Section the Fourth.

[ 61] AS to the first Argument, founded on that Axiom, that All Bodies are made of that Matter into which they are ultimately resolved, and è Contra; This Maxim is agreed upon of all hands, both by the Aristotelians, the Old Chymists, and the New ones; and that almost upon the same ground. For the first supposed all Bodies reducible at last into Fire, Air, Water, and Earth; and therefore Page  38 held the Quaternary of Elements, [which, by the way, they could never yet sufficiently prove.] And the Second be∣lieved Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury to be the first Principles of all Bodies. And the last sort, the modern Chymists, hold Spirit, Oyl, Salt, Water, and Earth, to be the true Primary Principles of Bodies, for the same reason; viz. because many Concrets are resolvable by fire into the first three, if not into the last five, distinct Substances before na∣med.

But that all Bodies are by Art to be [ 62] brought back, uniformly, into water; hear what that Learned Man, Helmont, saith. Nostra namque operatio Mechanica mihi pa∣tefecit,* omne Corpus [pu•a saxum] Lapidem, Gemmam, Silicem, Arenam, Marcasi∣tam, argillam, terram, Lapides coctos, vitrum, Calces, Sulphur, &c. Trans∣mutari in Salem actualem, aequiponderan∣tem suo Co pori, unde factus est: Et quod iste s•l aliquoties c•hobatus, cum sale cir∣culato Paracelsi, suam omnino fixitatem amittat, tandem transmutetur in Liquorem, qui etiam tandem in aquam insipidam tran∣sit: Et quod ista aqua aequiponderet sali suo, unde manavit.—Plantam verò, car∣nes, ossa, Pisces, &c. quicquid similium Page  39 est, novi redigere in mera sua Tria, unde post modum aquam insipidam Confeci; Me∣tallum autem, propter sui seminis anaticam commistionem, & arena [quellem] diffici∣limè in salem reducuntur. Cum igitur arena, sive terra Originalis, tam Arti, quam Naturae resistat, nec queat ullis [unico duntaxat Gehennae artificialis igni excepto] Naturae vel artis, à primaeva sui constantia recedere; sub quo igne artificiali, arena sal •it, ac tandem aqua; quia vim ha∣bet agendi super sublunaria quaevis abs{que} reactione, &c.

He likewise tells us, in his Tract, enti∣tuled, [ 63] Co•plexionum atque Mistionum fig∣mentum.* Novi enim aquam [quam ma∣nifestare non Libet, &c. For I know a Water [which it is not sit to discover, mean∣ing the Alkahest,] by whose help all Vege∣tables are changed into a distillable j•ice, which leaveth no feces in the bottom of the glass: which distilled juice, if it be mix∣ed with Alkalies, [or fixed Salts] is re∣duced totally into insipid and Elementary Water.

And a little further in the same Tract, [ 64] he tells us: That he took an Oak-Charcoal, and mixing it with an equal weight of the Page  41 Liquor Alkahest, he put it in a glass, Her∣metically Sealed, which being kept in a Balneo for three dayes, it was in that time turned into a couple of Diaphanous Liquors, of different colours, which swam upon each other; which being distilled together [in Sand] by a heat of the second degree, it left the bottom of the glass as clear, as if it had never been used. The two Liquors of the Coal might be distilled with the heat of a Bath, but the dissolving Liquor, [or Menstruum] in that degree of heat would remain at the bottom of the Glass, not im∣paired in its weight, or Virtue. And that the aforesaid two Liquors of the Coal, being mixed with a little Chalk, at thrice distilling, did ascend of the same weight as before; but having lost all their distin∣guishing qualities, it became undiscernable from Rain-water.

[ 65] The Operations of this Liquor [which you have heard] in reducing all Bodies uniformly into water, is, I think, of very great force to evince, what I have here affirmed, viz. that all Bodies were Originally Water. But after all this stress I lay upon these Expe∣riments of He•mont'S, it may be objected by some, That they not being possessors of this Liquor, may be allowed to doubt of Page  42 the truth of what he hath deliver'd con∣cerning it. To which I answer, first, that I think it no cogent Argument, to conclude there is no such thing, because many men are not possessors of it; and if this should be admitted, all other Arts and things, that are possessed by any Man [and not known to the common people] would be liable to the same ex∣ception; and every Cobler, or Plough∣man would conclude the impossibility of the effects produced by most Mathema∣tical Auromatons, or Engines, because he either knoweth not, or hath not seen the con•rivance of the thing, or else is not able to conceive the reason of its Operation: And if every Man [that knoweth more than the Vulgar] would make it his own case, they would, I suppose, think it an unreasonable and hard way of judging of things.

Secondly, the Man is so consentaneous [ 66] to himself •n his Experiments, that that very thing to me appeareth an Argument of his Truth. And as to his veracity in those things he delivers as matter of fact, [and upon his own knowledge,] I do not find that even his Enemies have de∣tected him of Falshood; and I am sure, I have hitherto found him most true, in Page  43 whatsoever he hath delivered us as his own Experience [though possibly many of those things do not at first sight seem over-probable.] But lest I may seem over-partial, I will give you a Testimo∣ny of him [that may be instar omnium] and that shall be from a Man, of whom the World is fully satisfied, not only as to his candid Temper, but also of his ability to judge, both of Men, and things; and the unwillingness of his Nature to encourage falshood: and that is the In∣quisitive, and Honourable Mr. Boyl, who saith thus both of him, and the Alkahest.

[ 76] If our Chymists will not reject the solemn, and repeated I estimony of a Person [speak∣ing of Helmont] who cannot but be ac∣knowledged for one of the greatest Spagirists they can boast of,* they must not deny that there is to be found in Nature another Agent, able to analyze compound Bodies less violent∣ly, and both more genuinely, and more uni∣versally than Fire: And for my own part, I have found Helmont so faithful a Writer, even in divers of his improbable Experi∣ments, that I think it somewhat harsh to give him the lye, especially to what he delivers upon his own proper Tryal. And I have heard from very credible Eye-witnesses some Page  44 things, and seen some others my self, which argue so strongly, that a Circulated salt [or a menstruum, such as it may be] may by being abstracted from compound Bodies, whether Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables, leave them more unlocked than a wary Na∣turalist would easily believe; that I dare not confidently measure the power of Na∣ture, and Art, by that of the Menstruums, and other Instruments, that even eminent Chymists themselves are as yet wont to im∣ploy about the Analyzing of Bodies. Thus far he.

Besides, he that had laboured more [ 68] than thirty years in the fire, and making Experiments, in all probability might attain this secret: since Geber, and ma∣ny of the Arabian Philosophers had it before him; as also Basil Valentine, Raymund Lully, and Paracelsus. Nor can I believe so grave and great a man, would in his Old Age, near his Death, impose falshoods and lyes upon the World.

But without the assistance of this Li∣quor, [ 69] this Doctrine may be made out; though by more troublesome, and tedious wayes; as we shall now proceed to shew.

The same worthy man, Helmont, saith, [ 70] Page  45 [and I have found it true by experience] Olea & pinguedines, per ignem separata; adjecto pauco sale Alkali, saponis Naturam assumunt, atque in aquam Elementalem abeant.* [And again, thus:] Omne Al∣kali, addita pinguedine, in aqueum Liquo∣rem, qui tandem mera & simplex aqua fit, reducitur [ut videre est in sapone, &c.] quoties per adjuncta fixa, semen pinguedi∣nis deponit; That is,

[ 71] And again, Omne Oleum distillatum, in salem est mutabile, & in aquam per ad∣juncta.

Page  46All Vegetables are reducible by distil∣lation [] into Water, Oyl, and Salt; the water cohobating upon Chalk becomes merely Elemental; the Oyl and Salt may, as is said above, be made to unite into a Saponary Body, which distilled, yield a stinking water, which being oft re-distilled from Chalk [or some such Body] having laid aside its seminal qua∣lities, is indiscriminate from common water: The Salt it self [which is ac∣counted the most permanent principle] yet by the help of fire, well contrived Vessels, and proper adjuncts, it may be reduced into a Volatil Menstruum, which being put to act upon Bodies, as a dissol∣vent, it loseth its saline acrimony, and by repeated operations it is totally con∣verted into insipid water.

All Animals upon the face of the [ 73] Earth are remigrable into water [of which they were formed] And first, as to Snakes, Vipers, Ee•s, Froggs, &c. these being perfect Animals, as consisting of Organical parts, as Hearts, Stomacks, Livers, Galls, Eyes, &c. [not to men∣tion Worms, and other insects] some of them accounted hot Creatures, and so full of vivacity and life, that several of them will survive after the taking their Page  47 hearts out of their Bodies some hours, [not to say, dayes;] I say one would lit∣tle suspect by their out-side, these Crea∣tures should abound with moysture as they do. For, if any of them be put to distillation, you shall perceive them to boyl in their own juice, and to afford an incredible quantity of Phlegmatick Li∣quor, which being cohobated upon dry Bodies, as is directed in the reduction of Vegetables, returneth to water; also their Oyls, and fatty substances, being joyned with an Alkaly, and made into a soap, then distilled, they yield a stink∣ing water, which cohobated, as the other, doth likewise return into water.

[ 74] All other sorts of living Creatures are, by the help of fire, to be dissected into Oyls, a fixt, and a volatile Salt [though they yield most of the latter] an Empi∣reumatical Spirit, and Phlegm: all which by the above-said helps, and the like re∣peated Operations, will at last be brought into water.

[ 75] Middle Minerals, and Mineral Salts, by Art are reducible into Corrosive Spirits; which acting upon Bodies, are dispoil'd of their acrimony; and, at last, return to the shape of water.

[ 76] As for Minerals, and Metals; if they Page  48 be fluxed with Alkalies, they are there∣by rob'd of their Sulphurs; to which if you add Oyl, it is made soap, and then to be dealt with as is above directed, by the Example of both Vegetables, and Animals: or else the Sulphurs of Mine∣rals, separated from the Alkalizate Salt, may be burnt, and the Fume caught by a Glass-Bell, [as is usual in making Oyl of Sulphur per Campanam] it will be turned into a corrosive Spirit, which will be reduced into water; as I have shew∣ed above, other corrosive Spirits may be by acting upon Bodies.

Metalline Mercury, or Quick-Silver, [ 77] [that peerless body for homogeneity, and likeness of parts] which exceedeth water in weight at least fourteen times, [the parts of it being so forcibly com∣pressed by the power of its Seed] may yet totally be reduced into water, in pur∣posely contrived Vessels, and a skilfull management of the fire; as Raymund Lully doth witness, and Experience with him.

Nay, Nature her self doth in time [ 78] [by the help of Putrefaction, and fer∣ments residing in the Earth,] reduce into water the bodies of Vegetables, and Animals, whether Fish, or Flesh; also Page  49 Salts, Ashes, Stones burnt to Lime, &c. witness the dunging of Land by these things. Nay, Metals themselves in time, having past their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or prime, degenerate into middle-Minerals, and Salts; and then return to water. So that you see, all Bodies have water for their first Matter; and are by Art and Nature reducible into it again at last.

[ 79] Paracelsus [a Person hardly inferiour to any Man in the knowledge of Metals,* and Minerals] giveth us his Opinion of the production of Metals, and Stones, from water, in these words. Sic ergo Mirabili Consilio Deus constituit, ut prima Materia Naturae esset aqua, mollis, levis, potabilis; Et tamen foetus seu fructus ip∣sius est durus; ut Metalla, Lapides, &c. quibus nihil durius est.

Plato also is of the same judgment with him;* for he tells us. Aquae genera duo sunt praecipua, unum humidum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, alterum fusile 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉:

The Seeds of Minerals, and Metals [] are invisible Beings; [as we have shew∣ed, above, the true Seeds of all other things are;] but to make themselves visible Bodies they do thus: Having got∣ten themselves sutable Matrices in the Earth, and Rocks, [according to the [] appointment of God, and Nature] they begin to work upon, and Ferment the water; which it first Transinutes into a Mineral-juice, call'd Bur, or Gur▪ from whence by degrees it formeth Metals. To which purpose I shall give you a te∣stimony, or two. The first we bor∣row from that Book, Entituled, Arcae Arcani artificiosissimi apertae, beginning thus: Igitur No• andum• est, &c. Which Page  51 because the passage is long, we will on∣ly give you in English,* thus: Therefore it is to be Noted, that Nature hath her passages and Veins in the Earth, which doth distill waters, either Salt and Clear, or else turbid. For it is alwayes observable by sight, that in the Pitts, or Groves of Me∣tals, sharp, and salt Waters distill down; therefore while these waters do fall down∣wards, [for all heavy things are carried downwards] there doth ascend from the Centre of the Earth, Sulphurous Vapours, which do meet them. Wherefore if so be, the waters be saltish, pure, and clear, and the Sulphurous Vapours pure also, and both of them do strictly embrace each other in their meeting, then a pure Metal is pro∣duced; but in defect of such purity, [that is, of the Water, and Vapour] then an impure Metal is generated: in Elabo∣rating of which Nature spendeth near a thousand years before she is able to bring it to perfection; and this happeneth either by reason of the impurity of the Salt, Mercuri∣al Waters, or the impure Sulphurous Va∣pours. When these two do embrace each other, shut up close in Rocky places; then by the Operation of Natural heat there doth arise from them a moyst, thick, fat Vapour, which seateth it self where the Air cannot Page  52 come, [for else it would flye away:] of this Vapour a Mucil•ginous, and unctuous Matter is made, which is white like Butter; Mathesius calls▪ it Gur: it will spread like Butter, which I also can shew in my hand, above, and out of the Earth. And the same Author again, thus. The Matter of Metals before it be Coagulated in∣to a Metalline form,* is like Butter made of the Cream of Milk, which may be clam'd, or spread as Butter, which he [he mean∣eth Mathesius] calleth Gur, which I also [saith the Author] have found in the Mines,* where Nature hath produced Lead. And that Industrious Metallurgist, Web∣ster, [who hath likewise noted the same passages out of this Author] assureth us, that he hath in his possession some pounds weight of this Metalline Liquor, called Gur.

To which I will also add my own Te∣stimony; [ 82] which is, that about eighteen years past, having made a Visit to a Friend, who dwelt upon the Borders of Derby-shire; and who had at that time newly discover'd a Lead-Mine in his Ground: I remember, that being at the said Mine I saw upon the Work-man's breaking a stone of Lead-Ore, a bright shineing Liquor spurt forth; which in a Page  53 little while did coagulate, and become solid.

[ 83] And that Worthy Man, Helmont, con∣firms what we have related of this Me∣talline juice, in these words:

Non rarò nempe contingit, quod Metalla∣rius,* in fodinis, saxa diffringens, dehiscat paries, & rimam det, unde tantillum aquae, subalbidae, virescentis, manavit, quod mox concrevit instar saponis liquidi [Bur voco] mutatòque deincepa pallore subvirtdi, flavescit, vel albescit, vel saturatius viri∣descit. Sic enim visum est, quod alias intus, absque saxi vulnere, fit; Quia suc∣cus ille interno Efficiente perficitur. Est ergo prima seminis Metallici vita in Condo, sive Promptuario loci, homini plane incog∣nita: at ubi semen in lucem, Liquore ve∣stitum, prodit, Et gas incaepit Sulphur aquae inquinare, vita est seminis media; ul∣tima verò, cum jam indurescit: that is,

And again, that this Metalline juice, [ 84] which he calls Bur, [and other Authors Gur, which is the true proximate Mat∣ter of all Metals] was Originally no∣thing but water, coagulated by the pow∣er of Metalline Seeds; Hear what the same Author sayes:* In terra nimirum fracescens aqua, semen locale vel insitam acquirit, ideoque vel in Liquorem, [Leffas] ad omnem Flantam, vel insuccum[Bur] Mineralem transit, juxta species, per di∣rectionem seminum Electas:

[ 85] But that you may not think, that Lead alone is formed from this Buttery, or Soap-like substance, which we have been speaking of; but also that all other Me∣talline, and Mineral bodies are produced from the same; I shall give you an In∣stance, or two;* Erastus, as I find him quoted by Webster, saith, I have two stones of Iron, one of them of an Ironish colour, the other of the colour of the shell of a ripe Chesnut; altogether soft, and fatty, that may like Butter be wrought with the fingers; from which, notwithstanding, hard, and good Iron was extracted by the fire.

[ 86] Concerning the generating Silver from such a Mineral-Liquor, that Honoura∣ble Person, Mr. Boyl, tells us [from Gerrhardus] thus.* Item aqua (aerulea in∣venta est Annebergae, aubi Argentum ad∣huc erat in primo Ente, quae coagulata, re∣ducta in Calcem fixi & boni argenti:

As for Gold, and Antimony, Para∣celsus saith,* it is to be found in its Ens pri∣mum, or first Being, Liquid, and in the form of a Red Liquor, or Water, which afterwards is coagulated and exalted into Gold.

Again, he sayes of the primum Ens lege [ 87] solis, that it is a fugacious Spirit, as yet consisting in volatility, as an Infant in the Womb of a Woman, and is sometimes like a Liquor, and sometimes it is found like an Alcool, or subtile powder.

'Tis a common known thing, that [ 88] those Men which bore the Ground to find out Coal-mines, do, when they come near the Mine, bring up in their borer a sort of matter they call Soap∣stone, which is like fat Clay, but of a black colour, and will, when new taken out of the Ground, spread like butter, as Gur will do; but in the Air will soon become so hard, that it will not cut with a Knife.

I might here take notice of what Ru∣landus [ 89] hath said of the Medulla Lapidis, which the Germans call Steinmarck; some of which is white, some red, and some of other colours; Page  57 and most of it in substance like the fore∣mentioned Gur: but to avoid being te∣dious, I forbear. And of this sort of coagulated water were those Pebbles made, which Peireskius found soft under his feet in the River Rosne; as is related in the tenth History of Petrification, in the first Section of this Dis∣course.

[ 90] So that, I think, it is evident, first, by the afore-cited Authorities, which hold that all bodies were made of wa∣ter, and seed; and secondly, by the al∣leadged Experiments, teaching the Re∣duction of all bodies into water again; that the Original of all Concrets, [even those solid ones of Metals, and Stones] is water.

[ 91] And I do not find that very ingenious man, Mr. Boyl,* to be against this Opi∣nion: for he saith thus; Yet thus much I shall tell you at present, that you need not fear my rejecting this Opinion; since how∣ever the Helmontians may in Complement to their Master, pretend it to be a new disco∣very, yet though the Arguments be for the most part his, the Opinion it self is very Ancient.

[ 92] I have now done with the first Argu∣ment, that is, that all Bodies are made Page  58 of those things into which they are at last to be resolved, and that I have prov∣ed to be water.

I now proceed to the second Argu∣ment, [ 93] viz. that all Bodies are Nourish∣ed by that of which they are Constitu∣ted.