Four books of Johannes Segerus Weidenfeld concerning the secrets of the adepts, or, of the use of Lully's spirit of wine : a practical work, with very great study collected out of the ancient as well as modern fathers of adept philosophy : reconciled together by comparing them one with another, otherwise disagreeing, and in the newest method so aptly digested, that even young practitioners may be able to discern the counterfeit or sophistical preparations of animals, vegetables and minerals, whether for medicines or metals, from true, and so avoid vagabound imposters, and imaginary processes, together with the ruine of estates.

From the Receipts we observe,

1. That by Aqua Vitae, or Spirit of Wine, the Adepts did not in the least intend Common, but Philosophical Aqua ardens; for Common Aqua ardens will never perform that which is desired in these Receipts, and it being granted, that it seems to perform, yet Menstruums so made, cannot be Menstruums of the Adepts, but Common, of no efficacy or esteem in the more secret Chymy.

2. That Basilius has indeed sometimes used common Aqua ardens for his Menstruums, but never by it self, but mixed with Vegeta∣ble Sal Armoniack, or Philosophical Salt of Tartar (that is, with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine) volatilized; which Salt, being brought into a liquid substance by virtue of this Spirit, is his Men∣struum; for he separates again from thence the Spirit of Com∣mon Wine, either by Flame, or by quick Lime.

3. That the greater quantity of Sal Armoniack is joyned with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, the stronger are these Menstru∣ums made; wherefore Basilius his Menstruums of this Kind, from which all the common Aqua ardens is separated, are to be reputed among the best.

4. That these Menstruums are the Magistery of fixed Salts, by Paracelsus call'd the less Circulatums, or Arcanum of the Alkali of Tartar, Beans, Wormwood, as also common Salt, Alom, Nitre, &c.

5. And therefore that these Menstruums are Medecines.

6. That these Menstruums may be made several ways; as these out of the Sal Armoniack of Lully, by the method of Paracelsus his Circulatums, and so on the contrary, provided the Alkalies or fixed salts be volatilized, and distilled together with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine through an Alembick.

7. That the Spirit of Philosophical Wine is not easily mixed with these Salts, but by certain degrees: First, He extracts the Tincture or Soul from them, that is, the more unctuous parts; which being more volatile than the rest, are then easily distilled into a volatile Tincture, or (to use Luly's phrase) into the animated Spirit; then the remaining Earth, being now fixed by the same means, is again volatilized by absorbing the said animated Spirit by degrees, and sublimed into Sal Armoniack.

8. That these Sal Armoniacks are sublimed with a very strong fire.

9. That these Salts are called Harmoniack, by reason of the Harmony ar Perfection of their mixtion. So have you saith Lully, the formal Harmoniack mixtion of all the Elements; wherefore wonder not, if we call it Sal Armoniack; for so it is called, because of its exalted and sublimed property the pure and first Matter of Nature, Lib. Mercur. pag. 155.

10. That the volatile Salt of Tartar, the volatile Salt of Worm∣wood, Carduus Benedictus, &c. common volatile Salt (by Para∣celsus call'd Sal enixum) are rightly term'd Sal Harmoniacks, Phi∣losophical Vegetable Mercuries, and Sulphurs of Nature, &c.

11. That the Spirit of Salt, Nitre, Vitriol, Aqua fortis, &c. are by being cohobated with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine made sweet.