Ripley reviv'd, or, An exposition upon Sir George Ripley's hermetico-poetical works containing the plainest and most excellent discoveries of the most hidden secrets of the ancient philosophers, that were ever yet published / written by Eirenæus Philalethes ...

AN ADVERTISEMENT.

THis Author having wrote many Ex∣cellent Pieces on this Subject, not so much to manifest himself an Adept (a•• many have done) as to benefit the World•• by his Writings, himself professing, that

••••though the rest of his Adept Brethren ••ad (as we may say enviously) sworn se∣••••ecie (contrary to their received Maxim ••f doing all the good they may with this ••rge Talent so long as they live, and ••••nger if it might be,) yet had not he so ••worn, though they supposed it; for he ••ad as himself confesseth, an extraor∣••inary impulse of mind, to be helpful to all ••••ncere searchers of this secret Art, (to use ••is own words) and to stretch out his hand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such as are behind. Seeing therefore, ••hat it was the Authors own desire to ••enefit the World by his Labours, and ••hat he gave his consent to Mr. Starkey for Printing his Pieces, as appears in his Pre∣face to the Marrow of Alchimy; I know no reason wherefore his Writings should lie conceal'd any longer: And great pity it was that Mr. Starkey did separate this Au∣thor's Commentarie upon Sir George Rip∣ley's 12 Gates, which he did as I was in∣formed by one unto whom he gave the very Book from which he confessed he had cut the last Six Gates; the Person demanding the reason wherefore he cut them in sunder: he answered, that the

World was unworthy of them; which ne∣vertheless he promis'd to give that Person a Transcript of, but did not, which is the reason that they cannot yet be found; the loss of which is very much lamented▪ Wherefore if any Gentleman hath them by him, or any other piece of this Author, It is humbly desired that they will send them to the Pellican in Little Britain, London, that they may be Printed with the first Six Gates, which are now in the Press: And that I may not be wanting to contribute what I can for the discovery of this Author's Works, I here make bold to present the Reader with a Catalogue of such Pieces as are noted to be writ by this Author under the disguised name of Aeyraeneus Philalethes, part whereof are set down by Mr. Starkey in his Preface a∣forenamed, and part are mentioned by the Author himself, with several others, which he wrote (as he saith) for his own recreation, and afterwards burn'd; which Author is acknowledged by all hands to be an English-man, and an Adept & sup∣posed to be yet living, and travelling, and about the age of 55 years, but his Name is not certainly known.