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.

The PREFACE to the READER.

REader, Forasmuch as it hath pleased God to permit the Spirit of Medicine truly to Operate by Macha∣on, Podalirias, Apollo, and Hypocrates, &c. that so true Medicine ••hining through the Clouds, (for it cannot possibly be known fully and plainly by them) might proceed forth unto the light, and be manifestod unto ••••n: He was also pleased by that same means to prohibit the spirit of Darkness from wholly suppressing and quenching the Light of Nature, whereby the Magnalia of God which lie hidden in Arcana's, Quintessences, Magisteries, and Elixirs, would have been unknown. God therefore hath or∣dained certain Mediums, that so the diligent search of such Arcana's and Mysteries might furthermore be implanted in ••••n by the good Spirits, even as some men (there have been, ••h••) have received Angelical Natures from the Heaven

in which the Angels are: Such men could afterwards (as being endowed with a perfect understanding of Nature) search thereinto, and into its daylie Course, more profoundly then other men, and compare the pure with the impure, and seper∣ate these two, and so alter and change the Pure, that it seemed to some a thing impossible: For they (as being natural and true Physicians) do know how by convenient Medium's to help Nature, and to bring ••••r by their Arts, to perfection: And therefore all imperfect and diabolical Operations, must give place to them, even as a lye doth to the truth and perfe∣ction. 'Tis beh••veful I say, that we speak the truth, if no would arrive to a happy End: And if it be absolutely law∣ful to lay hold upon the truth, let it be no shame to any one to seck it, whatsoever place is be in.

So then, let no body take it in evil part, that even I my self have loved it, and sought after it; for 'twas expedien: for me to follow Her, & not that She should have sought after me: Whosoever will see a strange City, he must not lye at home in his C••uch, nor must he be a rosting of Pears in his Chimney; 'tis not sitting that he should be made a Doctor there. There can be no famous Cosmographer made at his table on∣ly: Nor no Chyromancer in a Parlour: nor no Geoman∣cer in a Cellar. So▪ neither can we obtain true Medicine without abundance of diligent search. 'Tis God that makes a true Phisician, but not without trouble and labour, as himself saith, viz. Thou shalt eat of the Labours of thy hands, and it shall be well with thee. Whereas therefore, to SEE, precedes the truth, & such things as the sight perceive••, so the heart is accordingly either exhilerated, or affright••ned: I•• will not be lost labour to me, nor any infamy, to visit (or go travelling into) other places, and to adhere to such men as fooles do contemn, that so I may try what lyes hid in the Lim∣bus of the Earth, and may fulfil the Office and Duty of a true Phisician, that so Medicine may be administred to our Neighbours benefit, according to Gods appointment, and that least it should bring loss and damage rather then benefit: But

this it not to be done by an idle, lazie man. Let him that will (therefore) set in his Couch: My journying to and fro de∣lights me, together with such things as God and time permits me to search into, and see.

But, because of the Candid Readers, who desire to learn, and who love the Light of Nature, I have thought good to write this Book, that so they might know the foundation of my true Medicine, and may reject the tris••es of the evil Physici∣ans, and may be in some measure able to defend my Cause a∣gainst them: But I suppose that even these things will be ac∣counted fabulous; For those ••gregious Fellows have very well known all these things long ago: And the Ass-like-Do∣ctor hath long since had these things in his Budget, but yet he shall not so easily obtain them: For verily he that would un∣derstand this Book, must be a good Alchimist, such an one a•• the Coales do not hurt, and such an one as is not tyred with the daylie smoake: So then, let these things be pleasing to whom they list, I will compel none; but this I say, That this will no•• fall without some fruit, howsoever the lying Phisicians (my Adversaries) may blame and accuse me.