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. LV. Of the nearest Matter of Our Stone, yet more plainly.

I. GOld is a Body per∣fect, and Masculine, without any superfluity or diminution, and if the im∣perfect Bodies commixed with it by a sole Liquefa∣ction, be perfected by it, it is in Order for the Elixir for the Red.

II. Silver also is a Body almost perfect, and Femi∣nine, which if it be com∣mixed with imperfect bo∣dys, solely by a vulgar fufion, it shall make them nearly perfect, it is in Order for the Elixir for the White, which yet it is not, nor can be, because the Elixirs only are perfect.

III. Because if that per∣fection was perfectly com∣miscible with imperfect Bo∣dies, yet would not the im∣perfect Body be compleat∣ed with the perfect Bodies, but rather their perfection would be diminished and

destroyed by means of the said Imperfect Bodies.

IV. But if those which shall be more than perfect, in a Double, Quadruple, Centuple, or larger propor∣tion of perfection, be mix∣ed with the imperfect Bo∣dies, they will indeed per∣fect them.

V. And because Nature always Operates after a sim∣ple manner, the perfection in these things is simple, and inseparable, and incom∣miscible; nor by this Art, are the imperfect things themselves (for the shorten∣ing the work) to be joyned with the Stone for the Fer∣ment, nor may they then be reduced into their pristine State, when their exceed∣ing Volatility exceeds the highest sixity.

VI. And because Gold is a body perfect, made of Argent Vive, Red, and clear, and of such a like Sulphur, we do not ther∣fore chose it, for the near matter of the Stone for the Red Elixir; for that by reason it is simply so per∣fect, without any artificial purification, and so strong∣ly Digested, and Decocted by a Natural Heat, we can∣not so easily Operate upon it (nor upon Silver) with our Artificial Fire.

VII. And altho Nature may do something in Or∣der to perfection, yet it does not know howthrough∣ly to cleanse, and is igno∣rant how to Purifie and per∣fect, because it works after a simple manner upon what it hath.

VIII. Wherefore, if we chuse Gold or Silver for the matter of our Stone, we shall scarcely, or with difficulty find out a Fire which will work upon them.

IX. And though we know the Fire, yet we may not be able to attain to the inti∣mate and inward opening of their bodies, because of their firm compacted∣ness, or density of body and Natural composition: there∣fore we refuse to take the

first for the Red, or the latter for the White.

X. When we shall find some thing or body ex∣tracted from a pure matter, or a more pure Sulphur and Argent Vive, above that which Nature has a little or in some small Measure wrought or brought forth; then possibly, by the help of our Fire, and manifold experiences in this our Art, which an Ingenious and continued Oporation upon the matter, through a con∣gruous Decoction, Purifica∣tion, Coloration, & Fixation, we may attain and perfect the thing sought after.

XI. Therefore that mat∣ter is to be chosen, in which is a pure Argent Vive, clear, White, and also Red, not yet brought to its compleat∣ment or perfection, but commixed equally and pro∣portionally as it requires, with such a like pure, clean, White and Red Sul∣phur.

XII. Which Matter is to be Coagulated into a so∣lid Mass; and with Ingenui∣ty and Prudence, by the help of our Artificial Fire, we may be able to accom∣plish, its intimate and per∣fect mundification, and at∣tain the Purity of things, and to perform such a work or make such a body, as shall (after the compleat∣ment of the Operation) be a Million of times stronger, and more pure and perfect than the simple bodies themselves, Decocted and made by a Natural heat.

XIII. Be therefore wise: for in this my subtle Dos∣course I have demonstrated plainly the matter of our Stone sought after, by ma∣nifest probation, to the true∣ly Ingenious. Here you may taste of that which is most delectable, above all whatsoever the Philoso∣phers have told you.