Medicina practica, or, Practical physick shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies ... : to which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longævus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley : all translated out of the best Latin editions into English ... : together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers : the whole compleated in three books / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XIX. That the Beginning of this Work is in the Blackness and Darkness: and of con∣joyning the Body with the Soul.

I. NOW it is that which is dead, which you ought to vivisie or make a∣live; and that which is sick, which ought to be cured: It is the White which is to be rubified; the Black which is to be purified; and the Cold which is to be made hot.

II. It is God himself who does create, and inspire or give life, and replenishes Nature with his Power, that it might follow and imitate his Wisdom, and act as an Instrument subser∣vient to him.

III. Iron is our Gold; and Brass or Copper is our Tin∣cture; Argent Vive is our Glory; Tin is our Silver; Blackness is our Whiteness; and the Whitness is our Red∣ness.

IV. From hence it ap∣pears necessary, that we should have a Body purify∣ing Bodies; and a Water subliming Water. Our Stone which is a Vessel of Fire, is made of Fire; and is converted into the same a∣gain.

V. And if you would walk in the true way, you must persue it in the evident or visible Blackness: for (saith our Stone) it is that which is hidden within, which does make me white; and the same thing which makes me White, makes me also Red.

VI. Conceal this thing from Men, like as a word which is yet in thy Mouth, which no Man understands;

and as the Fire, Light, or Sight, which is in thine Eye: I will not tell it plainly to thee thy self, left by thy words thou conveyest my Breath to another, to thine own damage: This is the caution I give thee.

VII. Now know that this our Work, is made [or compounded] of two Figures [or Substances] the one of which wants the White Rust [Ceruse] and the other the Redish Rust [Crocus] Our Matters also are searsed thro our Sieves or Searses, made of pure or clean Rinds, and a most blessed Wood.

VIII. You are also to take notice, that the Fire∣stone of the Philosophers sought after, wants Exten∣tion, but it has quantity. It behoves you therefore, to support and nourish it on every side, and to continue it as in the middle.

IX. You must also con∣oyn the Body with the Soul, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beating and grinding it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sun, and imbuing it with the Stone; then puting it into the Fire, so long till all its Stains and Defile∣ments are taken away; let it be a gentle Fire for about seven hours space; thus will you get that which will make you to live.

X. I also tell you, that its habitation or dwelling place, is posited in the Bowels of the Earth, for without Earth it cannot be perfected: Also, its habita∣tion is posited in the Bowels of the Fire, nor without Fire can it be perfected, which is the perfection of our Art.

XI. Again, Except you mix with the White the Red, and presently bring or reduce the same into a perfect Water, it will tinge nothing; for it never tinges any thing Red, but that which is White: and while the Work is now perfecting, add them to the light of the Sun, and it will be com∣pleated Regimine Marino, as we have already declared: and by this conjunction a∣bove, your Stone will attain

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to its Beauty and Glory.

XII. Thus have you a dry Fire which does tinge: an Air or Vapour, which fixes and chains the Volatile Matter, binding the Fugi∣tive in Fetters; and also whitens, expelling the black∣ness from Bodies; and a fixed Earth, also receiving the Tincture.