On the Consideration of the Quintessence

He who is called Damascenus, in his book on simple medicines, says thus in the beginning, that this is so great that there is no need for blessed ones from heaven, nor how or from what part of heaven it is assigned, nor has it been. And in such and so great things it was that physicians might call upon Christ and his evangelist, although he who understands the beginning of the mind—the insensible light of God—to investigate the causes of things, to which certain philosophers have all been assigned, one should consider their fantasies maimed. But because the truth of anything false is infinitely to be proposed, it is said, therefore, that the matter of the stars is adorned purely by heaven so that the influence may be increased, which then of necessity must be investigated from several of the same superior [bodies], as much as by the experimental influx of heaven, through the influx of other stars. And know that commonly the stars have their influence, and every star has its own proper influence, singularly expressed and by the ordination of God upon a determined and certain thing: such as the pole star upon adamant and iron, Saturn upon the water of the sea, the Sun upon gold, the Moon upon silver, and the greater [stars] of the heaven upon human bodies, and the greater birds of heaven upon terrestrial birds. And thus it was seen, he regarding the labors, that according to his hand he fabricated chests, and no less did he fabricate them.