Chapter 1

The Mercury of the Philosophers Philosophorum Mercurius: The "soul" or essential essence of mercury that alchemists believed could transform base metals into gold., because it is meant to be universal, is not the common variety, but must be from the salt of the earth, or from a loam or clay. This earth, like a magnet, could draw the universal salt of the air into itself and unite it with its own; from this, a mercurial-metallic essence—or perhaps even a liquid metal—would later arise, which must necessarily dissolve and putrefy the gold and (to use common phrasing) "fix" it In alchemy, "fixing" (figiren) refers to making a volatile substance solid and resistant to fire. once more.

Others sought the Mercury of the Wise in animal and vegetable substances; however, because these could not be brought to a metallic nature, they did not fundamentally penetrate the gold, even when diligently mixed and digested Digestion in alchemy refers to a process of slow, gentle heating., and they left the gold's innermost essence unchanged. Some, indeed the cleverest ones, thought that because all sublunary creatures original: "sublunarische Creaturen," referring to all living things on Earth below the orbit of the moon. receive their life, growth, and sustenance from the air—and even the metals themselves originate from it, breathing as it were through the atmosphere as long as they are attached to their roots and living—then the Mercury of the Wise must be taken from the air before it specifies itself into any single earthly thing. However, since these good people used false "magnets" to catch such a mercury or spirit, the work did not succeed, and through their magnet, they obtained only saltpeter original: "Nitrum.". Who would

Of the Tincture of Metals.

now have thought that the true, living magnet for the Universal Mercury Universal-Mercur: The fundamental "First Matter" from which all metals are supposedly derived. would come from a living human being? Truly, almost all clever workers and chemists original: "Chymici." have been offended by this when they happened to hear or read of it, and they held this great wisdom to be a folly. It seemed impossible to them that a metal could be born from a human being, yet it is the clear truth; no thing in the whole world, except for the human magnet, can make our air visible and deliver it as the masterpiece of metallic nature.

However, so that this instruction of mine may proceed in an orderly fashion and be better understood, I will divide it into chapters. Although at the beginning of my writing I intended not to mention much regarding the Universal Matter Universal-Materia: The primordial substance of the universe.—only touching upon it lightly and explaining only, as mentioned above, what the Tincture Tinctura: A potent alchemical liquid or powder capable of transforming metals or curing disease. and the so-called Philosopher’s Stone Stein der Weisen actually are—my conscience, my love for my neighbor, and my concern for the talent I have received from GOD A reference to the biblical Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where a servant is punished for hiding the money—the "talent"—given to him by his master. drive me to speak. As a member of the body of Christ, I dare not return this talent to my LORD and GOD on the Day of Judgment without sufficient increase. Therefore, I must not keep silent about what is necessary for the discovery of the sacred truth and for the benefit of my fellow Christians.