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 ...

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CHAP. XXXII. That Our Stone is but One, and of the Na∣ture thereof.

I. WHEN it was de∣manded of Bau∣zan a Greek Philosopher, whether a Stone may be made of a thing which bud∣eth? Answered, Yea, viz. the two first Stones, to wit, the Stone Aleali, and our Stone, which is the Work∣manship and Life of him who knows and under∣ftands it.

II. But he that is ignorant of it, who has not made, nor knows how it is gene∣rated, supposing it to be no Stone, or apprehends not in his own mind, all the things which I have spoken of it, and yet will attempt to compose it, spends away foolishly his precious time, and loses his Money.

III. Except he finds out this precious Treasure, he finds indeed nothing, there is no second thing or mat∣ter, that can rise up and take its place, or stand it self instead thereof; there is no other Natures that can triumph over it.

IV. Much heat is the na∣ture thereof, but with a cer∣tain temperature: If by this saying, you come to know it, you will reap profit; but if yet you remain igno∣rant, you will lose all your labour.

V. It has many singular Properties and Virtues in curing the Infirmities of Bo∣dies, and their accidental Diseases, and preserves sound Substances, so that there appears not in them any Heterogenities, or Contra∣rieties: No possibility of the dissolution of their U∣nion.

VI. It is the Sapo, or Soap of Bodies, yea, their Spirit and Soul, which when it is incorporate with them, dis∣solves them without any loss.

VII. This is the Life of the Dead, and their Re∣surrection; a Medicine preserving Bodies, cleansing them, and purging away their Superfluities.

VIII. He that under∣stands, let him understand, and he that is ignorant, let him be ignorant still: For this Treasure is not to be bought with Money, and as it cannot be bought, so neither can it be sold.

IX. Conceive therefore its Virtue and Excellency aright, consider its value and Worth, and then begin to Work: How excellent∣ly speaks a Learned Philo∣sopher to this purpose?

X. God (saith he) gives thee not this Magistery for thy sole Courage, Boldness, Strength, or Wisdom, without any la∣bour; but thou must labour, that God may give thee suc∣cess. Adore then God Al∣mighty the Creator of all things, who is pleased thus to favour thee, with so great, and so precious a Trea∣sure.