Chemical-Philosophical Treatise on Natural and Supernatural Things

I believe that you have now sufficiently perceived, in place of a beginning, this doctrine on natural and supernatural things, on the first tincture of the root of Metals and Minerals, on which the cornerstone is built and the truest rock is founded in general, where nature has hidden and concealed her gifts too deeply. Namely, in the fiery and tincted spirits, which color it has obtained from the heaven of the stars through the operation of the Elements, and thus was further able to tincture and fix those which were not yet tinctured and fixed, since the Moon Silver is devoid of the habit of the golden crown and fixity, as are Saturn Lead, Jupiter Tin, and Mercury Quicksilver. Although Mars and Mercury have no need of a garment, but can communicate it to the other five, I say, however, that they can accomplish nothing without the lion, since they are not sufficiently instructed by the fixity of their Mercury and the subtlety of their salt, which contributes to wealth, unless they are conquered by the lion in the contest, so that they might carry off a triumph on both sides, being lifted up, moreover, into no small amendment, which amendment lies hidden in the signed star or in its magnet, from which the Metals themselves have received all their gifts. I will now proceed to the generation in particular, how the Archæus exhibits its virtue, pours it out, and draws it into the light, from which all forms of Metals and Minerals are presented to the eyes and are formed and furnished with a body by the incomprehensible and volatile fiery spirits of the Minerals. Therefore, receive it thus, attend with study, lest by forgetting you lose great things, nor pass over most useful things, and on the contrary observe naked letters at length, with the principal way neglected. For whatever I write here, I fear...