksgiving, everyone returned to his o w n lodging. 82. But I wrote in myself the bounty and beneficence of Pimander ; and being filled with what I most desired, I was exceeding glad. 83. For the sleep of the Body was the sober watch­ fulness of the mind ; and the shutting of my eyes the true Sight, and my silence great with child and full of good ; and the pronouncing of my words, the blossom s and fruits of good things. 84 . A nd thus came to pass or happened unto me, which I received from my mind, that is, Pimander, the Lord of the vVord ; whereby I became inspired by God with the Truth. 85. For which cause, with my Soul, and whole strength, I give praise and blessing unto God the Father. 86. Holy is God the Father of All Things. 87. Holy is God Whose Will is Performed and Accomplished by His Own Powers. 88. Holy is God, that Determineth to be Known , .and is Known of His Own, or Those that are His. Sg. Holy art Thou, that by Thy Word hast established all Things. go. Holy art Thou of Whom all Nature is the Image. g r . Holy art Thou Whom Nature bath not Formed. gz. Holy art Thou that art Stronger than all Power. 9 3· Holy art Thou, that art Greater than all Excel]ency. 94 · Holy art Thou, - Who art Better than all Praise. _

·

31 9 5 · Accept these Reasoaable Sacrifices from a Pure Soul, and a Heart stretched out unto Thee. 9 6. 0 Thou Unspeakable, · unutterable, to be Praised with Silence ! 97· I beseech Thee, that I m ay never Err from the Knowledge of Thee, Look Mercifully upon Me, and Enable Me, and Enlighten with this Grace, those that .are in Ignorance, the Brothers of my Kind, but Thy Sons. 9 8. Therefore I Believe Thee, and Bear Witness, .and go into the Life and Light. 9 8. Blessed art Thou, 0 Father, Thy Man would be :Sanctified with Thee, as Thou hast given Him all Power. ·

THE END oF THE SECOND BooK.

32

THE

T H I RD B O O I< CALLED

" TH E

H O LY

S E RM O N . "

glory of all things, God and that which is Divine, and the Divine Nature, the beginning of things that are. 2 . God, and the Mind, and Nature, and Matter, and Operation, or Working and Necessity, and the End and Renovation. 3 . For there were in the Chaos, an infinite darkness in the Abyss or bottomless Depth, and \Vater, and a subtle Spirit intelligible in Power ; and there went out the Holy Light, and the Elements were coagulated from the Sand out of the moist Substance. 4 · And al l the Gods distinguished the N ature full of Seeds. 5· And when all things were interminated and un­ made up, the light things were divided on high. And the heavy things were founded upon the moist sand, all things being Terminated or Divided by Fire ; and being sustained or hung up by the Spirit they were so carried, and the Heaven was seP.n in Seven Circles. 6. And the Gods were seen in their Ideas of the Stars, with all their Signs, and the Stars were numbered, with the Gods in them. And the Sphere was all lined with Air, carried about in a circular motion . by the Spirit of God. 7· And every God by his internal power, did that which was commanded him ; and there were macie four footed things, and creeping things, and such as live in THE

33 the Water, and such as fly, and every fruitful Seed, and Grass, and the Flowers of all Greens, and which had sowed in themselves the Seeds of Regeneration. 8. As also the Generations of men to the knowledge of the Divine Works, and a lively or working Testimony of Nature, and a multitude of men, and the Dominion of all things under Heaven and the knowledge of good things, and to be increased i� increasing, and multiplied in multitude. g. And every Soul in flesh, by the wonderful work­ ing of the Gods in the Circles, to the beholding of Heaven, the Gods, Divine Works, and the Operations of Nature ; and for Signs of good things, and the know­ ledge of the Divine Power, and to find out every cunning workmanship of good things. . I O. So it beginneth to live in them, and to be wise· according to the Operation of the course of the circular Gods ; and to be resolved into that which shall be great Monuments ; and Remembrances of the cunning \Vorks done upon Earth, leaving them to be read by the dark­ ness of times. I I . And every generation of living flesh, of Fruit, Seed, and all Handicrafts, though they be lost, must of necessity be renewed by the renovation of the Gods�· and of the Nature of a Circle, moving in number ; for it is a Divine thing, that every world temperature should be renewed by nature, for in that which is Divine, is Nature also established.

THE END OF THE FRAGMENTS oF THE THIRD BooK. Very Imperfect.

34

THE

FO U RT H B O O K CALLED

" T H E KEY . "

Speech, 0 Asclepius, I dedicated to thee, this day's it is fit to dedicate to Tat, because it is an Epitome of those general speeches that were spoken to him . 2 . God therefore, and the Father, and the Good, 0 Tat, have the same Nature, or rather also the same Act and Operation. 3 · For there is one nan1e or appellation of Nature and Increase which concerneth things changeable, and another about things unchangeable, and about things unmoveable, that is to say, Things Divine and Human ; every one of which, himself will have so to be ; but action or operation is of another thing, or elsewhere, as we have taught in other things, Divine and Human, which must here also be understood. 4· For his Operation or Act, is his vVill, and his Essence, to vV ill all Things to be. 5 · For what is God, and the Father, and the Good, .... but the Being of all things that yet are not, and the existence itself, of those things that are ? . 6 . Thi s is God, this is the Father, this is the Go9d, whereunto no other thing is present or approacheth. 7. For the World, and the Sun, which is also a Father by Participation, is not for all that equally the ea use of Good, and of Life, to living Creatures : And if this be so, he is a1together constrained by the Will of YESTER DAY's

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35 the Good, without which it is not possible, either to be, or to be begotten or made. 8. But the Father is the cause of his Children, who bath a will both to sow and nourish that which is good by the Son. g. For Good is always active or busy in making ; and this cannot be in any other, but in him that t aketh nothing, and yet willeth all things to be ; for I will not say, 0 Tat, making them ; for he that maketh is defec­ tive in much time, in which son1etimes he maketh not, as also of quantity and quality ; for sometimes he mak­ eth those things that have quantity and quality anJ sometimes the contrary. I o. But God is the Father, and the Good, in being all things ; for he both will be this, and is it, and yet all this for himself (as is true) in him that can see it. I I . For all things else are for this, it is the property of Good to be known : This is the Good, 0 Tat. I 2 . T AT Thou hast filled us, 0 Father, with a sight both good and _fair, and the eye of my mind is almost becom e more holy by the sight or spectacle. I J . TRISM. " I vVonder not at It, for the Sight of Good is not like the Beam of the Sun, which being of a fiery shining brightness, maketh the eye blind by his excessive Light, that gazeth upon it ; rather the con­ trary, for it enlighteneth, and so much increaseth the light of the eye·, as any man is able to receive the influ­ ence of this intelligible clearness. 1 4. For it is more swift and sharp to pierce, anJ innocent or harmless withal, and full of immortality, and they that are capable and can draw any store of this spectacle, and sight do many times fall asleep fron1 the Body, into this most fair and beauteous Vision ; which thing Celius . and Saturn our Progenitors obtained unto. 1 5 . TAT. I would we also, 0 Father, could do so. · I 6. TRISM. I would we could, 0 Son ; but for the present we are less intent to the Vision, and cannot yet open the eyes of our minds to behold the incorruptible, ·

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and incomprehensible Beauty of that Good : But then shall we see it, when we have nothing at all to say of it. 1 7. For the knowledge of it, is a Divine Silence, and· the rest of all the Senses ; For neither can he that understands that understand anything else, nor he that sees that, see any thing else, nor hear any other thing, nor in sum, move the Body. . 1 8 . For shining steadfastly upon, and round about the whole Mind it enlighteneth all the Soul ; and loosing it from the Bodily Senses and Motions, it draweth it from the Body, and chang�th it wholly into the Essence of God. 1 9 . For it is Possible for the Soul, 0 Son, to be Deified while yet it Lodgeth in the Body of :Man, if it ' Contemplate the Beauty of the Good. 20. TAT. How dost thou mean deifying, Father ? 2 1 . TRISM. There are differences, 0 Son, of every Soul. 2 2 . TAT. But how dost thou again divide the changes ? . 23. TRis�r. Hast thou not heard in the general Speeches, that from one Soul of the Universe, are all those Souls, which in all the world are tossed up and down, as it were, and severally divided ? Of these Souls there are many changes, some into a n1ore fortunate estate, and some quite contrary ; for they which are of creeping things, are changed into those of watery things and those of things living in the water, to those of things living upon the Land ; and Airy ones are changed into men, and human Souls, that lay hold of immortality, are changed into Demons. 24. And so they go on into the Sphere or Region of the fixed Gods, for there are two choirs or companies of Gods, one of them that wander, and another of them that are fixed. And this is the most perfect glory of the Soul. 25 . But the Soul entering into the Body of a 1\'lan, if it continue evil, shall neither taste of immortality, nor is partaker of the good.

37 � 6 . But being drawn back the same way, it returneth into creeping things. And this is the condemnation of an evil Soul. 27. And the wickedness of a Soul is ignorance ; for the Soul that knows nothing of the things that are, neither the Nature of them, nor that which is good, but is blinded, rusheth and dasheth against the bodily Passions, and unhappy as it is, not knowing itself, it serveth strange Bodies, and evil ones, carrying the Body as a burthen, and not ruling, but ruled. And this is the mischief of the Soul. 28. On the contrary, the virtue of the Soul is Know­ ledge ; for he that knows is both good and religious, and already Divine. 2 9 . TAT. But who is such a one, 0 Father ? 30. T R I S :.\-1 . He that neither speaks, nor hears many things ; for he, 0 Son, that heareth two speeches or hearings, fighteth in the shadow. 3 1 . For God, and the Father, and Good, is neither spoken nor heard. 32. This being so in all things that are, are the Senses, because they cannot be without them. 33· But Knowledge differs much from Sense ; for Sense is of things that surmount it, but Knowledge is the end of Sense. 34· Knowledge is the gift of God ; for all Knowledge is unbodily but useth the Mind as an Instrument, as the Mind useth the Body. 35· Therefore both intelligible and material things go both of them into bodies ; for, of contraposition, That is Setting .O ne against Another, and Contrariety, all Things must Consist. And it is impossible it should be otherwise. 36. TAT. Who therefore is this material God ? 37· TRIS�I . The fair and beautiful world, and yet it is not good ; for it is material and easily passible, nay, it is the first of all passible things ; and the second of the things that are, and. needy ·or wanting somewhat

3� else. And it was once made and is always, and is ever in generation, and made, and continually makes, or generates things that have quantity and quality. 38. For it is moveable, and every material motion is generation ; but the intellectual stability moves the material motion after this manner. 39· Because the World ts a Sphere, that is a Head, and above the head there is nothing material, as beneath the feet there is nothing intellectual. 40. The whole universe is material ; The Mind is the head, and it is moved spherically, that is like a head. 4 1 . Whatsoever therefore is joined or united to the Membrane or Film of this head, wherein the Soul is, is immortal, and as in the Soul of a made Body, bath its Soul full of the Body ; but those that are further from that Membrane, have the Body full of Soul. 4 2 . The whole is a living wight, and therefore con­ sisteth of material and intellectual. 43 · And the vVorld is the first, and Man the second living wight after the World ; but the first of things that are mortal and therefore bath whatsoever benefit of the Soul all the others have : And yet for all this, he is not only not good, but flatly evil, as being mortal. 44· For the World is not good as it is moveable ; nor evil as it is immortal. 45· But man is evil, both as he is moveable, and a s he i s mortal. 46. But the Soul of M an iS carried in this manner, The Mind is in Reason, Reason in the Soul, the Soul in the Spirit, the Spirit in the Body. ·47. The Spirit being diffused and going through the veins, and arteries, and blood, both moveth the li Ving Creature, and after a certain manner beareth it. . 4 8. Wherefore some also have thought the Soul to be blood, being deceived in Nature, not. knowing · that first the �pirit must return into the Soul, and then the blood is congealed, the . veins and arteries emptied, and

39 then the living thing dieth : And this is the death of the Body. 49 · All things depend of one beginning, and the beginning depends of that which is one and alone. s o. And the beginning is moved, that it · may again be a beginning ; but that which is one, standeth and abideth, and is not moved. 5 r . There · are therefore these three, God the Father; and the Good, the World and Man : God hath the World, and the World hath Man ; and the World is the Son of God, and Man as it were the Off.c;pring of the World. 5 2. For God is not ignorant of Man, but knows him perfectly, and will be known by him. This only is healthful to man ; the Knowledge of God : this is the retut n of Olympus ; by this only the Soul is made good, and not sometimes good, and sometimes evil, but of necessity Good. 53 · TAT. What meanest thou, 0 Father ? Consider, 0 Son, the Soul of a Child, 54· TRrsM. when as yet it hath received no dissolution of its Body, which is not yet grown, but is very small ; how then if it look upon itself, it sees itself beautiful, as not having beep yet spotted with the Passions of the Body, but as it were depending yet upon the Soul of the World. 55· But when the Body is grown and distracteth, the Soul it engenders Forgetfulness, and partakes no more of the Fair and the Good, and Forgetfulness is Evilness. 56. The like also happeneth to them that go out of the Body : for when the Soul runs back into itself the Spirit is contracted into the blood and the Soul into the Spirit ; but the l\1ind being made pure, and free from these clothings ; and being Divine by Nature, taking a fiery Body rangeth abroad in every place, leaving the .Soul to judgment, and to the punishment it bath deserved. 57· TAT. vVhy dost thou say so, 0 Father, that the 1\'Iind is separated from the Soul, and the Soul from the ·

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Spirit ? When even now thou saidst the Soul was the Clothing or Apparel of the Mind, and the Body of the Soul. 58. TRISM. 0 Son, he that hears must eo-under­ stand and conspire in thought with him that speaks ; yea, he n1ust have his hearing swifter and sharper than the voice of the speaker. 5 9 · The disposition of these Clothings or Covers, is done in an Earthly Body ; for it is impossible, that the 1\'lind should establish or rest itself, naked, and of itself ; in an Earthly Body ; neither is the Earthly Body able to bear such immortality ; and therefore that it might suffer so great virtue the Mind compacted as it were, and took to itself the passible Body of the Soul, as a Covering or Clothing. And the Soul being also in some sort Divine, useth the Spirit as her Minister and Servant, and the Spirit governeth the living thing. 6o. When therefore the Mind is separated, and de­ parteth from the earthly Body, presently it puts on its Fiery Coat, which it could not do having to dwell in an Earthly Body. 6 1 . For the Earth cannot suffer fire, for it is all burned of a small spark ; therefore is the water poured round about the Earth, as a Wall or defence, to with­ stand the flame of fire. 62. But the Mind being the most sharp or swift of all the Divine Cogitations, and more swift than all the Elements, bath the fire for its Body. 63. For the Mind which is the Workman of all, useth the fire as his instrument in his Workmanship ; and he that is the Workman of all, useth it to the mak­ ing of all things, as it is used by man, to the making of Earthly things only ; for .t he Mind that is upon Eartfi, void, or naked of fire, cannot do the business of men, nor that which is otherwise the affairs of God. 64. But the Soul of Man, and yet not every one, but that which is pious and religious, is Angelica! and Divine. And such a Soul, after it is departed from the ·

41 Body, having striven the strife of Piety, becomes either Mind or God. 6 5 . And the strife of Piety is to know God, and to injure no Man, and this way it becomes Mind. 66. But an impious Soul abideth in its own essence, punished of itself, and seeking an earthly and human Body to enter into. 67. For no other Body is capable of a Human Soul, neither is it lawful for a Man's Soul to fall into the Body of an unreasonable living thing : for it is the Law or Decree of God, to preserve a Human Soul from so great a contumely and reproach. 68. TA:-. How then is the Soul of Man punished, 0 Father ; and what is its greatest torment. 6g. HER:'vt. Impiety, 0 my Son ; for what Fire bath so great a flame as it ? Or what biting Beast doth so tear the Body as it doth the Soul. 70. Or dost thou not see how many evils the wicked Soul suffereth, roaring and crying out, I am Burned, I am Consumed, I know not what to Say, or Do, I am Devoured, U nhappy Wretch, of the Evils that compass and lay hold upon me ; Miserable that I am, I neither See nor Hear anything. 7 ! . These are the voices of a punished and tormented Soul, and not as- many ; and thou, 0 Son, thinkest that the Soul going out of the Body grows brutish or enters into a Beast : which is a very great Error, for the Soul punished after this manner. . 72. For the Mind, when it is ordered or appointed to get a fiery Body for the services of God, coming down into the wicked Soul, torments it with the whips of Sins, wherewith the wicked Soul being scourged, turns itself to Murders, and Contumelie�, and Blasphemies, and ·divers Violences, and other things by which men are injured. 73· But into a pious Soul, the 1\'Iind entering, leads it into the Light of Knowledge. 74· And such a Soul is never satisfied with singing

.;.2 praise to God, and speaking well of all men ; and both in words and deeds, always doing good in imitation of her Father. 7 5 . Therefore, 0 Son, we must give thanks, and pray, that we may obtain a good mind. 76. The Soul therefore may be altered or changed into the better, but into the worse it is impossible. 77. But there is a communion of Souls, and those of Gods, communicate with those of men ; and those of men , with those of Beasts. · 78. And the better alway� take of the worse, Gods of Men, Men of brute Beasts, but God of all : For he is the best of all, and all things are less than he. 79 · Therefore is the vVorld subject unto God, Man unto the World and unreasonable things to 1\Ian. 8o. But God is above all, and about all ; and the beams of God are operations ; and the beams of the World are Natures ; and the beams of Man are Arts and Sciences. 8 r . And Operations do act by the World, and upon man by the natural beams of the vVorld, but Natures work by the Elements, and man by Arts and Sciences. 82. And this is the Governn1ent of the whole, depend­ ing upon the Nature of the One, and piercing or coming down by the One Mind, than which nothing is more Divine, and more efficacious or operative ; and nothing more uniting, or nothing is more One. The Communion of Gods to 1\'Ien, and of Men to God. 83. This is the Bonus Genius, or good Demon, blessed Soul that is fullest of it ! and unhappy Soul that is empty of it ! 8 4 . TAT. And wherefore Father ? 85. TRISM. Know Son, that every Soul hath the Good Mind ; for of that it is we now speak, and not of that Minister of which we said before, That he was sent from the Judgment. 86. For the Soul without the l'flind, can neither do, ·

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43 nor say any thing ; for many times the Mind flies away from the Sou.l , and in that ho';lr the Soul neither seeth nor heareth, but is like an 1;1nreasonable thing ; so great is the power of the Mind. 87. B ut neither brooketh it an idle or lazy Soul, but leaves such a one fastened to the Body, and by it pressed down. 88. And such a Soul, 0 Son, hath no mind, where­ fore neither must such a one be called a Man. 8g. For man is a Divine living thing, and is not to be compared to any brute Beast that lives upon Earth, but to them that are above in Heaven, that are called Gods. go. Rather, if we shall be bold to speak the truth, he that is a man indeed, is above them, or at least they are equal in power, one to the other, For none of the thirigs in Heaven will come down upon Earth, and leave the limits of Heaven, but a man ascends up into Heaven, and measures it. g r . And he knoweth what things are on high, and what below, and learneth all o ther things exactly. 92. And that which is the greatest of a1 1, he leaveth not the Earth, .and yet is above : So great is the great­ ness of his Nature. 93 · Wherefore we must be bold to say, That an Earthly Man is a 1\Ior-tal God, and That the Heavenly God is an I mmortal Man. 94· Wherefore, by these . two are all things governed, the World and Man ; but they a n d all things else, of that which is One. T H E END oF THE FouRTH B ooK.

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T H E FI FT H B O O K . " T H AT G O D I S N O T M A N I FEST A N D Y E T MOST MAN I F EST. "

I. This Discourse I will also make to thee, 0 Tat, that thou mayest not be ignorant of the more excellent Name of God. 2 . But do thou contemplate in thy Mind, how that which to many seems hidden and unmanifest, may be most manifest unto thee. 3· For it were not all, if it were apparent, for what­ soever is apparent, is generated or made ; for it was made manifest, but that which is not manifest is ever. +· For it needeth not to be manifested, for it is always. 5· And he maketh all other things man ifest, being unmanifest as being alway-s, and making other things manifest, he is not made manifest. Himself is not made, yet in fantasy he fantasieth 9· all things, or in appearance he maketh them appear, for appearance is only of those things that are generated or made, for appearance is nothing but generation. 7· B ut he is tpat One, that is not made nor generated, is also unapparent and unmanifest. I But making all things appear, he appeareth in all and by all ; but especially he is manifested to, or in those things wherein hirn.self listeth. 9· Thou therefore, 0 Tat, my Son , pray first to the Lord and Father, and to the Alone and to the One, from whom is one to be merciful to thee, that thou mayest knowest and understand so great a God ; and

45 that he would shine one of his beams upon thee· 1n thy understanding. Io. For only the Understanding sees that which is not manifest or apparent, as being itself not manifest or apparent ; and if thou canst, 0 Tat, it will appear to the eyes of thy Mind. I r . For the Lord, void of envy, appeareth through the whole world. Thou ma yest see the intelligence, and take it in thy hands, and contemplate the Image of God. I2. But if that which is in thee, be not known or apparent unto thee, how shall he in thee be seen, and appear unto thee by the eyes ? 1 3 . But if thou wilt see him, consider and understand the Sun, consider the course of the �loon, consider the order of the Stars. 14. Who is he that keepeth order ? for all order is circumscribed or terminated in number and place. I S · The Sun is the greatest of the Gods in heaven, to whom all the heavenly Gods give place, as to a King and potentate ; and yet he being such a one, greater than the Earth or the Sea, is content to suffer infinite lesser stars to walk and move aboYe himself ; whom cloth he fear the whjle, 0 Son ? I 6. Every one of these Stars that are in Heaven, do not make the like, or an equal course ; who is it that bath prescribed unto every one, the manner and the greatness of their course ? I 7. This Bear that turns round about its own self ; and carries round the whole vVorld with her, who pos­ sessed and made such an Instrument. I 8. Who hath set the Bounds to the Sea ? who hath established the Earth ? for there is some body, 0 Tat, that is the Maker and Lord of these things. I g. For it is impossible, 0 Son, that either place, or number, or measure, should be observed without a 1\'Iaker. 20. For no order can be made by disorder or dis­ proportion.

2 1 . I would it were possible for thee, 0 my Son, to have wings, and to fly into the Air, and being taken up in the midst, between Heaven and Earth; to see the stability of the Earth, the fluidness of the Sea, the courses of the Rivers, the largeness of the Air, the sharpness or swiftness of the Fire, the motion of the . Stars ; and the speediness of the Heaven, by which it goeth round about all these. 2 2 . 0 Son, what a happy sight it were, at one instant, to see all these, that which is unmovable moved, and that which is hidden appear and be manifest. 2 3 . And if thou wilt see and behold this vVorkman, even by mortal things that are upon Earth, and in the deep. consider, 0 Son, how Man is made and framed in the \Vomb ; and examine diligently the skill and cun­ ning of the Workman, and learn who it was that wrought and fashioned the beautiful and Divine shape of . l\II an ; who circumscribed and marked out his eyes ? who bored his nostrils and ears ? who opened his mouth ? who stretched out and tied together his sinews ? who channelled the veins ? who hardP.ned and made strong the bones ? who clothed the flesh with skin ? who divided the fingers and the joints ? who flatted and made broad the soles of the feet ? who digged the pores ? who stretched out the spleen, who made the heart like a Pyramis ? who made the Liver broad ? who made the Lights spungy, and full of holes ? who made the belly large and capa cious ? who set to outward view the more honourable parts and hid the filthy ones. 24. See how many Arts in one l\IIatter, and how many Warks in one Superscription, and all exceed­ ingly beautiful, and all done in measure, and yet all .differing. 2 5 . Who hath made all these things ? what Mother ? what Father ? save only God that is no!_manifest ? that made all things by his own Will . · 26. · · And no man says that a statue or an image is made without a Carver or a Painter, and was this Work• .

47 manship made withut a \Vorkman ? 0 great Blind­ ness, 0 great Impi�!ty, 0 great Ignorance. 27. Never, 0 Son Tat, canst thou deprive the vVork­ manship of the Workman, rather it is the best Name of all the Names of God, to call him the Father of all, for so he is alone ; and th is is his work to be the Father. 28. And if thou wilt force me to say anything more l?oldly, it is his Essence to be pregnant, or great with all things, and to make them. 29. And as without a lVIaker, it is impossible that anything should be made, so it is that he should not always be, and always be making all things in Heaven, in the Air, i n the Earth, in the Deep, in the whole World, and in every part of the whole that is, or that is not. 30. For there is nothing in the whole vVorld, that is not himself both the things that are and the things that are not. 3 1 . For the things that are, he hath made manifest ; and the things that are not, he hath hid in himself. 32. This is God that is better than any name ; this is he that is secret ; this is he that is most manifest ; this is he that is to be seen by the Mind ; this is he that is visible to the eye ; this is he that bath no body ; and this is he that bath many bodies, rather there is nothing of any body, which is not He. 33· For he alone is all things. 34· And for this cause He hath all Names, because HE: is the One Father ; and therefort: He hath no Name, because He is the Father of all. 35· Who therefore can bless thee, or give thanks for thee, or to thee. 36. Which way shall I look, when I praise thee ? upward ? downward ? outward ? inward ? 37· For about thee there is no manner, nor place, nor anything else of all things that are. 38. But all things are in thee ; all things from thee, ·

thou givest all things, and takest nothing ; for thou hast all things and there is nothing that thou hast not. 39· When shall I praise thee, 0 Father ; for it is neither possible to comprehend thy hour, nor thy time ? 40. For what shall I praise thee ? for what thou hast made, or for what thou hast not made ? for those things thou hast manifested, or for those things thou hast hidden ? 4 I . \\Therefore shall I praise thee as being of my­ self, or having anything of mine own, or rather being another's ? 42. For thou art what I am, thou art what I do, thou art what I say. 43· Thou Art All Things, and there is Nothing Else Thou Art Not. 44· Thou Art Thou, All that is Made, and All that is not Made. 45· The ·M ind that Understandeth. 46. The Father that Maketh and Frameth. 47· The Good that vVorketh. 48. The Good that cloth All Things. 49· Of the Matter, the most subtle and slender part is Air, of the Air the Soul, of the Soul the Mind, of the Mind God. THE END oF THE FIFTH BooK.

49 T H E S IXT H BO O K . T H AT I N G O D A L O N E I S GO O D .

r . Good, 0 Asclepius, is in nothing but in God alone ; or rather God himself is the Good always. 2 . And if it be so, then must he be an Essence or S ubstance void of all motion and generation ; but nothing is void or empty of him. 3 · And this Essence hath about or in himself a Stable, and firm Operation, wanting nothing, most full, and giving abundantly. 4· One thing is the Beginning of all things, for it giveth all things ; and whe.n I name the Good, I mean that which is altogether and always Good. 5 · This is present to none, but God alone ; for he wanteth nothing, that he should desire to have it, nor can anything be taken from him ; the loss whereof may grieve him ; for sorrow is a part of evilness. 6. Nothing is stronger than he, that he should be opposed by it ; nor nothing equal to him, that he should be in love with it ; nothing unheard of to be angry, With nothing wiser to be envious at. 7. And none of these being in his Essence, what remains, but only the Good ? 8. For as in this, being such an Essence, there is none of the evils ; so in none of the other things shall the Good be found. g. For in all other things, are all those other things as well in the small as the great ; and as well in the particulars as in this living Creature the greater and mightiest of all. r o. For all things that are made or generated are

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full of Passion, Generation itself being a Passion ; and where Passion is there is not the Good ; where the Good is, there is no Passion ; where it is day, it is not night, and where it . is night, it is· not day. . Ir. Wherefore it is impossible, that in Generation should be the Good, but only in that w hi eh is not gener­ ated or made. I 2. Yet as the Participation of all things is in the 1\'Iatter bound, so also of that which is Good. After this manner is the World good, as it maketh all things, and in the part of making or doing it is Good, but in all other things not good. I3. For it is passible, and n1ovable, and the :\Iaker of passible things. I 4 . In· l\:Ian also the Good is ordered (or Taketh De­ nomination) in comparison of that which is evil ; for that which is not very evil, is here good ; and that which is here called Good, is the least particle, or proportion of evil. I5. It is impossible therefore, that the Good should be here pure from Evil ; for here the Good groweth Evil, and growing Evil, it doth not still abide Good ; and not abiding Good it becomes Evil. I 6. Therefore in God alone is the Good, or rather God is the Good. . . I 7. Therefore, 0 Asclepius, there is nothing in men (or among �fen) but the name of Good, the thtng itself is not, for it is in1possible ; for.a material Body receiveth (or Comprehendeth), is not as being on every side en­ compassed and coarcted with evilness, and labours, and gr�e�s, and desires; and wrath, and deceits, and foolish Oplntons. I S . And in that which is the worst of all, Asclepius, every one of the forenamed things, is here believed to be the greatest good, especially that supreme mischief the pleasures of the Belly, and the ring-leader of all evils ; Error is here the absence of the Good. : I g. . And I give thanks unto God, that concerning ·

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the knowledge of Good, put this assurance in my mind, that it is impossible it should be . in the World . 20. For the World is the fulness of evilness ; but God is the fulness of Good, or Good of God. . 2 1 . For the eminencies of all appearing Beauty, are in the Essence m ore pure, more sincere, and peradventure they are also the Essence· of it. · 2 2 . For we must be bold t o say, Asclepius, that the Essence of God, if he have an Essence, is that which is fair or beautiful ; but no good is comprehended in this vVorld. 23. For all things that are subject to the eye, are Idols, and as it were shadows ; but those things that are not subject to the eye, are ever, especially the Essence of the Fair and the Good. 24. And as the eye cannot see God, so neither the Fair, and the Good. 25. For these are the parts of God that partake the Nature of the whole, proper, and familiar unto him alone, inseparable, most lovely, whereof either God is enamoured, or they are enamoured of God. 26. If thou canst understand God, thou shalt un­ derstand the Fair, and the Good which is most shining, and enlightening, and most enlightened by God. 27. For that Beauty is above comparison, and that Good is inimitable, as God himself. 28. As therefore thou understandest God, so under­ stand the Fair and the Good, for these are incommuni­ cable to any other living Creatures because they are inseparable from God. 2 9 . l f thou seek concerning God, thou seekest or askest also of the Fair, for there is one way that leads to the same thing, that is Piety with Knowledge. 30. vVherefore, they that are ignorant, and go not in the way of Piety, dare cal1 Man Fair and Good, never seeing so much as in a dream, what Good is ; b ut being ·enfolded and wrapped upon all evil, and believing that the evil is the Good, they by t hat means, both use it

. 52 unsatiably, and are afraid to be deprived of it ; and therefore they strive by all possible means,. that they may not only have it, but also increase it. 3 1 . Such, 0 Asclepius, are the Good and Fair things of men, which we can neither love nor hate, for this is the hardest thing of all, that we have need of them, and cannot live without them. THE END

OF

THE SIXTH BooK.

53 T H E SEVE N T H BO O K. H I S S E C RE T SE R M O N OF RE G E N E R.-\T I O N ,

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THE M O U N T

A:SD

THE PRO­

F E S S I O� oF S I L E N C E . T o H i s SoN TAT. r.

In the general Speeches, 0 Father, dis­ coursing of the DiYinity, thou speakest enigmatically, and didst not clearly reveal thyself, saying, That no man can be saved before Regeneration. 2 . ..-\.nd when I did humbly entreat thee, at the going up the 1lountain after thou hadst discoursed un to me, having a great desire, to learn this Argument of Regeneration ; because among all the rest, I am ignorant only of this thou toldst me thou wouldst im­ part it unto me, when I would estrange myself from the \Vorld : whereupon I made myself ready, and have vindicated the understanding that is in me, from the deceit of the \Vorld. 3 · Now tht:n fulfil my defects, and as thou saidst instruct me of Regeneration, either by word of mouth or secretly ; for I know not, 0 Trismegistus, of what Substance, or what \Vomb or what Seed a l\tl an is thus born. H ER�I. 0 Son, this \Visdom is to be understood 4· in sile�ce, and the Seed is the true Good. 5 · TAT. \Vho soweth it, 0 Father i' for I am utterly ignorant and doubtful. 6. HER::\1. The \Vill of God, 0 Son. 7· And what manner of l\Ian is he that is thus born ? for in this point, I am clean deprived of the Essence that understandeth in me. TAT.

54 8. H E R M . The Son of God will be another, God made the universe, that in everything consisteth of all powen . g . TAT. Thou telle_st me a Riddle, Father, and dost not speak as a Father to. his Son. 1 0 . HERM. Son, things of this kind are not taughtp but are by God, when he pleaseth, brought to remem­ brance. 1 1 . TAT. Thou speakest of things strained, or far fetched, and impossible, Father ; and therefore I will directly contradict them. 1 2 . H ERM. vVilt thou prove a stranger, Son, to thy Father's kind. .. 1 3 . Do not envy me, Father, or pardon me, I am thy Natural Son ; discourse unto me the manner of Regeneration . H E RM. What shall I say, 0 my Son ? I have . 14. nothing to say more than this, that I se� in myself an unfeigned sight or spectacle, made by the mercy of God, and I am gone out of myself into an immortal body, and am not now what I was before, but was begotten in Mind. . IS· This thing is not taught, nor is it to be seen in this formed Element ; for which the first compound form was neglected ·by me ; and that I am now separated from it ; for I have both the touch and the measure of it, yet am I now estranged from them. I 6. l'hou seest, 0 Son, with thine eyes ; but though thou look ·never so steadfastly upon me, with the Body p and bodily sight, thou canst not see, nor understand what I am now. ·. I ]. TAT . Thou hast driven me, 0 Father, into no small. fury and distraction of mind, for I do not now .see mvself. . "x s . HERM I would, · 0 Sori, . that · thou also wert -gone out of thyself, like them that dream in their sleep. 1 9 . TAT . Then tell me this, who is the Author and Ma�. . But G od is both about all things, and through all things, for he is: both Act and Power. I I I . And it is no hard thing, 0 Son, to understand God . ; I I 2 . And if thcu ·wilt also see him, look upon the .N ecessity of things that appear, and the Providence of things that have been, and are done. ! :- J. I J� See the 1\-Iatter being most full of Life, and so great a God moved with all G ood, and Fair, both Gods, �qd : D et� ons, and Men. �· Jl �4o t �:. 'f:AT. But these, 0 Father, are: wholly Acts or ·

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Operations. . I I 5.· HERM. If they be th�refore wholly Acts or Operat�ons, 0 Son, by whom are they acted or operated , but by God ? . . , I I.6. : Or a r t thou ignorant, that as the parts of the World, are · H eaven, and E arth, and \Vater, and Air ; after .the same manner the M embers of G od� are Life, a�d Im ro.o rtality, and Eternity, and Spirit, and Ne­ c essity, and Providence, and Nature, and Soul, and Mind, and the Continuance or Perseverance of all these which is called Good. · I I 7 � And there is not any thing of all that hath pe e�, .and all th a t is, where G od is not. .

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Sg I I 8. TAT. \Vhat in the 1\t'latter, 0 Father ? I I g. H ER�I. The 1\ilatter, · Son, what is it without God, that thou shouldst ascribe a proper place to it ? · 1 20. Or what dost thou think it to be ? peradven­ ture some heap that is· not actuated or · operated. I 2 I . But if it be actuated, by whom is it actuated ? for we have said, that Acts or Operations, are the parts of God. 122. By whom are all living things quickened ? and the Immortal, by whom are they immortalized ? the things that are changeable, by whom are they changed ? I 23. Whether thou · speak of Matter, or Body, or Essence, know that all these are acts of God. I24· And that the Act of Matter is materiality, and of the Bodies corporality, and of Essence essentiality ; ·and this is God the whole. 1 25. And in the whole, there is nothing that is not God. I 26. Wherefore a bout God, there is neither Great­ ness, Place, Quality, Fignre, or Time ; for he is All, and the All, through all, and about all. I 27· This \tVord, 0 Son, worship and adore. And "the only service of God, is not to be evil. THE E.so oF THE ELEVE�TH BooK.

go T H E TvVE L FT H

BOO K

OF

H E RM E S

TRI S M E GISTUS.

H r s CRATER o R MoNAS .

The \Vorkman made this Universal \Vorld, no·t ' with his Hands, but his Word. 2 . Therefore thus think of him, as present every­ where, and being always, and making all things, and one above, that by his Will � ath framed the things that are. . · 3 · For that is his Body, not tangible, nor visiblet nor measurable, ncr extensible, nor like any other body. · 4, For it is neither Fire, nor Water, nor Air, nor Wind, but all these things are of him, for being Good, he hath dedicated that name unto himself alone. 5· But he would also adorn the Earth, but with the Ornament of a Divine Body. 6. And he sent Man an Immortal and a Mortal wight. . 7· And Man had more than all living Creatures, and the World, because of his Speech, and Mind. 8. For 1\'lan became the spectator of the Works of God, and wondered, and acknowledged the Maker. For he divided Speech among all men, but not g. �Iind, and yet he envied not any ; for Envy comes not thither, but is of abode here below in the Souls of men, that have not the Mind. Io. TAT. But wherefore, Father, did not God dis­ tribute the Mind to all men ? I I . Because it pleased him, 0 Son, to set that in the middle among all souls as a ·reward to strive for. r.

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r 2. TAT. And where hath he set it ? I J . HERM. Filling a large Cup or Bowl therewith, he sent it down, giving also a Cryer c;>r Proclaimer. r4. And he commanded him fo proclaim these things to the· souls of men. I S · DipJ and wash thyself, thou that art able,_ in this Cup or Bowl ; Thou that believest, that thou shalt return to him that sent this Cup ; thou that acknow­ ledgest whereunto thou wert made. I6. As many therefore as understood the Proclama­ tion, and were baptised or dowsed into the Mind, these were made partakers of Knowledge, and became perfect men, receiving the Mind. I]. But as many as missed of the Proclamation, they received Speech, but not Mind, being ignorant where­ unto they were made, or by whom. 18. But their senses are just like to brute Beasts, and having their temper in Anger and vVrath, they do not admire the things worthy of looking on. 19. But wholly addicted to the pleasures and desires of the Bodies, they believe that man was made for them. 20. But as many as partook of the gift of God, these, 0 Tat, in comparison of their works, are rather im­ · mortal than m ortal men. 2 I Comprehending all things in their Mind, which are upon the Earth, which are in Heaven, and if there be anything above Heaven. · · 22. And lifting up · themselves so high, they see the Good, and seeing it, they acco�nt it a tniserable calamity to make their abode here. · 23. And despising all things bodily and unbodily,. they make haste to the One and Only. _ · 24. Thus, 0 Tat, is t he Knowledge of the Mind , the beholding of D ivine Things, and t�e Unders�a nding of God, the Cup itself being Di �ne. : - 25. TAT. And I , 0 Father, would be baptised and drenched therein. 26. HERM. Except thou first h a�e thy b9dy, 0 Son, ·

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92 thou canst not love thy self ; but loving thy self, thou shalt have the Mind, and having th� Mind, thou shalt also partake the Knowledge or Science. 27. TAT. How meanest thou that, 0 Father ? 2 8 . HERM. Because it is impossible, 0 Son, to be conversant about things Mortal and Divine. 2 9 . For the things that are, being two Bodies, and things incorporeal, wherein is the Mortal and the Divine, the Election or Choice of either is left to him that will choose ; For no man can choose both. 30. And of which soever the choice is made, the other being diminished or overcome, magnifieth the act and operation of the other. 3 r . The choice of the better therefore is not only best for him that chooseth it, by deifying a man ; but it a lso sheweth Piety and Religion towards God. 32. But the choice of the worse destroys a man, but doth nothing against God ; save that as Pomps or Pageants, when they come abroad, cannot do any thing themselves, but hinder ; after tr.e same manner also do these make Pomps or Pageants in the vVorld, being seduced by the pleasures of the Body. 33· These things being so, 0 Tat, that things have been, and are so plenteously ministered to us from God ; let t �em proceed also from us, without any scarcity or spanng. 34· For God is innocent or guiltless, but we are the causes of Evil, preferring them before the Good. 35· Thou seest, 0 Son, how· many Bodies we must go beyond, and how many choirs of Demons, and what continuity and courses of Stars, that we may make haste to the One, and only God. 36. For the Good is not to be transcended, it is un­ bounded and infinite ; . unto itself without .beginning, but unto us, seeming to have a beginning, even our knowledge of it. 37· For our knowledge is not the beginning of it, but shews us the beginning of its being known unto us. ·

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93 38. Let . us therefore lay hold of the beginning and we shaH qutckly go through · all things. 39 · . It is indeed a difficult thing, to . leave those things that are accustomable, and present, and turn . us to those things that are ancient, and according to. the original. · 4o. For these things that &ppear, delight us, but make the things that appear not, hard to believe, or the Things that Appear not, are Hard to believe. 41 . The things most apparent are Evil, but the Good is secret, or hid in, or to the things that appear ; for it bath neither Form nor Figure. 42. For this cause it is like to itself, but unlike every thing else ; for it is impossible, that any thing in· corporeal, should be made known, or appear to a Body. 43 · For this is the difference between the like and the unlike, an d the unlike wanteth always somewhat of the like. 4+ · For the Unity, Beginning, and Root of all things, as being the Root and Beginning. 45· Nothing is without a beginning, but the Begin­ ning is of nothing, but of itself ; for it is the Beginning of all other things. 46. Therefore it is, seeing it is not from another beginning. 47· · U nity therefore being the Beginning, containe.th every number, but itself is contained of none, and be­ getteth every number, itself being begotten of no other number. 48. Every thing that is begotten (or made) is im­ perfect, and may be divided, increased, diminished. 49· But to the perfect, there happeneth none of these. so. And that which is increased, is increased by Unity, but is consumed and vanished through weakness,. being not able to receive the Unity. 5 1 . This Image of God, have I described to thee, 0 Tat, as well as I could ; which if thou do diligently .

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consider, and view by the eyes of thy mind, and _h�art, }Jelieve me, Son, thou ·shalt find th'e way to the things above, or rather the Image itself will lead thee. 5 2. But the spectacle or sight, bath this peculiar and proper ; · Them that can see, and behold it, it holds fast and draws unto it, as they say, the Loadstone doth Iron. ·

THE E.:sn oF THE TwELFTH BooK.

95

T H E T H I RT E E N T H

BOOK

OF

H E R l\ti E S

T R I S M E G I S T U S.

OF S EN SE AND U NDERSTANDING.

r . Yesterday, Asclepius, I delivered a perfect Discourse ; but now I think it necessary, in suite of t hat, to dispute also of Sense. 2. For Sense and Understanding seen1 to differ, because the one is material, the other essential. 3 · But unto me, they appear to be both .one, or united, and not divided in men, I mean. �· For in other living Creatures, Sense is united unto Nature but in men to U nderstanding. . 5 · But the Mind differs from Understanding, as much as God from Divinity. . . 6. For Divinity is from or under God, and Under­ standing from the Mind, being the sister of the Word or Speech, and they the Instruments one of �nother. 7· For neither is the Word pronounced without Understanding, neither is Understanding manifested without the Word. 8. Therefore Sense·and Understanding do both flow t ogether into a man, as if they were infolded one within another. g . For n either is it possible without Sense to Under­ stand, nor can we have Sense without Understanding. IO. And yet it is possible (for the Time being) that the Understanding may understand without Sense, as they that fantasy Visions in their Dreams. I I. But it seems unto me, that both the operations ·

g6

are in the Visions of Dreams, and that the Sense is stirred up out of sleep, unto awaking. 1 2 . For man is divided into a Body and a Soul ; when both parts of the · Sense accord one with another, then is the understanding childed, or brought forth by the Mind pronounced. 1 3 . For the Mind brings forth all Intellections or Understandings. Good ones when it receiveth good Seed from God ; and the contrary when it rec�ives then1 from Devils. 1 4 . For there is no part of the \Vorld void of the Devil, which entering in privately, sowed the seed of his own proper operation ; and the Mind did make preg­ nant, or did bring forth that which was sown, Adulteries, Murders, Striking of Parents, Sacrileges, Impieties·, Stranglings, throwing down headlong, and all other things which are the works of evil Demons. 1 5 . And the Seeds o_f God are few but Great, and Fair, and Good Virtue, and Temperance, and Piety. 1 6. And the Piety is the Knowledge of God, whom whosoever knoweth being full of all good things, bath Divine Understanding and not like the Many. 1 7. And therefore they that have that Knowledge neither please the multitude, nor the �ultitude them, btit they seem to be mad, and_ to move laughter, hated and despised, and many t4nes also murdered. . r"S . ·For we bave already said, That ·wickedness must dwell h_ere, being in · her own region. 1 9 . For her region is the Earth, and not the World,. as some will sometimes say, Blaspheming. 20. But the Godly or God-worshipping Man laying hold on Knowledge, will despise or tread under all t�ese things ; for though they be evil to other men, yet to him all things are good. 2 I .: And upon mature consideration, he refers all things to Knowledge, and that which is · most to be wondered at, he alone makes evil things good. 22. But I return again to my Discourse of Sense: ·

·

·

·

·

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23. It is therefore a thing proper to Man, to commu­ nicate and conjoin Sense and Understanding. 24. But every man, as I said before, doth not enjoy Understanding ; for one man is material, another essential. 25. And he that is material with wickedness as I said, received from the Devils the Seed of Understand­ ing ; but they that are with the Good essentially, are saved with God. 26. For God is the Workman of all things ; and when he worketh he useth Nature. 2 7. He maketh all things good like himself. 28. But these things that are made good, are in the use of 0 pera tion, unlawful. 29. For the Motion of the vVorld stirring up Genera­ tions, makes Qualities, infecting some with evilness, and purifying some with good. 30. And the vVorld, Asclepius, hath a peculiar Sense and Understanding, not like to l\tlan's, nor so various or manifold, but a better .and more simple. 3 1 . For this Sense and Understanding of the vVorld is One, in that it makes all things, and unmakes them again into itself ; for it is the Organ or I nstrument of the Will of God. 32. And it is so organized or framed, and rnade for an I nstrument by God ; that receiving all Seeds into itself from God, and keeping them in itself, it maketh all things effectually and dissolving then1, reneweth all things. 33· And therefore like a good Husband-man of Life,. when things are dissolved or loosened, he affords by the casting of Seed, renovation to all things that grow . 34· There is nothing that it (the World) doth not beget or bring forth alive ; and by its Motion, it makes. all things alive. 35 · And it is at once, both the Place and the Work­ man of Life. 36. B ut the Bodies are from the Matter, in a differH

g8 ent manner ; for some are of the Earth, some of Water, some of Air, some of Fire, and all are compounded, but some are more compounded, and some are more simple. 37· They that are compounded, are the heavier, and they that are less, are the higher. 38. And the swiftness of the Motion of the \Vorld, makes the varieties of the Qualities of Generation, for the spiratjon or influence, being n1ost frequent, extend­ eth unto the . Bodies qualities with one fnlness, which is -of Life. 39· Therefore, God is the Father of the \Vorld, but the World is.__the Father of things in the World. 40. And the vVorld is the Son of God, but things in the \Vorld are the Sons of the World. 4 1 . And therefore it is well called the World, that is an Ornament, because it adometh and beautifieth all things with the varie�y �f Generation, and indeficiency of Life, which the unweariednes� of Operation, and the swiftness of Necessity with the rningling of Elements, and the order of things done. 42. Therefore it is necessarily and properly called the World. 43· For of all living things, both the Sense and the V nderstanding, cometh into them from without, in­ spired by that which compasseth them about, and con­ tinueth them. 44· And the World receiving it once from God as soon as it was made, bath it still, What Ever it Once Had. 45· But God is not as it seems to some who Blaspheme through superstition, without Sense, and without Mind, or Understanding. 46. For all things that are, 0 Asclepius, are in God, and made by him, and depend of him, son1e working by Bodies, some moving by a Soul-like Essence, some quickening by a Spirit, and some receiving the things that are weary, and all very fitly. 47· Or rather, I · say, that he bath them not, but I

99 declare the Truth, He is All Things, not receiving them from without, but exhibiting them outwardly. 48. And this is the Sense and Understanding of God, t"o move all things always. 49· And there never shall be any time, when any of those things that are, shall fail or be wanting. so. \iVhen I say the things that are, I mean God, for the things that are, God hath ; and neither is there anything without him, nor he without anything. 5 r . These things, 0 Asclepius, will appear to be true, if thou understand them, but if thou understand them not, incredible. 52. For to understand, is to believe, but not to be­ lieve, is not to understand ; For my speech or words reach not unto the Truth, but the l\t!ind is great, and being led or conducted for a while by Speech, is able to ·attain to the Truth. 53· And understanding all things round about; and finding them consonant, and agreeable to those things that were delivered and interpreted by Speech, be­ lieveth ; and in that good belief, resteth. 54· To them, therefore, that understand the things that have been said of God, they ate credible, but to them that understand them not, incredible. 55· And let the:se and thus many things be spoken concerning Understanding and . Sense. THE END oF THE THIRTEENTH BooK.

100

THE

F O U RT E E N T H

BOO K

OF

H E R M E S T R I S M E G I ST U S . OF O PERATION AN D S E N S E .

TAT. Thou hast well explained these things, Father : Teach me furthermore these things ; for thou sayest, that Science and Art were the Operations of the rational, but now thou sayest that Beasts are unreason ­ able, and for want of reason, both are and are called Brutes ; so that by this Reason, it must needs follow that unreasonable Creatures partake not of Science, or Art, because they come short of Reason. 2 . H ERM. It must needs be so, Son. 3 · TAT. Why then, 0 Father, do we see some un­ reasonable living Creatures use both Science and Art ? as the Pismires treasure up for then1selves food against the Winter, and Fowls of the Air likewise make them Nests, and four-footed Beasts know their own Dens. 4· These things they do, 0 Son, not by Science or Art, but by Nature ; for Science or Art are things that are taught, but none of these brute Beasts are taught any of these things. 5· But these things being Natural unto them, are wrought by Nature, whereas Art and Science do not happen unto all, but unto some. 6. As men are Musicians, but not all ; neither are all Archers or Huntsmen, or the rest, but some of them have learned something by the working of Science or Art. 7 After the same manner also, if some Pismires I.

IOI

did so, a � d some not, thou mightest well say, they gath er their food according to Science and Art. 8. � ut seeing they are all led by Nature, to the same thin g, even against their wills, it is manifest they do not do it . by Science or Art . 9: For Operations, 0 Tat, being unbodily, are in Bodies, and work by Bod ies. 10. Wherefore, 0 Tat, i n as much as they are unbodily; thou must needs say they are immortal. I 1 . But in as much as they cannot act without Bodies , I say, they are always in a Body. I 2 . For those things that are to any thing, or for the cause of any thing made subject to Providence or Necessity, cannot possibly remain idle of their own prope r Operation. 13. For that which is, shall ever be ; for both the Body, and the Life of it, is the same. 14. And by this reason, it follows, that the Bodies also are always, because I affirm : That this corporiety is always by the Act and Operation, or for them. 1 5. For although earthly bodies be subject to disso­ lution ; yet these bodies must be the Places, and the Organs, and Instruments of Acts or Operations. I 6. But Acts or Operations are immortal, and that which is immortal, is always in Act, and therefore also Corporification if it be always. I 7. Acts or Operations do follow the Soul, yet come not suddenly or promiscuously, but some of them come together with being made man, being about brutish or unreasonable things. I8. But the purer Operations do insensibly in the change of time·, work with the oblique part of the Soul. I g . And these Operations depend upon Bodies ; and truly they that are Corporifying come from the Divine Bodies into Mortal ·on es. . 20. But e ve·ry one of them acteth both about the B ody and the Soul, and are present with the Soul, even without the Body . .

102 2 1 . And they are always Acts or Operations, but the Soul is not always in a Mortal Body, for it can be without a Body, but Acts or Operations cannot be with­ out Bodies. 22. This is a sacred speech, Son, the Body cannot Consist without a Soul. 2 3 . TAT. How meanest thou that, Father ? 24· HERM. understand it thus, 0 Tat, vVhen the Soul is separated from the Body, there remaineth that same Body. 25. And this same Body according to the time of its abode, is actuated or operated in that it is dissolved and becomes in visible. 26. And these things the Body cannot suffer without act or operation, and consequently there remaineth with the Body the same act or operation. 27. This then is the difference between an Immortal Body, and a Mortal one, that the immortal one consists of one Matter, and so doth not the mortal one ; and the immortal one doth, but this suffereth. 28. And everything that acteth or operateth is stronger, and ruleth ; but that which is actuated or operated, is ruled. 29. And that which ruleth, directeth and govemeth as free, but the other is ruled, a servant. 30. Acts or Operations do not only actuate or operate living or breathing or insouled Bodies, but also breath­ less Bodies, or without Souls, Wood, and Stones, and such like, increasing and hearing fruit, ripening, corrupt­ ing, rotting, putrifying, and breaking, or working such like things, and whatsoever inanimate Bodies can suffer. 3 I . Act or Operation, 0 Son, is called, whatsoever is, or is made or done, and there are always many things made, or rather all things. 32. For the \Vorld is never widowed or forsaken �f any of those things that are, but being always carrie� or moved in itself, it is in labour to bring forth the things that are, which shall never be left by it to corruption.

103 33· Let therefore every act or operation be under· stood to be always immortal, in what manner of Body soever it be. 34· But some Acts or Operations be of Divine, some of corruptible Bodies, some universal, some pecu­ liar, and some of the generals, and some of the parts of every thing. . 35· Divine Acts or Operations therefore the.re oe, and such as work or operate upon their proper Bodies, and these also are perfect, a·nd being upon or in perfect Bodies. 36. Particular are they which work by any of the living Creatures. . 37· Proper, be they that work upon any of the things that are. . 38. By this I?iscourse, therefore, 0 Son, it is gathered that all things are full of Acts or Operations. 39· For if necessarily they be in every Body, and that there be nlany Bodies in the vVorld, I may very well affirm, that there be many other Acts or Opera­ tions. 40. For many times in one Body, there is one, a nd a second, and a third, besides these universal ones that follow. 4 1 . And universal Operations, I call them _that are indeed bodily, and are done by the Senses and Motions. 42. For without these it is impossible that the Body should consist. 43· But other Operations are proper to the Souls of Men, by Arts, Sciences, Studies, and Actions. 44 · The Senses also follow �h�se Operations, or rather are the effects or perfections of them. 45, U n dersta_n d therefore, 0 Son, the difference of Operations, it is sent from above. · 46. But sense being in the Body, and having its essence from it, when it receiveth Act or Operation, manifesteth it, making it as it were corporeal. 4 7· Therefore, I say, that the Senses are both

1 04 corporeal and mortal, having so much existence as the Body, for they are l!>orn with the Body, and die with it . 48. But mortal things themselves have not Sense, as Not consisting of such an Essence. 49 · For Sense can be no other than a corporeal apprehension, either of evil or good that comes to the Body. s o. But to Eternal ·B odies there is nothing comes, nothing departs ; therefore there is no sense in them. S I . TAT. Doth the Sense therefore perceive or apprehend in every Body. 52. HERM. I n every Body, 0 Son. 53 · TAT. And do the Acts or Operations work in all things ? 54 · HERM. Even in things inanimate, 0 Son, but there are differences of Senses. 55· For the Senses of things rational, are with Reason ; of things unreasonable, Corporeal only, but · the Senses of things inanimate are passive only, accord­ ing.to Augmentation and Diminution. 56. But Passion an·d Sense depend both upon one head, or height, and are gathered together into the same, by Acts or Operations . . 57· But in living wights there be two other Opera­ tions that follow the Senses and Passions, to wit, Grief and Pleasure. , 58. And without these, it is impossible that a living wight, especial!y a reasonable one, should perceive or apprehend. 59· And therefore, I say, that these are the I deas of Passions that bear rule, especially in reasonable living wights. 6o. The Operations work indeed, but the Senses do declat"e and manifest the Operations, and they beiag bodily, are moved by the brutish parts of the Soul ; therefore f I say, they are both maleficial or doers of evil. 6 I . F or that which affords the Sense to rejoice with ·

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1 05 Pleasure is straightway the cause of many evils happen­ ing to him that suffers it. 62. But Sorrow� gives stronger torments and An­ guish, therefore doubtless are they both maleficial. · 63. The same may be said of the Sense of the Soul. 64. TAT. Is not the Soul incorporeal, and the Sense a Body, Father ? or is it rather in the Body. 65. HERM. If we put it in a Body, 0 Son, we shall· make it like the Soul or the ·Operations, for these being unbodily, we say are in Bodies. 66. But Sense is neither Operation, nor Soul, nor anything else that belongs to the Body, but as we have said, and therefore it is not incorporeal. 67. And if it be not incorporeal it must needs b e a Body ; for we always say, that of things that are, some are Bodies and some incorporeal. THE END oF THE FouRTEENTH BooK.

r o6

THE

F I FTEENTH B O O K OF

H E RM E S

T R I S M E G I S T U S.

O F TRUTH T o H r s SoN TAT.

H E R M . Of Truth, 0 Tat, it is not possible that man being an imperfect wight, compounded of imperfect Members, and h aving his Tabernacle consisting of different an d many Bodies, should speak with any confidence. 2 . But as far as it is possible, and just, I say, That Truth is only in the Eternal Bodies, whose very Bodies be also true. 3 · The Fire is fire itself only, and ncthing else ; the Earth is earth itself and nothing else ; the air is air itself and nothing else ; the water, water itself and nothing else. 4· But our B odies consist of all these ; for they have of the Fire, they have of the Earth, they have of the Water, and Air, and yet there is neither Fire, · nor E arth, nor Water, nor Air, nor anything true. 5 . And if at the Beginning our Constitution had not Truth , how could men either see the Truth, or speak it, or understand it only, except God would ? 6. All things therefore upon Earth , 0 Tat, are not Truth, but i mitations of the Truth, and yet not all things neither, for they are but few that a re so. 7. But the other things are Falsehood, and Deceit, 0 Tat, and Opinions like the Images of the!fantasy or appearance. 8. And when the fantasy bath an influence from

1.

I 07 above, then it is an imitation of Truth, but without that operation from above, it is left a lie. g. And a s an Image shews the Body described, and yet is not the Body of that which is seen, ·as it seems to be, and it is seen to have eyes, but it sees nothing, and ears, but hears nothing at all ; and· all other things bath the picture, but they are false, deceiving the eyes of the beholder, whilst they think they see the Truth, and yet they are indeed but lies. I o. As many therefore as see not Falsehood, see the Truth . Ir. If therefore we do �o understand, and see every one of thesP. things as it is, then we see and understand true things. I 2 . But if we see or understand any thing besides, or otherwise than that which is, we shall neither under­ stand, nor know the Truth. I 3 . TAT. Is Truth _therefore upon Earth, 0 Father ? I4. H E R M . Thou dost not miss the mark, 0 Son. Truth indeed is nowhere at all upon Earth, 0 Tat, for it cannot be generated or made. I S · But concerning the Truth, it may be that some men, to whom God will give the good seeing Power, n1ay understand it. 1 6. So that unto the Mind and reason , there is nothing true indeed upon Earth. I 7. B ut ·unto the True Mind and Reason, all things are fantasies or appearances, and opinions. . I 8 . TAT. M ust we not therefore call it Truth , to understand and speak the things that are ? I g . HERM. But there i s nothing true upon Earth. 20. TAT. How then is this true, That we do not know anything true ? how can that be· done here ? 2 I . HERM. 0 Son, Truth is the most perfect Virtue, and the highest Good itself, not troubled by Matter, not encompassed by a Body, naked, clear, un. changeable, venerable, unalterable Good. 2 2 . But the things that are here, 0 Son, are visible, ·

·

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incapable of Good, corruptible, passible, dissol v a ble, changeable, contin ua lly altered, and made of anot h er 2 3 . The th ings therefore that are not true to them­ selves, how can th ey be true ? 24. For every thing that is altered, is a lie, not a bi di ng in what it is ; but being changed it shews us always, other and other appearances. 25. TAT. Is not man true, 0 Father ? 26. H E R M . As far forth as he is a l\'Ian, he is not true, Son ; for that which is true, bath cf itself alone its constitution and remains, and 4bides according to itself, such as it is. 27. But man consists of many things and cloth not abide of himself but is turned and changed, age after age, Idea after Idea, or form after form, and this while he is yet in the Tabernacle. 28. And many have not known th eir own children afte r a little while, and many children likewise have not known their own Parents. 2 9. Is it then poss ibl e , 0 Tat, that he who is so changed, is not to be known, should be true ? no, on the contrary, he is Falsehood, being in many Appear­ .

ances of changes. 30. But do thou understand the true to b e that which abides the same, and is Eternal, but man is not ever, therefore not True, but man is a certain Appearance, and Appearance is the hightest Lie or Falsehood. 3 1 . TAT. But these. Eternal Bodies, Father, are they not true though they be changed ? 32. HERM. Everything that is begotten or made, and changed is not true, but being made by our Pro­ genitor, they might have ·had true Matter� 33· But these also have in themselves, something that is false in regard of their change. 34· For nothing that remains not in itself, is True. 35· TAT. What shall one say then , Father, that only the Sun which besides the Nature of other things, i s not changed, but abides in itself, is Truth ?

·

!09 36. H ERM. It is Truth, and therefore is he only intrusted with the Workmanship of the World, ruling and making all things whom I do both honour, and adore his Truth ; and after the One, and First, I acknowledge him the \Vorkman. 37· TAT. What therefore doth thou affirm to be the first Truth, 0 Father ? 38. HERM. The One and Only, 0 Tat, that is not of Matter, that is not in a body, that is without Colour, without Figure or Shape, Immutable, Unalter­ able, which always is ; but Falsehood, 0 Son, is cor­ ruiJted. 39 · And corruption bath laid hold upon all things on Earth, and the Providence of the True encompasseth, and will encompass them. 40. For without corruption , there can no Gen�ration consist. 4 I . For Corruption followeth every Generation, that it may again be generated. 42. For those things that are generated, must of necessity be generated of those things that are corrupted, and the things generated must needs be corrupted, that the Generation of things being, may not stand still or cease. 43· Acknowledge therefore the first vVorkman by the Generation of c hings 44· Consequently the things that are generated of Corruption are false, as being sometimes one thing, sometimes another : For it is impossible they should be made · the same things again, and that which is not the same, how is it true ? 45· Therefore, 0 Son, we must call these things fantasies or appearances.. 46. And if we will give a man his right name, we must call him the appearance of Manhood ; and a Child, . the fantasy or appearance of a Child ; an old man, the appearance of an old man ; a young man, the appear­ ance of a young man ; and a man of ripe age, the appearance of a man of ripe age. .

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4 7. For neither is &. man, a man ; nor a child, a child ; nor a young man, a young man ; .nor an old man, an old man. . 48 But the things that pre-exist and that are, being changed are false. 49· These things understand thus, 0 Son, as these false Operations, having their dependance from above, even of the truth itself. 50. · Which being so, I do affirm that Falsehood is the Work of Truth. .

THE END OF THE FIFTEENTH BooK.

III

T HE

S IXTE E N TH

BOOK

OF

H E RM E S

TRI S M E G I ST U S .

THAT NoNE oF THE THINGS THAT ARE, cAN PERISH.

H E R :'vr.

vVe must now speak of the · Soul and Body, 0 Son ; after what manner the Soul is Immortal, and what operation that is, which constitutes the Body , and dissolves it. 2. But in none of these is Death, for it is a concep­ tion of a name, which is either an empty word, or else it is wrongly called Death (by the taking away the first letter,) instead of Imn1ortal. [Thanatos for Athana t os.] 3 · For Death is destruction, but there is nothing in the whole world that is destroyed. 4· For if the World be a second God, and an Immortal living vVight, it is impossible that any part of I.

an Immortal living Wight should die. 5· But all things that are in the World, are mem­ bers of the World, especially Man, the reasonable living Wight. 6. For the first of all is God, the Eternal and Unmade, and the Workman of all things. . 7. The second is the World, made by him, after his own Image and by him holden together, and nourished, and immortalized ; and as from its own Father, ever living. 8. So that as Immortal, it is ever living, and ever immortal . g . For that which is ever living, differs from that which is eternal. •

I I2

I o. For the Eternal was not begotten, or made b y another ; and if i t were begotten o r made, yet it was made by itself, not by any other, but it is always made. I r . For the Eternal, as it is Eternal, is the Universe. I 2 . For the Father himself, is Eternal of himself, but the World was made by the Father, ever living, and immortal. I 3 . And as m uch Matter as there was laid up by him, the Father n1ade it all into a Body, and swelling it, made it round like a Sphere, endued it with Quality, b eing itself immortal, and having Eternal lVIateriality. I 4 . The Father being full of Ideas, sowed Qualities in the Sphere, and shut them up, as in a Circle, delibera ­ ting to beautify with every Quality, that which should afterwards be made. I S · Then clothing the Universal Body with Immor­ tality, lest the Matter, if it would depart from this Composition, should be dissolved into its own disorder. I 6 . For when the Matter was incorporeal, 0 Son, it was disordered, and it hath here the same confusion daily revolved about other little things, endued with Qualities, in point of Augmentation, and Diminution, which men call Death, being indeed a disorder happen­ ing about earthly living wights. I ]. For the Bodies of Heavenly things have one order, which they have received from the Father at the Beginning, and is by the instauration of each of them, kept indissolveible. r 8. But th� instauration of earthly Bodies, is their consistence ; and their dissolution restores them into indissoluble, that is, Immortal. r g . And so there is tuade a privation of Sense, ·but not a destruction of Bodies. 2 0 . Now the third living wight is Man, made after the I mage of the World ; and having by the Will of the Father, a l\'Iind above other earthly wights. 2 r . And he bath not · only a sympathy with the second God, but also an understanding of the first . .

t i3 22. For the second God, he apprehends as a .body ; but the first, he understands as Incorporeal, and the Mind of the G ood. 2 3 . TAT. And cloth not this living wight perish ? 24. HERM. Speak advisedly, 0 Son, and learn what God is, what the World, what an Immortal Wight, and what a dissolvable One is. 25. And understand that the World is of God and in God ; but Man of the World ·and in the World . . 26. The Beginning, and End, and Consistence of all, is God. ·

THE END oF

THE SIXTEENTH BooK.

T H E S E VE N TE E N T H

BOOK

OF

H E R M E S T R I S M E G I S T U S.

To AscLEPIUS,

I.

TO B E

TRULY

vVI S E .

Because my Son Tat, in thy absence, would needs learn the Nature of the things that are : He would not suffer me to give over (as coming very young to the knowledge of every individual) till I was forced to discourse to him many things at large, that his con­ templation might from point to point, be more easy and successful. 2 . But to thee I have thought good to writ e in few words, choosing out the principal heads of the things then spoken, and to interpret them more mystically, because thou hast, both more years, and more know­ ledge of Nature. 3 · All things that appear, were made, and are made. 4· Those things that are made, are not made by themselves, but by another. 5 · And there are many things made, but especially all things that appear, and which are different, and not like. 6. If the thi n gs that be made and done, be made and done by another, there must be one that must make, and do them ; and he unmade, and more ancient than the things that are made. 7. For I affirm the things that are made, to be made by another ; and it is impossible, that of the things that are made any should be more ancient than all, but only that which is not made. ·

I I5 8. He is stronger, and One, and only knowing all things indeed, as not having any thing more ancient than himself. g. For he bears rule, both over multitude, and greatness, and the diversity of the things that are made, and the continuity of the Facture and of the Operation. I o. Moreover, the things that are made, are visible, but he is in visible ; and for this ea use, he maketh them, that he may be visible ; and therefore he makes them always. Thus it is fit to understand and understanding I I. to admire and admiring to think thy self happy, that knowest thy natural Father. I 2 . For what is sweeter than a Natural Father ? I 3. \Vho therefore is this, or how shall we know him ? 14. Or is it just to ascribe unto him alone, the Title and Appellation of God, or of the Maker, or of the Father, or of all Three ? That of God because of his Power ; the M aker because of his Working and Opera­ tion ; and the Father, because of his Goodness. 1 5 . For Power is different from the things that are made, but Act or Operation, in that all things are made. 1 6. Wherefore, letting go all much and vain talkin f?, we must understand these two things, That vVhich ts Made, and Him Which is the �Iaker ; "'for there is nothing in the middle, between these Two, nor is there any third. 1 7. Therefore understanding All things, rem em her these Two ; and think that these are All things, putting nothing into doubt ; neither of the things above, nor of the things below ; neither of things changeable, nor things that are in darkness or secret. 1 8. For All things, are but two Things, That which Maketh, and that which is Made ; and the One of then1 cannot depart, or be divided from the Other. rg. For neither is it possible that the maker should

I r6

be without the thing made, for either o f them is the self-same thing ; therefore cannot the One of them be separated from the other, no more than a thing can be separated from itself. 20. For if he that makes be nothing else, but that which makes alone, Simple, Uncompounded, it is of necessity, that he makes the same thing to himself, to whom it is the Generation of him that maketh to be also All that is made. 2 1 . For that which is generated or made, must necessarily be generated or made by another, b ut with­ out the Maker that which is made, neither is made, nor is ; for the one of them without the other, bath lost his proper Nature by the privation of the other. 22. So if these Two be confessed, That which maketh, and that which is made, then they are One in Union, this going before, and that following. 23. And that which goeth before, is, God the Maker, and that which follows is, that which is made, be it what it will. 24. And let no man be afraid because of the variety of things that are made or done, lest he should cast an aspersion of baseness, or infamy upon God, for it is the only Glory of him to do, or make All things. 2 5 . And this making, or facture is as it were the Body of God, and to him that maketh or cloth, there is no�hing evil, or filthy to be imputed, or There is Noth· ing thought Evil or Filthy. 26. For these are Passions that follow Generation as Rust cloth Copper, or as Excrements do the Body. 27. But neither did the Copper-smith make tlie Rust, nor the Maker the Filth, nor God the Evilness. 28. But the vicissitude of Generation cloth make them, as it were to blossom out ; and for this cause did make Change to be, as one should say, Th� Purgation of Generation. 29. Moreover, is it lawful for the same Painter to make both Heaven, and the Gods, and the Earth, and

I I7

the Sea, and Men, and brute Beasts, and inanimate Things, and Trees ; and is it impossible for God to make these things ? 0 the great madness, and ignor­ ance of men in things that concern God ! 30. For men that think so, suffer that which is most ridiculous of all ; for proft'ssing to bless and praise God, yet in not ascribing to him the making or doing of All things, they know him not. 3 I . And besides their not knowing him, they are extremely impious against him, attributing unto him Passions, as Pride, or Oversight, or vVeakness, or Ignorance, or Envy. 3 2. For if he do not make or do all things, he is either proud or not able, or ignorant, or envious, which is impious to affirm. 33· For God hath only one Passion, namely Good ; and he that is good is neither proud, nor impotent, nor the rest, but God is Good itself. 34· For Good is all power, to do or make all things, and every thing that is made, is made by God, that is by the Good and that ca·n make or do all things. 35· See then how he maketh all things, and how the things are done, that are done, and if thou wilt learn, hou mayest see an Image thereof, very beautiful, and like. 36. Look upon the Htisbandman, how he casteth Seeds into the Earth, here Wheat, there Barley, and elsewhere some other Seeds. 37· Look upon the same Man, planting a Vine, or an Apple-Tree, or a Fig-Tree, or some other Tree. 38. So cloth God in Heaven sow Immortality, in the Earth Change in the whole Life, and Motion. 39· And these things are not many, hut few, and easily numbered for they' are all but four, God and Generation, in which are all things. THE E N D oF THE SEvENTEENTH BooK. FINIS.

CO LLECTAN EA H E R M ETICA EDITED BY

DR.

vVY N N

WE STC O TT,

S.M. of tire Soc. Ros. in A ng., Master of tile Quatuor Coronati Lodge.

VOLUM E

A

III.

Short Enquiry concerning the HERMETIC AR1' BY

A LOVER OF

PHILALETHES.

LoNDoN, 1 7 14�

PREFACE

BY

NON OMNIS M ORIAR

AN

INTRODUCTION

TO

ALCHEMY

AND N OTES BY s . s. D . D .

N OT E B Y T H E E D IT O R O F T H E SERI ES.

THE first volume of the received ; indeed the

Collectane!J. Hermetica

Hermetic A rcamun

has been well

of Jean d' Espagnet

could not fail to interest Alchymic students.

There could be

no doubt that the second volume of the series, Pymander,

The Divitte

of Hermes Trismegistus, would also secure an even

greater distribution.

In now issuing a reprint of the

Enquiry concerning the Hermetic A rt,

Short

by A lover of Philalethes,

with a Preface by " Non omnis Moriar," and an " Intro­ duction to Alchymy," by my friend,

S. S.

D. D.,

great

confidence is felt that this third volume will be equally successful. w. WYNN \VE STCOTT, M. B., D.P. H .

P R E FAC E .

THERE is great reason t o believe that this E11qu iry into the Hermetic A rt, first published in I7I4, led to the composition

of the still more extended and more spiritually conceived volume, the Suggestive Enquiry into the Hermetic 1\{ystery and A lchemy, which was published anonymously in rSso. This latter volume, which has for many years been unprocurable, and which cannot yet be reprinted by any one unless with the consent of the survivor of the two authors, is an almost com­ plete review of Alchymy on the spiritual plane. The volume before us has a distinct reference to the science of Alchymy referred to the plane of human improvement, although it is also definitely concerned with the equally possible, though almost incredible power of transmuta­ tion upon the material plane. This Short Enquiry was written with especial reference to the Kabalistic work, now almost un procurable, the .IEsch Mezareph, which is a tractate connecting physical alchymy with the Kabalah--so well known to refer to divine, human and cosmic conceptions ; and which system of philosophy has been so very largely used by the late Madame Blavatsky to support and corroborate the wonderful system of human and universal genesis partly unveiled in her great work, The Secret Doctrine of the adepts of the Eastern World. With her wonderful intuition she perceived that the published and still extant Kabalistic treatises were but debased copies of the more true Chaldee Hebrew doctrine ; for she indeed was never entirely initiated into either of the branches of the still extant Kabalistic and Hermetic secret societies. From the Eastern Light which had dawned upon her so generously, she could indeed criticise, but could never fully comprehend the nature of Kabalistic illumination. . . Dr. Anna Kingsford, the other eminent modern Theosophist or seeker after the true conception of the Divine, although b ut slightly familiar with the Indian school of thought, was somewhat fully in communion with the doctrines called Hermetic-or by collateral descent,-Rosicrucian.

6

The anonymous author of this Short Enqu iry was definitely a Rosicrucian adept, and although his common name has not transpired, yet his identity was known to the initiated occul­ tists of his day, and the records of his progress inscribed in the unpublished roll of his branch of the Rosicrucian fraternity. The Suggestive Enquiry chose instead of .IEsch Me::areph, two other ancient discourses upon Alchymy as the text for its in­ struction ; these were the " Aureus, or Golden Tractate of Hermes," and the " Six Keys of Eudoxus," which formed one of three portions of the famous Hermetic Triumph, the other two fragments being named the " War of the Knights," and the " Discourse of Eudoxus and Pyrophilus. " The earliest edition, known to me, of these curious tracts, is the French translation of " Limojon de Saint Didier," dated r6gg ; besides this, there is still procurable the English version of r723. I t is intended to reproduce these curious essays in succes­ sion to the /Esch lvfe::areph, which is already in preparation, and which is certain to interest all true students of the occult sciences, because it points out the analogies between alchy­ mic tenets and the allegorical explanation ot many passages in the Old Testament of the Hebrews. In order to assist fellow students in their investigations, I have added here a summary of the Short Enquiry, and have prevailed upon the learned Soror S. S. D . D., to contri­ bute an " Introduction to Alchymy," which will be found pregnant with meaning by those who have the divine affiatus, although to the ordinary reader, who takes up an Hermetic book only from curiosity, her essay will need to be studied with the closest attention. ·

S U M MARY. THE anonymous author commences with a definition of Alchymy, and proceeds to argue that there must be a sound basis for the science because so many authors of different eras and widely separated countries have all agreed upon the essentials of the doctrine and of the art, and that in many instances almost identical results have been described by adepts wholly unknown to each other, although contem­ poraneous. He very properly urges that the decision of the truth or error of these doctrines can only be rightly judged by" other persons who have actually investigated these researches, and the negative evidence of those who have failed, and the

7 judgment of those who have not searched for themselves, is not any criterion by which such intricate forms of philosophy should be estimated. He further insists that the great learn­ ing and lives of pious zeal of many of those who gained suc­ cess in alchymy should demand an a priori confidence in the tenets they demonstrated and sought to unfold. Leaving for the time the thread of the argument, he regrets the failures and wasted enerii es of many who, in defiance of the warnings of true adepts, and in disregard of the conditions which they laid down as essential to success, yet intruded themselves upon this psycho-spiritual path. He points out especially three requirements which were always insisted upon as necessary to attainment of the summum bonum, viz . , a vir­ tuous life, pure and unsullied by sensual enjoyment from birth to the time of trial, a certain freedom from ordinary social and business liabilities, and the inherent power to compre­ hend the language of symbol and allegory. He then warmly supports the alleged necessity for the use by alchymists of symbolism and illustration rather than the plain language of exoteric science ; remarking most truly that to the pupil who has in himself the power to succeed, the light of intuitive perception will surely dawn, and that so will he be enabled to appreciate the ideals intended to be conveyed, and at the same time will acknowledge the wisdom of such re­ veiling as is present in the works of the true adepts. The Enqzeiry then passing superficially to the Assiatic or material plane, yet at all times preserving the actual scheme of spiritual manifestation, considers the grand doctrine of con­ trast, alluding to the essential differences between Perfect and Imperfect metals, and thus introduces the ideal of the Triune. There are three principles of manifestation and of matter, and even three processes of transmutation. The U niversal Solvent or bond of union is then considered, the snowy splendour of U nity standing between the two contrasted forces which form the Dyad. (See the Sepher Yetzirah.) This subject is largely commented upon, and allusion is made to the Process even upon the plane of matter, requiring a " M eans Mineral " between the two material forms. Many illustra­ tions are then given, notably the doctrines of Sir George Ripley, a Canon of Bridlington, famous alike as a churchman: and as a chemist, who formulated the ideal of the Green Lion as a type of the third element-the Means-by which alone could the extremes be knit in perfect association. Returning once more to the help of the student, the Enquiry recommends that such as mean to succeed should

8 study not only one real master in his published works, but several ; because each author· took care that by one book alone the whole secret could not be learned ; and that this was not only to stimulate research and cultivate the intuition, but also lest any ·unworthy person should obtain so great an acquisition as transmutation, which could be misused as well as turned to good account. Our author then becomes discursive and suggestive and elucidates (or reveils) the meaning and intention of several symbols and paraphrases, such as the terms " Doves of Dian·a " and the Caduceus of Hermes, and some of the Kabalistic allegories such as the story of N aaman, Elisha and Gehazi. Becoming still more useful tG the learner, our author reverts to the requirements and aims of students, telling them plainly that the Great Secret is almost unattainable by study alone, and that a Master is needed, and that a :Master will be forth­ coming to him or her who has the inherent faculty of culture upon the Alchymic basis ; and finally he ends his discourse by encouraging the learner in his efforts by showing the analogies between the seed of gold reproducing gold, and the grain of wheat by which alone is a crop of Wheat to be ob­ tained. The Solar heat of nature in her working to produce a crop for man's needs and benefit, is also a type of the Hidden Fire by which the alchymist is able to separate the impure from the p ure, and to produce the mystic gold from amongst the dross of worldly mind and common matter. In conclusion, he states, that although the adepts made such free use of allegory, symbol and simile in order to dis­ guise their secret, yet if a man's intuition do but take a firm grasp of one of them, the mystery of a whole series unfolds itself, and the discovery of matters, means and process is achieved, alike on the material plane, and in that higher · world where we find Rest in God alone. ·

N . 0.

M. ;

R.R. et

A.C.

A N I NTRO D U CTI O N TO A LC H E M Y. BY S. S. D. D. �- :

-� -

RITERS on Alchemy are in the habit of making so many prefatory remarks on their own account, that their books stand in very little need of preface ; unless indeed, the Editor undertakes to reveal the �ecrets which the Author is so careful to conceal. I must at once say I am not prepared to do this, but to one thing, I can with advantage call your attention, which is that the study of Alchemy, above all other branches of Occult science, demonstrates the value of Analogy in our search after the real meaning of the mysteries of man and his relation to the Universe. The process of transmutation, which displays a series of colours, recalls the Religion of the Egyptians, sym­ bolising as it did, the blackness of night, the rainbow colours of dawn, the whiteness of noon, and the red glow of evening. The first stage of this symbolism alludes to the blackness of ignorance, the chaotic dark­ ness of men who reject the keys to the secret of the Universe, which are to be found in the rainbow colours ; to the vibrations of sound, to scents, tastes, feelings; and subtle psychical impressions. \\'hen a man's mind b egins to grasp the order and relation of such sense impressions as these, he bids fair to pass from the dark­ ness of ignorance to the white light of wisdom , and perhap s eventually to attain to the imperial purple which clothe s the elect. . . -To do this he must, within himself, possess the divine gift of wonder ; for it is through this faculty that he raises

W

·

.

10 himself above the cares of life. The man whose curiosity carries hiin from the contemplation of the manifestation to the contemplation of its causes, is the man whose instincts are preparing him· to undert ake the Great Work. Content is fatal ; the man who is content with any­ thing, who does not feel in _his mo.st successful moments, during the most sacred earthly joys, a keen sense of want and disappointment, can never hope to find the Stone of the Wise-true wisdom and perfect happiness. The happy are sufficiently rare, however, for me to hope that few of my readers will be deterred from the study of Alchemy by what I have said. vVe ha v e all been taught to look with horror upon Medusa's head, with the serpents twisting round. its face, the terror of which turned all to stone who gazed upon it. But we must, if we would learn the secret wisdom of the ages, learn to long for a glance from those wonderful eyes, which will bestow upon us the gift of indifference to personal joys and sorrows. For the wise man must be as a precious stone ; a centre of light to all that approach him ; giving joy to others, because he contains the image of the highest joy in himself ; desiring nothing from the world, drawing his inspiration from the supem al light that Wisdom Goddess " who wears the serpent crowned head upon her shield. Well has Robert Fludd said, " Be ye changed from dead stones into living philosophical stones. Be equal with God. Ye hear all these things but ye believe not. Oh miserable mortals, who do so anxiously run after your own ruin Then the philosopher points out the futility. of the ordinary man of petty aims and weak will never ga in ­ ing the goal of the higher, or for the matter of that, the lower Alchemy " Oh thou miserable one, wilt thou be n1ore happy ? O h thou proud one, wilt thou be elevated above the circles of this world ? Oh thou ambitious one, wilt thou command in Heaven above this earth, and thy dark body ? -

"

."

,

.

·

·

II Oh ye unworthy, will ye perform all miracles ?

Know ye rejected ones, of what nature it is, before ye seek it." So it comes to the old, old teaching, GNOTHI SEAUTON, Know thyself ; until by deep thought and medita­ tion , words have become more than words to thee ; until thou hast analyzed them , separated them, trans­ posed them into every conceivabie form, and finally extracted from them, their quintessence and spiritual meaning, thou wilt understand no word that the ancient philosophers speak to thee. Take now the loose meaning attached to such a word as imagination ; in these materialistic days it has become synonymous with extravagant fancy, if not with lying : but hear what Paracelsus says of imagination as an occult manifestation of power : " Man has a visible and invisible workshop. The visible one is his body, the invisible one his imagination. . . . The imagina­ tion is a sun in the soul of man acting in its own sphere, as the sun in our system acts on the earth. Wherever the latter shines, germs planted in the soil grow, and vegetation · springs up ; the imagination acts in a similar manner tn the soul, and calls forms of life into existence. The Spirit is the master, imagination the tool ; and the body the plastic material. Imagina­ tion is the power by which the will forms sidereal en­ tities out of thoughts, it can produce and cure disease." Perhaps this passage will give new light to those who h ave lately treated this faculty with such contempt, in dealing with the subject of hypnotism. In truth, Imagination is the power of forming images in our minds. It is the development and intensification of an idea, which first exists, is then conceived passively in the thought. sphere ; then the mind (perceiving the idea can be used) brings desire into play, which is de­ veloped into an act ofWill, and this converts the passive conception of the idea into an active Imagination. So begins the magical process, the rest it is not for me to divulge. ·

!2

I will only add on this subject the saying of Eliphaz; Levi, that� " The first matter of the Magnum Opus is both within and about us, and the intelligent will, which . assimilates light, directs the operations of substantial form , and only employs chemistry as a very secondary instrument .. . The Steggestive E�tq uiry, published a century later than the work under our consideration, points out the method which should be employ�d in the exhaustive analysis of the nature of man, so necessary to the completion of the great work. He says ·:" Metempsychosis takes the human identity (or con­ sciousness) from animal existence to the ethereal ele­ ments of its original formation." That is, in thinking inward! y with calm and philoso­ phic mind we can pass from the m anifested life we see and feel, to the motive power of that life ; and finally to the cause of the motive power ; from the mundane to. the supra-m undane ; from the intellectual to the intelli­ gible ; from the earth to the firma:nent ; from water to the fiery rays of heat emerging from the central light which is the source of · all things. The same book continues, " These elements are the universal fundamentals of nature : . only. in the Human forn1 can they attain that supremacy of reason which returns to its first cause." Reason is the light which guides us. Let me hasten to add how necessary it is to distinguish between the fals,e reason, and the Heavenly Reason which we per­ ceive when intuition is purified ; and we rise above the lower passions. The false reason is merely an image set up by our unbalanced forces to justify us in evil doing. Well has it been said, that when we find our­ selves seeking to justify ourselves by giving reasons for our actions, we have been doing something we are secretly ashamed of. . True Reason is the clear light descending upon us from that which is above al� pretence. It was a com­ m union with this faculty , that Saint Thomas a Kempis ·

,

·

13

desired when h e told those who would det ain him , he m ust leave them, as one wa s waiting for hin1 in his cell .. False reason seeks to J ustify itself with n1uch argument ; Pure Reason knows Truth, and can afford to be silent. So continues the Sttggestive Enq uiry In the I-Iuman form only is it possible to comprehend the Divine form ; when it has done so by a triplicate growth of Light in the understanding consciously allied, it emanates a fourth form, truthful, godlike, being the ex­ press image of its person magically portrayed.'' I think I have said enough to show that the Alchemist undertakes no light task. I can hold out no hope of success to those who still retain an absorbing interest in the world. In the world Adepts may be, but not of it. Alchemy is a jealous mistress, she demands from pupils no less than life ; for her sake you must perform the twelve labours of Hercules ; for her you must descend into Hell, for her sake you must ascend into Heaven . You must have strength and patience, nothing must terrify . you, the joys of Nirvana must not tempt you ; having chosen your wor!