Van Helmont's works containing his most excellent philosophy, physick, chirurgery, anatomy : wherein the philosophy of the schools is examined, their errors refuted, and the whole body of physick reformed and rectified : being a new rise and progresse of philosophy and medicine, for the cure of diseases, and lengthening of life / made English by J.C. ...

CHAP. LXXXVIII. A Preface. (Book 88)

I Have already demonstrated elsewhere, that the Schooles have passed by the know∣ledge of Diseases, and Things, the neglect whereof is a Fault: Neither is it therefore a Wonder, if there be nothing hitherto of unheard of things: For it hath been an un∣wonted and difficult matter to be willing, to be wise in departing from the Opinions of the Schooles, while they should fall from those things which I substituted in the room of acknowledged Errours.

There are few also, who Phylosophize only for the sake of Charity towards their Neighbour. Most of the more preferred ones refuse to learn, as if the Greeks, and Arabians had known all things; and they despaire that more can be known: And therefore they have put on sluggishness as their Skin. But it is a frequent thing for him, who presently after Promotion, runs up and down from House to House, to be intent upon Gain only, and he prostitutes a saleable health for Visits: Therefore he is most rare who is admitted unto the privy Chamber: Many in the mean time, walk∣ing before the doores of Chymistry, do boast of great Matters, being deluded with vain hope. But indeed I first (unless I am deceived) have written the History of Life, and Death, hoping that thereby God his own Honour will redound unto him from his free gift of the Tree of Life, and a useful Fruit unto those whom he reserves unto long Life, after me: For Paracelsus, who before me, hath treated of long Life, hath in∣deeed given a Title, but hath been altogether ignorant of the Matter.

In the mean time, unless the Lord shall avert it, I guess from a just fear, that the Life of Mortals will dayly be shortned, and at length to pass unto the Grave in its green eare, through the Offence of Cutting of a Vein, and Purgings: Unless I say God do make almost all things new: For the attainment of the Tree of Life is most dif∣ficult, of much Labour, and revealed unto few: for it behoveth that the innocent in Hands and Heart, doth ascend by the Mountain of the Lord; Who hath not betaken his Soul to Vanity, nor hath prepared Deceit for his Neighbour: For he only shall receive this blessing from the Lord: Until at length in the extream confusions of times, Man shall dare to teach Man those things, which otherwise for the conserving of mutual Commerces of Men, do remain in secret. For most Physitians at this day, suppose that they know enough,, if they being initiated in the Paganish Doctrine of their An∣cestors, wax rich only, and by the Rules of Writers are excused from Death among the common sort. Most of them also deride at long Life, because they are ignorant: But these Men will at sometime be at the full, and their Mocks shall fall on their own Authors: Because in the Age to come, it shall grieve God for so great neglect toward the Neighbour and Poor. Vices also succeed one another throughout Ages, in a Chain. It hath already been sometimes an honour to have drunk down many large Cups; elfe∣where, to have slain many in a single Duel. Fraud and Deceit flourisheth at this day under the Title of Quicksightedness; and virtue doth lay hid as Rare among Few, al∣though it be alwayes nominally esteemed: It shall again wax feeble, while the number of pernicious Wits shall depart from the delicate Idleness, and evil curiosities of Studies, unto Arts and Workmanships: For a tranquillity of times shall spring up, when the root of Worms living on idleness, and that which is other Mens, being covered with the cloak of Piety, shall be driven away. At length repentance to come, bids us hope for reformation: For which happy age I have decreed to write of long Life, praysing God, that my Pilgrimage is shortly to be devolved unto a period. But while I open

unheard of things, if in any place I shall discover the Errours of Predecessors, I have constrainedly done that, that those who shall follow me may not dash themselves against rough places, and be deprived of the scope of Truth: For I my self by Degrees, beholding from my Youth, the empty Husks, wherewith the Beginnings of Nature did in∣crust themselves, I began to be accounted an Apostate from Galen; and I exposed my self willingly unto the vile esteem of Physitians, supposing it a laudable thing to have my Stupidity to be derided by ignorant Men; because throughout my whole Life, I have neglected the common Applause: For by Haters, I am called a Paracelsian, and a For∣saker of the Schooles; and yet I am esteemed an Adeptist, the Obtainer of some Secrets. And although under this Title, I have been invited by two Emperours to Court, yet have I refused Honours, and a Courtiers Life, who all my life time have despised the Sents of Ambition: And now much more (I being detained at the Ship of the Mote, by the Bank of old Age) do I as careless, avoid and neglect whatsoever Posterity shall think of me alive or dead; because I in dying, desire the tranquillity of my Soul. Therefore do I every where protest, that I have never taken notice of the Errors and Neglects of the Schooles, but that I might satisfie my calling, and profit credulous Mortals.