Philosophy reformed & improved in four profound tractates.: The I. discovering the great and deep mysteries of nature: by that learned chymist & physitian Osw: Crollivs. The other III. discovering the wonderfull mysteries of the creation by Paracelsvs: being his philosophy to the Athenians. / Both made English by H. Pinnell, for the increase of learning and true knowledge.

TEXT 3.

* 1.1Whereas althings that could be created were made of foure mothers, viz. the four Elements. Take notice further, that those four Elements were fufficient for al things that were to be cre∣ated, nor was it requisite that there should be more or lesse. In things mortall there can no more but four natures subsist. But in things immortall the temperaments, may subsist, though the Elements cannot. Whatever is (as I call it) an elementure, that may be dissolved.* 1.2 But on the contrary, the temperature cannot be dissolved. For such is the condition thereof, that nothing can be added thereto or taken from it, nothing thereof can putrifie or perish. And seing that condition is mortal, as hath been said, we must know that all things do subsist in four natures, and that every nature retains the name of its E∣lement. As the Element of fire is hot;* 1.3 the Element of earth cold; the Element of water

is moyst, the element of aire dry. Where we must as well consider, that every of the said natures is peculiarly such a one by it selfe apart. For fire is onely hot, and not dry, nor moyst. The earth is onely cold, not dry, nor moyst. The water is onely moyst, not hot, nor cold. The aire is one∣ly dry, not hot, nor cold. And therefore are they called Elements;* 1.4 having onely one simple, not a double, nature. But their manifestation through all the creatures must be understood as an Element, that may subsist with a substance and body, and can there work. The highest knowledge concerning the Elements is this, that every one of them hath but one onely simple na∣ture, either moyst, or dry, or cold, or hot. Which is from the condition of spirits. For eve∣ry Spirit hath a simple,* 1.5 not a double nature; and so have the Elements too.

Notes

• * 1.1

  All things consist of the four Ele∣ments.
• * 1.2

  Wherein the Element dif∣fereth from the tempera∣ment.
• * 1.3

  The names of the four Ele∣ments.
• * 1.4

  The nature of the Elements is simple.
• * 1.5

  The elements and simple Spirits.