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. ...

TO THE FRIENDLY READER S. D. FRANCIS MERCURIUS Van HELMONT, A Phi∣losopher, by that ONE in whom are all things; A Wandring HERMITE.

I Had at sometime concluded, by reason of many wan∣dring thoughts, that it would be hardly obtained of me to Write any thing to be published for the use of my Neighbour, in this present Age; seeing that I have hated feigned, varie-form, vain, and deceitful words, which the Men of the World do thirst after. But now I being constrained by the Reasons and Letters of many mo∣derate wise Men, out of divers Kingdoms and States here and there, who perswaded me that I was devout∣ly engaged by the pledge of Health, to commit all the Writings of my deceas∣ed Father unto the Press; and to annex thereunto, when, and after what man∣ner he closed his Day: Also in what State or Condition he left the aforesaid Writings: And moreover, to supply those things which were lacking, for the vindicating the Life of Man-kind, from many Errors, Torments, and Destructi∣on. It is [That] which hath extorted from me, to leave all other things, and thorowly to review the aforesaid Writings; which being finished, I gave up my self to hearken to their Calls: I suspended my former purpose, discoursing in plain and most simple Words, the following Narrative, in my Mother Tongue, according to the tenour of the fore-going Dedication of my Father, the which I also imitate, by following him in the very same intent thereof.

The Death of my Father, happened on the Thirtieth Day of the Tenth Month, December, of the Year one thousand six hundred forty four, at the sixth hour in the Evening, when as he had as yet, a full use of Reason, and had first required and obtained all his sacred Solemnities and Rights. His Life it self was his Disease, which remained with him seven Weeks, beginning with him after this manner: He at sometime returned home in hast, on foot, at Noon, in a cold and stinking Mist, which was a cause unto him, that when he endea∣voured to write a small Epistle of about fifteen lines, or did indulge himself with too large a discourse, his breathing so failed him, that he was constrained to rise

up, and to draw his breath thorow the nearest Window; whereby a Pleurisie was provoked in him, at two several times, from the which notwithstanding, he restored himself perfectly whole; yea the day before his Death, he being rais∣ed upright, as yet wrote to a certain Friend of his in Paris, there being among other, these following words; Praise and Glory be to God for evermore, who is plea∣sed to call me out of the World; and as I conjecture, my Life will not last above four and twenty hours space: For truly I do to day sustain the first assault of a Fever, by reason of the weakness of Life, and defect thereof, whereby I must finish it. The which accordingly followed, after that he had bestowed a special Benediction or Blessing on me, the which I esteem for a great Legacy. I do not here more large∣ly extend the property of his Disease, by reason of the straitness of time; seeing that I am besides, to make mention of him, in my Compendium, from all things unto the one thing, the which I endeavour (God willing it) to publish in a short time.

A few days preceding his Death, he said unto me; Take all my Writtings, as well those crude and uncorrected, as those that are thorowly expurged, and joyn them toge∣ther; I now commit them to thy care, accomplish and digest all things according to thy own judgement: It hath so pleased the Lord Almighty, who attempts all things powerfully and directs all things sweetly. Therefore attentive Reader, I in∣treat thee, that thou do not at the first sight, wrongfully judge me, because I have taken care to have the more Crude Writings Printed, as being mix∣ed with the more Digested ones, those not being Restored or Corrected: Know thou, that the desire of promoting this great and laborious Work, hath been the cause thereof; at length thou maiest experience, that the desirous Reader was to be by all means satisfied no less in this, than in the aforesaid Writings, and then thou wilt judge, that I have well and faithfully performed all things, seeking nothing for my own gain; the which shall more clearly ap∣pear by this my Preface.

I call God to witness, that my Desire (unto whom it is known) doth extend unto the help of my Neighbour: Wherefore read thou, and read again this Writing, and it shall not repent thee for ever; for I tell thee in the height of truth that I have published these things from pity alone, as taking good notice, that men by reason of their own Imaginations, are so little careful of or affected with, the safety of an Eternal and Temporal Life.

Stop your antient in and out-steps, enter ye into the Royal path Eternal, dis∣miss ye those innumerable by-paths, which I my self have with exceeding la∣bour and difficulty thorowly beaten, in seeking whereby I might come unto the knowledge of the Truth; endeavourm in the mean time, to find out the ordination of all created things, and their harmony, and that by all the more in∣ternal and external means, which I was able to imagine. I then bent all my Senses, whereby I might make my self known unto Wise men so called, hoping at length, to find some Wise Man, not learned according to the common man∣ner, in all places where I should passe thorow (which I might call Nations:) of whatsoever profession or condition they were, I spake to them according to their desire, that I might joyn in friendship with them by discourse, and ac∣cording to my abilities, I imparted unto them the whole cause: by this and other means I touched at many clear fundamental Knowledges and Arts; all which, I heare advisedly pass by: And when I understood, all and every of them, to be onely the esteemed workmanship of a great Man, I discerned, that by how much the more a thing was absurd, vain, and foolish or frivolous, by so much the more it was exalted, and respected or honoured; the which servitude I per∣ceiving, became voluntarily averse thereto, as being one who did prosecute plain simplicity.

I descending, ascended unto essential and occult or hidden properties, and for my aid, the understanding of some Latine Books seemed to be desired; to this end, I read over diverse times the New Testament, in the Latine Idiome, and the Germane, that by that means I might in a few days, not onely under∣stand the Latine stile, but also, that in the aforesaid Testament, I might find the perfect, and long wished for, simple, one onely and Eternal Truth and Life, which the one thing (to wit God) doth onely and alone earnestly require, and is averse to all duallity or plurality; So also, whatsoever God hath created, he created all of it, in that one, and by that one thing, otherwise he had not kept an order.

And by how much the more I knew this amiable, free, and one only thing in all things, and did enjoy it; I addressed my self to a quiet study: I was out∣wardly cloathed with simple or homely raiment, and for the more inward con∣tracting of my mind, as also for curing thereof, I acted many things known to God alone, as also for the preservation of my health, and increasing of my strongth, I lived soberly for many Years together, I also abstained from fleshes, like as also from Fishes, Wine, and Ale or Beer; and that so far, that I incurred the contempt and disdain of my Kindred, who upbraided me as I conjecture, from a good zeal: What unwonted thing doth he again begin? He renders himself unfit for every condition and function, as well Ecclesiastical as Secular: He will at length become mad, when he shall no longer find any novelty for his Delight, or shall adict himself to Magical Arts, or shall attempt a new Heresie: It is become with him, as with other wise Mens Children, as to persist in obsti∣nacy.

Others moreover, redoubled; His Father is in the fault, for he hath rashly educated all his Children, he admitted them from their tender years, unto the Art of the Fire: This man being now become foolish, hath lost the oportunity or occasion of happiness; when Isabella Clara Eugenia, the Infanta of Spain, re∣ceived him, and appointed him for a noble service with her Nephew the chief Cardinal, he refused it: it were better he had died instead of his Brethren, some good might have been expected from them; this man is serviceable for no em∣ployment: If he gapes after studies, let him submit himself to his Teachers, as it is the manner of others to do; or he is to be induced to marry a Wife, who may shake off these strange things from him.

On the contrary, others retorted; This is too late, replying by a mock, he is a Philosopher, he is too stubborn, he is no where seen except in the compa∣ny of most unconstant, strange, and uncouth persons, of whatsoever profession and imployment; he will also incur a misfortune, for he knows not how to dissemble, he spareth none, neither great nor small, when he discerns that which is unjust; we are now dejected from all hope, he must needs be reduced unto wants, for he hath yeelded up all his Patrimony, both that which he did possess, and what should have fallen to him, unto his Sister; and moreover, as joyful, he hath departed hence, far from home, as shewing that he is never to return; Who ever remembred the like! He must needs undergo some changes, notwithstand∣ing, it matters not us concerning what, so that he be not to be accounted foolish, so as to cast off his old dresses, except better, and more certain ones should sup∣ply him.

Conjectures fail us, seeing that he hath entred into these things without our counsel; let himself also look to what the end will be; when he shall stand in need of us, let him be accounted as a stranger.

After that I had quietly, and joyfully overcome these, and many other chan∣ces, I forthwith devised of the following course or process of unburthening

my Conscience, the which, at my Importunity, a Man unknown to the World, fearing God, proposed unto me; the chief Heads whereof, I will deliver in a Compendium, by Questions and Answers, the subsequent whereof shall at some time hint out more, than is manifestly declared in the precedent Answers; the which is done to the intent, that the Reader might likewise in the mean time, somewhat earnestly endeavour, and that it might be manifest unto him, that the aforesaid answers do abound.

At a certain time, a certain Man called a Friend, came to visite me; whom, among other things, I asked, whether he did as yet remember his promise made unto me, of administring some things to be joyned unto my Fathers Work, for the further instruction of the courteous Reader? To which he an∣swered; Minde Brother, I thorowly weighing and meditating of thy Words all the night last past, and also the new and unheard of deliberation of Mercu∣rius, Trismegistus, Poimander, my Lamp being extinguished, and natural Nourishment being first for some time withdrawn from the Body, whereby I might wholly be at leasure in the inner Man; hereupon, when I had sustained a great swooning fit, I am made to see (the use of my Eyes being suspended) from a certain Light, transparent, weighty, thick or dark, and compacted cre∣ated Bodies, in their beginning, middle, and end, and I my self also piercing my self; and at the very moment of the Vision, I was found placed in a clear, living, circular, double Chair or Pulpit, wanting a Foundation, being embra∣cingly enlightned (toward its Beginning) by the Stars, being engraven on every side with a circular Letter, which some do call Zenith, others Nadir, the which also by its aspect spake unto me: Hear, See, understand, and talk thou with one in all, and all things in one: The time hath appeared, that all the Blind may see, and all that see may remain blind: Follow ye me, and I will make manifest un∣to you, my illumtnated Lights or Stars: my most stable Heart is created old and new, which is hung up for every man as a prize, being as it were a thing unknown by an express quality; proceed ye, earnestly endeavour ye, ye may reach the bottom of my necessary Body, together with all its durable, quiet, and acting Members; which parts are entire, praising their Creator singularly and universally by their Effects, who hath made me perfect, that I might help thee, and such as thou art, in the moment of necessity; for I am subjected to thy service, and am nothing besides.

I hearing these things, it was manifest that they were truths, and at that ve∣ry instant, I saw the Prize hung up, whereat I being as it were over furious, attered these words: Thou art a young Man, as also thy Children which shall be born of thee, for thy Brethren are like thee, who are equal unto thee in age, thy Bo∣dy was created most clean, ponderous, exceeding well compacted, and conspicuous, thy one-two, or single-double colours, are skie coloured and red, which do contain all the Colours of the universe, and the which colour hath transchanged thee into black dark∣ness; thoubeing a white and red Virgin, shalt bring forth unto him even ten Children at every birth, with the unblemishing of thy Virginity; for truly, thou, and thy Children do constitute a Light, whose Parts are entire, neither heat nor cold, and not any the most ••••••arpest Sword, shall loosen thy bond; for the Sun is thy Father, and the Moon thy Mother: Therefore here thou all things as not seeing them, and see thou as not hearing them, and speak thou within in the silence, that all things are in one; then shalt thou know a double co-united one thing in all things, as neither shalt thou be able to dissolve, as neither to knit the Eternal Band, without loss of time.

These things being spoken, a great horrour invaded me, and I soon con∣verting my self unto those like unto me, I there saw an innumerable company of Men of all forts of Nations, learned, and unlearned, wise, noble, and ignoble, young Men, together withold, who all were divided into strife among

selves, for the knowledge and science of the Truth; I well perceiving the ground of this Division, attempted by my wish, to prepare my self for the im∣planting of a mutual Concord.

First, I observed that a certain little Book, being a part of another to fol∣low after, entituled, Opuscula Medica Inaudita, or, Unheard of little Works of Me∣dicine, had in part raised this discord, the which had recalled the more young, godly, studious, and other Reverencers of the Truth, out of the long and ob∣scure night, into the dawning of the Day, that they might believe, that a Light more perfect, nor hitherto learned, did remain, from whence this dawning did shine unto them; and by how much the more thorowly they looked into the aforesaid little Book, by so much the more they were glad, because they found therein, the promises of the coming of a more perfect desired Light; it being that which did so heighten their Mind, that a certain one of them, did not fear publickly to propose this Parable with a shrill Voice, unto some eminent fa∣mous Professors of Universities, and Christians, yet ungrateful ones, with In∣terrogatives, and Admonitions: It is no wonder that these our Words do seem the more hard to the Flesh, seeing they are spiritual, whereof the Flesh can∣not give Judgment; even as he spake, who had never looked against the Light, by reason of the sickness of his Sight, and when he saw the least Light, he detested it, relating among other things, that it was the worst of Poysons, because it brought an intollerable Pain upon him; so that therefore, he remain∣ed uncurable, who could not through his obstinacy, endure any mention of curing, seeing that he loved Darkness before Light, and so was made a Son of the same Darkness. Some of the Professors took notice, that this similitude was uttered concerning them, and not knowing how to moderate themselves, as being possessed with fury, they flung out this; Ye Novices, and seditious Seeds-men of Heresies, ye ought to be burnt alive, together with your Abet∣tors. These Words being spoken, they in a rage rushed forward toward the House of the Seniour Professor, and there called a company together by night, that they might foresee among themselves, what might be taken in hand, where∣by this new Doctrin might be subverted: The Patron of this Family was a most covetous old Man, as also very aged, who after he had received them all with a solemn Salutation, began his Speech, saying; My fellow Brethren, and my sworn Sons of our Profession, it is very well known unto you, that our Doctrin hath been firmly established, whereof nothing is to be doubted, see∣ing it is so antient, nor ever hath sustained any adversity of the Nations which might brand it with a blemish: In our dayes, it is least of all to be granted, that by this Schismatical Doctrin, it can go to the wall, or that the glory, esteem, and the things suggested by us, eminently appearing in print, can altogether perish; for the preserving of them, let us earnestly endeavour with all our Might; by which deed, we shall render our selves immortal unto our succes∣sours, and shall bear away a solemn reward for our famous Deeds; let us be u∣nanimous, then shall we perform many things; I will first produce my Opinion: If any one of us shall be adverse to our purpose, let him be imposed upon with a Fine (by a plurality of voices) agreeable to every ones Wealth or Ability; I as the first, will bind my self to this, by a Copy; and assoon as any one shall come to be fined, let the money rebounding from hence, he laid aside for the use of suppressing the Enemies; and least discord should grow among us for the future, and that we may fitly reach our seasonable conclusion, it is needful, that all things which shall here be dispatched, be committed to writings; whom they presently obeyed in every thing, and committed it to the Effect; besides they incited him, that he might proceed as he had begun, saying, Both these

Propositions are just and equal; for truly, all of us have by this our Doctrin, gotten our wealth; And so also, it is meet and just, that the Goods gotten thereby, should have respect unto our Doctrin, and should defend it, whereby we may as yet attain to be more wealthy. The aforesaid Seniour hearing these Words, with a very grateful, and pleasant Countenance and Gesture, adjoyned thereto; I hold it most exceeding necessary; and also to procure other Wealth of the Schools, that they may joyn with us, and enter into a mutual Covenant, because the Matter toucheth them also; which being obtained, we will pre∣sently implore the Magistrate, to condemn that seditious little Book to the Fire, under a further injunction, that they which should make use of it, shall pay the punishment of Goods, and Body. Secondly, it should be diligently endea∣voured by us, that we presently setting upon the one only Son of the Author of the aforesaid little Book, by subtilty, who possesseth his other Writings, by an hereditary right, should promise him a certain summe of Money, some third man interceding, as for a congratulation or restoring of his Fathers Books un∣to us, the which we should allege, were to be committed to the Press, as feign∣ing to take part with his Father, that by his means, we at least might under∣stand, where he might keep them in secret, whereby we might obtain the same to be burnt by the Fire; for when these Books shall behold the Light, we shall suffer greater things; neither should any other Remedy avail, than pro∣cure a Book to be set forth in the Authors name, containing perverse Doctrin, or hellish Arts, and to disperse it throughout the whole World: also that this thing might the better succeed, the said Heir should be taken out of the way, least he should hinder our purpose: all which things, it is lawful freely to com∣mit without Sin, seeing that we are able to demonstrate, and confirm these things, by a received custom, and Doctrin of very many famous Writers, of a certain predominating Order. These sayings being ended, he intreated the chief Doctor next unto himself, no less to endeavour with all his might, to a∣bolish so gainsay-ing a Doctrin, and to preserve the profitable one; whereto he as the second, to the first, replyed, he was at this command. He was otherwise, an honest and sincere Man, who had secretly recalled many miserable Sick from the Grave, through his Integrity; whereby, as oft as opportunity gave leave, he chastised Forms or Sorts of Remedies, from the quantity and vio∣lence of his said Collegiates: This Man also understood of, and expected the present coming of Elias the Artist, the which he vehemently desired, and had learned many Years before, from a certain studious Man of the Brethren of his Profession; and besides, he excelled in the strength of reason, and in a firm health of Body, who dying, seemed to know something beyond the com∣mon sort of Men.

He once before his Death, went to minister to the Poor freely out of Chari∣ty, he wrought many Works of Mercy in the Hospitals and Prisons, until he brought back with him, a common Disease, who presently sent for his Profes∣sours, who much rejoyced, that he himself would make tryal of the Fruits of their professed Theory: these Professours calling a wonted counsel, withdrew Blood largely from him, they gave him Purgative Medicines to drink, and so they plainly prostrated his strength: But it opportunely happened, that his remaining strength, and youth, overcame the Disease; he appeared to have received his lost strength, whereby he was confirmed, that Professours and Li∣censed Persons, were true Physitians, reckoning from their relation, that he had deserved or was in danger of Death, and that he owed his Life unto their Torments: hence they took of him a double reward, but not according to their deserts. The young Man renewing his former pious steps, was the second

time oppressed with the very same malady; and he hoped by their endeavour, again to escape the same cruelty; but alass, his spirit failed him, and from sound Reason, and a knowledge of the Truth, he cryed out unto this his Brother: It hath befallen me, as to all others, and it shall so long continue, untill Physiti∣ans so called, do in very deed feel and see this present time to be for Eternity; but now they forget the time past, believing that they possess the present time, they deny the time to come, seeing they cannot see that, and so they take no care for a longer Life; for they have never been destitute thereof, even as of any other frail or mortal good, whereof there is made a repairing, but they possessing one only Life, and loosing that, all shall be ended: It is a vain thing to employ ones self in Studies, when no necessity is urgent upon us: The Ser∣vant who ought readily to serve us, is beaten, which doth perpetually provoke this Man whom he shall name his Master, by all his qualities, he shall be ignorant of his thraldom, although all Men, except a few, are bound up by his Servi∣tude, the which for the most part, deprives of Life both now and hereafter: I despair of a temporary Life; for they who are said to bring help, do want the knowledge thereof, and they are first constrained to obtain it by brawlings and discords, which will arise among them, through hatred and envy, wherewith those called Doctors or Teachers have never laboured, seeing they are but few, who by running up and down day and night, do excel in Wealth, where∣by they scrape together an abundance of Money, as well among the Healthy, and Sick, as those that are dead; and so they might continue in concord, the which shall remain so long, until the last times appear, which thou shalt dis∣cern by that, when thou shalt see the number of Junior and Licensed Do∣ctors of Medicine, so to increase, that they shall scarce have employment: The Seniours shall be offended with the Juniours and Young Beginners, because their dayly revenues shall be diminished, and because they shall find forreign or accidentary Juniours, being constrained to learn more sure Principles, for to get their living, to cure some Sick, whose like, being under their care, did undergo Death; which thing, the Seniours shall envy, wishingly desiring, that all the Sick-folks might die, unto whom the Juniors should be called: Last∣ly, they shall reproach them publickly before all the People, saying; These wicked young Men do cure by Enchantments, they should of necessity, be forbidden to practise. By these and the like means, they shall labour to subvert them, and and they shall offend God, that it may add courage unto other godly and indu∣strious Juniours to perfect that, which they shall propose to the Seniours, in these Words: When we have invited you, to suffer us publickly to cure some Sick of an Hospital, appointing a Prize or Wager for the benefit of the Poor, ye also to be solicitous or diligent on the other hand, and that they who had not answered the effect, should pay the reward thereof, ye have refused that thing; ye seek not the Poor, but [Give Ye] ye resemble Beggars in that thing, who disdain their fellow Beggars, and are unwilling that their number should increase; for they have a confidence in some rich Mens houses and places, where a larger bounty befel them for their deceitful Words and Tricks, that so they may leave their Arts, and these Houses to their Chil∣dren for a Dowry; which very thing also, ye cherish in your Mind, but it shall have a bad success; because through this publick discord, which shall spring from Covetous∣nesse, that dayly Deceit shall be made known to the World, and they shall receive only true Doctors, who may be discerned by their good Fruits, and who shall imitate the steps of the Samaritan.

These Words being finished, he felt his Life to fail; therefore, lifting up his eyes towards Heaven, he with sorrow subjoyned; Oh most merciful Lord, abbre∣viate thou the term of Mans Salvation, and change thou the frail Doctrine of the Do∣ctors

their Flesh, into the natural or peculiar Love of the Spirit, that the Innocent may finish their Life to thy Glory; I pray thee oh my Saviour, do not thou impute my Death to the Doctors, hereafter, for an Offence, for truly they know not what they do commit; but vouchsafe thou to open their eyes, that they may assent to the truth, and that the People may publish those things of them, as in times past of holy Paul. Which saying being ended, he wholly committed himself to the Divine Will, and breath∣ed forth his last Breath in the armes of this his Brother, who did alwayes ponder these Words aforesaid.

This Man in his turn, uttered these following Words; We are all of us, being Brethren in Christ, engaged to patronize the truth; the which, is not better perfected than by opposing, and defending: Hence we will prosecute two things; one is, that the strength of our Enemies may be made known unto us; the other is, that we may add more strength to our own, and so, that we may be the more confirmed in our purpose. After that they had heard all these Words, they compelled [him] to undergoe this charge, with the threatning of a Fine, for so much as he had taken this voluntary Office on himself: And he alleaged; I being the second of the Seniours, am desirous to be instructed by any one, in this difficult matter; I being a Servant of truth, do after some sort yield to the two former Propositions; but unto the third, I can in no wise assent, to wit, to subvert the aforesaid Books by interdictions and brands of Censures: for if we should endeavour that, we should act altogether rashly, we thinking to extinguish them in one place, should also again raise them up in a thousand other places: Men are no longer so ignorant and unwary, as in times past, when as all Examples or Patterns of religious obedience were published by favour: which thing is chiefly manifest in Printers and Booksellers, they making gain here and there, and it cannot be forbidden and hindered: Doth not the thing it self bespeak that? we need not go far: That Author himself, set forth a Discourse, inscribed, Of the Magnetick or Attractive cure of Wounds, which was stoln from him, and about five hundred of them printed in Letters, by his Enemies; whereupon, they divulged three divers Books, in great number, of the Divines and Doctors of Medicine of all Europe, maintaining their Athiesm, consisting of blasphemous Censures, the which Censures they had easily collected, because they live in all Countries (under every kind of habit, and countenance of Religion) where Money, or Merchandise abounds; and these censorious Infamies, they did every where spread abroad in Temples, and other publick Places, whereby the little Book was made known, and was hun∣ted after by every one: I have known many seeking to compass it at a dear rate, neither could they obtain it; for no Printer had any thing of it to be found, seeing that they kept it only to themselves, it being so often printed, only for the collecting of the Stripes of Censurers, they suffering the loss of above fifty thousand Royals, whereby they might overthrow the Author there∣of. Moreover, because the aforesaid little Book or Discourse was approved of by some Wise, Learned, and Moderate Men, great injury was done to the Au∣thor; God foresaw otherwise, and blessed him that he should not be suppres∣sed according to their desire: And lo, in this restraint suffered from above, he published upon it, another little Book, instead of a forerunner, and this other principal Book was to follow after, that it may cleerly be manifest, those Wri∣tings of his, are not afraid of a Censors Rod.

Fourthly, that the Authors own original Copy of his Book or Writings, in the Heirs Possession, should be by craft or prize, apprehended, it cannot be accomplished to be abolished by the Fire, before that it be printed: for I cer∣tainly know, that some disdainful Persons, have by sending a certain

Bookseller before them, offered to the fore-threatned Heir, a thousand Crownes in hand, and besides, offering an Assurance of another thousand, on the conditi∣on, that he would deliver up all the Writings of his Father, which were in his Possession, no one piece being detained: the Heir smelt out the deceit, as being void of the desire of Money; he heard him spake, he asked him many Questi∣ons, he enquired into all things, and plainly confounded him, so that at last, he imprudently brake forth into reproaches, departing home with a vain Journey. These and many such like Attempts being acted, which the Heir hath had ex∣perience of, do breed in him a distrust, so that he only requires a preservation from him who aspireth unto those things, that he may not be deceived. Be∣sides I have understood, if I rightly remember, that himself hath taken care to have those Writings imprinted by an honest and faithful Man, who will be di∣ligent to sell them into all parts. Fiftly, to suborn ba••••ard Books on the Au∣thor, containing strange and false Doctrine, that would be made manifest; for the reason of Invention, doth now every where plainly appear: besides we should so awaken the Heir thereby, and according to the signification of his name, he would so loudly exclaim, that it should be perceived by all, unto whom means should not be wanting, although he wants a Patrimony; for truly it is affirmed, and is the very truth, that he hath found Elias the Artist, and hath made him his familiar Friend, by help of whom, he shall propagate the Phylosophy of Pythagoras, whose ultimate Tables he doth by unwearied La∣bour, dig up, with the signification of the Parent of the metallick Rod. The matter being thus, let us not provoke him, let us spare our Pains, and preserve our Charges or Expences; for if this Doctrin doth bear any evil intent before it, it will soon goe to ruine of its own accord; and if it descend from God, and we resist it, we could not satisfie our purpose, and we should spend our pains and costs in vain, bringing on our selves destruction both now and hereafter. When as all the rest of the Doctors had now heard these solid Reasons, they returned him great thanks, and esteemed his disprovement of what the other had said, for a decision of the matter; except the aforesaid Seniour: this man hearing those things, through grief and fear, was smitten with an Apoplex••e, and so died an exceeding sudden Death: his Sons cryed out with loud howl∣ings or lamentations, his Neighbours were awakened, and resorted thither a∣pace, being ignorant of what was done, they found all his Family exceedingly perplexed: Whither likewise, a studious Man approached, who had observed this rout, he presently sacrificed to his own profit; for when he saw all those Writings there laying up and down, and left, he taking them up, hid them un∣der his Cloak, and presently withdrew himself: asson as the day shone forth, he did his endeavour to read them unto every one of his Friends and Favou∣rites, who spread it abroad, and made it known: Hence it was further spread abroad, that thou in digging, hadst obtained the Will or Testament of Pytha∣goras, and it was declared by the Supream Lord of hidden Treasures; this Lord did presently commit thee to custody, because thou hadst not brought forth the Testament of Pythagorus to light, the which ought not to be attained by theft, but by gift; the Lord appointed three of his Wife Men (the Seekers or Lovers of peculiar natural Science, whom many of all sorts of Nations and Conditions, yea and the great Ones of the World, did follow or defend) to go thither where thou wast detained, who thus spake unto thee; Be of good cheer, this sentence shall be to be sustained by thee, which our Lord hath brought upon thee, the which begins after this manner; By the command of thy Supream Lord, unto whom it is certainly known, that thou Mercurius Van Helmont, in digging, hast found a Treasure, which he had commanded to be

enquired after by his Subjects, by whom, thou being accused, and convicted by certain and full proofs, art condemned to Death, unless thou shalt bring forth that very patched and covered Testament of Pythagoras, and likewise shalt most fully discover, by what way and knowledge thou hast found that: These things being performed, a liberty shall be allotted thee throughout all his Empire.

Thou hearing these things with a sorrowful Mind, and being again refreshed with cheerfulness, didst certainly know, that by proceeding in denyals, thou couldest not escape Death; wherefore thou answeredst, unto those that were sent in message unto thee, after this manner following: I intreat you oh ye Wise, like as also Prudent Sirs, if I can prevaile any thing with you, that ye mutually attest my thankful mind unto our Lord, for so clementious a sen∣tence, wherewith he hath vouchsafed to prosecute me, and to demonstrate unto him, that I have imprudently retained that Testament, as being ignorant that it was to be delivered: I now prepare my self to preform it, together with all the Experience and Knowledge, whereby I have obtained it, and that in∣deed, unto whom it shall please our Lord, so that his Goodness may grant me the space of a whole Week, within which time, I am to satisfie our Lord, whereby I may re-obtain my liberty, according to the tenour of his Sentence, hoping that that will not be refused: For in very deed, and according to a just computation, I stand in need of two dayes, to wit, that of Saturn, with that of Sol, whereby I may with my self, begin and perfect every Enterprize, or that I may dispose of all things, in order, which in the following day of Lune, and so afterwards, in the whole Week following, I shall distinctly signifie: Whereto the wise Men answered, Oh Mercurius, we are instructed with a full Command from our Lord, by whose authority we condescend to thy Petition, as being supported with Equity; thou shalt perform all things according to thy own sentence, that the wise Sirs being not learned after the common man∣ner, and moderate or courteous Men, may find no fault in thee, when they shall hear thee in the said day, or subject thee to examination and even as thou hast bound thy self to be kept in custody for thy own, and that an ample limit∣ted term of dayes, until thy promises are accomplished, we will alwayes re∣main with thee, for an enquiry into thy Conceptions, the which thou shalt frame in this two precedent dayes space. Thou rejoycedst in their Company; for whosoever he was that beheld them, gathered by their habit and gestures, that they were godly; for truly, their Countenance, did carry a divine glad∣ness before it, and thou didst say unto them: Seeing that the day cometh, for the winning whereof, my obediences are not in the least to be contested, know ye, oh my wise Men, that I prefixed no time for the recollecting of my Me∣mory, nor any the like thing, because I have no need thereof; but consider∣ing, that to day is the first day of the Week, but to morrow the last day, the Lords day, the seventh day, wherein he had finished all things, and wherein he had rested: It hath seemed meet unto me, to distribute and contain my Knowledge, according to the rate of the Dayes of the week; I beginning the future day of Lune one the sixth day of the week, after the custom of Mortals (for before God, all things are eternal and present) so that unto us, as unto Mortals, the first day may be accounted the last; and I beginning from Saturns day, to number backwards, have need of two and forty dayes for the fulfilling of the whole week, that which would stir up a weariness in many, through the largeness of time: In the mean time, I will briefly rehearse all things.

I Mercurius, being from my tender years, brought up by my Father in the select School of Hermes and there after some sort seasoned, my Spirit being

unquiet, was not content therewith, as desiringly desiring thorowly to know the whole sacred Art, or Tree of Life, and to enjoy it: Neither would I set my hands to Work, unless I could certainly understand this, from the begin∣ning to the end. Moreover, I concluded in my mind, that through an approve∣ment of the truth, I might be brought thither at the last, without the help of outward Instruction. I distributed with my self, all Creatures, first those Exter∣nal and Corporeal (as I may so say;) and then those Internal, Spiritual, and Corporifying ones; which Parts I did again refer or reduce towards and into one: I was not able to subdivide and know those Creatures called Corporeal ones, without the adjoyning of the Spiritual Corporifying ones: I beheld those with an unwonted Countenance; even as according to my Judgment, I had consequently placed all, in every one his own order, as being free from the anticipated or fore-possessed, false, and obstinate Opinions of the Heathens, who have never frequented Universities, as by this my unpolished Style doth suffici∣ently appear. Nevertheless, well observe ye, I utter no Saying in vain, but that it doth signifie something, and pertain to the whole.

My Spirit could perceive no delight or desire of study, in Temporary and Fraile or Mortal things; I did alwayes thirst and breath after Perfect and Eter∣nal ones; I was taken up into admiration within my self from momentary ne∣cessary created things, and from hence on God, who created Heaven and Earth at once, the which the Prophane Phylosophers cannot apprehend: and they who desire to come hitherto, they must worship God by a firme Faith, with an humble Hope, and in true Love: then shall they obtain a perfect Knowledge of himself, and of all other Creatures, before their Beginning, in their Being, or Essence, and after their transchanging; the which I will more largely and manifestly make out, so far as may be done by Words, for the Temporal, and Eternal Health, and Preservation of the Soul, and Body, ac∣cording to the measure of every ones Capacity, which all have not alike, nor had they: And that they might be the further holpen towards Salvation. God out of his Goodness, raised up Moses of the Prophets, who might be useful to them in a Type (which after the Dutch Language, is also as much as to say, Books) and by his Writings; to wit, in his first Book of Creations, which con∣taineth all of whatsoever can be desired, the which I in part, as the whole, had sometimes learned by heart (according to Jerom's Translation) the rather, because it comprehends all things, which man in his Own-ness, Selfishness and My-ness, and the like Appropriations cannot understand: For whatsoever God hath created, he hath created free, and at liberty by One, and in One; and he that arrogates that thing to himself, makes that very thing it self, his own, se∣perates himself from God, and doth in himself, enter into the way that leadeth towards utter Darkness: And as God is an Incomprehensible, Eternal, Piercing, and a Filling Fire, Light, and Glory, wanting Beginning, and Ending; such is he in the Men his Saints (Hy-lichten, according to the Dutch, is as much as to say, He shineth) in a co-united Love and Glory; and in the Godly (Sa-lichten ac∣cording to the Dutch, expresseth, (He ought to shine) he will be so, according to more and less or a greater and less measure; but in evil Men, who are Eternal in the Dark, and separated, he is also an Eternal burning Fire, even as it is said. Therefore, even as God is the Eternal Good (in the Dutch Idiome, it expresseth God;) so also, all whatsoever was created, he created Good: The first Man was constituted into Light, and Good, as being created of God; yet not united in Eternal Rest and Glory; but as being created after the Image of God, in a freedom of Will; the which is now become•• Property in us, through the seducement and transgression of the Prohibition and Admonition

of God, in the touching and eating of Death, or of the Fruit of the forbid∣den Tree, which [Hevah, or Eve] the Mother of all Living, touched and ate.

Those called the wise Men, did speak unto thee; Run thou not out so far, before we perceive, whether thou hast known thy self, and that thou hast told us what thy self art.

Mercurius;

I am a Man, created by the Almighty God, after his own I∣mage and Likeness, possessing my Body of the Clay of the Earth, which in the Dutch Idiome is (Litch-aem) as if to say (a Vessel of Light) having obtain∣ed a Spirit and Soul from him; And one thing ought to be made of these, the Body, Spirit and Soul ought to be sanctifyed (Hy-lichzijn (he shineth) or Blessed, Sal-lichzijn) he shall be shining) but if not, the Vessel and Spirit must needs be damned.

Wise Men;

We observe or take notice, that thou endeavourest to express thy self to be threefold, but not a Unite, and thy Spirit to be Darksome, or Lightsome, the darkening of it to proceed from the Flesh, which is earthly, deadly, and obscure; the illumination, or enlightning of it, it shall attain by the Spirit, by beaming in, emptying out, and subduing the Darkness: But we covet to hear, whether there be a third thing; because thou namest the Light of the Vessel, and a Soul; are there two diverse Lights, or at leastwise, do they constitute or make one Light, of one Light?

Mercurius;

there is one only Eternal Light, Entirely and Eternally, Exter∣nally, and Internally in all Parts, because the Life Eternal, and the whole E∣ternal Part, was inspired into Man by the Almighty God, even as Moses testi∣fies in the second Chapter of the Book of Genesis; Man was made into a living Soul; which Soul, made or constituted the seventh Day, as is demonstrated in the very same Chapter: Therefore the Heavens and the Earth were perfected, and all the Ornament or Dress thereof: And God compleated Work which he had made, on the Seventh Day; and he rested on the Seventh Day from all his Work which he had made; and he blessed the Seventh Day, and sanctified it: Because therein God had ceased from all his Work which he had created, that he might make, to wit, Man into a living Soul.

Wise Men;

If this Light be the Seventh Day, what dost thou think of the Six foregoing Dayes, and of that which is extant in the eighteenth Chapter of Ecclesiasticus; He who lives for ever created all things at once?

Mercurius;

In the Beginning, God created all things, the Heaven and the Earth, and whatsoever was created; the wich Moses at the entrance of Genesis, comprehends into the First Day, where he denotes the making of the other five Dayes, Saying: In the Beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth, but the Earth was empty and void, and Darkness was upon the face of the Deep; and the Spirit of God was carried upon the Waters: And God said let there be Light, and Light was made: And God saw the Light, that it was good; and he divided the Light from the Darkness; And he called the Light Day, and the Darkness Night. And the Evening and Morning was made one Day.

Insomuch that Man doth constitute the Sixth Day, which Dayes were distinct from each other, whereby Man may know himself, what he is, what he is to do, and what Power he hath, or may have by his Spirit, as a Man (not like∣wise as a Soul) over the foregoing Dayes, or created things, as it is found in the aforesaid Chapter of Genesis; And God said, Let us make Man according to our own Image and Likeness; and let him bear Rule over the Fishes of the Sea, and over the Fowles of the Heaven, and over the Beasts of the whole Earth, and over eve∣ry creeping thing which is moved in the Earth.

Wise Men;

Thou dost satisfie us, and besides, dost also over-signifie, that Man was the sixth Day, and that he seperated the Light from the Darkness on the first Day, which Light or Spirit, he called Day, and his Blood, Flesh, or Darkness, he called Night, which Evening, and Morning, constituted the sixth Day; and so consequently, the other five, although according to eve∣ry ones peculiar Nature. But dost thou make no mention of the seventh Day?

Mercurius;

The seventh Morning, Light or Life, is the Spirit of God it self, even as was said: And therefore in Moses his description of the seventh Day, it is not expressed, that the Evening and Morning was made the seventh Day, as in the six precedent Dayes; and that for this Cause, because there is no Beginning, or Evening granted to be in God the Father, because he is he who [Is what he is:] but it is so accounted, because on the seventh Day, he inspired into Man his Face, the Breath of Life, and this man became into a living Soul; so that of Man, and the Breath of God, the seventh Day was made.

Wise Men;

From thy relation, we have fully understood the Beginning and Ending of the first Day, and of the sixth Day following, with the seventh Day not ended, that Man was conjoyntly made into a living Soul: But we desire to hear, what Moses will have to be meant by the Word, In the Beginning?

Mercurius;

The Beginning is God the Son, by whom, in whom, and from whom the Heaven and Earth were created; as the Evangelist John doth most ex∣ceeding evidently testifie, in his first Chapter, in these Words: In the Be∣ginning was the Word (which with the Dutch also sounds, Woort, that is Fiat or let it be done) and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. This Word was in the Beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was nothing made. In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men; And the Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness hath not comprehended it. There was a Man sent from God, whose name was John. This Man came for a Testimony, that he might bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but that he might bear witness of the Light. That was the true Light, which enlightneth every Man that cometh into this Word: He was in the World, and the World was made by him, and the World knew him not. He came into his own, and his own received him not: But as many as received him, to them he gave Power to become the Sons of God, to these who believe in his name; who were born not of Bloods, nor of the Will of the Flesh, neither of the Will of Man, but of God. And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt in us, and we saw its Glory, as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace, and Truth. John gives his Testimony concern∣ing him, and cryeth out saying: This was he, whom I said; he which is to come af∣ter me, was made before me; because he was before me: And of his fulness, we all have received, and Grace for Grace: Because the Law was given by Moses, Grace, and Truth was made by Jesus Christ. No Man hath seen God at any time: The

onely begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Wise Men;

Now we have perceived this Testimony of Saint John, that it contains every thing serving to perfection: but deliver thy Opinion unto us, af∣ter what manner thou art like unto Adam? and in what respect in him; and how thou hast proceeded from him?

Mercurius;

Before that man was made into a living Soul, God spake unto him∣self, as the first Chapter of Genesis witnesseth; And God created Man ac∣cording to his own Image (which Image is God the Son) After the Image of God created he him, Male and Female created he them. And God blessed them, and said, Increase and multiply.

Which command was enjoyned to Adam, in respect of his Spirit, and Hu∣manity, but not as to his Soul; for this is Eternal and Immutable: So also, all his Parts are like unto him, whereof I also possess the whole: Now even as man was made of the Mud or Clay of the Ground; so also it behoves him to increase as other terrestrial living Creatures, by a growing and uniting, and eating of living Creatures, which Foods are required to die in the Stomack, and to be changed from their Substance, if they ought to be converted from a more vile Substance, into a more excellent one, or to be promoted by the Spirit of Man, unto a united Life, from which co-nourishing and increasing, my Vessel or Body, and Substance, I hold as Adam did; because I proceeded from him, after that he was made into a living Soul, as it is found in the se∣cond Chapter of Genesis; but for Adam, there was not found an helper like unto him: Therefore the Lord God sent a deep Sleep into Adam; and when he had slept, he took one of his Ribs, and filled up the Flesh in the room of it. And the Lord God framed the Rib which he had taken from Adam, into a Woman; and he brought her unto Adam: And Adam said, This now is Bone of my Bones, and Flesh of my Flesh, this shall be called Virago or Wo-man, because she was taken from Man: Wherefore a Man shall leave his Father and his Mother, and shall adhere to his Wife, and they twain shall be in one Flesh.

Wise Men;

Thou hast explained unto us, what thou hast been wholly in Adam, according to thy Spirit and Soul, and in Eve according to thy Body: likewise, that the Vessel hath received the Spirit, and the Spirit the Soul. Now we could desire to hear, in what respect Eve was produced by God out of A∣dam, and what the sleep sent by God into Adam, before he framed her, doth denote?

Mercurius;

Adam from the Beginning was perfect in his Essence, as being the first Man created by God, so his Spirit did shine thorow his Flesh and Ves∣sel, and did illustrate it; even as now, the Light did illuminate his Darkness, and was able to subdue it, so it ought to excel and overcome the Darkness; because it was Internal, Stable, Eternal, and good in its own Essence; the which Spirit existing, Adam could not of his own accord produce his Like,

without Sleep sent into him; for he persisting in his Essence, was without sleep, and because he had divided himself from himself, all his Parts had remain∣ed proper unto him, and again, had returned unto the whole into one, assoon as he had listed, because by his Spirit predominating, he had divided the Body subjected unto it self; which Parts were inwardly and outwardly enlightned, from his own Light, which gave an Essence unto all his Mem∣bers.

But some may ask, how in the next place had it gone with Adam, if he had not eaten the Poyson from Eve? It is answered, there had alwayes been in him a combating with his Spirit or Light against his Darkness, the which on the first Day God divided, of which two also Man was composed, even as the said Chapter sheweth, which is further explained at the end of the same Chapter, on the sixth Day, in these Words; And replenish ye the Earth, and subdue it: And when they had fought to the utmost, they had filled the Earth and the Darkness, with their Spirit or with their Light, and had so subdued it, that the former Darkness had been supped up, and co-nourished, which was his pro∣per and one only Work, alwayes to be done and perfected.

But some one may further query, seeing in Adam the said Light being se∣parated from the Darkness, had overcome the Darkness, as it was shewed to be by the very same Light; whether or no, according to a spiritual returned or restored United Body, he had been entire and eternal in all his particular Parts and Members? This being so, by that reason, he might have been divi∣ded into Innumerable, Eternal, and Infinite men, without the aforesaid sleep preceding? I answer; it is certain, that this Deified man, would have been entire in all his Infinite Parts; likewise that all those Parts would again as one, have constituted one Entire Body: He having himself in such a manner, had been likewise to be one Deified Man; he being reduced hitherto by his necessa∣ry strife, would by Grace in his Life, have enjoyed or rejoyced in the same, with Christ our Saviour after his Resurrection; Whereby many such men might now have been begotten or brought forth; and whereby, all also of them might have enjoyed that very same Grace, for which Adam was procreated, and whereby they might have attained it by that very same strife: It pleased the Lord God to send the aforesaid sleep into Adam, to shew, that he soundly sleeping, had not contributed any thing to the structure of Eve; but she was now founded in this sleep by God.

Moreover, the curious might busily enquire, why Eve was framed of the Rib of Adam, but not of his Flesh? I return an answer; the former Man was Adam, the second Eve, made for his help, and conjoyned Procreation; Now Propagation consisteth partly in Man, as in other living Creatures, by con∣junction, or nourishing, as was said; and it is further to be observed in all in∣crease of created things in this World, before they are able to grow (because they consist of two things) that the one ought first to die, to wit, the Body and Form, which consist of Water and Earth, and do arise from the Light of the Moon and Stars, as of the Lights of the Night, every thing according to their different Nature, none excepted; and that this might be perfected in Adam, the Lord God took a Rib out of Adam, which is a Bone, according to its being made in Adam, a Progeny of Veins (the which, with the Dutch sounds also, a Progeny of Vipers) which Bone is governed by the Moon, as shall be found, that when the Moon increaseth, the Marrow likewise of the Bones doth increase, like the Waters, and together with it doth decrease: It will further be found, that when Flesh is burnt in the Fire, it looseth that form,

A Bone not so, yea that is so stable; that the Examiners of the goodness of Coyn do make their Crucibles thereof, wherein they melt and search Gold and Silver: So that a Bone or Rib is, and doth retain nothing besides the hu∣mane Earth, as it is a second Production in Man; like that of the Earth out of the Waters, so far it differs from the first and one thing. Wherefore Eve, as she was procreated from hence, she is likewise of a second and lesser thing, ac∣cording to her Body, not likewise according to her Spirit and Soul; For these she holds from Adam, which are Eternal and Permanent, and a Part whereof Eve Possesseth, and all that, even as all their Parts, are Eternal, even as was said. Now in a further consideration or avouching of the Premises, thou shalt find, that Women do therefore suffer monthly Issues or Menstrues, serving for Propagation, because they ought to beget a man, as to the Body, in that re∣spect as was said.

Wise Men;

We acquiesce; and moreover, through occasion of two Words, which thou from the Dutch Idiome, hast considerately produced, thou re∣callest two places of Scripture unto our remembrance; one rehearsed by the Evangelist Mathew, in the twelfth Chapter, where Christ saith to the Pharisies; He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. Therefore I say unto you; Every Sin and Blasphemy, shall be forgiven unto Men, (Flesh) but the Blasphemy of the Spirit, shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a Word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this Age, nor in that to come. Either make ye the Tree good, and its Fruit good; or make ye the Tree Evil, and its Fruit Evil: for truly, the Tree is known by the Fruit. Ye Generation of Vipers, how can ye speak good things, seeing ye are Evil? For from the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh. The other is mentioned by Luke in the third Chapter, after the citing of a place of the Prophet Jsaiah, who saith; And all Flesh shall see the Salvation of God. Therefore be (to wit John the Baptist) said unto the Multitude which went out to be Baptized of him: Ye Generations of Vipers, who hath shewn you to flee from the wrath to come? do ye therefore Fruits meet for repentance, and ye shall not begin to say; We have Abraham for our Father. For I say unto you; because God is able of those Stones, to raise up Sons unto Abraham. Which two. Words are also repeated in these two Texts, not badly agreeing with the signification of the Dutch Word; and thou shewing unto us by all thy demonstration, that the Serpent so called, which seduced Eve, and her Spirit, was certainly her own Flesh and Blood, which desired the Fruits of the forbid∣den Tree, and spake to her Spirit for that end; so that the name of Serpent, is not only accounted the Serpent, but as well the Serpent, a living Creature, as a Man, according to the Flesh, the which is also, moreover seen in the Infancy, or Old Age of a Man, or when the Spirit is weakened, that he is and doth be∣come a Serpent.

Wherefore, after God had committed unto man the dominion over the liv∣ing Creatures, over all the Earth, and over every creeping Animal, which is moved in the Earth, this last Dominion is the greatest, whereby he ought to work his own blessedness, that which thou shalt more cleerly make manifest from the Text, assoon as leasure shall permit; for now we hasten, because half of the second day of those prefixed, hath soon passed away, therefore proceed thou and hasten, and declare unto us the difference between thee and

Adam, when he was to strive against his Darkness, whereby he as well as thou might have subdued it.

Mercurius;

In no other thing, besides that Darkness was increased in man, by the touching of the Fruits, and eating of the forbidden Tree; in so much that Darkness holds the prize against the Light, and doth now possess it, even as in Adam, the Light in Adam did possess his Darkness, and did illumi∣nate it before his Fall.

Wise Men;

How comes this to pass?

Mercurius;

This hath come to pass, through a Fermenting or Leavening, Con∣tagious, Darksom, and Deadly or Destructive eating.

Wise Men;

What wilt thou insinuate thereby, explain thy self by Simi∣litudes.

Mercurius;

As Darkness was in the face of the deep, before that the Spirit of God was carried upon the Waters; in like manner, thou shalt find a certain Vessel, or place, which being shut up, or hoary and filthy, doth even in a very little time, render all that which is cast into it, alike stinking or rank, and sur∣ther to infect it; neither doth any thing of the first more principal Ferment and Filthiness depart. Moreover, that it may be demonstrated, that this filthy place is also darksom, is well learned by those that pertain to Wine-cellars, who being desirous to know and experience, whether a Hogs-head be hoary or filthy, or no, do open its mouth, and by an End do let in a burning Candle, and when the Vessel shall be clean, and infected with no Muck or Filth, the Candle being let down athwart it, will remain burning, until its own beget∣ting Vapour doth choak it self: but if the Hogs-head be filthy, the Flame or Light, cannot pierce through the Orifice of the Hogs-head unto the thickness of the Wood. Therefore it manifestly appears, that the darkness doth also uncloath or discover it self, and make other things darksom, just even as the Light doth operate, and that, when the darkness doth overcome the Light, or the Light overcome the Darkness: These and the like Darknesses, must needs be before all Light; and by how much the more stable they are, by so much the more stable also, is the Body arisen from thence. Now it is further to be not∣ed, that as a temporal Light doth illustrate out of it self, one thing more large∣ly than another, according to their stability, magnitude, or increasing; in the like proportion and manner, the darkness powers forth its Beams out of it self, as was shewn: also as a burning and consuming Fire, can by its Light, enflame, burn, and stir up many Seeds into a growth or increase, according to the rate of their more stable Nature, that which I take notice of, thou shalt evidently perceive by this Experiment; it is seen and felt, that by how much the nearer a Fire is kindled, by so much the more it shines or enlightens, and heats: now this heat and brightness is one and the same thing, as long as it is in the Fire, as by a collection of those hot beams through the help of a certain burning glass, may be proved, whereby the hot beams are again collected, and are made like unto those which exist in the Fire, to wit, hot and burning ones: now when we permit a temporal, dispersed and decaying Fire freely to burn, we shall discern by the Light which shines forth through the Fire, that other cre∣ated Bodies are burnt at diverse distances from hence, to wit, in the nearest

Body, the more stable and combustible one, and as the beams are diffused, so far also the heat is diminished, and will enflame the less stable created bodies: The reason is, because that which is soon made, must needs also have that which soon perisheth: wherefore cold and moist Regions do bring forth larger Fruits than hot and dry Jurisdictions; yet are they less durable than others which are less hot, because their Light which is in them, is more di∣vided, and that as well in-Bruits as in Men; Men of moist Coasts or Climates are homely and big, neither can they undergo so much heat, as Men which live in high, dry, and hot Countries, as also the thing it self doth moreover testi∣fie: Yea thou shalt find that even dead Carcases which are slain by a violent Death, even as Histories do declare, and we are able besides, dayly to experi∣ence, when a slaughter hath been made, or shall be made of men who had gone out of cold and watery Coasts, to wage War against those of the more hot Provinces, that the Slain on both sides might be discerned a long time after, because they of the more cold Regions did sooner putrifie, these waxed dry, and remained surviving, these did longer endure entire in the Heat, because their Balsam is more durable than that of the other, even as they contain more or less of a moist Matter, or do partake more or less of a Night Light, and they which are the more destitute of that, those do more rejoyce in a day Light: Now even as the Sun is a perfect, and the greater day Light; so the Moon be∣ing the nearest Planet unto us, is a perfect Night Light, which are perpetual in their Essence, and likewise do render those Bodies perpetual and durable, which are born, and renewed by their help. Furthermore, as there is one on∣ly Sun, and one only Moon, their created Bodies, no otherwise than those like unto them, may be compared thereunto, they being one only and also perfect, as Gold, which the Phylosophers have called Sol, and Silver, Lune, and the other five Metals likewise according to the thing brought forth, after the rest of the Planets, wherein they have rightly done, and have delivered the Truth, because, those one only Bodies are perfect; the Fire cannot hurt them, they remain stable therein, Gold lives in the Fire, therefore the Phylosoyhers have mark∣ed that, with the name of Salamander, the which now is falsly accounted for a living Creature: A temporary and fraile Fire, possesseth its Fire, only in part as was said; but the Sun is a perpetual Fire and Life, and can live only in that which is like it self, the which also must needs be a stable Body: And as there is a temporary body in all things, except in these two aforesaid which are like them, and do wholly participate of them, in what respect, bodies ought to be returned, into their first Essence; by the same reason likewise, the Light ought to be returned unto its Original; for a frail or mortal thing cannot reach unto a perpetual thing: Furthermore, the stable Darkness must needs be pre∣sent, before the Light, wherein the Light is raised up; but if this Darkness be perpetual, the Light also may perpetually dwell in it: first, according to the Spirit, and then, according to the Soul; which Spirit, seeing it is Eternal, doth illuminate Eternal Darkness, and the Darkness grows together or increas∣eth into Light, and is made Silver, which is twofold, constituting a Body in the Flesh and Bones of Gold, which is threefold: Now as the Sun is a great day Light, so it overcomes the Moon, and silver is altogether converted into Gold, by that; the other five Earthly Planets, may be transchanged and brought thorow unto a perfection like unto that of them, because they also are Nocturnal Lights. Further, we must know, that there are many innume∣rable Minerals, mutually differing like as do the Stars from each other, all which do expect their Perfection, and some of these can more easily and swift∣ly

attain unto their last Perfection than others. Gold and Silver; how smally soever they may be divided, they may be re-united without loss, because all their least Parts are entire and perpetual: Notwithstanding, they may be ren∣dred Mortal, because they have not as yet co-met or con-joyned into one; but this Death cannot begin of and from themselves, neither by reason of the Gold, nor of the Silver, because they are stable Bodies.

Now some Lovers might ask, after what sort, or by what means that might happen? I reply; After the same manner or means, whereby it happeneth in all created things, whereby also it happened in Eve, through an increasing of the Darkness, which draws its Original out of the principles of their Bo∣dies, as was shewn; yea the Darkness may so grow up, that it may convert the whole Spirit into Darkness: but it that Lune or the Spirit of Sol, doth call the Soul or Heat unto its aid, before it be subjected and overcome, the Spirit shall be strengthened, not as it was before its Corruption, but by this strife and victory, it shall be so strong, and the Spirit thereof shall be so greatly multi∣plyed, that it is able to render ten of the imperfect Brethren, stable; but this Spirit hath not by this contention attained unto a liberty even entire, and an Eternal Union; but it ought so often to repeat this conflict, which shall always more and more increase, according to the increase of the Spirit, and Dark∣ness, until it shall come unto the utmost, and can suffer no more; and the wa∣tery Body or Darkness shall be plainly consumed, and then it is a pure, ever∣lasting, united, and double Light, which will illustrate all things, without dammage and diminishment, and will be able to perfect all its Brethren into the likeness of it self, its own Virtue being retained; and when this thing doth happen in Sol, the Light of Lune is changed, and supped up into Sol; so that it is equally made an Eternal, United, and Trine Sol, that which is the last in E∣ternity (out of Man:) And hence it may be demonstrated, that the Evangelist John, in the third Chapter of his Revelation, doth use the same Similitude, say∣ing; I exhort thee to buy of me Gold tried in the Fire, that thou mayest be made rich, and to be cloathed with white Garments, and that the confusion or shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thou thine eyes with a Collyrium or Eye-Salve, that thou mayest see. I whom I love, do reprove and chastize: Be ye therefore zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock; If any one shall hear my voice, and shall open unto me the Gate, I will enter in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He that shall overcome, I will give unto him to sit with me in my Throne, as also I have overcome, and have sit with my Father in his Throne. He that hath an eare, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.

Wise Men;

We rejoyce that we understand from thee, and do know the shining and quickning Light; likewise the effluxing, acting, fermental, conta∣gious, and mortal Darkness; whereby we understand, how Eve hath touched and eaten of the Fruits of Darkness, and that she became darksom and con∣tagious from thence; through her effluxing Darkness, she delivered that which she had eaten, as she who was to do that very thing in Adam, who did eat of the same: In like manner, through the diversity of the shining Light, from the Darkness uncloathing it self, we understand, after what manner the Mi∣nisters or Servants of God, are able by the Light, to perform external, and everlasting Works, as to remove Mountains, restore Sight to the Blind, hear∣ing to the Deaf, to raise the Dead; and likewise on the other hand, how Evil and Dark men, are able or powerful only in committing or acting Works which are seperated, and mortal or noysom, through their Darkness issuing out of

themselves: We have perceived also, that the Tree of Life, was placed in the midst of the Garden, and likewise the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which we may collect out of the second and third following Chapter of Moses. We also apprehend the Tree to be Good, but its Fruits to have been Evil: besides, now we know this Tree, together with Paradise, from thy Words, and the same from the second Chapter of Moses; But the Lord God, had from the Beginning, planted a Paradise of Pleasure; wherein he placed the Man, which he had formed. And the Lord God, produced from the Ground, every Tree that was Beautiful to behold, and Sweet to eat: also the Tree of Life in the midst of the Gar∣den, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And a River went out from the Place of Pleasure, to water the Paradise, which was from thence divided into four Heads: The name of one is Pison; he it is which runs about or encompasseth all the Land of Havtlah, where Gold is bred; and the Gold of that Land is the best. Furthermore, we also conceive of this which is found in the third Chapter; And when they had heard the voice of the Lord walking in the Paradise, at the coole Air after noon day: That which is further explained in the nineteenth Psalm of David; The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth the Works of his hands. Day unto day uttereth the Word, and night unto night sheweth Knowledge. There are no Languages, nor Speeches, of which, their voices may not be heard: Their sound hath gone out unto all the Earth, and their words into the Bor∣ders of the Circle of the Earth. He hath placed his Tabernacle in the Sun: and he as a Bridegroome proceeding out of his Bride-chamber, hath rejoyced as a Gyant to run his race or course: his going forth is from the highest Heaven, and his encountring even unto the highest part thereof, neither is there he who can hide himself from his heat. The Law of the Lord is unspotted, converting Soules: the Testimony or Witness of the Lord is faithful, giving Wisdom to the little Ones. The Righteousnesses of the Lord are right, making glad Hearts: The Precept of the Lord is lightsom or cleer, enlightning the Eies. The Fear of the Lord is holy, remaining for Age of Age. The Judgments of the Lord are true, being justified for their very own sakes: they are to be desired above Gold, and much Pretious-stone; and are sweeter than the Honey and the honey Combe. For thy Servant keepeth them, in keeping them there is much re∣ward. Who understandeth his Faults? Cleanse thou me from my secret Ones, and from strange Ones, spare thy Servant; If they shall not have dominion over me, then I shall be unspotted, and I shall be purged from the great Fault: And the Speeches or Oracles of my Mouth shall be such as may be well pleasing: and the Meditation of my Heart, alwayes in thy sight, Oh Lord my Helper, and my Redeemer. We have also known that mortal Man might reach to the Tree of Life, and enjoy it, when he shal be a Cherub, and he may be made one, as Moses witnesseth in the third Chapter of Genesis; And he said, Behold, Adam hath become as it were one of us, knowing Good and Evil; now therefore, least happily, he stretch forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat and live for ever. And the Lord God, sent him out from the Paradise of Pleasure, that he might labour the Earth from which he was taken: and he cast out Adam, and placed before the Paradise of Pleasure, Cherubims, and a flaming Sword, and that which turned about to keep the way of the Tree of Life.

Seeing that now, that two days limited space is slipt away, and that thou art to be left by us in a short time, we first covet to hear, because thou art instruct∣ed in the four lesser orders, whether likewise, thou dost ambitiously seek the other three, or to be promoted into a Doctor of Medicine?

Mercurius;

The Priesthood is a great office, and requireth many things,

now especially they ought to answer concerning many things, and to be per∣fect, when they will rightly discharge their duty, the which I never should dare to undertake but constrainedly.

The Doctorship of the Art of Medicine I deservedly shun, because the Pro∣fessors of the same, do for the most part foster other mens opinions, and do the less follow the Truth: But I shall intreat God, that it would please him, to grant me daily to perform his will, with all my might, even as long as Life shall last.

The prosperous Wisemen of the Night, did bless thee with their Prayer, ex∣horting; proceed thou in thy purpose, and act thou, that thou mayest 〈…〉〈…〉 (through the mediation of the day of Saturn, in the day of Lune, by the day of Sol) liberty to thy self, as was said. And next, we commend thee to the suppli∣cation of our followers, who have charged, accused, and convicted thee, that thou mightest bring forth all the aforesaid things, or secrets to light: Speak to them, and hear them gently, as they shall observe all things which thou dost put in practise; for this two days space, we have stood to our Commission.

For these things, thou having performed thy due thanks towards these wise Sirs and Masters, didst say unto their followers; Ye lovers of the Truth, ye that are most honoured, together with ye that are lesse honoured, noble, ignoble, and ye who are present, I have known none of you apart (although I have been pricked forward by you (because your countenance is now vailed unto me; Know ye, that I do humbly beseech you all, known and unknown, not displea∣santly to receive my ready poor labour, and courteous affection, which devotes it self readily to serve all and every one of you with all its might. Which words they hearing, did aloft testifie their acceptation, and a great number of those that were known, did begin to undo their vails, some did read written, letters unto thee, others sounded out Hymns in honour of thy Father and his Writings; they being sent unto thee, whereby they might be prefixed unto thy Fathers Work: This applause ceasing, after thy thanks being most perfectly performed, thou didst go on; I have known many of you, some by sight and talk, others by a great celebration, Letters and Verses, which were taken from me by the Count of Giline, when in my absence he had spoiled my Castle, where, amongst the rest of my houshold-stuffe, he had discerned the aforesaid Books, Writings, and Hymns; all which, together with his Galenical paultry Physitian, he was not able to en∣dure to survive; this destruction I lament, as the one onely cause, that they could in no wise see the light: Whereupon thou didst wish them all Prosperity and health in the Lord, saying, I will from your earnest desire, commit all things that have been rehearsed, unto the Press.

All which things, after that my intimate friend upon urgency, had declared unto me, I contained in few words, and did shew them unto him; the which being seen, he counselled me to divulge in Print, subjoyning; if any one shall desire more things, so he be fit for them, I shall never be wanting, but will serve every one more fully according to the thing begun or brought forth in him. Follow me, I walk thorow the whole World.