The Golden Calf, Which the World Adores, and Desires Part 4

Labour, and Pray; G.o.d gives alway.

Artist

You argue rightly enough Sir.

For, from the writings of Philosophers, this Art of Arts is most rarely learned; but the Sense them is very well, and clearely understood by the Manuduction of some Adept Philosopher. But let us hence pa.s.s to the Trans.m.u.tative Effect of this most n.o.ble Tincture, touching which, the possessors, or many of the Adept, have written many Books, and the most of their Genuine Disciples, labouring much in the Fire, did at length compleatly attain to the wished End of their Arcanum,

Physician

I perceive your Masters.h.i.+p takes pleasure in pa.s.sing from the use of the Medicine, to the infinite Trans.m.u.tation of Metals. Although I could easily believe the possibility of Art, viz. that a Chymical Experiment of that kind was in the Adept, as I have also made mention above, touching that Experiment of Dr. Kifflerus who, with the Tincture of one ounce of Gold trans.m.u.ted 1 ounce & half of Silver into the best Gold, not to mention the Experiment of Helmont; nor of Scotus, which he made in the most famous Cities of Colonia, and Hanovia; nor much to insist on that ill.u.s.trious, and well known Example, manifested at Prague, before Caesar Ferdinando the third, himself; where with one only grain of the Tincture, three pounds Mercury were trans.m.u.ted into most n.o.ble Gold; insomuch that I am brought no less into a neccessity, than into a Will of believing, that the Art may be true; yet I cannot to this hour sufficiently receive it without some doubt, because with these my Eyes, I never in all my Life saw the Man, who was the true possessor thereof.

Artist.

Sir, you say true? yet Art will be Art, whether you can believe it or no. Even as is seen in the Magnet.

How it by its own insited Sulphureous Virtue, of Iron, by Contact presently makes a Magnet. Although you will not believe, that such wonderful Operations are latent in it, yet they are, and will remain true. So also you should Judge of the Stone of Philosophers, in which is all that the Wise seek.

And because the clouded Writings of them, can be understood, and explained but by very few, it is to be desired earnestly by all, and with the hands it must be endavoured, that some one General Epitomen of the whole Art, may so be made, as in a very short s.p.a.ce of time, and without much labour, all things necessary may be gathered, by the help of which, a most easy Transition to real Authors, might be effected. Now since you have presented some few Examples, by which you endeavour to a.s.sert the confirmed possibility of the Matter; I my self will here shew to you the True Matter of Secret Philosophers.

Behold it! Look well, upon it.

Physician.

So my Master, Is this Sulphureous, and Yellow Gla.s.sy Substance the very Philosophick Matter?

And are you your self the Possessor of this Science? I am ready to believe you do but jest with me. I pray Sir, tell me the Truth, whether it be really so, or not?

Artist.

Yes, Matter Doctor, You now have within your hand, the most pretious Treasure in the World.

For this is the true Stone of Philosophers, than which, no Man ever had a better, nor shall have any other. And I my self did elaborate the Composition, from beginning to end. If you have another convenient Chamber, I will Shew you Metal trans.m.u.ted into Gold, by such a Stone as this (When I had brought him into another Chamber.) Behold (said he) these five Pendants, were, by the benefit of this Philosophick Tincture, prepared of Saturn, or Lead; which I wear for a perpetual Remembrance of my Master.

But I suppose, you, having perused many Writings of the Adept, seeing the Substance, and Nature of this Stone, will very sufficiently know the true Matter, or rightly understand the same.

Physician.

I understand by your self, that you had a Master, from whom you rather learned your Art, than acquired the same, by your proper Labour and Invention. And although I now have seen that Substance, which you affirm to be the true Tincture of Philosophers, as also those five Pendants, nevertheless I am still left ignorant, and in doubt, whether it be true or no.

Therefore, I earnestly again and again request of you, to confer on me only so small a part of that matter, as will suffice to trans.m.u.te only four grains of Lead into Gold, that you may this way remove from me all Scruple or Doubt, and render me so much the more certain of the verity of the Matter.

Give me but the magnitude of one grain only, or of a Coriander-seed, that thence a Specimen, or Probation, may be exhibited, either in some desperate Disease, or in a Metallick Trans.m.u.tation.

Artist.

I do confess, that a certain Man of good Condition, to me wholly unknown, by demonstrating taught me; First, the possibility of trans.m.u.tation; secondly the way of preparing also. And this is that Infallible Art, touching which you have no reason to doubt. But whereas, you request that I should give you one small part of my Treasure; that is no wise lawful for me to do, although, you would give as a Recompense, so many Ducats, as this whole Room, from the bottom to the top, would contein; and that not by reason of the estimation of the Matter, because it is of small Price, but for another weighty Reason, in respect of which, if it were possible, that Fire could be consumed by Fire, I would at this time, rather cast this whole Ma.s.s into the devouring Flames, before your Eyes.

Wherefore, in the meanwhile, I admonish you, not to be so eager in coveting this so great Science. For you have this day seen more in my possession, than many Kings, and Princes could ever behold, although they eagerly desired to see the same. Besides, I think of comming to you again, after 3 Weeks, then I will shew to you certain excellent Arts, and Manuductions in the Chymical Science. Also, if it shall then be lawful for me, to shew you the way of Trans.m.u.tation, I will truely satisfie your Curiosity therein. In the mean while, I bid you farewel, withal, admonis.h.i.+ng, that you take heed to your self, and meddle not with such a great, and profound Labour, least: you miserably loose both your Fame, and substance in the Ashes like some other covetous inquisitors, of the same most n.o.ble Art.

Physician.

Now, what shall I do, my Master?

If it happen, that, by reason of your Philosophick Oath, confirmed by that small draught of Silver, dissolved in Rain-water, it shall not be lawful for you to give me that requested exceeding small part of the Tincture so wonderful.

You cannot be ignorant, that I (according to your suspicion) am in mind anxious, and earnestlie desirous of tasting of this so n.o.ble Science. Yea, I do verilie think, if Adam himself, the first Patriark of the World (who was once driven out of Paradice, for eating the Apple of either Wisedom) were yet living in this our Age, he would not forbear again the Taste of this Golden Apple, from the Garden of Atlantis.

Your Masters.h.i.+p said: Manie Princes could not see this which I have seen. I, indeed have seen the Matter, of which you give so rare a Testimony; but in the mean while I have not beheld the trans.m.u.tative Effect; only I give credit to your Words. And, since you have told me, that you will go hence, and after three Weeks return to me again, to teach me some excellent Chymical Arts, as also the way of projection, if it shall then be lawful for you. In the fruition of this good hope, I at this time rest satisfied; in the mean time, giving you hearty thanks, for your exceeding great Friends.h.i.+p shewed to me alreadie, and, for your singular Care, and faithful admonition, that I should not in Chymical Labours, consume both my Goods and Reputation. I a.s.suredly have never yet made tryal of so great, and high things, nor ever will I attempt the me, unless your self will first gratis, and from the pure benevolence of Friends.h.i.+p, demonstrate to me, the way and manner of preparing. Yet I shall admire the Verity of Art, and please my self with the Remembrance of the Friends.h.i.+p you have shewed me; because you, who have revealed this to me, are an Adept Philosopher.

But if any King, or Prince, or any Great Man, or Men, should know, that you are the Possessor of this Art, and therefore (which G.o.d forbid) should lay hold of you, and attempt by Tortures to bring you to a discovery, would you reveal this Art to them?

Artist.

I have not shewed the Stone of Philosophers to any man, except to one aged man, and to your self; to both of you, I have revealed that I am the Possessor; but, henceforth, no man must ever see or hear such a thing.

And although any King, or Prince, should (which G.o.d I hope will not permit) cast, me into Prison, I would not, after the manner of Circ.u.mforanean Physicians [or Mountebanks] or Vagabond Impostors or of poor Alchimists, directly, or indirectly, discover the Art to them, but would rather suffer my self to be most cruelly wracked, tortured, or tormented with burning Fire, untill my life expire.

Physician

Good Friend, are there not Authors, which, touching the verity of this Art, write more plainly, then all the number of them, which, concerning it, utter words so obscure, as perhaps they themselves did not understand, unless they adhibited the.

Commentaries, and Annotations of evident Paraphrasists. I suppose you have in times past read them, and therefore are best able to inform me, who were Adept.

Artist.

Master Doctor, I indeed read not, nor have I read many Books, yet among those I have read, I find no Authors more curious, than Sandivogius, especially in that Book, which is Ent.i.tuled Cosmopolita, in Dutch, Borger Der Werelt. Also Brother Basilius in in his twelve Keys. As to Sandivogius, this Author you may peruse, untill I return, as I said: for in his obscure words the truth is latent, even as our Tincture of Philosophers is both included, and retruded, in External Minerals, and Metallick Bodies.

Physician

Sir, I give you thanks, for this so great friends.h.i.+p. I shall do according to your advice, and as to what you say, touching the Objects of the Tincture, I easily a.s.sent to, and grant; for I believe that the wonderful, and efficacious Essences of Metals, are hid under the external Rinds and Sh.e.l.ls of Bodies, although I find very few so well exercised, and experienced in the Fire, who know how to uncase the Kernel, according to the Rule of Art.

Every External, and Robust Substance, of any Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral, is the Body, like unto that Terrestrial Province, into which (as Isaac Holland hath prescribed) excellent Essences spiritually enter. Wherefore, it is needful, that the Sons of Art should know, how by some Saline suitable Ferment, grateful to the Metallick Nature, they may subdue, dissolve, separate and concentrate, not only the Magnetick Metallick virtue of Tinging, but also, how they may multiply the same in its own Philosophick h.o.m.ogeneal Golden, or Silvery-manner. For we see, that the bodies of all Creatures, are not only easily destroyed, but thenceforth also the Internals cease to live, and hasten to the dark Shadowings, in which they were, before they, by the Creation of G.o.d the Creator, were brought to Light. But what Man will discover to us this Art in the Metallick Kingdom?

Artist

You say well, and have rightly judged of the Natural Destruction of things, and if it shall be pleasing to the most merciful G.o.d, to deal graciously with you as He hath done with me; He, according to your good hope, will direct some one of the Adept to demonstrate, to you the way of destroying Metals, and of collecting the Internal Souls of them. But, in the mean while, do you invoke the most Wise G.o.d, to whose Vigilant Eyes I commend you, which are always open upon his Sons, regenerated to him by Christ. Again Farewel, and rest a.s.sured, I will be your Friend.

I must at this time go hence, but I hope to see you again in good health, ere it be long.

Thus my new Friend took his Leave, and went away; it leaving me, his Friend, most sad for the s.p.a.ce of three Weeks, which being expired, according to his Word, he returned, and gave me the Tincture, as you may learn by the above-recited History.

After this, that Philosophick Man of G.o.d went from me, and I never more saw him, from that time, unto to this very day, nor could I hear of him by any of the Carriers, or Posts, or by any of my Intimate Acquaintance.

Nevertheless, he left with me (as a Spurre) the acute Memory of, him, reposted in my minde, as also the Opinion of Paracelsus affirming, that by Metals, of Metals, and with Metals, cleansed, Spiritual, and first depurated from their feculency, are made Metals, and the Living Gold and Silver of Philosophers, as well for Humane, as for Metallick Bodies. Wherefore if that Guest, my Friend of but little acquaintance, had exactly shewed to me, the way of preparing preparing this Celestial Spiritual Salt, by which, and with which, from Corporeal, and Earthly Substances, I might, as it were, in the Matrix of them, collect the Spiritual Rayes of Sol or Luna: a.s.suredly, He from his own Light, would have enkindled in me so great a Light, as I should have seen, and understood how I ought in other Corporeal Metals, by Sympathy to trans.m.u.te the Eternal Soul of them so, as by the help thereof they had clarified, or transformed their own like body, either into Gold, or into Silver, according to the disposition of the Red seed, into a Red Body, or according to the Nature of the White Seed, into a White Body. For Elias the Artist affirmed to me, that the Chalybs Of Sandivogius is that true Mercurial Metallick Humidity, by the help of which, without any Corrosive, the Artist might, in an open Fire, and Crucible, separate the fixed Rayes of Sol or Luna from their own Body, and thenceforth make them Volatile and Mercurial, for the Dry Philosophick Tincture, as he demonstrated to me; and communicated somewhat relating to the trans.m.u.tation of Metals. Indeed all men well skilled in the Chymical Science, have a necessity of a.s.senting to me in this, viz. that Pyrotechny is the Mother, and Nurse of various n.o.ble Sciences and Arts.

For they can easily judge from the Colours of the Chaos of Metals in the Fire, what Metallic body is therein. Even so dayly in the bowels of the Earth are procreated Metals, and Perspicuous Stones, from a proper n.o.ble vaporous Seed, from a Spiritual tinging Sulphureous Seed, in their diverse Saline Matrixes.

For the common Sulphur, whether of an impure, or pure Metal whilst conjoyned with its own body, mixt with Salt Peter only in the burning heat of Fire is easily changed into a most hard and most fixed Earth, but this Earth is thenceforth by the Aire easily changed into a most limpid Water: and this Water afterward, by a more strong Fire, according to the Nature of the Metallick pure or impure Sulphur mixt is converted into Gla.s.s, admirably Well tinged with various Colours. Almost in the very same manner, from the White of an Egge is generated a Chick by natural heat. So also from the Seminal bond of Life of any one Metal, is made a new, and more n.o.ble Metal, by an heat of Fire convenient to the Saline Nature; although very few Chimists rightly and perfectly know, how the Internal, and alwayes moving Magnetick virtues, are distinguished according to the Harmony, or Disconsonancy of them.

Whence we see, this Metal hath a Sympathy or Antipathy with another, so very singular, as is found in the Magnet with Iron, in Mercury with Gold, in Silver with Copper, a very remarkable Sympathy, but on the contrary, there is a notable Antipathy in Lead against Tin, in Iron against Gold, in Antimony against Silver, in Lead against Mercury. Infinite other like Sympathetic, and Antipathetick Annotations occurr in the Animal & Vegetable Kingdom; as you may read and find in various Authors, who have written of such Curiosities, from the accurate, and absolute Knowledge of which, the true Philosophers, and Masters of Nature had their beginning, and Esteem.

Thus have I described, what I my self have seen and done; and have caused the same to be printed for you, Candid Readers, out of mere Liberality, gratis communicating it, according to that of Seneca: I desire in this to know somewhat, that I may teach others.

Si c.u.m hac Exceptione detur Sapientia, ut illlam inclusam tencam, abjiciam, &c. But if any man doubt of the real truth of this matter, let him only with a lively faith believe in his Crucified Jesus, that in Him, he (by the strict way of Regeneration) may become a New Creature; in the same let him fix the whole Anchor, of his Faith, and likewise shew his [Greek: philanthropia], or Love of Mankind, unto all his Neighbours, and especially exercise the works of Mercy, and Brotherly Love towards the needy Members of the Christian Religion, that at length, when the whole Course of his Life is justly, and holily finished, in that Fatal and Mortal hour, he may hence, through the Watery Ocean of this Tempestuous and Rocky World, arrive in safety at the most blessed Port of Eternal Rest, and sing the New Song with the Triumphing Philosophers of the Heavenly Jerusalem, of which he hopes to take, who is,

Your most faithful and a.s.sured Friend

John Frederick Helvetius,

Doctor and Pract.i.tioner of Medicine at the Hague.