A compendious body of chymistry, which will serve as a guide and introduction both for understanding the authors which have treated of the theory of this science in general: and for making the way plain and easie to perform, according to art and method, all operations, which teach the practise of this art, upon animals, vegetables, and minerals, without losing any of the essential vertues contained in them. By N. le Fèbure apothecary in ordinary, and chymical distiller to the King of France, and at present to his Majesty of Great-Britain.

CHAP. II. Of the several substances which are found after the Reso∣lution and Anatomy of the Compound.

WE may consider three several wayes, the Principles and Elements which do constitute the Compound: Viz. Or before its composition, or after its resolution, or whilest they do yet compose and constitute the Mixt. In the foregoing Chapter we have demonstrated the nature of Principles, before they enter in the composition of the body; now our task is, in this Chapter, to shew, what they are after the resolution, and during the composition of the Mixt; which we will do the more

succinctly and in general terms at present, in regard we shall fall again more particularly upon the same matter in the fol∣lowing Chapters.

We have said heretofore, that the Universal Spirit, which ra∣dically contains in it self the three first Substances, was indifferent and in order to be made all things; and that he was specificated or embodyed, according to the Idea which it took from the Matrix wherein he was received; with the Minerals becoming Mineral, with Vegetables becoming a Plant, and with Animals Animal. Of this Idea we will speak more hereafter, as also of the Matrixes which do communicate it to the same.

During the composition of the Mixt, this spirit retains the na∣ture and Idea which it took in the Matrix. Thus if it hath taken the nature of Sulphur, and been impregnated with its Idea, it communicates to the Compound, all the vertues and qualities of Sulphur. The same is to be said of Salt, and Mercury; for when∣soever it is specificated, or (if it may be said without barbarism) Ideificated in any of these Principles, it shewes it immediately by its actions: Thus things are in their Composition either fine or volatil, liquid or solid, pure or impure, dissolved or co-agula∣lated, and so of the rest, according as this spirit contained more or lesse Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, or more or lesse mixture of the grossenesse and terrestreity of the Matrixes. But after these Principles are separated one from the other, and from the ter∣restreity and corporeity which they draw from their Matrixes, they make it plain enough by their powerfull effects, that it is in this state they ought to be reduced, before they can work with efficacy, though they retain yet still their character and in∣ternal Idea. Thus some few drops of the true spirit of Wine will be more powerfull, then a whole glasse of this corporeal liquor wherein it was enclosed: A drop of spirit of Vitriol shall be of more effect then many ounces of the body. But you are to note also, that these powerfull effects and great vertues do last no longer in the spirits, than the Idea of the Mixt, whence they were extracted, remains with them: For as all things by a natu∣ral circulation in Nature, which corporifies to spiritualize, and spiritualizeth again to corporifie, have a strong tendency to their first Principle: so these spirits are still busie and working, in en∣deavouring

to divest and free themselves of the Ideas wherein they are fettered, that they may return to their first Principle, which is the Universal Spirit.

These things being so cleared, it remains to see how many substances Chymistry findes in the resolution of the Compounds, and what they are. Aristotle saith, that the resolution of things shewes their constitutive Principles: Upon this Axiom, hath its ground and basis our Philosophy, both by reason of the truth of it, and that Chymistry receives no Principles of sensible things but such as are obvious to, and fall under the Judicatory of the senses. And as the Anatomist hath found a certain number of similar parts, which constitute the humane body, whereof he makes the subject of his Art; so doth the Chymist endeavour to finde out the number of primary and similary substances of all Compounds, to exhibit them to the senses, that they may bet∣ter judge what was their Office whilest yet joyned in their Mixt, having considered their vertue and efficacy, in this purity and abstracted nature; thence the name of Sensal Philosophy hath been by some given to the Chymist: For as the Anatomist doth make use of Rasors and other sharp Tools in his Dissections, to sepa∣rate the better the several parts of the human body, which is his chief object: The same doth the Chymical Artist, fetching his instruction from Nature it self, to attain his end, which is nothing else but to joyn homogeneal and separate heterogeneal things by the means of Heat; for he doth nothing else but contribute his care and labour, to regulate the first according to the exi∣gency of natural Agents and Patients, thereby to resolve the mixt bodies in their several substances, which he separates and purifies afterwards; for the fire never relents or slackens its action, but rather drives it on and encreaseth it, untill he findes no heterogeneity left in the Compound.

After that the Artist hath performed the Chymical resolution of bodies, he doth finde last of all five kinde of substances, which Chymistry admits for the Principles and Elements of natural bodies, whereupon are layd the grounds of its Doctrine, because in these five substances is found no Heterogeneity; these are, the Phlegmatick or waterish part, the Spirit or Mercury, the Sulphur

or Oyl, the Salt, and the Earth. Some give them other names; for it is free for every body to use their invention in such a case, being a thing of no great importance to neglect Names, and leave a latitude of freedom to every one therein, provided you may agree in the substance.

Now, as the Mixts cannot subsist in their integrity and perfect state, if you deprive them of any or these parts, so would also the knowledge of these substances prove defectuous, if they were separated one from another: wherefore we are to consider them, both absolutely and respectively. Three of these substances offer themselves to our sight, by the help of Chymical Operation, under the form of a Liquor, which are the Phlegm or Water, the Spirit, and the Oyl; the two other in a solid body, viz. Salt and Earth. The Water and Earth are commonly called passive Principles, material and of lesse efficacy then the other three; as contrary wise the Spirit or Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, are reckoned active and formal Principles, by reason of their pene∣trative and subtile vertue: Some do call the Earth and Water or Phlegm, Elements; and give the name of Principles to the three others. But if that definition which Aristotle hath given to Principles, is essential, viz. That Principia neque ex aliis, ne∣que ex se invicem fiunt; Experience doth teach us, that these Substances cannot properly bear the name of Principles; because we have said above, that Mercury did change it self into Sulphur, moysture is the aliment or food of heat, and food transforms it self into the thing which is fed. Therefore the definition of Elements should rather sute with these substances, since they are the last thing to be found, after the resolution of the Compound, and that Elements are, Ea quae primo componunt Mixtum, & in quae ultimo resolvitur.

But because the Elements are considered two wayes, either as they are parts which do constitute the Universe, or as they only compound Mixt Bodies; to accommodate our selves to the ordi∣nary way of expression, we shall attribute unto them the name of Principles, in regard they are constitutive parts of the Com∣pound; and shall reserve the appellation of Elements, for those great and vast Bodyes, which are the general Matrixes of natu∣ral things.

Notes

• Or Dissimi∣lar parts.