A&i
W-
' r.. 'y .V.fv-.V.V
■ ;'• ' !"..■■•
V %£ tl&L* S:
7^-— — -' — - -
f
i
p .'.I
yf> ' U
Ml
• U J
r
• '• • " V4 * . . if &&?$;■*• >'••
•; vf
iWWftvn
nr**
• £
;
I
u
o ‘■'•'Sr
_ ; £JFS -ir '
-
»•
ii f\ f'
/ />*¥ | , •J > * r,. n
\^v * w
} i\ ,
..» *■-•'*•." * j \
hhmAjy\ is
Vw% ^"v' .i Cuf
w4 1
THE
'"'f
i 3'F
ONFESSION
OF THE
FRATERNITY
O F
R: 111
Commonly , of the
; WITH
A Preface annexed thereto, and a Declaration of their Phy ficall
Work.
By Eugenius Philalbthes. Jarch: apud Philoftrat: ^
(AriTZ d.'iTlf&V fTcf.ffl V‘
- - II - - - — *» I . —
Verims in £*? of undo*
— .
\Aon , Printed by J* M< for Giles Calvert, at the tack fpread Eagle at the Weft end of Pauls*
i
f
To the Reader.
fome Gentlemen befides my felf, who af. fecled this Fame, and thought it wDif paragement to their own : but it was thei pkafure it fnould receive light at ... hands, and this made them defer their ow, Copies, which otherwife had pajl the Prefi, I have, Reader Jut little more to fay, unlej j tell thee efrny Juftice, and now thou Jhah fee how diftributive it is. The T ranflatio" of the Fama belongs to an unknown haw
» 1 A 1 *1 ! _ T J ft It
hut the Abilities of the T ranflator / q»t
(Hon not , He hath indeed mijlaken D
/** /■* T\ ^ .. ^ 1 - - f\ ** U. 4 /i irf/t/j/f f jU-f i
mafeus for Damcar in Arabia, and this would not alter, /V I am no Pedant to cor red another mans Labours/ The Cop was communicated to me by a Gentleml more learned then my (elf , and I jho&i name him here? but that he expects not I ther thy thanks or mine . As for the Pi face, it is my own, and I wijh thee thefm\{ Benefit of it, which certainly thou can (Ini mils, if thou com ft to it with clear ey< and a purged ipirit. Conftder that Prej dice cbflrucls :thy Judgment •' for if i Affedions are engag’d, though. to an 1§*
r* _ ^ 7 _ L ^ m.CdX
fatuus, thou doji think it a Guide, bee a
o meKeader.
thou doft follow itt it is not Opinion makes Things Falfe or True: for men '! have deny’d a great part of the World, | which now they inhabit : and America as * well as the Philofophers Stone, fome- times in the Predicament of Impoflibili- ties. There is nothing more abfurd, then to be of the fame mind with the Generality of Men, for they have entertain’d many grofs Errors,nfc£T ime and Experience {have Confuted. It is indeed our Sluggilh- 1 nefs and Incredulity that hinder all Dif- i coveries, for men contribute nothing to¬ wards them but their Contempt, or, which is worft, their Malice. I have known all this my felf, and therefore I tell it thee : but what ufe thou wilt make of it , I know not. To make thee what Man jhould be, is not in my power, but it is much in thy own, if thou know’ft thy Duty to thy felf. Think of it, and Farewell.
4 pure
Eternal Light, and an undefi¬ led Mirror of the Majefty of God, and an Image of his Goodncfs ; flie teacheth us Sobernels and Pru¬
dence,
4
e
le.
the Subtil ty of
words, and Solution of tepees • (he fbreknoweth and Wonders, and wh; pen in time to come ;
our
it
i * ^ c 7
Kn, he,
to ever names
to
t
now
row fill fall into fin this excellent
. .,S
Jewel Wf/dom hath been loft, and meer Darknefs and Ignorance is come into the World, yet notwith-
times
e
times hitherto beftowed,and made manifeft the lame, to fome of his Friends : For the wife King Solomon doth teftifie of himfelf, that he up¬ on earneft prayer and defire did get and obtain fuch Wifdom of God, that thereby he knew how the World was created, thereby he underftood the Nature of the Ele¬ ments, dfo the time, beginning middle, and end, the increale and decreaie, the change of times through the whole Year, the Re- volution of the Year, and Ordi¬ nance of the Stars j he underftood
properties of tame and wilde Beafts, the caufe of the
_ ie Winds, and minds and intents of men, all ibrts and natures ofPlants,vertues of Roots,
and
t
to the 'Reader.
* i
and others, was not unknown to him. Now I do not think that there can be found any one who would not wifh and defire With all his heart to be Pattaker of this noble Trealure; but feeing the fame Felicity can happen to none,
except God himfelf giveWifdom,
and fend his holy Spirit from a-
bove we have therefore fee . forth in print this little Treatife to wit,
; Famam if Qmfejmmm, oftheLau- dable Fraternity of the Kone Crofs to be read by every one, bc- caufe in them is clearly (hewn and
difeovered, what concerning it the
1 World hath to expect.
thefe things may
may efteem it to be but a
V 4
vA\l C:
is
yile
tio true
it
man.
tn ret.
is
it
>
is
now meant
UP *
, 1 uc LJuapm of
WJm and true Followers ofthe
Sober, cal Jn, will confider bitterS-
t*h Plf* tht n <TC* _ „ 1 1 • r
rr afle* have them in \L *«tio as alfo fuclg: far
tirrer°F tbemi 35 hath been m elpeeiallw btuK L ®r,ons>
to
m w m [AO0 irofs y
mmmteA men 5 and un- tyWmg $ ejiiits . fQj: ^yf noJt
P ,c to brook this , la.yd? baock
r PHfc bin* mco>
Uallm,. for which; they
tik #av-rs^vCL
Blefled
• •
The Epjtle
Blefled Aurora will now < henceforth begin to appear J who ( after the parting away of the dark Night of Saturn) With her Brightnefs altogether extin- guifheth the fhining of the Moon , or the ftnall Sparks otj Heavenly Wiflom , which yet remaineth with men , and is a Forerunner of pleafant Qhe- bus y who with his clear and
fiery gliftering Beams brings forth
that blefled Day > long wifhed
for, of many true-hearted,- by
which Day-light then fliall truly
be known, and fliall be feen all
heavenly Treafures of godly WH
doki , as alfo the Secrets of a
hidden and unvijible things M
the World, according to twj ; \ % Doctrine
to the Header •
Do&rine of our Forefathers, and ancient Wifemen. \ * i
t This will be the right kingly i Gtyh, and moil excellent fhining j. Carbuncle , of the which it is laid, ' I That he doth fhine and give light in darknels , and to be a perfect i Medicine of all imperfect Bodies, and to change them into the beft | Gold, and to cure all Dileafes of
Men, eafing them of all pains and fmiferies.
i Be therefore, gentle Reader, admonifhed, that with me you do earneftly pray to God, that it pleafe him to open the hearts and ears of all ill hearing people, and [to grant unto them his bleffing, jthat they may* be able to know
him in his Omnipotency, with
■l ad-*
mm
ace.
F it were the Bufinefs c/ my Life or Learning , to procure my felf that noyfe which men call Fame,/ am not to feek what might conduce to it* it is an Pg t affords many Advantages I might
have the choyce of fever al Foundations, whereon to build my felf.- I can fee mthallj that Time and Employment have made fome perfons Men, whom 1 r " * * fores did not finde fuen. 'ibis Growth might give my Imperfections rfi the Confidence of fuch another ftarr : W as i Uve not by common Examples , f 1 drive not a Common Defign. / havt wen a courfe different from that oftht r^orld yfor ( Readers ) I would have you
[ (•*)
The Preface.
know, that whereas you plot to fet jour jehes up, 1 do here contrive to bring mj felf down. I am in the Humor to affirm the Eflfencc, and Exiftence of that admired Chimera , the Fraternitie of R. C. And now Gentlemen I thank you, I have Aire and Room enough : me thinks you freak and fleal from me , as if the Plague and this Red C rofs were infep arable. Take my Lord have mercy along with youy for I pitty your fickly Bl aines, and certainly as to your prerent State the Infcription is not unfeafonable. But in lieu of thisyfome of you may advife me to an Aflertion of the Capreols of del Pharbo , or a Review of the Library of that difcreet Gentleman of the Mancha, for in your Opinion thofe Knights and theje Brothers are equally In- vilible. This is hard meafure , but I jhal not infijlto difprove you : if there he any a- mongfl the Living of the fame Bookilh faith with my felf. They are the Perfons 1 would fpeak to, and yet in this 1 fhal ail modeftly, / invite them not, unlefs they be at Lealure.
When Icmfider the unjuft C enfurc and
I
| The Preface.
I indeed the Contempt, which Magic even I in all Ages hath undergone, I cm ( in my l opinion) finde no other Reafons for it , but { what the Profeffors themfelves are guilty s °fh Mif-conftru&ion , and this in Refe*
,! rence to a double Obfcurity , of Lite and 1 Language. As for their nice (or to fpeak j. a better truth) their Confcientious Retire- l' mcnts, whereby the v did feparate themfelvs \from dififolute and brutiili fpirits, it is that j|’ which none can foberly dif commend • nay* it is a very purging Argument, and may perve to wipe off thofe contracted, envious lcandals , which Time and Man have in- jurioudy fajtned on their Memory. For if we reafon difcreetly, we may not fafely truft the Traditions and J udgement of the World, concerning fuch perfons who fequeftred themfelves from the World, and were no way addi&cd to the Affairs or [Acquaintance thereof It is true , they were loiers by this Alienation , for both their wfe and their Principles were crofie to thofe of their Adverfaries : They lived in the ihade, in the calm of Confcience and rolitude ? but their Enemies moved in the
( a a ) Sun-
f The Preface. Ifl
Sun-lhine, in the Eye of worldly Tranf- | a&ions, where they kept up their own Re¬ pute with a clamarou-s Defamation of theft innocent and contented Eremits. The fecond Obftacle to their Fame , was partly the fimplicity of their ftyle , which is Scrip¬ ture-like? and commonly begins like Solo¬ mon’s Text, with Mi Fili. But that which \ fp oil’d all , and made them Contemptible 1 even to fome degree of miferie, was a corrupt Delivery of the Notions and Vocabulac/ the Art '.for Magic like the Sun, moving from the Eaft^carried along with it the Ori~ } entail T ermes, which our WeRern Philo¬ sophers who ski I’d not the Arabic or Chal¬ dee, &c. did moft unhappily and ettrrupt- ly tranferibe , and verily at this day they are Jo ftrangely abus’d, it is more then a Task toguefs at their Original. But this is not all ^ for fome were fo lingular, as to in¬ vent certain Barbarous Termes of their own>andtheje conceited Riddles, together with their Magifterial way of W riting. (for they did not fo far* condcfccnd as to Rcafon their Politions) made the world conclude them a Fabulous Generation.
Indeed 1
I The Preface,
. • . v
i Indeed this was a ft ranee courfc of Theirs , 1 and much different from that ofTtifmc- ! giftus, in whofe genuine works there is not ! ^Barbarous fyllable5»0r any point offer-. | ted, without mojl pregnant and Demon~ i; ftrative Reafons. Certainly Hermes as to S his courfe of life was public and princely, i; in his Dodtrine clear and Rational, and I hence it was that not onely his own times,
,t but even all fubfequent Generations' were | mojl con font T ributaries to his Honour. t On the contrary ( if we may c on] e Bure by | EffedsJ there Jucceeded him in his School f certain Melancholy envious Spirits, whoje £ obfeure infcrutahle writings render’d their ] Authors Contemptible, but made way for } that new noyfe of Ariftotle , which men call Philo fop hie. I may fay then of thefe ■ later Magicians what Solinus fometimes \ faid ofthofe contentions fucceflors of A- lexander the Great : That they were born. Ad fegetem Romana? gloria?, non ad [. Hcereditatemtanti Nominis.
\ It is equally tune , That feme skulking I Philofophers whilis they envioully fup- prefi the T ruth, did occafionally promote
m C K3) ^
i
The Preface.
a Lye : for they gave way to the Enemies growth , till at lafi the T ares poffeft the Field, and then was the true Graine ea/l into the Fire. Nor indeed could it be other- wife, for this Bufhel being placed over the Light, the Darknefs of it invited Igno¬ rance abroad : and now fteps out Ariftotle like a Pedler with his pack, the Triumphs ofwhofe petulant School had but two weak fupporters, Qbfcurity and Envie. Both theft proceeded from the Malignaneie of fome eminent Authors , whom God had blejl with Difcoveries Extraordinary: Theft to fecure themfelves and the Art, judged it their bejl courfe to blot out the path , that fuch as were unworthy might never he able to follow them . It cannot he 'denyed but this Myftery and cloud of the letter carried with it both DifcretionW
Neceflitie, but what fpoyl’d all was the Excefs of the Contrivers, for they pail all Decencie both in the Meafure , and the Maner of it. I could.be numerous in Ex- amples, and proofs of this kind , but that 1 hold it lupcrfluous to paufe at a point which is acknowledged on all Hands, To
' ' . . ' ' he
be fort then* this Umbrage and Mift of
I their Text required fome Comment and \ Clearnefs,£/# few being able to Expound? lf the World ran generally to the other fide
fy Weight but by Number. This confi- * dered , it cannot be thought unreafonable I and certainly not unfeafonable , if a So-
3 ciety confcious of the Truth, and skil’d in t the abftrufe principles of Nature , jhall 1 endeavour to redifie the world : for hither - it to we have been abufed with Greek Fables Land a pretended knowledge of Caufes ,
I but without their much defired Effeds. i We plainly fee , that if the leaf Difeafe v invades Us, the School- men have not one , Notion , that is Jo much a charm , as to j cure Us : and why then fhould we imbrace ■i a Philofophie of meer words, when it is ' evident enough , that we cannot live but by ,, Works. Let us not for fhame be fo ftupia [ any more, for ’ tis a Barbarous Ignorance to maintaine that for T ruth which our own \ dayly Experience^# alfure us to be Falfe. But fome body will reply , That the Anti~
quitieof this Peripatifm may claim fome I (a 4) Reve-
Reverence*, and we mufi complementally invite it abroad > not churlishly turn it out of Doors. This in my opinion were to dance before Dagon, as David did befire the Ark ' to pay that refped to a L ye, which is due onely to the Truth, and this is Anfwer fuffcient. As for that Fraternity, whofe Hiftory and Confeflion I have here adventured to publilli, I have for my own part no Relation to them , neither do I much defire their Acquaintance ; 1 know they are Matters of \r eat My fteries, and I know withal that nature is fo large, they may as wel Receive as Give. I was never yet fo la villi an Admirer of them , as to prefer them to all the World, for it is pof- fible and perhaps true , that a private man may have that in his poJfifeffio njvher- of they are Ignorant. It is not their title and the noyfe it hath occalion’d , that makes me commend them •, T, he Ac¬ knowledgment I give them, was hr ft procured by their Books, for there 1 found them true Philofopher^ and therefore not Qhimtera s ( as mofi think ) but Men. Their Principles are every way Corrcr
' • ipondent
f/"* . The Preface.
; fpondent to the Ancient and Primitive ! Wisdom t, nay, they are consonant to our j[. very Religion , and confirm every point 1 thereof. I quejlion not but mojl of their | Propofals may pern Irregular to com- mon Capacities •, but where the Preroga- I tive and Power 0/Nature is known, there ' will they quickly fall even, for they want * not their Order and Sobriety, v It will be »i expelled perhaps, that I jhould (peak fome- | thing as to their Perfons and Habitations, s but in this my cold Acquaintance will ex- | cufe me *7 or had I any Familiarity with j| them , I jhould not doubt to ufe it with more i t Difcretion. As for their Exiftcnce, {if I I may (peak like a School- Qian,) there is • i great reaion we Jhould believe it, neither do ,j I fee how we can deny it, unlef we grant, j that Nature is ftudied, and Books alfo written and published by fame other Crea¬ tures then Men. It is true indeed,that their Knowledg at firft was net purchafcd by their own Difquifitions, for they received it from the Arabians, amongst whom it re¬ mained as the Monument and Legacy of f the Children of the Eaft. Nor is this at all I impro-
- The Preface.
improbable, for the Eaftern Countries
have been always famous for Magical and Secret Societies. Now am I to feek how far you will believe mein this, becaufe I am a Chriftian $ and yet I doubt not but you will believe a Heathen, becaufe Ariftotlc was one.
Take then amongH you a more acceptable I mean Philoftratus, for thus he . delivers kimfelf in the life 0/ Apollonius. Behrings in his Tyaneus di four fmg with Prince Phraotes, and amongst other Quc- ftions propofed ro the Prince, Apollonius asks him, Where he had, learnt his Philo- fophy, and the Greek Tongue, for a- mongft the Indians ( f 'aid this Greek ) there are no Philofophers < To this fmple Qu^re the Prince replies, ytK^ct^and with a not able Sarcafm, bt (Ap va.xcuh, fyc. Our Forefathers ([aid he) did ask all thofe who came hither in (hips, if they were not Pirates ^ for they conceived all the World (but themielves) addi&edto that vice, though a great on^4 : But you Gre¬ cians ask not thofe il rangers who come to you 5 if they be Philofophers. To this
The Preface.
|
I he adds a very diffolute Opinion of the fame Grecians, namely, that Philofophy, which of all Donatives is rdlov* the Divineft, •
fhould be efteemed amongft them as a ) thing indifferent, and proportionate to all Capacities .: And this, I am fure (faith Phraotes to Apollonius) is a kind of Pi- f racy tolerated amongft you : $ on *. vph 7tu>Tov 'rdKns-ivp which being
* affixed here to Philofophy, 1 fhould make f bold to render it Sacriledg. But the Prince i proceeds, and fchools his Novice, for fitch I was Apollonius, who was never acquaint- I: ed with any one Myftery of Nature, I I underftand (faith he) that amongft you |- Grecians there are many Intruders, that injuftly apply themfelves to Philofo- t phy, as being no way conformable to it ;
I Thele ufurp a Profeffion which is no$
! their own*, as if they fhould firft rob j men of their Clothes , and then wear ; them, though never fo difproportionate t < and thus do you proudly ftradle in bor¬ rowed Ornamen|s. And certainly, as Pi¬ rates, who know themfelves liable to in- | numerable tortures, do lead a fottifh f and
and a loofe kind of life : Even fo amon°ft you,thefe Pirates and Plunderers of Phi- ' lofophy are wholly given to Luffs and Compotations $ and this I fuppofc is an Evil that proceeds from the Blindnefs and Improvidence of your Laws. For ; fhould any Man-ftealer be found a- mongft you, or fhould any adulterate ! your Coyn,thefe were Offences Capital, and punifhed with Death : But for fuch as counterfeit and corrupt Philofophy, your Law corre&s them not , neither have you any Magiftrate ordained to that purpofe. Thus it>e fee in what reffett j the Greek Sophiftry was with the Indians, j and that clamorous Liberty they had to j diftradl one another $ fome of them being | ; Epicures, fome Cynics, fume Stoics, fome j %4gam Peripatetics, and Jome of them f re- tended Platonics. It is not to be doubted , j but the fcufflmg and fquabling of thefe J Sectaries did at lafl produce the Sceptic, I who finding nought in the Schools but J Oppofition 4/fc£Bittcr$efs, rejolvedfor a I new courfc, and fee tired bis Peace with bis I
Ignorance* I
Phraotcs I
, The Preface.
i Phraotes having thus returned that | Calumny, which Apollonius bestowed on i the Indians, to the Bofom of this conceited | Greek, gives him now an Accompt of his own Colledg,/ mean the Brachmans, with the Excellent and whole fom Severity of -* their Difcipline. And here I cannot but : obferve the Infolence off yaneus, who be- J irg a meer ftranger the Indies, not with - ifiandinr runs into a pofitive Abfurdity, t and before he had converled with the Inha¬ bitants, concludes them no Philofophers.
I Thefe bad Manners of his I could ( andper- »! haps not un] u flly ) derive from the Cufto- n mary Arrogance of his Country-men , f whofe kindnefs to their own Iflue diftin- i guijh’d not the Greeks and the Sages : but if the reft of the world they diferiminated with a certain Sheep- mark of their own, and branded them with the name of Bar¬ barians. How much an Afperfion this is, we (hall quickly undcrftand,*/W attend the Prince in his Difcourfe, for thus he in - firuefs Apollonius. AmongB us Indians (faith he) there are but few admitted to Philofophv, and this is the manner of
* J * - *v - ' h ' * • " ’■* * | *
their
The Preface.
“i
their Eledion. At the Age of eighteen years the perfon to be eleded comes to the River Hyphafis, and there meets with thofe Wife men, for whofe fake even you alfo Afollomm are come into thefe parts. There he doth publiquely profefs a very ardent defire and affedion to Philofo- phy 5 for fuch as are otherwife difpofed are left to their own Liberty, to follow what Profeffion they pleafe. This done, the next confederation is , whether he he defeended of honeft parents or no 5 and here they look back even to three Generations, that by the Difpofi- tion and Qualities of the Anceftors, they may guefs at thofe of the Child. If they find them to have been men of a known Integrity, then they proceed to his Ad- miflion •, but firft they try him, and prove him with feveral Tentations. For ex¬
ample, Whether he be naturally model!, or rather ads a counterfeit Balhfulnefs
for a time, being otherwife impudent and lafcivious : Whether he be fottifli and gluttonous, or no : Whether he be of an infolent bold fpirit, and may prove Re-
fradory,
The Preface.
fra&ory, and difobedient to his T utors i Now thofe that are appointed to exa¬ mine him, have the skill to read his Qua¬ lities in his countenance *, for the Eyes difcover moft of mens Manners, and in the Brows and Cheeks there are many excellent Indicia, whereby Wife men, and fuch as are skill’d in the Myfteries of Nature , may difcover our minds and difpofitions, as Images are difcovered in a glafs. And certainly fince Philofophy amongft the Indians is had in very great Honor , it is necelfary that thole who would know the fecrets of it, Ihould be tempted and proved by all poilible T ry- als, before ever they be admitted. This was then the Difcipline of the Brachmans, and indeed of all the Magi in the Election and Proof of their Pupils. But all thU was News to Apollonius, and therefore he asks Phraotes, if the fe Wife- men, mentis onedin his Difcourfe, were of the fame or¬ der with thofe, who did fometimes meet A- lexander the Gr^at, and had fome Confe * fence with him dti n ev?«#y , concerning Heaven, for if feems they were Aftroio-
rv- gers.
The Preface.
> ■ \
gerSi. To this the Prince anfvers , that theft
Planet-mongers were the o fyf&xcuj who were a people diffofed to the Wars:
ffOQldV tI [J.iTcC)(jl&-<ra.£K>' QAlTtV, ovj'iv XWS’bv (ifc-
rtcj And for Knowledg (faith he) they make a great Profeilion of it, hut indeed they know nothing that is Excellent* But he proceeds : of '§ arnyy&i <ro$ot, &c. Thole Wife-men (faith he) who are truly fuch, dwell between the River Hyphafis and Ganges,./#/*? which place Alexander never came-, not that he durjl not attempt it, *a *
bifttu to, h(>?. cL'7ri<rn[Atn>iv ’airw, but its 1 think
(faith the Prince ) the Reverence due to their Myfteries kept him off. To this he adds, that Alexander knew the River Hy- phafis was paffabl e, and that he might with eafe beleagure the City, wherein thefe Magi 1 did dwell 5 a- aa* tUjj ytlvftnv, but their T Ow- § er . (faith he) had he brought with him a I thoufand fuch Souldiers as Achilles was, | and three thoufand fuch as Ajax, he could | never have taken it. To this he gives his I Rcd.forijnamely ,that the lylagi did not make I any (allies to beat off their Enemies, but I keeping quietly within their gates, they I
deftroyed f
i The Preface.
< decoyed them with Thunder and high* t tcning. Here was a ftory might have far- i tied Apollonius, who knew not the power if of Gunpowder , but in thefe our days it there k nothing more familiar and credi- i ble.. But not with funding the Improve- I ments of this fatal Invention are not I known even to the prejent Generations , j for the Pyrography of Cornelius Agrip- j, pa, and the Powder ^ Friar Bacon were ■ never yet brought to the Field. And now 3 let us hear the Friar himfelf who iifcomf | ing of feverai wonderful Experiments , t tolls m amongst f^ reft of a fecret Com- ) poiruron, which being form’d into Pills, or ; little Balls, and then call up into the Air*
1 would break out into Thunders and Ligh- ' tenings, more violent and horrible then ‘ thole of Nature. Procter veto hxc( faith he) limt alia ftupcnda Naturae : nam So- ni velut Tonitrus & Corufcationes pof- funt fieri in Aere : imo majori horrore quain ilia cpt® hunt, per Naturam. Nam modica materia ’adaptata , feilieet ad
quantitatem unios pollicis, fonum facit Horribilem, & Corufcationem oftendit
(k) • vehe^
i
Preface,
vehementem : et hoc fit multis modis, quibus Civitas, aut Exercitus deftruatur. Mira funt hcec, ii quis fciret uti ad pie- nurti in debiti quantitate & materia. Fhas he. But let us return to Apollonius, for notv he trots like a Novice to the River Hyphafis, and carries with him a Com¬ mendatory Letter to the Brachmans, ha - vnn-r requeped the Prince to, tell thm he was a good Boy. Here the fe admirable Eaflern Magicians prefnt him with fuck Rarities as m very truth he was not capa¬ ble of. Flip of all they fhew him ( as Philo- ftratus defer ibes it) a certain Azure, or Sky-colour’d Water, and this Tindure was extreamly predominant in it , but rvitb much Light and Brightnefs. This (l range Liquor (the Sun fhiningon it at "Noon) attracted the Beams or Splendor to it fdf> and did link downwards > as //coagulated* with the Heat, but reflected to the Eyes of the Beholders a mo ft beautiful Rain-bow. Here we have a perfect Defcription of the PhilofophersMcYcmy^foit there is prnthing more behind. Apollonius confefeth hotm the Brachmans told him afterwards , that this Walter TV4S ^rcapnloy v A
The Preface.
1 fccrct W ate t^and that there was hid tinder | it-, or within it, y» eMH&A m, a Blood- red | Earth, w In a word, they told him that none I might drink, or tafte of that Liquor, net- k ther was indrawn at all for ^ordinary [? ufes. After this mojl myfleriotts Water, | they pew him al fa a, certain myfterious J Fire,t and her cfor my fart I do not intend | to comment. From this Fire he is brought | to cert am Tubs, or fame fuch YelTels, j whereof the one. was called the Veil'd of l| Rain, and the other the V did of W inds : 1 -all which are mo fl deep and excellent Alle- 1 gories. But thefe Rarities imply no more | then the Rudiments of Magic. Let m now come to the Medeeine it [elf, and the admi- ( rab-le Effeds thereof . The Brachmans | ( faith Apollonius/) anointed their Heads (![ hkex.lf&J'i <p<t$v.c/xa,with a gummy Medicine, and this made t heir Bodies to Ream at the pores> and fwe^tt in that abundance, : as if ( faith he ) they had ipuvgcd themfelves with
IFire. This is enough to prove them Philo- fophers. And now; let its fee what kind of Habitation they load, and how much a paral¬ lel it is to that place or dwelling of R. C. which ^Followers call Loci-isS. Spirit us. L (b 2 ) The
men
* *
4
elves (forfotht fes,) And here did they render themfelves vifible or invifible, at their own
This Secret o/Iiwir wm not known to Dutch Boor, nor td hit Plagiary , the Amhmoftk Manna : hat the Fraternity of E. C . cm jnove m this white Mifc Ut ^em t^nvenias(jQy tbd lueem cernasjfine enim hae lucei I©pof-
/'1 •> ** : • » 'j • -•
nos
’« »
! mos. Rut -mom \ (elms.
ri
m
fomething
ot
was
Walls, or had any i to it, or no for the
PPPmUHBfe Gmftder
what you read 5 for thus: fame body writes
. . ^ . 7 ” “ •' tf/ R. C.
non.
La Fluviolo & Cmtate notLL qu; iiitus vocari
>r» aut
Heliconeft
aperuit rennis
I
tf
rennis aquas adhuc ftiilantcm, in quo Di¬ ana fe lavat, cui V enus ut Pediffequa, & Saturnus ut Anteambulo, conjunguntur. Intelligent nimium , Inexperto mini¬ mum hoc edit dictum. But to clear the Profped: a little more, let us hear Apollo¬ nius in a certain fpeech of his to the M- gyptians, deferring this Elyfium of the Brachmans : Ei tit $ivrtv ij*<Nf 3/-
KoiwTAf 2dn 7t}f yttft in irr uvt»< * /
li
fl
ing on the Earth, and not on the Earth .* they were guarded without Walls, and f of fefiing nothing, they enjoyed all things. This is plain enough , and on this Hill ha ve I alfo a defire to live, if it were for no other Reafon, but what the Sophift fometimes
cum non atnet,
But of this place l will not /peak any more, left the Readers jhould be fo mad, 4s to en- tertaina {\i(picion,that 1 am of ' ■jjH I fhal now tberfori'proceed to the the Brachmans, and this only fo far as thetr
lirM -n ■ • * J ™
will gyve me
.. (b
■ tjm
then fated in his T hrone, And about him the reft of his Society* where having fir fl faced Apollonius in the Seat Royal of .
* - - ~ j ^ - - j -
unconfi ned Liberty •: ’£?®r* o n mej,
<xv£(jfs ydi§ vravlct & * Propound. ( faidhe ) what Queftions thou wilt, for thou art come to Men that know all
i '
things. Here T ymmsputs ins and very wifely asks them > What Principles the World was compounded off To this the Brachmans reply, It was compounded of the Elements. Is it made then (faith Apollonius) of the four Elements < No (faid the great Jarchas ) but of Five. Here the Grecian is puzzled *, for hefider Earth (faith he) and Water, Air and Fire,
I know not anything: What then is this fifth Subftanee? It is (faith Jarchas) the
iEther,1 which is the Element of Spirits :
in the
for thofe Creatures which draw in t he Air, are Mortal * but thofe which draw in the JBther,^ Immortal. And here I cannot but obferve thegrofi Igtiorance of Apol' lonius, who being aprofeft Pythagorean, had never heard of the. A ther, that famous
gorean
The Preface.
I ' . ' . * *
it But let us come to his fecond Queftion, tii which of dll others doth mofl betray his ij: weaknefs and infufficiency. He requefls I Jarchas to inform him, Which of the E- I lements was fir ft made i To this Abfur- J dity the learned Brachman an fivers like i himfelf: They were made (Jaidhe) all J at once • and he gives this Reafon for it, j Becaufe no living Creature is generated x? by peece-meals. This was a
whole fm and a rational Tenet, for the Chaos was fir ft made, and in that all the 1 Elements at one and the fame Inftant ,for ' the World was manifefted, and brought I out of the Chaos, like a Chick out of an ? Eg. T o this Apollonius reflies like a fare Sophifter: And-muft I think then ( faith he) that the World is a living Creature i t it yt (faith Jarchas) vytSt ytyvaxrmf ' Yes I verily, if you reafon rightly, for it giveth ! Life to all things. Shall we then (faith 5 Tyaneus) call it a Male, or a Female
Creature <■ Both ,faid the wife Brachman :
Jvk; yd? » Tct fAHTf/f TS, $ vet-
7e$s if tLuJ £ aoyovidu v^arli * For the W orld being a Compound of both Faculties, fuff lies the Office of Father and Mother
i) in
tn the Generation ofthefe things that have life. We are now come to Apollonius kk l a ft Philo fophicd Qijere, and firry / dm that he had not the wit to propound either more or better jdueftions, hut we mu ft take them its they are . He asks J archa ^whether the Earth or the Sea did exceed in quanti¬ ty? To this the Indian replies, that if he only confide/ d the Mediterranean, or [me other particular Channel, the Earth with¬ out queftim did exceed : but if you freak (faid he) ness nekra* rid vygetv ialoM, concern¬ ing Humidity, or Moifture in general, then verily the Earth is much leflfer then the W ater, for it is the Water that bears Bp the EartiuTi^ indeed is found Rcaibn, and conformable both to Scripture and Nature '.for the very Spirit that animates and fupports the Univerfe, hath his Habi¬ tation in the Water.
And now I fuppofe it is apparent to the undemanding Readers (for others 1 would not have) that the Brachmans were not a fabulous, fuperftitiom Society, but men ofafevm&o&nn^whofe Principles were anfverable to the very Rigour of Na* ture, and did not wanton beyond her Law.
The Preface.
/ could wjh Apollonius had been more abk to deal mththem, but fi lhort he
°J Plulolophy, that he knew not n hat to ask them, and that ample Liberty which they gave him, was all of it to no purpofe. *Thi$ is clear to fuch as know any thing out of his former Queries, which we have already mentioned i but if we look on the reft of his Problems,^ are moft of them but fi many Hiftorical Fables, which he brought with him out of Greece jwd now he * begins to fliake his Budget. Thefirfi thing “““ “ ' '"he Ma^Iixo^s, a Monftct^
could never meet withaS. i N sued then he Quefions jarchas
concerning a certain Water of the of Goid^and this indeed might figni- [ fie ibmerhing, hut that he under food it Ur teralhr ^of common, ordinary W ell- fprings * and therefore jarchas tells l£m, that he ne¬ ver hear d.of bis Martichora, neither was it- ever known, that any Fountains tf golden'
; W aters did firing in India. But this is not all: In the R$ar of this f range Beaft march the Pygtnies^the Sciapodcs, and the Macrocephali : to which might be added all the Animals in Lucian* Hiftory. But as
The Preface.
wc commonly fay y that there is no Smoak without Tome Fire, fa amongH thefe for¬ eign Fables came in fame Indian Allego¬ ries, and probably the Brachmans them- (elves had given them out, at once to de¬ clare and obfeure their Knowledg. The fa Allegories are but two, and Jarchas infifts much upon themfae fades a falemn Acknow- ment: » There is no reafon
(faid he ) but we iliould believe there are • inch Things. The firft of thefe two Myfte- ries is the Pantar va jvhich Ficinus corrupt¬ ly transcribes Pantaura, and of this Apol¬ lonius de fired to know the T ruth 5 namely > if there was fach a Stone at all, and whether tt was enriched with fa ft range aMagne- tifm, as to attract to it felf all other preci- cious Stones < This Queftion the Brach- man fatisfes experimentally , for he had this goodly Stone about him, and favour’d Apollonius with the fight thereof. But far our better Information, let m hear Jarchas himfalf deferibe it, for he doth it fa fully, that a very ordinary Capacity may go a- long with him. This Stone ( faith he) is ge¬ nerated in certain earthy Caverns, fome
four yards deep, and hath in it fach abun-
" dance
i| The Preface.
\ \
' dance of Spirit, that in' the place of its I Conception, the Earth fwells up, and at
I la (l breaks with the very T umor. But to : look out this Stone, belongs not to every } Body, for it vaniiheth away, unlefit be li extracted with all fiofible Caution 5 only id we that are Brachmans Joy certain pradtifes
of our own, can find out the Pantarva.
• Thefe are the words of Jarchas, where you ^fball obferve, That he hath confounded the Jfirft and fecond Generation of the Stone, 'lit being the Cuftom of the Philofophers
never to exprefs their Myfleries diftindtly.
: The fecond Birth then he hath fully and clearly difcovered, for when the Philo fo-
II pbers firft Earth is moiftened with its own milk,tf fcdhjbeing impregnated with fre¬ quent Imbibitions, till at laf it breaks, and
* with a foft beat fublimes *, and then afcends ■he Heavenly Sulphur, being freed from his Hell, for it leaves behind /^ Binarius,
{or Terra Damnata, and is no more a Pri- foner to that Drofs. This fi rft heavenly Sulphur is commonly called Petra ftellata, & Terra Margaritarum * but Raymund f Lully calls it Terrain Terra?, and in a cer- j tain filace he defcribes it thus : Ha?c eft
Tkc Preface,
qua? a viii Terra fe 0 fpoliat, 6c alia nwikam nobili reinduit ft.
But elfewhere prefer thing fomt Caveats hr the Rorid Work, he exprefly mentions th firft and fecond Sulphurs, commonly callet Sulphura dc Sulphuribus. Hoc (faith he) intelligitur de Tcrra,quse non eft feparata a Vafe, de Terra T erra?. Tbit is enough to prove the Affinity of the Pantarva* and
the Philofophers Stone : Let m
>pnei
turn to Jarchas, for he proceeds in his Ifi
^Apolloni
t'
mg’
.i . V
itjs
g : hut if you look on it he*
in the day-time, it dazzles the eye with cer¬ tain gleams or Corufcations. Whence this Light came, and what it wasjhe Brachman was not ignorant of * ri $ cv &vt» pmfyiwvpi Xhr That Light ( [aid he)
which (hines in it, is a Spirit of admirable Power *, for it attra&s to it felf all things ar e near it. And here he tells T yaneus, •recious Stones ‘Were caft into the Lto fome R i ve r, and th is too con- fufedly, as being far lcattered and dif- perfed one from another *7 yet this Magi-
The Preface.
I cal Stone being let down after them5 would | hnnphem agdin together 5 for they would i| all move towards r^Pantarva^W :lufkr | *ndtr %Ukea fwariin o/Bees. This is all li| he fells, hint' 5 but in concluiion he produceth his Pantarva, in plain terms he (hewed him'
hf T\li‘1_,r_ :1 V, J I ' •
it^and the miraculous of* The ficond Secret which om\x$ (tumbled fifpxfbr he knew it not
w to fpeak ofit, for 1 hold it not '' altogether convenient.
p . lt ts fme now to difmf Apollonins^W | his Braehmans,, and this I will do y but I ^'fhalifirjl prevent an Obj^&ion, though a my one, for Ignorance makes ufe of all “’'Tools, it will be ftidperfeps, I have been i too bold with Apollonius, whoy in the opi- I men of many me% and fitch as would be \thmght learned^ was a very great Philofo* spher. To thisl anfwer, that I queffion not any marts learning : let them think 01 1 fclv es at they pleafe 5 and if they can,
\*et them be anfwerable to their thoughts: Wrn as hr Apollonius, I fay > the noife of
cs, like thofe of% avier* mat nil
[owe credulous ears, and this fudden La- rum may procure him Entertainment : bm had thefe Admirers perufed his Hiftory. they had not betray d Jo much weaknefs, & to allow him any fober Chara&er. It h true , Philoftratus attributes many ft rang performances to him , as that hefhould raifc the Dead, free himj elf from Prifon , am Hiake off his Chains, with as much Divinity as S. Peter himfelf * Nay, that pleading with Domitian in a full Senate, he fhould fuddenly vanifh away , and be tranflated in a moment from Rome to Puteoli. Truly thefe are great effects y but if we confider only what Philoftratus himfelf will con- fefs , we frail quickly find that all theft things are but his Inventions. , For in the Beginning of his Romance, where he would give his Readers an Accompt of his Mate^ nals^andfrom what hands he received them, he tells us, that Damis^ who was Apolloni¬ us his fellow-traveller, did write his Lira, and all the Occurrences thereof: but theft Commentaries cf Daipis (faith he) wert never publifhed by Damis himfelf, only A friend of his, -a Some-body, vy> 4
certain familiar of Damis did communift
* ' them
.4 LI
R
j-
| /The Preface.
Hiem i«ai* t» B£tcr/Ai'cP/ , to Julia the ’Queen. And here Philoftratus tells met that this \ Queen commanded hm to trariferibe thefe Commentaries. It Jeems then they were originally written in the Greek, and Phi* loftratus is a meer T rarifcribler , and no Author. This I cannot believe, for Damis was an Aftyrian, and, as he himftlfconkff- eth, a 'very ignorant perlon, and altogether illiterate: hut meeting with Apollonius,
eaah fft 7i f/./fyv Eaa Iw vsr’ dvr* and
p converging with the Greeks, he alfo was al- moft made a Grecian, but not altogether, not fo learned a Grecian as to write Hifto- rics, and in a Pile like that of Philoftratus. But this is not all •* Our Author tells us of one McCi&genis, who had formerly written the Life of Apollonius in four Books : but this fellow (faith he) was ignorant of the Performances or Miracles of Tyaneus. And what follows this Ig'no ranee i Moigctrfluf tZ 7r&<rtK%ov ’ We muft not there¬ fore believe Mieragenis. And why not I befeech you ? Becaufe forfooth he lived near, if not in the days of Apollonius, but never heard ofthofe monftrous fables which Phi¬ lo ft ratus afterwards invented. We mu "
.*
The Preface.
then falieve Philoftratus himfelfrfor he is the vysnMiY Tif> not the familiar friend, but the familiar fpirit of Apollonius^ **«*«
t wrought all theft for Apollonius himfelf never wrought a- fty * Now for the Learning of this T yaneus (f nee it is the pleaftre of jome men to think him learned) Imufi eonfef for my part i cannot find it. The Philo fophy that he pretended to, was that of Pythagoras, for thus he rants it to Vardanes the Babyloni¬ an I XoQt& <5 pot n v$*y£fx , Xetpi» ebikPtffo (frct
I am a Matter (faith he) of the W ifdom of Pythagoras the Samian, he taught me the true form of worttiipping the gods, and who of them are vifible, who invihble, and how I may come to fpeak with them. Honr-tme. this we may eafby know, if we
look hack on his Education. Mis Tutor in the Pythagorean Principles was one , a notable S ot, anda meer Igno-
m. Be was
our Author ^ an Enicure in
ranter
life 5 and for his Learning, he could only re* peat jome ientences of Pythagoras, but did not underhand them: and therefor the com'
■ pares
The Preface.
certain
r»
’! but know mt what the words fi&oi&Q, Mm what Infti unions i'f like to receive
'^ma% ' MhhhH
B ut we
When ne was
gods, why did ha to be caught, of men; comes, to India^ he reqaefls the Brachmans to tea.eJb him the' Art- of ftjyj*
• t *
Angels md Spirit^ ht had not troubled them mthfrtkaQiic{jt'mi, Thefe indeed
of Philoft?atu% who had the ofLying, him wanted the Art of Me* ify « In another place he tells m% than wius mderjlwd itdaast <pam#t dth^* *w 9 all the languages that mm did.
ions* The* tsnmch m*
•QrgetS;
ions : fop when he hrwm 5 %fhat ftrmm Eaftesa fe an Interpreter -
4\
/
9%
■ The Preface. 1
languages, could not underftand the lan¬ guage of the Prince * and fo far was he jrom knowing his fecret thoughts, that he did not know in how many languages he could exprefs thofa thoughts : for when the Prince was p leafed to exprefs himfelf in the Greek Tongue, Tyaneus wds quite
came to be a Mafter# if any man will fey, that the ]
vt
• i
i p* ^
aes to mm, it ts&p
parent enough they did not. This is it
which ^even Drniis tells w : for Apok
lonius v. ( faith he ) rtque
of the Brachmans , but certain
natory Tricks , by which he might
foretell things to come. And here Jar-
chas takes occajion to di fa our fa with him
about Revelations, for he faeaks not of any
Prognofticating Knacks,
did look after. He tells him then.
judg'd him a mop happy man, who could
obtain any Fore-knowledg at the hands of
God, and preach thqp to the Ignorant,*
which he did already forefee. As foe Rules
to divine by, he preferibes not any, f
was
i
* , was too grofs an Error for fuch a Philofo- y pher ^Himfelf : He only tells him i That 1 hefimldleada pure life , and keep himfdf
One panagc il
. . ■ " * " tch I cannot omit : Jarclias
informs Apollonius ythat of all Gifts
mpartedto Urnhy Revelation, yiyi,ov J rnf Ut&tKni ftyov i The chiefeft (laid he) is the Gift of Healing, or Medicine* But •enly, dkd w^Beneficial Truth, -was not fenfible of: for he I was fo great a ftranger the Secrets of In Nature* that be did not know what to ask for. Tm fny own pari , Iff durfl think him a Philofophcr • -ifiouldk at him with “ ^ics 5 for he was. a great Matter of l Severities, and this is all the Cha- ^irader 7 cangmte him* As for Philoftratus :7^e were pottcvm with himyl Jhouldthin k wi. "adjf uch abufed m forwhenhepend r? he allow’d us ^ Difcretion
toko were to come after him . I could he for ’
ff for fame Abfurdities hehathfafiened on Y'did not /^Principles of that glo- refute them. What they " m, for I am confin’d to a ‘ ( c 2 ) Pre-
'qus-
• f
1
111:! njll: "SJj
Preface, and cannot proportion my Dif- courfe to the deferts of my Subjeft.
And here feme Critic may drop his Dif- cipjine, and bid m\ face about, fori am wide of my Text, the Society R. C. / have indeed exceeded in my feryice to the Brachroans, hat tn ad that there was no
impertinency. / did it > t o formity of the old and new Profcifors : andthis is [o far ft om Digreflfton, 1 cm think it near a Demonftration, For when we have Evidence that Magicians have been, it «ft proof aljo that tk‘ L“
) fines tt wmatbe denyed, but ex c lade Impofiftbility. I hold it oar obfervation, that even t hof e Magi,^ came to C hrift himfdf % came ft om tht Eaft ; hut m wr cannot prove they were Brack mans, jo neither can we prove they Were not* Mow if any man wilt he ft crofs, as to contend for the Negative, he fid have my thanks for the advantage he d lows me* for then it mnfi follow, tkd the Eaft afforded a*w*e#Magical Societies thw one. But this point l need not infill on : for the learned will not deny , but
* W‘
■K'trJ
-v. J./*-:
>if Wifdom and Light 'theft fit . _
in the fame pm^namelyjn the Eaft, where !| the fir ft Man planted : and hence did the World receive not onlj their Religion, bat their Philofophy, for Cuftom hath di- ftinguiihed thofe Two. From this Foun¬ tain alfiythis living, Oriental One, did the Brothers of R.C. draw their whole font Waters: for their Founder received his Principles at Darncar in Arabia, as their
ruff iou at large. It was not
’|E to thofe Primitive Benefactors : for 'tie 4 li Law with me, Qui aquam hauris, puteum ti| corona. But that 1 may come at lafi to the tf Subject intended, / jhall confefs for my f part,/ have no acquaintance with tins Fra¬ ternity as to their Perfom * hut their 5 Do&rine lam not fo much a ft ranger to. And here , for the Readers fatisfaCfion, I "all foeak fomcthing of it, not that 1 would ret or point at any particulars : for that s a kindnefs (*ts they themfelves pre-
man
>, tii
(c 3)
Btiihel
i
The Preface!'
Bufhel of Salt with him. They t elk m then, that the Fire and Spirit of God did work upon the Earth and 'the Water % Und out rf them did the Spirit extract a pure: clear S ubft ance, which they call the Terreftrial Heaven : in this Heaven the Spirit (fay they ) fated himfelf, imprefmg his Image therein and out of this Heavenly clari¬ fied Extra&? impregnated with the Influx and Image of the Spirit, was form'd that mofi noble Creature, whom we call Man. This fir ft matter of Man ( as they dejeribe . it) was a liquid tranfparent Salt, a pertain bright Earth, purified by a fupernatural Agent, and temper’d with a flrange unduous Humidity, enlightened with all the Tindures of the Sun and Stars. It was and is the Minera of all Creatures •, and this Society doth acknowledg it to be their very Bafts, and the firft Gate that leads to
' all / heir Secrets. This Earth or Water
( call it which yon will , for it is both) na- rurally produceth their Agent Jbut it comes not to their hands without Art. By their \ Agent I under fi and their Fire, cornpordy
\j paUed Mas Aquae, ( V ulcauus, Sol invift-
biliSj \
)4
lit
f. i
(1
til
ft I
l)|f
It
H
The Preface.
bills, Filius Solis, Aft rum inferius, Faber occultus, Intrinfecus $ with a thoufand other names. It ts fans all Metaphors 7& ©mv -jrC'f, >y wdMloT&ipov* and that 1 may fpeak T ruth even in the phrafe 0/Arifto- tle, it tS GeioTlyv roiyitoy, ^dydnoyov tzItSV
This is that Fire which Zo- roafter calls "E^v^eidlw <& kos-^ m? £ont>6&to y. In plain terms , it is the Tin&ure of the Matrix, a fiery , radiant Soul, that calls up another Soul like it felf: for it awakes the Anima of the Mer¬ cury, which is almojl drown d in a cold andphegmatic Lethe. And here Reader, let it be thy Endeavor to underjland the Philo fophe rs : for they tell us, that God at firjl created the Chaos, and afterwards divided it into three Portions, of the firft he made the Spiritual World, of the fecond the Vifible Heavens , and their Lights •, but the third and worft part was appointed for this Sublunary Building. Out of this courfe and remaining Portion he extracted the Elemental Quintessence, or firft Matter of all and of this the four Ele
(c 4)
fMW * 001*1 /uiuuucuk } wars UidUC. No jp
ttmkr guds, if thm do ft; know the Ma¬ tt r, fir it Mai) be thou art one of thofe who emmve theatfelvcs to be Some-body. / till thee this Theory is Raymund Lul¬ ly’*, and if thou canji make nothing of it, I cm without a figure tell thee how wife thou art. There are in the World as mm forts 0/ Salts, as there are Species, and the Salts differ as the Species do, namely > Ef- ftntiaily . for the Specific Forms lie m the S alt. Now learn of me, that there is no tftie Phy fie, but what is in Salt : for Salt was never known to putrifie, nay it hinders
iotl in all
ion, Ufa
eaies . N ow it is evident to all
U that
:iofl
and a Solution of the parts, and this not Only in living T hings, but even in dead
tfjey (je fcafond with Salt> PL. : they preferved, and Corruption comes not at them. . It is to be obferved.
-^rocculte
—occult^ Medicans, fpargitque falubres
Ambrofi* fuccos, & odoriferam Panaceam.
This word is much abufed by certain Al- chimifts, as they call themf elves : but Ser- vius upon the Place tels m , it is Nomen mire compofitum , and he obferves out of Lucretius , that the Panacea was Salt. It is true, that if we could putrife Salt, it would difc over all ^dVIyfteries ^Nature, for it hath all the Tin&ures/# it : but to deftroy this fubftance , is a hard task, for he that would do itynuH do fomething tnore> then Death can do, for even her Preroga¬ tive comes not fo far. Howsoever it cannot be denyed,but fame W ife men have attain’d to the putrifa&ion of Salts , but this Key they received from God, and it is the great Secret of their Art. What I admire mofi in it, is this : That when it is kil’d , it dyes not, but recovers to a better life , which is a very ftrange priviledge. On the con¬ trary, if feme Animal dyes , if an Herb withers , or iffome mettal be calcin’d and the parts thereof jruly feparated, we can never reftore them again : but this Myfti- cal fubftance , this Root of the world, if
I ... y™
you bring his parts together , after they are feparated , then will not he be quiet, but run from one C omple xion to another, from this Colour to that : as from Green, to Red , from Red to Black, from Black to a Million of Colours ^and thefe mira¬ culous Alterations will not , ceafe , till he hath work'd out his own Refurre&ion , and hath clearly brought himfelf to a Su¬ per-natural Temperature. I fay then that Salt is the true Grain , the Seed not onely of this world, but of the next, and it is the Myftcry that God hath made. It is a living water, wherein there dwels a divine Fire, and this Fire binds the parts thereof to himfelf , coagulates them, and flops their flux, and Salt is the water, that wets not the Hand. This Rite is the life , and therefore it hinders Death $ nay itisfuch a prefervative againjl it, that the very grofsBody of Salt prevents Cor¬ ruption, where foever it comes. But if
c
. h
diflodge him, let him deftroy his Habita¬ tion , and then he (hall fee, what courfe this
Artift
Artift ir/7/take , to re pah his own Houfc.
Do not think now that I [peak of qoinmon Salts , though I con fif they are dicines ,*/ rightly prepared. 1 %zmm> /
/ told thee formerly 7 there were fa yeral forts of Salts , and here I would have thee ltudy left thy labours fhould end with that Complaint of the Qhimift in Sendi^ vogius : Lapidem f faith he ) amilfurn deplorabat, & maxime condolebat,quod Satumum non interrogaverit , quale SAL hoc fuerit >■ cum tot varia Genera
• ' T :• ■ ; '■ ' • •. .. • I |
Salium reperiantur, I [ball adyife thee then to con fider the feveral Divisions of the Chaos, which I have formerlymtn- tion’d \du(- of 'Raymond Lully , for the matter as it is there defcrib’d, is not
• * * \ * - * 14 ^ * - • r k *
fubjed tomany Complexions, and there' fore thy Miftakes cannot be many. And
J - J J _
now let us touch at the Treafures of our Saltilh liquor , and our liquid Salt. Ve- niamusqujefo (faith one ) ad ilium fpi- rit{is , feu Aqua? gradum , qui nobis fen- fibilior, magifque familiaris eft Natu- •ra?q*7 aerese veftigia dfligenti Inquifitione fcrutemur, in cujus X)cculto mirabilia
deli-
The Preface.
delitefcunt : videlicet , Angeli omnium Generum , Forma? rerum inferiorum Eflentifica? , Humidum radicale cujufq* Viventis, Ignis fpifli Nutrimentum, Ad- mirabiles Meteororum apparitiones,ven- torum cujufque Anguli violent# Irrup- tiones, & infinita alia Myfteria. And now perhaps thou doji begin to blefs thy felf ■: for is it pofiible ({ay ft thou) that any bodily fubftanCe fhouldinclofe pick Myfteries as thefe? In this, my Friend, thou haft thy Li¬ berty : trouble not thy felf about it, for thy faith will add nothing to it, and thy Incre¬ dulity cannot take any Thins, from //.This onely thou fhalt do, be pleafed to give tvay to my faucinefs : for I mu ft tell thee , I do not know that T hing , which 1 may call Im¬ portable. 1 am fure there are in Nature powers of all forts , and anfwerable to all Defires : and even thofe 'Very powers are fubjett to Us. Behold, / will declare unto thee their Generation, and their fecret Defcents even to this Earth. It is moft certain that God works b*y the Idea’s of hit own minde , and the Idea’s di fence their
Seals , and communicate them doyly t9 , . . the
The Preface.
the Matter. Now the Anima Mundi hath in the fixed ftarrs , her particular Forms, or Seminal Conceptions anfwerable to the Idea’s of the Divine mindc •• and here doth jhefirjl receive thofe fpritual Powers and Influences, which originally proceed from God. F rom this place they are con¬ veyed to the Planets, efpecially to the Sun and Moon, and thefe two great Lights im¬ part them to the Air, and from the Air they
~ ’ "' the
Wa¬ ters. Seeing then that the Vifible Hea¬ vens receive the Brightnefs of the Spiritu¬ al World, and this Earth the Brightnefs of the Vifible Heavens, why may not we find fomething on Earth, which takes in this Brightnefs, and comprehends in it felf the Powers of the two fuperior Worlds t Now if there be fuch a S\ib\e£t to be found,/ fuppefe it will not be denyed, but the Powers of the Angelical and Cc- leftial Worlds are very ftrange Powers, and what that is which they cannot do, is hard to determine. F he Subjedfc then is the Salt / have ffoken of formerly, it is the
Body
J
mm Univri; fal S pint,* $
a$z%5S'zs &£>[/.& <m dTk&ruix key a. It is the Sperm of Nature,; whichfhe prepares for her own Light, as if we jhou Id prepare Oyl for a Lamp. A ft range S ubftance it is, but very common^ am l of fom e Philofo- phers mo ft properly called, Salina virens, & Mirabilis. And her eat will not be amift to (Peak jomething of the C abaft ft aLinea 3 or green Line , a Myftery not rightly apprehended ictoen by fome of the Mekkubalim, but certainly /»e«Modern. Rabbins know it not. at all * \ It is! the daft Midah? or Propriety of the Sephiroths, for it receives 4/zdj includes all thi Influ¬ ences/?/ the Snhirfticalf Orders -.u\ II com ?.
like a green Rain-bow, one re aft Sphere
% iridity di-
w a « ... ■# « 4
\7 1
vine Influences are fliowr’d down like
r into the- Globes
' t. t * ♦ .
oj me ittxed Stars A for what the Air is to the Globe of the Earth, fuch is .theAhfaex to the Globes of the S tars, and here, lies a, of the Mekkubaliif for they tell m
■in duplici Acre. ■
But
I >
X't$ a
Oil
But of this enough . I will now Jpeak of the' Philofophers Secret, and bleflfed Viridity, which is to be fecn and {ok here below. It I isthe Proteus*?/ the old Woets^ for f lihe Spirit of this green Gold M at Liberty, which will not be till the Body is bound, > then will he, difcov.er ” ' ~
i ' ; ’• • ? "IS > *
v. « v »«* ■* Jl £ »■*
• ; Ow v r
<‘V
*»
, varte illuden^ fpecies, atq; ora Ferarum : Fierenim fubito i(i6 horridus, at&q; figris^ ; Squamofufque Draco, & falv£ cervice Le*fia : Anc acrerti flammis fonitum dabit, atqj ita Vinclis Excidiet, awe. in Aquas tenues dibpfus abibit Omnia transformac fefe in miracula Rerum, Ignemq; Hojrribilemq; fera, Fluviumq: liquen te.
* ^ ‘ . I • ' ' ' • ; . ’ » %
| . But this is Poetry : let m now hear t fame Scene deferibed by a mojl excellent,; .andwithS.d ijfyere ProieiTor of Philafo* i J>hy.i Ubi vero fpiritus ~r — :,:L “,;perquos r j vin^je ab omni
purgatus,in
modo in Herbam, modo in aut; in jJnfi '
Interdum in iEqiior, 3aut : llnionem.,:aut ^ aut Metallum : dulceque)
rubentibus
crat, mea-
. nviii
L, ' ' 4' |!
| 11
ine rreiacc.
rubentibus Jam Flammis cmicans , m mahas ftatim colorum Myriadas tranfit, vivitqtie portcfitonim femper Effe&crc
ew*- • \ .. — . . ... It. ^ 1 ^ _ I ■■*
ecus,
Vi V JlQW*V
Thus h e
a certain Earth, 4 te be found ever art muck which I
'e
re,
- j j ^
ft way be then Appearances
'Jambliclms,M^ ielb. t
ittraB Angels, J * for fo Mhe. But let
at*
mentioned
>y,
mean ^ - r — „ ^ ...
fo/w this Auditor 0/ ^ mebo, for 9 he writes from iEavot 20 Porphvrius Omnium prism ma Entia, in
adfimt,
materiam efTe dieimus puram,
•V'i;
. r * 3 . - - —
merito perfe&ionem fui quandam
quilwfe, apum ad £teq&
Quinetkm quwa nihil prohibet iupe-
The Preface.
fidra Lumen fuum ad Inferior* diffum dere :• neque igitur materiam permit- tunt expertem fore Superiorum. Qua- propter qnantumcunque materia? per- iedtiiti, & purum eft, atque deiforme, ad Deorurn fufceptionem non eft inep- tum. N am qmim oportuerit etiam Terrena nullo modo Divina? Commu,- nioms expertia fore , ipfa quoque TERRA divinam quandam portio- ncm fufcepit, ad capiendos Deos fuf- ficientem. Non ergo fas eft omnem, Materiam deteftari, fed folam, qua? Dii$ fuerit aliena $ Propriam vero ad illos decet eligere, utpotequse confen- rire poffit: Neque enim aliter Terrenis Ioeis,? & hominibus hie habitantibus , poffeffio, portiove ulla ex Divinis con- tingere poteft , mil T ALE quiddam priu&jaUum foerit FUND AM E N- TUM, Arc&iiid itaque Sermonibus credenekim eft, T^ftantibus a DEIS tota Spedacula , Traidtam
MATERIAM Qll AN-
[ 3 Ha?c etgo ilMipfis Traden- tibus cognataeft, Talis ergo Materia
( d ) Deos
The Preface.
' Deos excitat , ut fe demonftrent, &c. ,
Thefe are the words Jamblichus, in that profound Difcourfe cf his-, where he gives Porphyrius an Accompt of the Egyp¬ tian, Caldean, and Aflyrian My ft erics, j know the Philofophical Earth difcovers not thofe Forms I have fpoken of in the\ -common, ordinary Procefs> which if any man knows, 1 jhall not therefore call him a Philofopher. There are feveral ways to ufe this Myftery, both firft and laft : and fome of them may be communicated, but fome not. To conclude , 1 fay, that < this clarified Earth is the Stage of \ all Forms, for here they are manifefted like Images in a Glafs: and when the Time , of their Manifeftation is finifhed , they retreat into that Center, out of which at ) firft they came. Hence came all Vege¬ tables, all Minerals, and all the Animals in the World 5 even Man him f elf with all j his T umult and Principality. This Soft | Clay is the Mother of them all * and what the Divine Virgil fometimes faid of Italy, may be very properly %pplyed to this wr\ Saturnine and Sovcraign Earth. ;
The Preface.
w
IHarc dedit Argenti Rivos, jGrifque MetalU l| Oftendit venis, atque Auro plurima fluxit.
|)| Hsc Genus acre Virum:Marfos,Pubemq;SabeUa, Affuetumq; Malo Ligurem, Volfcofqi vcrutos Extulic:Hxc D;cios, Marios, magnolq, Camillos. 1 Salve magoa parents frugum, Saturnia Tellqs, l[*j Msgna Virum l - — til ■
i Thus Reader have 1 endeavor’d to pro- (duce fome Reafons for thofe (Ira. nge Ef-
I feds , whereof this Society hath made a j, -public Profemon. I did it not as a Kind- Ij nefs to them, for I pen no Plots, neither do
I I defire their Familiarity. , I am indeed of | the fame Faith with them, and I have thus
j prefac’d, becaufe I had the Impudence to t think it concern’d ms: as much as them.
; And verily it is true, that wherefoever l ’fleet my own Pofitions, there have I an 1 Intereft, and I am as much bound to the jDefence of that Author, as 1 am to my own. Now for the Ground here layd, it | ts the Art of Water, the Philofophers C la- 1,; vis humida, and thds Societies Parergon.
dare not fpeak any thing of their Meta- phyfical Myftery, but I can tell thee it is i ( d 2 ) not
not the fame with the Philofophers Stone, either in Form or Matter, and let this faf tiSfie thee. / know (me DifpofitionS art r0 crofs to theft Principles, I might write Jaaain to ex c ufe what I have written, but this l am refolved not to do. If thou art 4 malicious Reader, and doft think it too much, bee au ft it fuits not with thy own ■ Gingles, I mu ft tell thee , thou art none of my Peers : for I have known fame Sci¬ ences which thou haft never heard of, nor thy fathers before thee. But to. make an
end, 1 would have every man defeend into
himfelf, and rationally confidcr thofe Ge¬ nerations which are obvious to our eyes.
We fee there is a power granted to man over thofe Things , whefe Original he doth know : Examples and Inftances we have
\ttanewg renown io we
can by the feed Multiply his Corn > am
provide for himfelf , as he thinks fit*
It is juft foin Minerals, there is a feed
out of which Nature Makes them, a
matter ^ and this the Magicians carefd j
fought after, for they reafoned with the w " ‘ ' hllltt I
i The Preface*
M
jjjl feints j that as Nature by the Vegetable feed, did multiply Vegetables, jo might J they alp by the Mineral! feed , mnltipy * Minerals* When they had found out the 1 feed, they praBicd upon it leveral wayes : they did put it up in G laffes , keeping it in a mofl e quail temperate heat 5 for many l(’| moneths together , hut all tv as to no pur- ® pofe. Then did they fancy another Courfe? for they buried it in the Earth, and left it therefor a long time, but without any fuc- cefs. At lap they confide red, God without all que (lion being their Guide, that Nature had for every feed a V effcl of her o\Vn, and that all her V effel s were but fevctal forts of Earth For example , The Vege¬ table Seed had the Common Earth for his Vcifel, for therein Nature did fovv it. The Animal Sperm had the Fleili for his, and flefh is but a foft animated Earth, 'as it appears in the Diflolution of the Body. They (aw plainly then, that both thefeVcf- fels were not appointed for the Mineral Sperm, they werc&oo coldfor it, and com¬ mon fire was too hot ^ or if it were well regulated, yet could it not alter the Sperm,
{ d 3 ) - for
The Preface.
for it had not the Qualities of a Ma¬ trix. Then did they try fever al new Heats : they expo fed their Matter to the Sun, they buried it in Dunghills and beds of Quick-lime , they placed their GlafFes in the Moon-beams , they in¬ vented new Baths, they made ufe of fand, alhes, and filings of Iron, they bum Oyl, and fancied all forts of Lamps, but all this was Error, and it ended ~ in a troublefm Nothing. Now all thefe Faifities jhall a man meet with in their Books 5 for when they had found out the Mineral V eflel, and efpecially the fecond Earth, wherein they low’d their Mercury and Sulphur, then did they fo confound the Work, that it is almoft impoffible to get the Preparation out of their hands. This I thought ft to touch upon, that thofe Difficulties, which great ■ and affiring Wits mu (l ft rive withall > j may be the more apparent , and fwrely I i think I have pretty well clear’d the way. Thus Reader have 1 gi%en thee my bef Advife, and now it remains thou fhouldit rail at me for it. It may be thou hap a
A free-
li
The Preface.
free Spirit, but if this Liberality con¬ cerns not thy Credit, keep thy Spleen thy felf, for 1 would not have thee ipend what thou can ft well fpare.
Soli Deo (floria .
r
'if
Fama
Fama Fraternitatu ,
OR, A
DISCOVERY
OF THE
% ■
Fraternity of the moft laudable Or-
der of the
Roly Crofs.
Being the only Wife and Merciful God in thefe lat ¬ ter days hath poured out fo richly . his mercy and goodnels to Mankind , wherby we do attain more and more to the peffed: knowledg of his pon Jefus Chrift and Nature, thatjuftly we may boaft of the happy time, wherein
there is not only difcove red unto us the half part of the World, which was hereto¬ fore unknown & hidden, but he hath alfo made manifeft unto us many wonderful, and never-heretofore feen, Works and Creatures of Nature , and moreover hath raifed men, indued with great Wifdom, which might partly renew and reduce all Arts ( in this our Age {potted and imper¬ fect ) to perfection lo that finally Man might thereby underlfand his ownNo- blenefs and Worth , and why he is called Mkrocofmus , and how far his knowlcdg extendeth in Nature.
Although the rude World herewith, will be but little pleafed, but rather fmile and feoff thereat *, alfo the Pride and Co- •vetoufnefs of the Learned is fo great, it will not fuffer them to agree to¬ gether •, but were they united, they might out of alithofe things which in this our Age God doth fo richly be flow upon us, coiled Librum Nature, or a perfeCt Me* thod of all Arts : but fuch is their op- pofition, that they ft iff keep, and are loth to leave the old courfc, efteeming fbiry, Ariflotle , and Galen , yea and that
w
in .
which hath but a meer lliew of learnings more then the clear and manifefted Light and T ruth *, who if they were now living, with much joy would leave their errone- ousDo&rines.But here is too great wekk- nefs for fuch a greatWork: And although
in Theologie , Phjfic , and the Mathema¬ tic^ the T ruth doth oppofe it felf • never- thelefs the old Enemy by his fubtilty and craft doth (hew himfelf in hindering eve¬ ry good purpofe by his Inftruments and contentious wavering people. To fuch an intent of a general Reformation, the mod godly and highly illuminated Fa¬ ther, our Brother, C.R., a German, the chief and original of our Fraternity, hath much and long time laboured , who by reafon of his poverty ( although defeem ded of Noble Parents) in the fifth year of his age was placed in a Cloyder , where he had learned indifferently the Greek and Latin T ongucs , who ( upon his ear¬ ned: delire and requett ) being yet in his growing years, was affociated' to a Bro¬ ther, P . A, L . fyiio had determined to go to the Holy Land.
Although this Brother dyed in Ci frits,
B 2 ’ an d
and fo
yet our
ever came to ■jeru
Brother C. R. did not return, but (hipped himfelf over, and went to Damafco, mind¬ ing from thenCe to go to fferufalem y but by reafon of the feeblenefs of his body he remained (till there, and by his skill in Phyfickhe obtained much favour with the Turks : In the mean time he became by chance acquainted with the Wife men of Damafco in Arabia , and beheld what great Wonders they wrought, and how Nature was difcovered unto them $ here¬ by was that high and noble Spirit of Bro¬ ther C. R. fo hired up, that ferufalem was not fo much now in his mind as Damafco alfo he could not bridle his defires any longer, but made a bargain with the Ara¬ bians , that they iliould carry him for a certain fum of money to Damafco 5 he was but of the age of fixteen years when became thither, yet of a (hong Dutch conttitution-, there the Wife received him (as he himfelf witneffeth) not as a (han¬ ger, but as one whom they had long ex¬ posed, they called hiirtfpy'his name, and 1 hewed him other fecrefsi out of his Cloy- fier, whereat he could not but mightily
wonder
in
wonder .* He learned there better the A- rabian T ongue 5 fo that the year follow¬ ing, he tranflated the Book M. into good Latin, which he afterwards brought with him. This is the place where he did learn his Phyfick, and his Mathematicks, whereof the World hath juft caufetore- joyce, if there were more Love, andlefs Envy. After three years he returned again with good confent, fhipped himfelf over Sinus Ay abic us into Egypt, where he re¬ mained not long , but only took better notice there of the Plants and Creatures-, he failed over the whole Mediterranean Sea for to come unto Fe\ , where the Arabians had dire died him. And it is a great ihame unto us, that wife men, fo far remote thone from th' other, ftiould not only be of one opinion, hating all conten¬ tious Writings, but alfo be fo willing and ready under the feal of fecrecy to impart their fecrets to others.
Every year the Arabians and Africans do fend one to another , inquiring one of another out of th§r Arts , if happily they .had found out fome better things, or if Experience had weakened their Rea-
fons. Yearly there came fomethingto light , whereby the Mathematical Phyjic and Magic ( for in thofe are they of Fe\ moft skilful) were amended * as there is now adays in Germany no want of learned Men y Magicians, Cabalijls, Phyficians, and Philo fof hers, were there "but more love and kindne-fs among them , or that the moft part of them would not keep their fecrets elofe only to themfelvcs. At Pe\ he did get acquaintance with thofe which are commonly called the Elementary In¬ habitants, who revealed unto him many of their fecrets : As we Germans likewife might gather together many things, if there were the like unity , and defire of fearching out of fecrets amongft us.
Ofthefe of Feg he often did eonfefs , that their Magi a wras not altogether pure, and alfo that their Cabala was defiled with their Religion ^ but notwithftanding he knew how to make good ufe of the fame, and found ftill more better grounds or his Faith, altogether agreeable with the
Harmony of the whflk "World , and wonderfully impreftedT in all Periods of times , and thence proceedeth that fair
Concord, that as in every feveral kernel is contained a whole good tree or fruit, fo likewifeis included in the little body of Man the whole great World, whole Religion, policy, health, members, na¬ ture, language , words and works, are agreeing, fympathizing,and in equal tune and melody withGod- Heaven and Earth* and that which is dif- agreeing with them, is error, fallhood, and of the Devil, who alone is the firft, middle, and laft caufe of ftrife, blindnefs, and darknels in the World : Alfo, might one examine all and feveral perfo ns upon the Earth , he ihould find that which is good and right, is al¬ ways agreeing with it felf * but all the reft is ipotted with a thoufand erroneous conceits.
After two years Brother C. R. depart¬ ed the City Fel> and failed with many coftly things into Spain, hoping well , he himfelf had fo well and fo profitably fpent his time in his travel, that the learn¬ ed in Europe would highly re joy ce with him, and begin to rtile, and order all their Studies, according to thofe found and fure Foundations. He therefore con- lmw i ferred
' /
' 1.1
: C8] 1
fcrred with the Learned in £/w/*,ihewinp unto them the Errors of our Arts and how they might be corrected, and from whence they ihould gather the true Indu tia of the Times to come, and wherein they ought to agree with thofe things that are paft^ alfo how the faults of theChurch and the whole Philofopia Moralis was to be amended: He fliewed them new Growths new Fruits, and Be aids, which did concord with old Philojophy, and preferibed them new Aximata, whereby all things might fully be reflored ; But it was to them a laughing matter * and being a new thing unto them, they feared that their great Name fhould be leifened, if they ihould nowagain begin to learn and acknawledg their rft any years Errors, to which they rvere accuftomed,and wherewith they had gained them enough : Who fo loveth urn qmetnefs, let him be reformed.
The fame Song was alfo fang to him by other Nations, the which moved him the more ( becaufe it happened to him contrary to his expectation,) being then ready bountifully to impart all his Arts and Secrets to the Learned, if they would
have
I
>1
I
is>i
have but undertaken to write the true and infallible Axiom at a, out of all Fa¬ culties, Sciences and Arts, and whole Nature, as that which he knew would di- red them, like a Globe, or Circle, to the onely middle Point, and Centrum , and (as it is ufual among the Arabians ) it Ihould onely ferve to the wife and learn¬ ed for a Rule, that alfo there might be a Society in Europe, which might have Gold, Silver, and precious Stones, fuffi- cientfor to bellow them on Kings, for their necelfary ufes, and lawful purpofes : with which fuch as be Governors might be brought up, for to learn all that which God hath fufFered Man to know, and thereby to be enabled in all times of need jo give their counfel unto thofe that feek it, like the Heathen Oracles : Verily we mull coiifefs that the world in thofe days was already big with thofe great Com¬ motions, laboring to be delivered of them 5 and did bring forth painful, wor¬ thy men, who brake with all force through Darknefs and Barbarifm, and left us >vho fucCecded to follow them : and alfuredly they have been the upper-
moll
. C ml t/
moft point in Trygwo igneo, whofe flam? now fliould be more and more brighter, and (hail undoubtedly give to the World the laft Light. - ■
Such a one like wife hath Theophrastus been in Vocation and Callings, although he was none of our Fraternity, yet ne- verthelefs hath he diligentlyread over the Book M: whereby his lliarp ingenium was .exalted * but this man was alfo hindered in his courfe by the multitude of the learned and wife-feeming men, that he . was never able peaceably to confer with others of his KhOwledg and Under (land¬ ing he had of Nature. And therefore in his writing he rather mocked thefe bufie bodies, and doth not (hew them altoge-* ther what he was : yet neverthelefs there is found with him well grounded the a- forenamed Harmonist ■> which without doubt he had imparted to the Learned, if he had not found them rather worthy pf fubtil vexation, then to be inftru&ed in greater Arts and Sciences •, he then with a free and carelefsf ife loft his time, and left unto the World their foolilh pieafures. ->'m
fl
.1
,Ctil
But that we do not forget our loving Father, Brother C. R. he after many painful Travels, and his fruitlefs true In-? ftruftions, returned again into Germany* the which he (by rcafon of the alterations which were fhortly to come, and of the ftrange and dangerous contentions) hear¬ tily loved : T here, although he could have bragged with his Art, but fpecially of the tranfmutations of Metals*, yet did he efteem more Heaven, and the Ci¬ tizens thereof, Man, then all vain glory pomp.
Neverthelefs he builded a fitting and
neat
in
rumina-
ated his Voyage, and Philofophy, and reduced them together in a true Memo-
» ZD *
rial. In this houfe he fpenta great time in the Mathematicks; and made many fine Inftrumcnts, ex omnibpx hit] m art is parti- bus, whereof there is but little remaining to us,, as hereafter you fhall underfland. After five years came again into his mind the wifhed for Reformation $ and in re¬ gard he doubtedi'bf the ayd and help of others, although he himfelf was painful, and unwcarifom, he undertook,.
\
w
with Tome few adjoyned with him, to at¬ tempt the fame : wherefore he defired to that end, to have out of his firfl: Cloyfter ( to the which he bare a great affedion) three of his Brethren, Brother G. v. Bro¬ ther tf.A, and Brother o . who befides
that,they had fome more knowledg in the Arts, then at that time many others had, he did binde thofe three unto himfelf, to be faithful, diligent, and fecret ^ as alfo to commit carefully to writing, all that which he fliould aired and inftrud them in, to the end that thofe which were to come, and through efpecial Revelation fliould be received into this Fraternity, might not be deceived of the leafl filla- ble and word. j.l
After this manner began the Fraterni¬ ty of the Rofie CroJ ? 5 firfl:, by four per- fons onely, and by them was made the Magical Language and writing, with a large Didionary, which we yet dayly ufe to Gods praifeand glory,, and do nnde great wifdom therein-, they made alfo the firfl: part of the Bo^k M: but in re- fped that that labor wife too heavy, and the unfpeakable concourfc of the lick
ti3\
hindred them , and alio whilft his new building (called Sancti fpiritus') was now finifhed 5 they concluded to draw and re* ceive yet others more into their Frater¬ nity*, to this end was cholen brother R. C. his deceafed fathers brothers fon, brother B. a skilful Painter, G. and P. D. their Secretary, all Germains except pf.A. fo in all they were eight in number, all batchelors and of vowed virginity , by thofe was collected a book or volumn of 1 all that which man can defire , wifh , or i hope for.
a Although we do now freely confefs, i that the World is much amended within I an hundred years, yet we are affured,that our Axiomata fhall unmovably remain unto the Worlds End, and alfo the , world in her higheft & laft Age fhall not £ attain to fee any thing elfe * for our Rota takes her beginning from that day when | God fpake Fiat , and fhall end when he fhall fpeak Per eat * yet Gods Clock ftri- j; keth every minute , where ours fcarce llriketh perfect h^urs. We alfo fted- J faftly beleeve, that if our Brethren and f Fathers had lived in this our prefent artd
cleaj
dear li
14
j they would more roughly have handled the V Of ^Mahomet, Scribes, Artifts, and Sophifters, and had (hewed themfelves more helpful, not limply with fighs, and wilhing of their end and con- fummation. .jj|
When now thefe eight Brethren had difpofed and ordered all things in fuch manner, as there was not now need of any great labour, and alfo that every one was fufficiently inft ruded, and able perfe&ly todifcourie of fecret and mamfeft Phi-
c ■ ,
lofophy, they would not remain any longer together, but as in the beginning ' they had agreed, they feparated them- felves into feveral Countries, becaufe that not only their Ax tomato, might in fecret be more profoundly examined by the learned, but that they themfelves, if in fome Country or other they oblerved any thing, or perceived fome Error, they might inform one another of it.
Their Agreement was this ^ Firft,That none of them Ihould prof efs any other tiling, then to cure thefiick, and that gra¬ tis. 2 . None of the f'olterity ihould be
conftrained to wear one certain kind of
• habit.
[in
habit, but therein to foliovv the cuftom of the Country. 3. That every year up¬ on the day C. they fhould meet together at the houfe S. Spirit its, or write the caufe of his abfence. 4. Every Brother fliould look about for a worthy perfon, who af¬ ter his difeeafe might fucceed him. 5. The word C. R. fhould be their Seal, Mark, and Chara&er. 6. The Fraternity fliould remain fecret one hundred years. Thefe fix Articles they bound themfelves one to another to keep 5 and five of the Bre¬ thren departed, only the Brethren B. and D. remained with the Father Fra; R. C. a whole year^ when thefe likewife de¬ parted, then remained by him his Coufen and Brother O. fo that he hath all the days of his life with him two of his Bre¬ thren. And although that as yet the Church was not cleanfed , neverthelefs' we know that they did think of her, and what with longing defire they looked for : Every year they allembled together with joy, and made a full refolution of that which they shad done *, there muft certainly have been great pleafure , to hear truly and without invention related
and rehearfed all the Wonders which - God hath poured out here and there through the World. Every one may hold it out for certain, that fuch perfons as were fent5 and joyned together by God, and the Heavens, and chofen out of the wifeft of men3 as have lived in many Ages, did live together above all others in higheft Unity, greateft Secrecy, and moft kindnefs one towards another. j After fuch a moft laudable fort they did fpend their lives •, and although they ; were free from all difeafes and pain, yet notwithftanding they could not live and pafs their time appointed of God. The firft of this Fraternity which dyed, and that in England, was f.O. as Brother C. long before had foretold him $ he was very expert, and well learned in Cabala, as his Book called H. witnefleth : In England he is much fpoken of, and chief¬ ly becaufe he cured a young Earl of Nor¬ folk of the Leprofie. They had con¬ cluded, that as much as poftibly could be their burial place ihouldfsbe kept fecret, as at this day it is not known unto us what is become of fome of them, yet every
ones^.
L 1 / J
I ones place was fupplyed with a fit fuc
' ceflorY but this we wil confeffe publick- ly by thefe prefents to the honour of
1 r L _ _ - r
^ I J ^ ^ ^ V/ A
God, That what fecret foever we have ^ learned out of the book M. ( although
I before our eyes we behold the image
II and pattern of all the world ) yet are I there not (hewn unto us our misfortunes,
nor hour of death , the which only is known to God himfelf, who thereby i would have us keep in a continual rea- <1 dinefS; but hereof more in our Confeffi- on , where we dofet down 37 Reafons wherefore we now do make known our Fraternity, and proffer fuch high Myfte-
4«4 LiA /s 1 AA Jl ••• .4. U. ^ A /V f
J J f 7 - O J 1
j lies freely, and without conftraint and re¬ ward: alio we do promife more gold
|| then both the Indies bring to the King of Spain 5 for Europe is with child and wil bring forth aftrong child , who fliall •hand in need of a great godfathers
fr_ .... of /. 0 . Brother R. C* refted not, but as foon as he could, called the reft together,^ (and, as we fiippofe) .then his grave was made $ although hi- Hhetto we ( who were thelateft) did not
C '
knot
know when our loving father if; r .. y
and had no more but the bare names of the beginners , and all their fucceffors to us*, yet there came into our mefnory, a fee ret, which through dark and hidden words, and fpeeches of the ico years, bro*
ther^.thefucceffor of £>. (who was of
the laft and fecond row and fucceflioti, and had lived amongft fiiany ofus ,) did impart unto us of the third row and f tie- ceifion otherwife weimift confefs, that after the death of the.Taid A. noire" of us had in any manner known any thing of Brother R. C. and of his firft fellow-bre¬ thren , then that which was c xtant of them in our Philosophical RibBotbtifa a mongft which our Automata was 1 ■' for the chiefeft Rota mWjikiy for the artificial, and Rrothms the moft profits, ble. Likewife we do not certainly know if thefe of the fecond row have been of J the like rvifdom as the firft, and if tto were admitted to all 3 *** 1
to
not on- rial of R. C
we
'T 1
heard of
manij
a
■}. ’ * ' •I,'
tip]
we raoft anfwer-
td difcrcetly and Chriftian-like, we will not be afraid to fet- forth publicity in •Print,our names, and hrnamcs, bur meet- ifigSj or anv thin at our
true a
g out of the high -illumi- • $~Fra: C. R.UC , -is this^ Ml in GaUta Narbonefofi was de- then fucceeded in his place, out Brother this mun' after he utttOUs to take the folemn ity and fecrecy, he informed fidtj That X. had comforted him tg him, that this Fraternity fhould ig not remain fo hidden, but fhould If be to all the whole German Nation help-- |ftd, heedful, and commendable • of the I Whichhe was not in any wife in his eftate |. Earned bf. The year following after he
P1
tdc
iimciently provided with Fortune us pujfe, he thought( he being a good Archi-
Fomething ibf his1 building,
[20] 1 and to make it more fit : in iuch renewing he lighted upon the memorial Table which was caft of brafle, and Contained* all the names of the brethren, with fome few other things 5 this he would transfer in another more fitting vault:for where or when Fra: R, C. died, or in what country he was buried, was by our predeceffors concealed and unknown untous. In this Table ftuck a great naile fomewhat ftrong, fo that when he was with force drawn out, he took with him an indiffer¬ ent big ftone out of the thin wall, or plai- ftering of the hidden door,and fo unlock¬ ed for uncovered the door*, wherefore we j did with joy and longing throw down the j reft of the wall , and cleared the door, upon which that was written in great let¬ ters, Pojl 1 20 annos patebo^ with the year of the Lord under it: therefore we gavel God thanks and let it reft that fame night, becaufe firft we would overlook our ifj tarn but we refer our felves again tothe confeflion, for what we here publifh 1$ done for the help of thofe that are wor¬ thy, but tothe unworthy (God wilhog) i t will be fmalKprofit : For like as our|
, C«3
jdoor was after fo many years wonderful¬ ly difcovered, alfo there Ihall be opened 4 door to Europe ( when the wall is re¬ moved ) which already doth begin to ap¬ pear, and with great defire is expe&ed /of many.
| In the morning following we opened the door, and there appeared to our fight 4 Vault of feven fidesand corners, every “tide five foot broad, and the height of ; eight foot 5 Although the Sun never lhi- lined in this Vault, neverthelefs it was en- Hightned with another fun, which had [iearned this from the Sun, and was fcitu- tilated in the upper part in the Center of lithe fieling *, in the midft , in ftead of a tlTomb-ftone, was around Altar cover¬ ed over with a plate of brafs, and thereon this engraven :
M A.C. K. C. Hoc twiverfi compendium i unius mihijepulckrumfeci.
4 Round about the firft Circle or Brim food,
f tftfus ngihi omnia.
j|! , . . • ' 1 . ;
| In the middle were four figures, in- clofed in circles, whofe circumfcription
1**2 3
i . Nequ^quam ‘vacuum,
2. Ligis yiCgum*
? . Lwertas £ 'vangelij .
4. Dei gloru Intacta.
T his is all clear and bright, as alfo the feventh fide and the two Heptagom: fowe kneeled altogether down,and gave thanks to the foie wife, foie mighty and foie eter¬ nal God, who hath taught us more then all mens wit could have found out, prai- fed be his holy name* This Vault we parted in three parts, the upper part or fiel- mg, the wall or fide,the ground or floor.
Of the upper part -you mall underhand no more of it at this time, but that it was divided according to the feven fides in the triangle, which was in the bright center; but what therein is contained, you (hall God willing (that are defirous of our fo- ciety)behold the fame with your own eys; but every fide or wall is parted into ten fquares, every one with their feveral fi¬ gures and ientences,- as they are truly fliewed, and fet forth Concentratum here in our book*' «
T he bottom again is parted in the triangle, but becaufe therein is difcribed the power
C2$3
and rule of the inferior Governors , we leave to manifeft the fame, for fear of the
and ungodly world.But are provided and ftored with Antidote, they do without fear or hurt, tread on, and bruife the head of the old and evil fer pent, which this our age is well fitted for ; every fide or wall had a door for a cheft, wherein there lay divers things, efpecially all our books, which otherwife we had, befidcs the Voca- bular of Theoph: Par. Ho. and thefe which daily unfalfifieth we do participate.Here- in alfo we found his Itinerarium , and vi- to, whence this relationfor the raoft part is taken. In another cheft were looking- glaftes of divers virtues, as alfo in other places were little bells, burning lamps, & chiefly wonderful artificial Songs-, ge¬ nerally al done to that end, that if it fhould happen after many hundred years, the Order or Fraternity fhould come to no¬ thing, they might by this onely Vault be reftored again.
Now as yet wechad not feen the dead body of our careful and wife father, we therfore removed the Altar afide,there we
C 4 lifted
Pi
1
1 , ■
lifted up a ftrong plate of brafs, and found a fair and worthy body, whole and unconfum ed , as the fame is here lively counterfeited, with all the Ornaments and Attires ♦, in his hand he held a parchment
book,called/.thewhichnext unto the Bible, is ourgreateft treafuj:e,which ought to be delivered to the cenfure of the world, j^t the end ofthis book ftandeth this follow* ing Elogium
Granumpectori ^efu infitum .
C. Rof. C. ex nobili atcp, fplendida Ger¬ manic R. C.familia oriundus, vir fui feculi • divinis revelationibus (ubtilifiimis imagi- nationibus , indefefis laboribus ad ccelepa, atfc humana mjjleria • arcanave admijjas pojlquam fa am ( quam Arabico, & Africa - noitineribus Colleger at) flu jquam regiam, at imp er at or i am Gazamfu o feculo nondaw convenientem , fojleritati eruendam cufo divijfet dr j am juarum Artium, ut&0' minis, fides acconj unBifiimos her ides infi- iuiffet^ mundum minutum omnibus mottbus magno illi refpondenteq? fabricaffet hocfy tandem preterit arum, prcfentium, rarum , rerum ccmpendio extracio, cmtena-
yin
no major non morbo (quern ipfe nunquam cor fore expertus erat, nunquam alios inf ef- tar$ finebat) ullo pellente fed fpiritu Dei evo- cantejlluminatam animam ( inter F rat rum amflexus & ultima ofcula ) fidelifimo ere -? atoriDeo reddidifiet, Pater dileftifimusy F ra: fuaviflimus, preceptor fdeliffimus amicus intererimuSy afnis ad no annos hie abfeon- ditus eft.
Underneath they had fubferibed themfeves,
1 Fra: I. A. Fr.C.H. eleftioneFra- ternitatis caput .
2 Fr:G.r. M.P.C.
%
3 Fra: R. C. lunior hares S . fpiritus-.
4 Fra: B.M, P.A . Pi ft or & Archi-
teftusf ■
5 Fri G , G. M. P . I. Cabalijla...
Secundi Gireuji.
; , I Fra: P. A, Succeffor, Fr: 1. O. Ma~ thematicus.
2 Fra: A. Succeffor Fra. P. D.
3 Fra: R. Succeffor patris C, R. C. cum Chrijlo triumphant.
Atthetend was written.
Ex Deo nafeimur, in fefu morimur,fer Jpiritum fanftum revivifemns.
l.o. and Fra: D. but their burial place where is it to be found? we doubt not but
our Fra: Senior hath the fame, and fome
' / ^
efpecial thing layd in Earth, and perhaps like wife hidden: we aifo hope that this our Example will ftir up others more deli- gently to enquire after their names (whom we have therefore publifhed) and to fearch for the place of their burial 5 for the moft part of them, byreaibn of their pradice and phyfick, are yet known, and praifed among very old folks* fo might • perhaps our Gaza be enlarged, or at leaft be better cleared. .. ; §
Concerning Minutmn Mmdum , we found it kept in another little Altar, truly more finer then can be imagined by any mnderftanding man* but we will leave him undefcribed, untill we fhal truly be an- fwered upon this our true hearted Fa- mam * and fo we have covered it again with the plates, and fet the altar thereon, ihut the door, and made it fure, with all our feals*befides by inftru&ion and com¬ mand of our Rota, there are come to fight fome books, among which is contained
. I>?Tj
M.r (which were made in hold care by the praifewvorthy M. p. fi¬ nally we departed the one from the other, and left the natural heirs in poffeflion of our Jewels, -And fo we do expert the an- fwer and judgment of the learned, or un¬ learned*
Howbeit we know After a time there wil now be a general reformation, both of divine and humane things, according to. our defire,_and the expectation of others * for its fitting,, that before the rifing of the Sun, there fhould appear and break forth Aurora^ or fome clearnefs, or divine light in the sky* and fo in the mean time fome few, which fhall give their names, may joyn together, thereby to increafe the number and rcfpeCt of our Fraternity^ and make a happy and wifhed for beginning of our Philofophicd Canons , preferibed to us by our brother R< C . and be par¬ takers with us of our treafures ( which ne¬ ver can fail or be wafted ) in all humility, and love to be eafed of this worlds labor, and not walk fo blindly in the knowledge of the wonderful works of God.
But that alfo every Chriftian may know
. C28]
of what Religion and belief we are, we confefs to have the knowledge of Jefus Chrift (as the fame now in thefe laft days, and chiefly in Germany, moft clear and pure is profeffed,and is now adays clean- fed and voyd of all fwerving people, He- reticks, and falfe Prophets,) in certain and noted Countries maintained, defended and propagated : Alfo we ufe two Sacra¬ ments, as they are inftituted with all Formes and Ceremonies of the firft re¬ newed Church. In Politia we acknow¬ ledge the Roman Empire and guartrn Monarchiam for our Chriftian head * al¬ beit we know what alterations be at hand, and would fain impart the fame with all our hearts, to other godly learned men* notwithftanding our hand-writing which is in our hands, no man (except God a- lone) can make it common, nor any un¬ worthy perfon is able to bereave us of it. But we fliall help with fecret aid this fo good a caufe, as God flial permit or hin¬ der us : For our God is not blinde, as the Heathens For tuna , but is the Churches Ornament, and the 'honor of the Temple. Our Philosophy alfo is not a new Inventi-
, C *91. ,
on, but as Adam after his fall hath re¬ ceived it, and as Mofes and Solomon ufed it : alfo (he ought not much to be doubted of, or contradi&ed by other opinions, or meanings •, but feeing the truth is peace¬ able, brief, and always like her felf in all things, and efpecially accorded by with ' in omni parte and all members. And as he is the true Image of the Father, fo is (he his Image 3 It dial not be faid, this is true according to Philo fophy , but true ac¬ cording to T heologie 3 And wherein Plato , Ariflotle , Pythagoras and others did hit the mark, and wherein Enoch, Ahraham, Mo¬ fes, Solomon did excel 5 but efpecially
wherewith that wonderful book the Bible
% , ' - / •
agreeth. All that fame concurreth toge¬ ther, and make a Sphere or Globe, whofe total parts are equidiftant from the Cen¬ ter, as hereof more at large and more plain (hal be fpoken of in Chriftianly Con¬ ference.
• - ‘ * I f
But now concerning (and chiefly in thisourage) the ungodly and accurfed Gold-makings which hath gotten fo much the upper hand, whereby under colour of it, many runagates and roguiih people
/
[ S °1
great villanies, and cozen and a- bufie, the credit which is given tftem : yea
vs men of difcretion dd hold the
_ left
, and fd[ttgium in Philojophy^ this is all their intent, and defire, and thstt God would be moll eftecmed by them, and honored, which could make great fibre of Gold, and in abundance, with Unpremeditate prayers, tney nope to attain of the al knowing God, er of all hearts : we therefore prefents publickly teltifie, That the true Philofophers are far of another minde , e- ileemihg little the making of Gold, which is but a parergon *, for befides that they have a thoufand better things.
And we fay with our loving Father R.\ C . tV Phy: a.urum nifi quantum aunim , for unto them the whole nature is detected: fie doth not rejoyce, that he can make Gold j and that, as faith C hrift, the devils are obedient unto him*, but is glad that he feeth the Heavens Open, and tlieAngcls of God afcending and defcending, and his name written in the book of life. Alfo we do teliifie that under the name o'
lit
1
0
r
mu many books and injures are fet forth in CoMitmdiam gloria Deif as we wil name them in their due
give to the pure-hearted a catalogue. Or
Regifter of them : And we pray men to take heed o '
» fpS * ■ "**
enemy riever r< foweth his weeds, til a fhonger one doth root it out. So according to the wil and meaning of Fra: C.R, c. we his brethren requeft again all the learned in Europe^ who dial read (fent forth in five Langua¬ ges) this our Famam and Cwfeftionemy that it would pleafe them with good de¬ liberation to ponder tlfisour offer , and to- examine moft nearly and moft iharply their Arts, and behold the prefent time with all diligence, and to declare their minde, either Commmkato confilio3 or fmgulatim by Print.
And although at this time we make no mention either of Our names, or meetings yet neverthelefs every ones opinio nf "
come to our
in
juage fo ever it be-, nor any body fhal fail5 who fo gives but his hamq to fpeak with fome of us, either by word of mouth, or
elfe if there be fome lett in writing. And this we fay for a truth , That whofoever ihal earneftly,and from his heart,bear af¬ fection unto us , it ihal be beneficial to him in goods, body and foul; but he that is falfe-hearted, or onely greedy of riches, the fame firft of all ihal not be able in any m anner of wife to hurt us, but bring him- felf to utter ruine and deftruCHon. Alfo ourbuiiding(although one hundred thou- fand people had very near feen and be¬ held the fame ) ihal for ever remain un¬ touched, undeftroyed, and hidden to the wicked world, fub umbra, alarum tuarum
A Preface of the Confef ion to the Reader who is defirous of ■ttirn &
It J
i i
*» • 4 4 * A
Ere Gentle Reader, you ihal findc ^ incorporated in our Confeifion thirty feven Reafons of our purpofe, and intention , the which according to thy pleafure thoumayft feek out and com¬ pare them together : thou mayft alfo com
iider with thy felf, if they be weighty, and
| _ C 33]
1} fumcient enough to bring and per¬ il fwade thee for to take our parts.
8 Verily it requires no fmal pains to confirm j thatwhichmen have not yet feen,but when a itlhal once com to light we doubt not, but 1 they will then juftly be afhamed offuch j doubts, and conjectures. And as we do I now altogether feeurely, freely, and with¬ out any hurt call the Pope of Rome An- ® tichrift,the which heretofore was held for is a deadly fin, and fuch in all Countries 1 were put to death for it. So we know cer- Mtainly, that the time flial like wife come, iDthatthat which we yet keep infecret,we lhal openly, freely, and with a loud voice publiih and confefs it before ai the world*
IS the which Gentle Reader with with us with all thy heart, that it may happen with fpeed.
fonfejlio Fraternitatis ,
Or,
(The Confeflion of the laudable Frater¬ nity of the wojl honorable Order of 1 the Rohe Crofs > written to the L earned of Eu rope . I
Hatfoever there is publilhed, and
V v made known to every one, con¬ cerning our Fraternity, by the fore faid Fa- ma, let no man efteem lightly of it, nor hold it as an idle or invented thing, and muchlefs receive the fame, as thoughit were onely a meet* conceit of ours. It is the Lord Jehovah ( who feeing the Lords
Sabbath is almoft at hand, and haftened
* <*
again, his period or courfe being finished, to his hrft beginning) doth turn about the courfe of Nature •, and what hereto¬ fore hath been fought with great pains, and dayly labor, is now manifefted unto -thole who make (mail account, or fcajxe- ly once think upon it-, but thefe which de¬ fire it, it is in a manner forced and thruft-
1 JH
L C 35 3
ed upon them, that thereby the life of the ; I godly may be eafed of all their toyl and I labor, and be no more fubjed to the ;• ftormsof unconftant Fortune *, «butthe J wickednefs of the ungodly thereby, with J their due and deferved punifhment, be 1 augmented and multiplied.
Although we cannot be by anyfuf- • petted of the lead: Herefie, or of any | wicked beginning, or purpofe againft the ) worldly Government ^ we do condemn the Eaft and the Weft, (meaning the Pope I and Mahomet ) blafphemers againft our iLordJefus Chnft, and offer and prefent fc with a good will to the chief head of the si Romifh Empire, our prayers, fecrets,and $ great treafures of Gold.
Y et we have thought good, and fit for
|| the Learned fakes, to add fomewhat more
[?| to this, and make a better explanation, if
tl(l there be any thing too deep, hidden, and
fet down over dark in the Fama^ or for
^certain reafons were altogether omitted,
I and left out^ hoping herewith the Learn-
will be more addicted unto us, and be
piade far more fitter and willing for our purpofe.
V [3*3.
Concerning the alteration and amend¬ ment of Philojopbyi we have { as much as at this prefent is needful ) fufficiently de¬ clared, to wit, that the fame is altogether ' weak and faulty v yet we doubt not, al¬ though the moft part falflydo alledge that {he ( I know not how) is found and Ktrong, yet notwithstanding Ihe fetches., her laft breath and is departing. il But as commonly, even in the fame place or Country where there breaketh forth a new unaccuftomed difeafe, Na¬ ture alfo there difcovereth a medicine a- gainft the fame-, fo there doth appear for lb manifold infirmities of Philosophy , the right means, and unto our Pairia Suffici¬ ently offered, whereby fhe may become found again, which is now to be renewed and altogether new. \id™
No other Philosophy we have, then that which is the head & fum,the founda- tionand contents of all faculties, lcien*
> ces and arts, the which ( if we will behold j ourage) containeth much of Theology and! medicine,but little of the wifdom of Law¬ yers, and doth diligently fearch both hea- j ven and earth; or,tofpeak briefly there- ^
C373
of, which doth manifeft and declare luf- efficiently Man -7 whereof then all Learned who will make themfelves known unto us, and come into our brotherhood, fhall finde more wonderful fecrets by us then ! heretofore they did attaintinto, and did know, or are able to believe or utter.
\ Wherefore, to declare briefly our mean¬ ing hereof, we ought to labor carefully 3 f ‘that there be not onely a wondering at tteour meeting and adhortation, but that likewife every one may know, that al¬ though we do highly efteem and regard fuch myfteries and fecrets,we nevertheleis mold it fit, that the knowledge thereof be manifeftedand revealed to many,
{ For it is to be taught and believed, that this our unhoped willing offer wil raife jmany and divers thoughts in men, unto , whom (as yet) be unknown Miranda fexta atatis , or thofe which by reafon of the courfe of the world, efteem the things to . come like unto theprefent, and are hin- jdred through all manner of importunities of this their time, fothat they live no o- therwife in the world, then blinde fools, who can, i n the clear Sun-fhine day,di£-
D 2 cern
cernand know nothing, then onelyby
feeling.
Now concerning the firffc part, we bold this , that the Meditations, knowledge and inventions of our loving Chriftian Father ( of all that, which from the be- mning of the worl d^Mans Wtfdom^ itber through Gods Revelation, or through the fervice of the Angels and fpirits, or through the fharpnels and deepnefs of un- derftanding,or through long obferva ion, life and experience, hath foundout,invent- ed, brought forth, corrected, and till now hath been propagated & tranfplanted)are fo excellent worthy and great, that if all books fhould perifh, and by Gods al¬ mighty fuffrancc,all writings, & all learn¬ ing fhould be loft, yet the pofterity will be able onely thereby to lay a new foun¬ dation, and bring truth to light again^ the which perhaps would not be fo hard to do as if one fhould begin to pull down and dcftroy the old ruinous building, and then begin to enlarge the fore Court, af¬ terwards bring the lights in the Lodgings, and then change the doors, ftapies andj other things according to our intention
Bill
£ 39 j
But to whom would not this oe accep¬ table, for to he manifefted to every one rather then to have it kept and fpared, as an efpecial Ornament for the appointed time to come <
Wherefore fhould we not with all our hearts reft and remain in the onely truth ( which men through fo many erroneous and crooked ways do feek) if it had onely pleafed God to lighten unto us thefixth Candelabrum < were it not good that we needed not to care, not to fear hunger, po¬ verty, ficknefs and age <
Were k not a precious thing, that you could always live fo, as if you had liv'd from the beginning of the world, and moreover, as you ihould ftil live to theend thereof < Were it not excellent, you dwel in one place, that neither the people which dwel beyond the River Ganges in the In¬ dies could hide any thing,nor thole which live in Peru might be able to keep fecret their counfels from thee < \
Were it not a precious thing, that you could fo read in one onely book, and withal by reading underftand, and re¬ member all that, which in all other books
L # 1
(which heretofore have been, and arc now, and hereafter dial come out ) hath been, is, and dial be learned, and found
out of theme' I
How pleafant were it, that you could fo fing, that in dead of dony rocks you could draw to the pearls and precious ftones , in dead of wilde beads, lpirits, and in dead of hellifh Pluto^ move the mighty Princes of the world ?
O ye people, Gods counfel is far other- wife, who hath concluded now to en- creafe and enlarge the number of our Fraternity, the which we with fuch joy have undertaken, as we have heretofore obtained this great treafure without our merits, yea without any our hopes, and thoughts-, and purpofe with the like fide¬ lity to put the fame in practice, that nei¬ ther the compadion nor pity of our own children (which fome of us in the fra¬ ternity have)0ial draw us from it, becaufe we know that thefe unhoped for goods cannot be inherited, nor by chance be ob¬ tained. _ / J;
If there be fome body now, which on the other ddewil complain of ourdif-
ere-
ll cretion, that we offer our Treafures To I freely, and without any difference to all 5 men, and do not rather regard and refpedi j more the godly, learned, wife, or princely 1 perfons, then the common people ^ thoie | we do not contradict, feeing it is not a | flight and ealie matter * but withall '! we flgnifie fo much, that our Arcana ®j or Secrets will no ways be com- [ mon ., and generally made knovm :
Although the Fama be fet forth in five f| languages, and is manifefted to every one, i yet we do partly very wrell know, that the t unlearned and grofs wits will not receive,
I nor regard the fame 5 as alfo the worthi- i nefs of thofe who fhall be accepted into e, our Fraternity are not efteemed and » knowm of us by Mans Carefulnefs, but
II by the Rule of our Revelation and Mani- if feftation. Wherefore if the unworthy I* cry and call a thoufand times, or if they | fliall offer and prefent themfelves to us a | thoufand times, yet God hath command-
j ed our ears, that they fliould hear none of [ them: yea, God hath fo corn pafied us a- j|[ bout with his Clouds,that unto us his fer- vants no violence or force can be dpne or Hi--- com-
L4*]
committed * wherefore we neither can be feen or known by any body, except he had the eyes of an Eagle. It hath been neceffary that the Fama fliould be fet forth in every ones Mother T ongue, be- caufe thofe ihould not be defrauded of , the knowledg thereof, whom (although they be unlearned) God hath not exclu¬ ded from the happinefs of this Fraternity-, the which fhall be divided and parted in¬ to certain degrees as thofe which dwell in the City Damear in Arabia, who have a far different politick order from the o- ther Arabians. Tor there do govern only wife and underftanding men, who by the Kings permiffion make particular Laws 5 according unto which example alfo the Government fhall be inftituted in Etirofe (whereof we have a defeription fet down by our Chriftianly Father) when firltis done and come to pafs that which is to precede* And thenceforth our T rumpet fhall publiquely found with a loud found, and great node, when namely the fame ( which at this prefent is {hewed by few? and is fecretly, as a thing to come, de¬ clared in Figures and Pictures ) fliall be
free
C4?:i
free, and publiquely proclaimed, and the whole World be hilled withall. Even in fuch manner as heretofore, many godly people have fecretly and altogether de- lperately pufht at the Popes Tyranny, which afterwards, with great earneft, and efpecial zeal in Germany , was thrown from his feat, and trodden under-foot, whofe final fall is delayed, and kept for our times, when he alfo fhall be fcratched in pieces with nailSjand an end be made of his Affes cry, by a new voyce : The which we know is already reafonably manifefh and known to many learned men in Ger¬ many^ theirWritings and fecretCongra- tulations do fufficiently witnefs the fame.
We could here relate and declare what all the time, from the year of our Lord 1378. (in which year our Chriftian Fa¬ ther was born) till now, hath happened, where we might rehearfe what alterations he hath feen in the World thefe one hun¬ dred fix years of his life, which he hath left to our Brethren and us after his de- ceafe to per life : But brevity, which we do obferve, will not permit at this prefent to make rehear fal of it. till a more fit time:
t ■ . I 44 3
At this time it is enough for thefe which
do not defpife our Declaration, having
therefore briefly touched it, thereby to
prepare the way for their acquaintance
and friendfliip with us. M
Yea, to whom it is permitted, that he may fee, and for his inftru&ion ufe thofe great Letters and Characters which the Lord God hath written and imprinted in Heaven and Earths Edifice, through the alteration of Government , which hath been from time to time altered and re¬ newed 5 the fame is already (although as yet unknown to himfelf ) ours: And as we know he will not defpife our inviting and calling, fo none fliall fear any deceit*, for we promife, and openly lay, That no mans uprightnefs and hopes fliall deceive him,whofoever fliall make himfelf known unto us under the Seal of Secrecy, and de- lire our Fraternity.
But to the falfe Hypocrites, and to thole that feek other things then Wifdom, we fay and witnefs by thefe prefents publike- ly, we cannot be made known, and be be¬ trayed unto them *, and much lefs they lhali be able to hurt us any manner of
C 45 3
way without the Will of God 5 but they fliall certainly be partakers of all the pu- niflimentfpokenofinouri7^^ fo their wicked Counfels fliall light upon them- felves , and our Treafures fliall remain untouched and unftirred, until the Lion doth come, who will ask them for his ufe, and imploy them for the confirmation and eftabliihment of his Kingdom. We ought therefore here to obferve well, and
W f J
make it known unto every one, that God hath certainly and molt affuredly conclu¬ ded to fend and grant to the World be¬ fore her end, which prefently thereupon fliall enfue, fuch a Truth, Light, Life and Glory, as the firft man Adam had, which he loft inParadife, after the which his fuccef- fors were put, and driven with him to mi- fery : Wherefore there fliall ceafe all fer- vitude,falfliood,lyes,and darknefs, which by little and little, with the great Worlds Revolution, was crept into all Arts, Works and Governments of Men, and have darkened the moil part of them. For from thence are proceeded an innumer¬ able fort of all manner of falfe Opinions and He relies, that fcarce the wifeft of all
r
w
C4*3
was able to know whofe Do&rine and Opinion he (hould follow and embrace and could not well and eafily be difeern- cd •, feeing on the one part they were de- tained,hindered, and brought into Errors through the refpedt of the Philofophers and learned men, and on the other part through true experience. All the which, when it iliajl once be abolifhed and re¬ moved; and in ftead thereof a right and true Rule inftituted, then there will re¬ main thanks unto them which have taken pains therein *, but the Work it felf (hall be attributed to the Bleffednefs of our Age.
As we now willingly confefs, that ma¬ ny principal men by their Writings will be a great furtherance unto this Reform¬ ation which is to come 5 fo we defire not to have this honour aferibed to us, as if luch Work were only commanded and impofed upon us *, but we confefs, and witnefs openly with the Lord jefus Chrift, that it (hall fir ft happen that the ft ones! hall arife, and offer their fervice, before there dial! be any want of Execu¬ tors and Accompliihers of Gods Coun-
' fel: .
lit.
till
L 47 D
fcl : yea, the Lord God hath already Tent before certain Mcffengers, which iliould teftifie his Will, to wit, fome new Stars, which do appear and are feen in the Fir¬ mament in Serpentano and Cygno, which lignifie and give themfelves known to e- very one, that they are powerful Sign acid a of great weighty matters. So then, the fecret hid Writings and Charade rs are moft neceffary for all fuch things which are found out by Men : Although that great Book of Nature Hand open to all Men, yet there are but few that can read and underftand the fame. For as there is given to Man two inftruments to hear, like wife two to fee, and two to fmell, but only one to fpeak, and it were but vain to exped fpeech from the ears, or hearing from the eyes : So there hath been Ages or Times which have feen, there have al- fo been Ages that have heard, fmelt, and tailed : now there remains yet that which in iliort time, honour fhall be likewife given to the Tongue, and by the fame •, what before times hath been feen, heard, and fmelt, now finally fhall be fpoken and
when the World fhall
7
V
awake
. L 4® 3 , W
awake out of her heavy and drowfie deep, and with an open heart, bare-head and bare-foot, {hall merrily and joyfully meet the now arifing Sun.
Thefe Characters and Letters, as God hath here and there incorporated them in the holy Scripture the Bible, fo hath he imprinted them moll apparently into the wonderful Creation of Heaven and Earth, yea in all Beads. So that like as the Mathematician or Aflronomer can long before fee and know the Eclipfes which are to come, fo we may verily fore-know and fore-fee the darknefs of Obfcurations of the Church, and how long they {hall laft : From the which Characters or Let¬ ters we have borrowed our Magick wri¬ ting, and have found out, and made a new Language for our felves , in the which withail is exprelfed and declared the Na¬ ture of all Things : So that it is no won¬ der that we are not fo eloquent in other Languages, the which we know that they
are altogether difag reeins to the Langua¬
ges of our forefathers, Adam and Enoch, and were through the Baby lonical Con- fufion wholly hidden.
But
I C49]
But vve niuft alfo let you undcrftandj that there are yet fome Eagles Feathers I in our way, the which do hinder our pur-
t His pleaiures therein, he ill all know that k he prepared for himfelf an excellent way Ito come in to our Fraternity : For as this ill is the whole fum and content of our t Rule,' T hat . every Letter or C hara&er irivhieh is in the W orld ought to be learn- i|ed and regarded well 5 fo thole are like unto us^and are very near allyed unto us, who do make the holy Bible a Rule of their life, and an aim and end of all their , Rudies $ yea to let it be a Compendium and Content of the whole World : And not only to have it continually in the mouth, but to know. how to apply and diredl the true underftanding of it to all , times and Ages of the World. Alfo, it is not our C uftorn to proftitute and make fo common the holy Scriptures $ for there are innumerable Expounders of the fame v fome alledging andwrefting It to ferve for their . Opinion, fome to I E fcandal
pofe. Whererore we do admomili every one for to read diligently and continual- I iy the holy Bible $ for he that taketh all
5°
fcandal it, and moft wickedly do liken it to a Nofe of Wax* which alike ihould
ferve the Divines, Philofof hers, Pby [trims
r
afAW'rf/ r r - " - - ” - — T T X1VU
we do openly witnefs and acknowledg, That from the beginning of the World there hath not been given unto Men a more worthy, a more excellent, and more admirable and whole fom Book then the holy Bible 5 Blefted is he that hath the fame, yea more bidfed is in who reads it diligently, but moft bleifed of all is he that truiy underftandeth the fame, for he is moft like to God, and doth come moft near to him. But what foever hath been faid in the Farna con¬ cerning the Deceivers againft the Tranf- mutation of Mettds, and the higfeeft Me- ditine in the World, the fame is thus to be underftood, that this fo great gi God we do in no manner let at ordefpifeit. But becaufe (he bring not with her J Nature,
Medicine, but
open unto us
Secrets ai
Wenders
it is
L 5i ]
i( \yc be earaefl: to attain to the tinder landing and knowledg .of Philpfoffr And moreover, excellent Wits ought not to be drawn to the Tin&ure of Met? ttils > before they be exercifed well in the knowledg of Mature . He muft needs be an unlatiable Creature, who is come io far, that neither Poverty nor Sickrtefs tan hurt him $ yea, who is exalted above allother ijien, and hath Rule over that, the which doth anguilh , trouble and
is, yet will give himfelf again 0 idle tmngs* as to build houfes, make /Wars, and ufe all manner of Pride, be¬ ll caufe he hath of G old and Silver infinite
I 5*3
Light: In Germany all their Abomina- j tions and deteftable T ricks have been* difclofed, that thereby he may fully full fill the meafure of fin, and draw near to* the end of his punifhment.' Therefore! one day it will come to pafs, that the# Mouth of thofe Vipers will be flopped, | and the three double Horn will bet brought to nought, as thereof at our I Meeting (hall more plain and at large be j difcourfed. Il
For Conclufion of our Confefion, wel muft earneftly admonifii you, that you |l put away, if not all, yet the moft Books | written by falfe Alchimijls , who do 1 • think it but ajeft, or a Paftime, when they either mifufe the holy Trinity, whenl they do apply it to vain things, or dc- L ceive the people with moft ft range Fi- ] gures, and dark Sentences and Speeches, j and cozen the fimple of their money ;| as there are now adays too many fuel# Books fet forth, which .the Enemy of I Mans Welfare doth dayly, and will1# the end, mingle among the good Seed# thereby to make the T ruth more difn j? cult to be beleevedv which in her fell
< C 5/3
[fimple, eafie, and naked •, but contrarily Fallhood is proud , haughty, and co- | loured with a kind of Luftre of Teeming godly and of humane Wifdom. Ye ahat are wife efehew fuch Books, and turn unto us, who feek not your moneys, but offer unto you moft willingly our 'great Treafures : We hunt not after your Goods with invented lying Tinc¬ tures, but defire to make you Partakers ;of our Goods: We fpeak unto you by w arables, but would willingly bring you to the right, fimple, eafie, and ingenuous Expofition , Underftanding , Declara¬ tion and K nowledg of all Secrets . Wc idefire not to be received of you, but in¬ cite you unto our more then Kingly : Houles and Palaces , and that verily not )gby our own proper motion, but (that |you likewife may know it) as forced un- |itb it, by the Inftigation of the Spirit of .];God,by his Admonition, and by the Oc« cafion of this prefent time, jl What think you, loving people, and Jwow feem you aflmed, feeing that ^you bow underlland and know, That we ac- Jcnowledg our felves truly and iincerely WL E 3 to
Pope, ad-
Chrifl
to
ian life, ai
true
cal
treat
invite
more unto our
fame
Of
n
not at
nowy
Confider
ou mu
in
ily by ponder which are in you , and by experience which you have in the Word of God, bcfide the careful Confideration of the Imperfection of all Arts, and manyo*
to feek for art a« * to a
and to accommodate you for the time wherein you live. Certainly if you will perform the fame, this profit will follow j That all thofe Goods which Nature hath in all parts of the World wonderfully difperfed, fhall at one time altogether be given unto you, and fhall eafily disburden you of all that which obfcureth the Undemanding of Man, and hindereth the working thereof , like unto the vain Epic ides, and Exccn-
f V 1. a /J • I i*. f
But
boil)
L J
R headed men, who either are blinded with the glittering of Gold, or (to fay more truly ) who are now honell, but by j thinking fuch great Riches fhould never ^ fail , might cafily be corrupted , and “brought to Idlenefs, and to riotons 9 proud living : Thofe we do defire that !®they would not trouble us with their !f idle and vain crying. But let them think,
■ that although there be a Medicine to be had which might fully cure all Difeafes, lineverthelefs thofe whom God hath de¬ tonated to plague with Difeafes, and to ilkeep them under the Rod of Corredti- iton, fuch (hall never obtain any fuch ii Medicine.
i| Even in fuch manner , although we J might inrich the whole W orld, and en- ;; due them with Learning, and might re- lcafe it from Innumerable Miferies, yet l (hall we never be manifefted and made l| known unto any man, without the efpe- j cial pleafure of God 5 yea, it fhall be Sjfo far from him whofoever thinks to ij get the benefit, and be Partaker of ' our Riches and Knowledg , without land againft the Will of God , that he m E 4 fhall
{hall fooner lqfe his life in fearching for us, then to find attain to come to
r^l _ -r%
te
C 57 3
/4flv
nt
Wf
>7
A SHORT
ADVERTISE ME NT
TO THE
READER.
tijement, Reader, invites
_ thee not to my Lodging Jon I would
give thee no fuch Directions , my Nature being more Melancholy , then Sociable.
’ ^ would onely tell thee how Charitable I am 5 for having purpofely omitted fome Neceffaries 1 in my former Difcourfe > I have upon fecond ‘Thoughts refolvcd •againft that filence.
T here is abroad a bold ignorance , for Philo (of hie hath her Confidents , but in a fenje different from the Madams . This Generation I have fometimes met withall, and leaft they fhould ride , and repent , I 1 ght it not amifs to lhew them the neces. , The Second Philosophic all 4 : ’ work
C5*3
work is commonly card the grofs work, but 'tis one of the greateft Subtilties in all the Art. Cornelius Agrippa knew the firjl Preparation, and hath clearly disco¬ vered it, but the Difficulty of the fecond made him almoft an enemy to his own Profefsion, By the fecond work , I under- ftand not Coagulation , but the Solution of the Philofopsical Salt, a fecret which Agrippa did not rightly know , as it ap¬ pears by his praffife at M dines , nor would Natalius teach him , for all his frequent , and ferious intreaties . This was it , that made his necefsities fo vigo¬ rous, and his purfe fo weak , that I can feldome finde him in a full fortune . But in this, he is not alone: Raymund Lully the beft Christian Artifi that ever was, received not this Myjlerie from Arnoldus for in his first P ratifies he followed the tedious common procefs , which after all isfcarce profitable. Here he met with a Drudgerie almoft invincible , and if we add the Task to the Time , it is enough to make a Man old, Norton was fo ftrange an Ignoramus in this Point , that if tne S plution and Purgation were performed
• in ‘
E 50 3
in three years , he thought it z happy work, George Ripley labour'd for nerv Inventions , to putrifie this red Salt , which he envioufly cals hk gold : and his knack is, to expofe it to alternat fits of cold and heat, but in this he is fingular , and Faber is fo wife he will not understand him. And now that I have mention’d Faber, | muft needs fay that T ubal-Cain himfelf is jhort of the right Solution , for the Pro¬ cess he describes hath not any thing of Na¬ ture in it. Let us return then to Raymund Lnllie , for he was fo great a M after t that he perform'd the Solution , intra novem
Secret he had from God
7 _ .jis is his Confefsion • Nos
( faith he ) de prima ilia nigredineh pane is cognita,benignum Spirit urn extrahereaf- fe& antes, pugnam ignis vincentem, & non wiftum , licet fen fib us corporis mult ones palpavimus > & oculis propriis ilium vidi -?■ mmy E xtraffionis tamen ipfius not it i am non habuimus quacunque Scientiarnm , vel arte : ideoque fentie bam us nos adhuc aliqua Hcitate excacatos ‘ ®
cmi
earn
tlM)
a
alius Luminum defeendit:
[So]
defcendit 3 tanquam Juos mllatenus defe¬ rens , 4 /e Poflulantibus defciens ,
jomniis t ant am claritatem mentis no fir a oculis infdfit ,
mota omni fgura^gratis rev el are dignatm eft) infatiabtli bonitate nos reficiendo , de- monjlrans at ad earn implendam difponere- mus corpus ad unam naturalem decoCtionem jeer et am , penitus or dine retrogrado
cum p mgenti lancea , tot a ejus natura in meram Nigredinem vifibiliter dijfolvere-
tur. Here lyes the knot , and who is he that will untje it? for faith the fame Lully ^ it was never put to Paper, and he gives this Reajon for it. Qna Soli us dei eft ea revelare , & homo divina Majejlati jubtrabere nititur 5 cum foli Deo pertinentia vulgat JJfiritu prolusion is bum ana 5 aut lite- rarum ferie. Propterea operationem illam habere non poter is 5 quousque fpiritualiter prius fueris Divinitatis mentis comproba-
tus. Quia hoc jecretum a nemine mortali Revelandum ejt, praterquam ah Almofpi - ritu^qui ubi vult , jpirat. It feems then the great ejt Difficulty is not in the Congo- lation or production of the Philo fophicall
Salt) but in the Putrefaction of it, when - it '
on
it is produced. Indeed this agrees be ft with the fence of the Philojophers , for one of thofc Pracifians tels us , guifrit SA- LEU,&ejus SOLUTIONEM, frit SECRETUM OCCUL-
TQ M antiquorum Philofophorum. Alas then ! what (hall we do i whence comes our next Intelligence ? I am afraid here is a fad T ruth for feme body. Shall we run now to Lucas Rodargirus , or have we any dujly Manufcripts , that can in- ftrud us < Well Reader , thou feeft how free I am grown 5 and now I could dis¬ cover fomething elfe, but here is^nough at once. I could indeed tell thee of the frfl and fecond fublimation , of a double Nativity, Vifible and Invifible , without . which the matter is not alter Me , as to our purpofe. I could tell thee alfo of Sul¬ phurs I imple , and compounded , of three Argents V^ve^ and as many Salts , and all this would be new news ( as the Book-men phrafe it) even to the be fiL earned in Eng¬ land. But I have done, and I hope this JDifcourfe hath not demolijhed any man s C a flies , for why (hould they defpair , when I contribute to their
L ** 3
I am a hearty Difpenjero , and if they have got any thing by me 5 much good may it do them. It is my omly fear the1 will miftake when they ready Ibr wereL to live long^ which l am confident I ihall not, I would make no Other mjb , but that my ye4rs might be as many as their Errors. I fpeak not this out of any cm- tempt, for -I undervalue no man % . It is m> Experience in this kind of learnings whic! lever made my Bufmefs , that gives me the heldnefs to fufpeft a pojsibiiity of the fame failings in cithers , which I have found in my j (elf. To conclude^ I would have my Reader know, that the Philofo- phers finding this life ikbje&ed to | fitie , and that Necefsiiy was inew With the Mature or the Soul , th< _ therefore look upon Man , as a Creature originally ordained for fome beta then the prelent , for this was not $ble Witnhis flint* This thought made them feek the Ground o£ his Creation , that if pofiible 5 they might take hold of Libertie , and tranfeend the Difpenjauons of that Circle , which they Myfierm tt"
c?l-d Fate. jNow what this really fignipe*
I-- . ' " not
A
'i
t *3 3
m
ti
are all Philo fop hers.
But to come to my p true Philofophers did hi pound a double Complexion, Circumfe¬ rential, znA Central . T he Circumferential was corrupt in all things, but in Jime things altogether venomous * The Central not fo, for in the Center of every thing there was a per fell Unity, amiraculous indijfTo- luble Concord of Fire and Water. Thefe two Complexions are the Manifeftum and xht Occult um of the Arabians, and they refft one another, for they are Contraries . In the Center it felf they found no Deft cords at all, for the Difference of Spirits confifted not in Qualities, but in Degrees of Ejfence and T ranfcendency . As for the Water, it was of kin with the Fire, fork was not common fc\xx ethereal. In all Cen¬ ters this Eire was not the fame, for in fome it was only a Solar Spirit, and fuch a Cen¬ ter was called. Aqua Solis, Aqua C a? left is 3 Aqua Auri , & Argenti ‘ In fome again the Spirit was more
was
<er-ceei
Metaphyftcal : This
Spirit purged the very rational Soul
awakened
I
C«41
awakened her Root that was ajleep, and
thcrdovc fuch a Center was called, Aqua, jgne tinBdi Aqua Sere nans, Candelas ac- cendens > & D omum i lluminans . Of both thefe Waters have I difeourfed in thofc fmall T raffates I have publifhed * and though I have had fome Dirt caff at me for my pains , yet this is fo ordinary I mind it not , for whiles we live here wc ride in a High-way . I cannot think him wife who refents his Injuries, forhefets a rate upon things that are wor thief, and makes ufe of his Spleen where his Scorn becomes him ; T his is the E ntertainment I provide for my Adversaries, and if they think it too coarfe, let them judg where they underpandj and they may fare bet¬ ter i ■- - ■ • ; i
t > \
? *
A ' •*> . ►
' >
F IN I $
r )
• V
i * •
« 4
aoauaooonan«w«^c- ^vNic<wuuHnw«awodH>«f'.< .^ato--Kuooi^a&fcc»t>c-
v
. v," •
, 'aw vi/
mm
w&M
W&~sMi±