An exposition upon Sir George Ripley's preface. Written by Æyrenæus Philalethes, anglus, cosmopolita.
- Title
- An exposition upon Sir George Ripley's preface. Written by Æyrenæus Philalethes, anglus, cosmopolita.
- Author
- Starkey, George, 1627-1665.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for William Cooper ...,
- MDCLXXVII. [1677]
- Rights/Permissions
-
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- Subject terms
- Ripley, George, d. 1490?
- Alchemy -- Early works to 1800.
- Link to this Item
-
https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B05960.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"An exposition upon Sir George Ripley's preface. Written by Æyrenæus Philalethes, anglus, cosmopolita." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B05960.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 4, 2024.
Contents
- title page
-
An Exposition UPON THE PREFACE OF S
r GEORGE RIPLEY, Canon ofBridlington. -
In the Beginning, when thou madest all of nought, a globous matter, and dark, un∣der confusion, by him the beginning,
&c. - For as of one Mass was made all things, right so in our practice must it be.
- All our Secrets of one Image must spring.
- As in Philosophers Books, whoso list to see.
- Our Stone is called the Lesser World.
- One and Three.
- Magnesia also.
- Of Sulphur and Mercury.
- Proportionate by Nature most perfectly.
- But many one marvelleth, and marvel may, and museth on such a marvellous thing.
-
What is our Stone,
&c. -
For Fowls and Fishes to us do it bring, eve∣ry Man it hath: And it is in every place, in thee, in me,
&c. - To this I answer, That Mercury it is I wis.
- But not the Common, called Quick-silver by name.
- But Mercury, without which nothing be∣ing is.
- All Philosophers record and truly sain the same.
- But simple Searchers putteth them in blame, saying they hid it.
- But they be blame-worthy which be no Clerks, and meddle with Philosophy.
- But though it Mercury be.
- Yet wisely understand wherein it is, and where thou shalt it seek.
- Else I counsel thee take not this work in hand.
- For Philosophers flatter Fools with fair speech.
- But listen to me, for truly I will thee teach.
- Which is this Mercury most profitable.
- Being to thee nothing deceiveable.
- It is more near in some things than in some.
- Take heed therefore what I to thee write.
-
For if to thee Knowledge never come, Therefore yet shalt thou me not twite. - For I will truely now thee excite to under∣stand well Mercuries three.
- The Keys which of this Science be.
- Reymund his Menstrues doth them call.
- Without them truly no Truth is done.
- But two of them be superficial.
- The third Essential to Sun and Moon.
- Their Properties I will declare right soon.
-
And Mercury of Metals essential, Is the Principle of our Stone material. - In Sol and Luna our Menstrues are not seen.
- It appeareth not but by effect to sight.
-
This is the Stone of which we mean, Who so our Writings conceiveth aright. - It is a Soul and Substance bright.
- Of Sol and Luna a subtile Influence.
- Whereby the Earth receiveth resplendence.
-
For what is Sol and Luna, saith Avicen, But Earth which is pure White & Red? -
Take from it the said Clearness, and then That Earth will stand but in little stead. - The whole Compound is called our Lead.
- The quality of Clearness from Sol and Lu∣na doth come.
- These are our Menstrues, both all and some.
- Bodies with the first we Calcine naturally, perfect.
- But none which been unclean.
- Except one.
-
Which is usually Named by Philosophers their Lyon Green. -
He is the mean the Sun and Moon between, Of joyning Tinctures with perfectness. -
As
Geber thereunto beareth witness. -
With the second which is an humidity Vegetable reviving what earst was dead. - Both Principles Materials must loosed be.
- And Formals, else they stand in little stead.
- These Menstrues therefore know, I thee reed.
-
Without the which neither true Calcination Done may be, nor true Dissolution. - With the third Humidity most permanent.
- Incombustible and unctuous in his Nature.
-
Hermes Tree unto Ashes is burnt. - It is our natural Fire most sure.
- Our Mercury, our Sulphur, our Tincture pure.
-
Our Soul, our Stone born up with wind, In the Earth ingendred. Bear this in mind. -
This Stone also tell thee I dare, Is the vapour of Metals potential. -
How thou shalt get it thou must beware, For Invisible truly is this Menstrual. Howbeit with the second Water Philosophical, By separation of Elements it may appear To sight in form of Water clear. -
Of this Menstrue by labour exuberate, With it may be made Sulphur of Nature. -
If it be well and kindly acuate, And circulate into a Spirit pure, Then to dissolve thou must be sure Thy base with it in divers wise, As thou shalt know by thy practise, That point, &c. -
For so together they may be circulate, That is, the base oyl and vegetable Menstrual, So that it be by labour exuberate, And made by craft a Stone celestial. -
Of nature so Fiery that we it call, Our Basilisk, or our Cockatrice, Our great Elixir most of price. For as the sight of the Basilisk his object Killeth, so slayeth it crude Mercury, When thereupon he is project, In twinkling of an eye most suddenly. That Mercury then teyneth permanently All Metals to Gold and Silver perfite. Thus guide thy base both red and white. -
Aurum Potabile thus is made,Of Gold not commonly calcinate. -
But of our Tincture which will not fade, Out of our base drawn by our Menstrue circulate. -
And for thy first ground principal, Ʋnderstand thy Waters Menstrual. -
And when thou hast made Calcination, Increasing not wasting moisture radical, Ʋntil thy base by oft subtilation, Will lightly flow as Wax on a Metal. Then loose it with thy Vegetable Menstrual, Till thou have Oyl thereof in colour bright. - Then is that Menstruum visible to sight.
- An Oyl is drawn out in the colour of Gold.
- Or like thereto out of fine red Lead.
-
Which Raymund said when he was old,Much more then Gold would stand in stead. -
For when he was for Age near dead, He made thereof Aurum Potabile, Which him revived as men might see.
-
In the Beginning, when thou madest all of nought, a globous matter, and dark, un∣der confusion, by him the beginning,