Introduction to the Divine Art of Chemistry

principles are diverse, but tending toward one end. Namely, because just as nature generates from its mineral principles the mineral principles of metallic bodies, from which it makes a perfect and imperfect composite, so the art of Alchemy, from the same principles of metallic bodies, elicits and generates the form of the perfect composite, so that it may perfect the imperfect composites toward one end, namely toward gold. Nor is it to be wondered at if the art generates something different from the same mineral principles than nature does, namely art the form and nature the composite, because in the same way that the government of art is different from the government of nature in the same principles, and similarly, in the same way the principled things proceeding from them or generated will necessarily be different and similar. For everything that happens necessarily happens from a being in power, namely proximate [power], and thus that which was in power becomes in act from something existing in act. And because these principles are in power, so that from them a composite or form may be made, therefore according to the diversity of the agent a form or composite will be generated. The generation, however, of such a form, namely bare from its perfectible matter and composite, is of most difficult investigation and consideration; therefore also of most difficult operation in order to have the thing operated. Therefore also the whole art is of most difficult invention, so that such an end may be achieved. If, therefore, the art of Alchemy, by reason, has ministered to nature a mode of acting in the natural and mineral principles of metallic bodies, it seems that the principled thing will proceed and be generated entirely from them, namely the Elixir the philosopher's stone, which is the form of gold, which indeed projected upon imperfect metals, as upon matter, will become from their mixture a composite, which is gold; and if not, then not. In non-natural principles, however, such as are the remaining minerals, or those contrary to nature, such as are animals and vegetables, and their parts, and what proceeds from them, who will there be who can follow nature in generating any of the natural metals, namely matter, or form, or composite, since none of the ancient wise men have been