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. XLI. Of the Vessel, Lute, Closing, and Times of the Philosophick Work.

I. THe Vessel for our Stone is but one, in which the, whole Magistery or Elixir is performed and perfected; this is a Cucur∣bit, whose Bottom is round like an Egg, or an Urinal, smooth within, that it may Ascend and Descend the more easily, covered with a Limbeck round and smooth every where, and not very high, and whose Bottom is round also like an Egg.

II. Its largeness ought to be such; that the Me∣dicine or matter may not fill above a fourth part of it, made of strong double Glass, clear and transparent, that you may see through it, all the Colours appertaining to, and appearing in the work; in which the Spirit moving continually, cannot pass or flie away.

III. Let it also be so clo∣sed, that as nothing can go out of it, so nothing can enter into it; as Lucas saith, Lute the Vessel strongly with Lutum Sapientiae, that no∣thing may get in or go out of it.

IV. For if the Flowers, or matter subliming, should breath out, or any strange Air or matter enter in, your work will be spoiled and lost.

V. And though the Phi∣losophers oftentimes say, that the matter is to be put into the Vessel, and closed up fast, yet it is sufficient for the Operator, once to put the said matter in, once to close it up, and so to keep it even to the very perfecti∣on and finishing of the work. If these things be often re∣peated, the work will be spoiled.

VI. Therefore saith Rha∣sis, keep your Vessel continually close, encompassed with Dew, [which demonstrates what kind of Heat you are to use,] and so well Luted that none of the Flowers, or that which sublimes, may get out, or vanish in Vapor or Fume.

VII. And in Speculum Alehymiae it is said, Let the Philosophers Stone remain shut within the Vessel strongly, un∣til such time, that it has drunk up the Humidity, and let it be nourished with a con∣tinual Heat till it becomes White.

VIII. Also another Phi∣losopher in his Breveloquium saith, as there are three things in a natural Egg, viz. the Shell, the White, and the Yolk, so likewise there are three things corresponding to the Philosophers Stone, the Glass Vessel, the White Liquor, and the Citrine Body.

IX. And as of the Yolk and White, with a little Heat, a Bird is made, (the Shell being whole, until the coming forth or Hatching of the Chicken:) so is it in the work of the Philoso∣phers Stone. Of the Citrine Body, and White Liquor, with a temperate or gen∣tle Heat is made the Avis Hermetis, or Philosophers Bird.

X. The Vessel being well and perfectly closed, and never so much as once opened till the perfection or end of the work: so that you see the Vessel is to be kept close, that the Spirit may not get out and evanish.

XI. Therefore saith Rha∣sis, Keep thy Vessel and its jun∣ctures close and firm, for the

Conservation of the Spirit. And another saith, close thy Vessel well, and as you are not to cease from the work, [or let it cool,] so neither are you to make too much haste, [neither by too great a heat, nor too soon open∣ing of it.]

XII. You must take spe∣cial care that the Humidity [which is the Spirit] gets not out of the Vessel; for then you will have nothing but a Dead Body remain∣ing, and the work will come to nothing.

XIII. Socrates saith, Grind it with most sharp Vinegar, till it grows thick, and be careful that the Vinegar be not turned into fume, and perish.