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.

SECT. IV. Of Sulphur.

THis Principle, as well as the others, hath received several names; for it is called Oyl, Natural Fire, Light, Vital Fire, Balsom of Life and of Sulphur, and besides, many other appella∣tions have been given by the Sons of Art, with which we will not fill up this Section: According to our usual custom, we will content our selves, with examining the nature of the thing, leaving the nicetie of Names to the overcurious.

That substance then, which sometimes we will call Oyl, sometimes Sulphur, is the third in order of those we extract by the artificial resolution of the Compound; we give it this name because it is an Oleagineous substance; which easily take fire, being of a combustible nature, by whose means also the Mixts are rendred such. It is called Principle as well as the others, because being separated from the Compound, it is homogeneous in all his parts, as the other Principles are. This Substance is also considered two several wayes: For being loosened from the others, it swims above the Phlegm and Spirits, because it is lighter and more aetherial; but if it be not absolutely separated from the Salt and the Earth, it will sometimes precipitate it self to the bottom, or swim in the middle, because the Sulphur

supports and holds up the Earth and Salt, untill it be overcome by their weight; it receives not easily nor willingly the Salt, without being first joyned with the Spirit, or before the Salt be circulated with the Spirit, wherewith it hath a great sympathy▪ and then they easily receive the Sulphur together; a thing very well worth noting, since without this observation, no Panacaea's, Magisteries, Essences, Arcana's, nor other most secret Remedies, which are unknown to vulgar Physicians, and Galenical Apothe∣caries, can be made: no more then these can give a reason of the noblest natural effects; because for the most part they assign them to the four first or primary Qualities.

This Sulphur is of the matter of those fiery Meteors, which are kindled in the several Regions of the Air, and are some∣times found in the Cavities of the earth, and chiefly in those places, where Minerals and Metals are generated; it resists to Cold, and never congeals, being the Principle of Heat; it never suffers corruption, preserves from it those things which are im∣mersed in it, preventing the penetration of Air, it sweetens the acrimony of Salt, by whose help it is fixed and coagulated; doth so powerfully blunt the sharpnesse of Spirits, that the most strong Waters have no power over it, nor those Bodies where it abounds. His Office is, to binde and allay the Earth which is but dust, with the Salt in the frame of Mixt Bodies: It causes also the strict union of the other Principles, moderating the too great dryness of Salt, and fluidity of Spirit, and finally by his means, these three Principles grow into a viscuous compact substance, which often times hardens afterwards, by the mixture of the Earth and Phlegm.