THREESTONES.PDF

OF THE THREE MOST NOBLE STONES GENERATED BY THREE SECRET FIRES

AND

First, Of the Stone of Philosophers, which is prepared by the Secret

Fire of the Wise.

Secondly, of the upper and lower Thunder-stone, how they are generated

above, by the Meteorological Fire; and below, by the Secret Artificial

Fire.

Thirdly, How the LAPIS IGNIS, or Fire-stone of BASILIUS, is to be

prepared out of ANTIMONY by Art.

And how those Three most noble Stones of the World, are to be used in

Physick and Alchemy.

Translated out of the High-Dutch.

Reader,

In the end of the Appendix to the Seventh Part of my PHARMACOPAEA

SPAGYRICA, I have made mention of Three Fires, which are not Common, but

unknown to the World. By which are generated three wonderful Stones,

which I did intend to publish. First, of the secret Fire of

Philosophers, commonly called the Fire of ARTEPHIUS; because ARTEPHIUS a

very ancient Philosopher did first write of it, who was also envious

like others, and would write nothing of it, till he came to be nine

hundred Years old, which way the Philosophers Stone was to be made by

this Fire. These Writings have been long tossed up and down the World,

before any could be certain, whether or no this miraculous Fire could be

found in Nature. At length some Philosophers attained its knowledge, and

published it for the good of the World. But because, those Philosophers

were very obscure in their Writings, the Art could not be made common,

but remaineth secret to this hour: So that one of a Thousand among the

now reputed Philosophers, (who have filled the whole World with their

unexperienced Writings) scarcely one is to be found, who know anything

of it. And because this secret Fire was called by the true Philosophers

IGNIS PHILOSOPHORUM, it would have becomed them, to know somewhat of it.

HELMONT the most experienced and learned Philosopher of his time,

although he had studied long in the Universities, yet he doth not Glory

in any Arts he there learned:

But on the contrary, he saith, that Physick, as it is taught in the

Schools, Is of no value. And, that not the Universities, but the Fire,

made him a Philosopher. And therefore, he calls himself a Philosopher by

the Fire. And without doubt, our secret Fire was known to him, as

appears by his excellent Writings. For his ELEMENTUM IGNIS VENERIS, to

which he attributes so many Virtues, could not well be made, without

this secret Fire. A Quintessence may be drawn out of VENUS, but that

will not effect, what the Red Element of the incombustible SULPHUR can.

PARACELSUS, in his Book of SULPHUR, writes, that an excellent ELEMENTUM

IGNIS may be made out of common SULPHUR, which he so highly commends,

that he dares to say, that except a Physican hath this Element of Fire,

(that is the fixed Quintessence of SULPHUR, among his ARCANUMS, he

cannot rightly be reputed a Physican, but a Money Catcher, and Robber of

the Sick. In my lately published Treatise of SULPHUR, I have also

described an ELEMENTUM IGNIS, which is certainly a very excellent

Medicine against all Cold Distempers, but this is not yet fixed, but

combustible, but the Element of Fire ought to be Incombustible. For as

long as a Medicine made out of SULPHUR is still combustible, and subject

to blacken Silver when touched with it, it cannot he reputed the true

ELEMENTUM IGNIS SULPHURIS. For the true Element of Fire of SULPHUR doth

not make Silver black, but tingeth it with a constant Golden Colour,

which cannot be washed off. As also, the Element of Fire ought to be of

this Nature, to enter a Red hot Plate of Silver without fume, as Oil

sinks into dry Leather; and to tinge it Yellow. Also, it ought to tinge

common MERCURY into Gold, when added to it in a due heat. This

Quintessence of SULPHUR, also must not be burnt by the Fire as other

Oil, but remain incombustible. Therefore, the Philosophers have called

it an Incombustible Oil, a permanent Water, AURUM POTABILE, & etc. When

it hath those Virtues, then it can perform what PARACELSUS attributes to

it, viz. Wonders both in Physick and Alchemy; and by this, ARISTOTLE and

his followers (who assert, that the Species of Metals cannot be

transmuted) are quite out of Doors.

It is true, ARISTOTLE also saith, that the Metals cannot be transmuted,

if they be not first reduced to their first matter, of which I have

sufficiently treated. This our fixed Oil of SULPHUR transmutes the

Metals without any precedent reduction of them to their first matter.

For our secret Fire hath taken away what soever was pernicious or

combustible; so that only the purest and incombustible part remains, by

which such great things in Medicine and Alchemy are performed, that it

refuteth all those who speak against it; although many Imposters by

their cheats, from place to place, have given occasion to speak evil of

the Noblest of Arts; which hath had an ill effect heretofore upon my

self.

An History of the Poisonous Tail of Common Alchemy.

Here follows a large Historical Digression of some great Abuses which

the Author some time underwent, but pertaining nothing to the Scope of

this Treatise, I will not trouble the Reader with it.

Now concerning our secret Fire, It is not made of Coals or Wood; or

other combustible Matter, but compounded of certain Fiery Waters, which

burn, but not like other Fires without the Glass, but always within the

Glass; wherefore ARTEPHIUS, as the first Author of the secret Fire,

useth these words. “Our Fire is Mineral, Equil, Continual, it Vapours

not unless it be too much stirred up, it partakes of SULPHUR, and is

taken elsewhere than from the matter; it pulleth down all things,

dissolveth, concealeth, and calcineth, it is artifical to find; it is a

short way without cost; it is moist, vapourous, digestive, altering,

piercing, subtile. Airy, not violent, not burning, compassing, or

environing, containing but one, and it is the Fountain of Living Water

which goeth about and containeth the place, where the King and Queen

Bathe themselves.”

This is ARTEPHIUS’S Description of the Fire of Philosophers. PONTANUS

hath also wrote of this Fire, to whose Epistle I refer the Reader for

the more easie introduction to it.

ARTEPHIUS hath here plainly enough described the Matter, and the

MERCURIAL Water, and PONTANUS hath confirmed it. He to whom God will

give it, will easily comprehend It; but ARTEPHIUS and PONTANUS teach

nothing, but how to ripen the Stone of Philosophers compounded of Gold,

Silver, and ANTIMONY, by this secret Fire. But because several others as

well universal as particular are to be easily prepared by this our Fire;

I think fit to say somewhat of it. Our Fire maturates whatsoever is put

to it, whether Vegetables, Animals or Minerals, and therefore our Fire,

as also the Matter of the Philosophers Stone it self, is called

Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral; as also a natural, non-natural, and

supernatural Fire. He who is not satisified with this may read ARTEPHIUS

himself, where he will find more of this our secret Fire.

Now understanding what ARTEPHIUS and PONTANUS have written of our secret

Fire, I could not but describe it somewhat more openly, to shew the

Artist a nearer and easier way to obtain it. I GLAUBER can truly affirm

this, That in my young days I have travelled many Countries, and

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