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. V. Of the Element of Earth.

IN the last Section of the foregoing Chapter, we have spoken of the Earth, as a Principle partly constituting the mixture of the body, and found after its last resolution; but in this Section we treat of it, as of the fourth and last Elem••nt of this Universe.

The Earth in this respect is, as it were, the Center of the World, in which all its vertues, proprieties and faculties are united; it seemeth even that all the other Elements were created for the use and benefit of the Earth, for all what is in them more precious, seemeth to be intended for its service. Thus the Orbs of Heaven are incessantly whirled about, to supply all the parts of it with vital spirit, and for the maintaining as it were, and recruiting the daily expences of its Family: The Air is in a perpetual motion, to penetrate her deepest bowels, an•• that to the same end, viz. to furnish her with the same vital spirit; and the Water is never at rest, running continually to communicate to her that which the Air hath bestowed upon him: So that all the World seemeth to be concerned for the Earth, and the Earth only for her Fruits, which are her Children, she being the Mother of all things. It seemeth even that the Universal Spirit, loves the Earth above any other of the Elements, since it descends from the highest part of Heaven, where it is in its exaltation, to corporifie it self, or take a bodily shape here on Earth. Now the first Body which the Universal Spi∣rit doth take, is that of Hermaphroditical Salt, whereof we have spoken above, which contains generally in it self all the Principles of life: it is not deprived of Sulphur nor Mercury, for it is the seed of all things, which takes afterwards a body, and the Idea or taliety of Mixts, by help of the characters of particular Matrixes or Wombs, inclosed in the body of this great Element: If it meets with a Vitriolick Matrix, it turns it self to Vitriol; if with Sulphur, it becomes Sulphur, and so of the rest, and that by the vertue and efficacy of several natural sermentations: In a Vegetable Matrix, it becomes Plant; in a Mineral, Stone, Mineral, Metal; in an Animal, whether living or not living, it produces an Animal, as it is

daily seen in the generation of such creatures as are produced by the corruption of some Animal, or other Mixt; as for Example, Bees generated out of young Bulls flesh, and Worms out of the corrupti∣on of several Fruits: Now as there are a great many differences of Mixts, so is there a great variety of particular Matrixes, which often causeth a transplantation in all things; but this matter belongeth rather to Chymical Philosophy then to this place, where having no time to particularize, we do treat of things only in a general way. The knowledge of that part of Philosophy which concerns this Element and its fruits, is called Geomancy. By it we are made ca∣pable of knowing the operations of Nature, both in its very bowels and the surface: Her fruits are the Animals, Vegetables and Mine∣rals; and if these Mixts are composed of the purest vital Principles, then according to their proper nature and condition, will they be lasting, and will attain the end of their natural predestination (or destiny) if some external and occasional cause doth not interrupt that progress, and stop them in their Career: But when Chance (or Fortune) mixes in their first Composition or Nourishment, any of the Principles of Death or Destruction, they cannot long subsist, neither end their intended course by Nature; because these Do∣mestical ••oes do incessantly devour and consume them, as we shall make appear, when we come hereafter to speak of Purity and Im∣purity. But before we enter into that matter, something must be said of the Principles of Death or Destruction.