On the Consideration of the Quintessence

I repeat the vapor through all the arm-like conduits so that it may truly ascend and truly descend. Then you should speak by night, saying, “the burning water comes through the fire by every celestial will.” And the understanding of its operation is this: that it is the best burning water that can be made in every work, performed even now with a manual button [stopper/plug] through the alembic; and this is the spiritual gift, such a preservation, so that through all things the ascent and descent may occur, because it preserves the incorruptible through the fire by way of the alembic. And this is done when that which is sublimated by the good is more subtle, glorified, and incorruptible; it separates more than one time as it ascends, and thus the work is done a thousand times, and through continuous ascent and descent it sublimates; by elevating it in turn, it becomes glorified and escapes; it is made incorruptible; such is the gift of heaven. And that is because, by this, it [the earth/matter] is raised; if here it regards the body of the world just as heaven regards almost all things of the whole world, which are the crafts to imitate nature, through whatever is near to the tail and the lathe.