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. VI. In what manner Chymistry worketh upon all these Mixts, to extract what is pure in them; and re∣jects their impurity.

YOu see by the enumeration of these Mixts, of what vast extent is the Empire of Chymistry, since her ope∣ration is busied upon these so different Compounds: for she may choose any of these bodies, either to divide and re∣solve it into its Principles, by making a separation of the Sub∣stances which do compound it; or she uses them, to extract the mystery of Nature out of them, which contains the Arcanum, Ma∣gistery, Quintessence, Extract and Specifick, in a much more eminent

degree, than the body from whence it is extracted; because this body, by Chymical Preparation which separates impurities, for the perfection of this mystery, is changed and exalted; as we shall make it plain in the Book of Operations. For it is not enough to study and read the Works of Paracelsus, and chiefly his Books of Archidoxa, which I have already recom∣mended: but you must also use your hands, and come to the Practical part, if you will unriddle his Obscurities, not heeding the time which therein must be spent, nor thinking much of the labour and charges; As most do, who by the reading of some few Authors, only grounded upon the authority and opinions of their Predecessors, neglecting experience and the painfull search of Natures secrets, think and imagine to attain unto great perfection, though Experience be one of the Columns of the best Natural Philosophy, and consequently of the truest Physick. That we may then the better attain to it, we shall here conclude the Theorical part, to come to the Practice; and by the help of one, illustrate the other the better.

The End of the Theory.