Paracelsus, his Archidoxis comprised in ten books : disclosing the genuine way of making quintessences, arcanums, magisteries, elixirs, &c : together with his books of renovation & restauration, of the tincture of the philsophers, of the manual of the philosophical medicinal stone, of the virtues of the members, of the three principles, and finally his seven books of the degrees and compositions, of receipts and natural things / faithfully and plainly Englished, and published by J.H., Oxon.

CHAP. II. Of the Definition of the Subject and Matter of the Tin∣cture of the Philosophers.

BEfore I come to the Process of the Tincture, 'tis ex∣pedient that I lay open unto thee the Subject there∣of; for this hath alwayes been peculiarly hidden hi∣therto by the lovers of Truth. The Matter therefore, of the Tincture, [see that you understand me according to a Spagyrical sense] is a certain thing which doth by the Art of Vulcan, pass out of three, into One Essence, or may remain. But, that I may mention it by its proper Name, according to the use of the Ancients, 'tis by ma∣ny called, the Red Lyon, but is known but by a few; this Lyon may by the help of Nature, and the Art of an Artist, be transmuted into a White Eagle; so that of One are made Two, and so Lustrous, that the splendor of Gold shines not so bright to a Spagyriss, as this doth; those two have a brighter shine if kept in One. If n•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do•• not understand and the use of the Cabalists, and of the Ancient Astronomers, or their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thou art not ••Spaan•• ordained by God for the Spagyrick Art, not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chosen by Nature for the work of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor created to open thy mouth concerning the Chymical Art: The matter therefore of the Tincture, is a most excellent Pearl, and a most precious Treasure, and the most noble thing [next the Manifestation of the Most High, and the Consideration of Mankind] that can be in the Earth; this is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Alchimy and of Medicine, which the Philosophers have so accurately sought after; but because or the defect of the m••ne knowledge thereof, and i••

perfect Preparation, they arrived not to its perfect end; there is given us an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 onely of the Tincture, by their Searchings and Experiences; but as for the true foundation, which my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to imitate, is les•• t•• me, so that no body may commi•• then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without Intentions. Deservedly therefore do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my long Experience •• co••••ect and regulate the Spagyris••s, and seperate the false and ••Wprd•• from the true; son I have by my long Inquiries and ••••••gent Search, found out such ways, by which I may justly reprove and change many things: But yet notwithstanding, had I found the Experiments of the Ancient, to have been more excel∣lent then mine, I would not at all have taken such great Labours as I have willingly undergone for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, be∣nefit and honour of all Honest Archimists, &c. Having therefore sufficiently declared the subject of the Tincture in such wise as can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be done more faithfully be∣tween two Brethren, o•• indeed is lawful to be done more, I will proceed to its preparation; and having first set down the Experiences of the First Age, I will also add my Inventions, to which the Age of Grace and Mercy •••• at last adhere, whatsoever 〈…〉〈…〉 thou, O Sophister, makest and producest in the me 〈…〉〈…〉, as 〈…〉〈…〉 of thy Philosophy.