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OUr natural Fire is, as I said, the true Sulphur of Gold, which in the hard and dry Body is imprisoned, but by the mediation of our Water it is let loose, by rotting the moles of the Body under
which it was detained, and after separa∣tion of Elements, it appears visibly in our third Menstrual.
For though Gold be a compact and dry Earthy Body, none may think that it became what it is without the virtue of a Seed, which by perfection is not extinct, but sealed up only; which Seed is a Fiery form of Light, which nothing in the World wanteth, and therefore it would be a great Anomalum if it should be only defective in Metals, the choice of all sublunary Bodies.
Betwixt these two Fires, in the time of their action and passion one upon ano∣ther, and from another, there is made a medium which is part of both, which be∣cause it is not altogether natural, nor wholly against nature, is called un∣natural.
The duration of this unnatural Fire is from the time that the Body begins to open, and colours to change, that is in a word, all the time of the rule of Saturn, and part of the rule of Jupiter, the whole Regimen of Putrefaction, and so much of Ablution until the Dove begin to pre∣vail
over the Crow; which Putrefaction as it is the turning of an intire Wheel, so part of it is done in sicco, when the Body is all a discontinuous Calx or Ashes, and part in humido, which is called a Bath, when the subsident part is liquid and boils, and the superiour part vapours aloft and descends.
Thus you see how many Fires we have, and how they are distinguished: wherein I have written what I know, and as many as understand me will esteem my Writings highly; for without boast∣ing let me assure thee, thou hast not such another Directory in the whole World: I may speak it without offence, being unknown to thee, and thou to me. This I say not to detract from any Philoso∣pher, for many were deeply seen in this Mastery, but almost all were envious, and the most candid would have judged my plainness deserving an Anathema ma∣ranatha. I have here laid you so plain demonstrations as I go, that you cannot miss, if God direct you; and without the knowledge of the Fires you are far wide, whatever whimsies you have in
your head; for you shall never see the dissolution of the Body, nor shall you ever make black, and by consequence you cannot divide Elements as you ought to do, because you proportioned not your Matters wisely in the beginning of the Work; for, Dimidium facti qui bene cepit, habet, he who makes a good beginning, hath as good as half done.