Chemical-Philosophical Treatise on Natural and Supernatural Things

more than otherwise, if the separation of the soul and spirit from the body is neglected, no virtual and convenient operation can follow as necessity would require. For whatever is comprehensible to the sight and is inseparable and corporeal exists as natural and corporeal. But as soon as the separation has been made, with life departing from the body, the thing attains its full operation; and with the natural body separated, the spiritual nature is liberated to penetrate and has turned into a spiritual and supernatural medicine. And briefly, all palpable things, without exception, are natural, but they are to be raised into a supernatural state if we are to destine them for Medicine; for the supernatural alone includes the living virtue of operating, while the natural possesses an extinguished and sensible form. For when Adam was created, he was lifeless and endowed with no life of any virtue, but as soon as the vivifying spirit approached, he exhibited his living virtue and faculty with supernatural admiration. And so, in every thing, the natural and the supernatural are as one thing coupled and tied together in their dwelling, so that for each its perfection may stand. For all created things in this universe are certain supernatural things, as far as animated and spiritual things are concerned, but some are natural and supernatural, which concerns the Elements just as much as the firmament, as well as Minerals, vegetables, and Animals, which becomes known from generation when the soul departs from the body and leaves it an empty dwelling.

Furthermore, you will now observe that the Macrocosm and the microcosm were fashioned, formed, and created from the prima materia first matter by omnipotence in the beginning,