SECRETSPIRIT.PDF

REVELATION

OF THE

SECRET SPIRIT

Declaring the most concealed Secret of ALCHYME. Written first

in Latin by an Unknown Author, but explained in Italian by John

Baptista Lambye, Venetian.

Lately translated into English by R. N. E. Gentleman.

Unto so high a Secret, who shall approach?

He brought Water out of the rock. Paslms 77. v. 13.

And only out of the hardest Stone. Deut. Chap. 32. v. 19.

B. M. 86l0-a a. 11.

MSS. Note.

The Translator (see the Epistle Dedicatory) was evidently a

native of Scotland. His Initials R. N. E. might stand for Robert

Napier Esq: (or of Edinbrough?) a younger son of Napier of

Marchiston.

London

Printed by John Haviland for Henrie Skelton, and are to be sold

at his shop a little within All—gate. 1623.

THE REVELATION OF THE SECRET SPIRIT

Hermes, Plato, Aristotle, and other Philosophers in former times

flourishing, the original Springs of Sciences, and the inventors of

liberal Arts, earnestly approving the Vertues of things under the

Heavens, did inquire with great desire, if any thing was amongst the

Creatures that might save mans body from all corruption, and preserve

it alive for ever. Unto whom it was answered, that there was nothing

that could deliver our corruptible body from death, but that there was

one thing that could remove all corruptions, renew youth, and prolong

short life, as in the first Patriarches; because unto the first

Parents Adam and Eve, for penance of Sin death was given, which will

never be separated, from the whole posterity. Wherefore the said

Philosophers, and many others most painfully seeking that ONE THING

amongst all things, have found that it which should preserve mans body

from corruption, and prolong life, is such amongst qualities as the

Heaven amongst Elements. They understood the Heaven to be above the

Essence of the four Elements, and so that to be above the Essence of

the four qualities.

The Heaven in comparison of Elements, is called Quintessence, because

it is incorruptible, unchangeable, not receiving strange impressions;

so also that thing, in respect of the qualities of our body, is

incorruptible, expelling all superfluities from the body. It is called

of the Philosophers by the foresaid name, neither hot and dry with the

fire, nor cold and moist with the water, nor hot and moist with the

air, nor cold and dry with the Earth, but of all the elementary

qualities a perfect proportion, a true conjunction of natural power, a

special addition of Spiritual Virtue, and an inseparable union of body

and soul: A substance most pure, most precious artificially extracted

from an incorruptible body, which no wales can be destroyed, nor in

anything be defiled with the Elements.

Whereof Aristotle did make an Apple, with whose smell he did

prolong his life, when through length of age, he could not eat nor

drink, fifteen days before his death.

This Spiritual substance is that only thing, which from above was

shewed unto Adam, the most desired by the holy Fathers, which Hermes

and Aristotle do call the truth without lye, the certain most certain,

and the secret of all secrets, hid from Nature, and the marvellous

final conclusion of all philosophical Works.

In the which is found the dew of the Heaven, the fat of the earth, and

what the power of man cannot expresse, in this Spirit is found;

because as Morien saith, who hath it, possesseth all Things, and shall

need the help of no body in any thing, because in it is all temporal

felicity, corporall health, and earthly properity.

This is the Spirit of the Quintessence, the Spring of Sublunary

health, upholder of Heaven, retainer of Earth, Mover of Sea, stirrer

of Winds, sender of Rain, container of all things and virtues, and

spiritual and chosen above all subcelestial Spirits, giving health and

prosperity, Joy and peace; it yieldeth love, dissolveth hatred, and

generally removeth all evils, most speedily cureth all diseases;

finally, destroyeth misery and poverty, maketh and bringeth all good,

cannOt speak or think evil, giveth unto man what his heart desireth,

unto the good temporal glory and long life, but perpetual pain unto

the evil that use it.

This is the Spirit of Truth which the World cannot apprehend, but by

the grace of inspiration, or the teaching of them that know it; it is

of an unknown nature, wonderful virtue, and infinite power; This the

Saints from the beginning of the World have wished to see. This

Spirit, by Avicen, is called the Soul of the World, because as the

Soul moveth the members, so this Spirit moveth all bodies; And as the

Soul is in every part of the body, so in every elementary thing this

Spirit is found; which is sought by many, but found by few, it is

thought to be far off, and found near at hand, because in everything,

place, and time, itis found having

the virtues and effects of all things, and being equal in all the

Elements, and whatsoever is proper to everything, in this only thing

is found most effectually. By whose virtues Adam and the Patriarches

had health of body, and length of life, and many others have

flourished in riches.

Which being laboriously sought and carefully found, the Philosophers

have hid in aenigmatick terms, that they should not shew so worthy a

thing to the unworthy, not to throw so precious a pearl among Hogs,

which if it were known to all, the study and labour of all men would

cease, and man would desire no other thing but only it, and so men

would live unworthily, and it would be the cause of the ruin of the

whole world, as well through health as through abundance, men would

much more offend God: Because the eye hath not seen, nor the ear hath

not heard, nor it hath not hitherto entered into the heart of man,

what the Heaven hath naturally placed into this Spirit.

Therefore I have briefly compiled certain properties of the said

Spirit, approved by Philosophers, unto the praise of God and the

profit of good men, that they might most divoutly magriifie God in his

gifts, at least they who hereafter shall receive such a gift, because

these gifts are not belonging to everyone, but to them whose minds

shall be good. Now what properties and virtues that Spirit hath in

every essence, and how it appeareth corporally, that it may the sooner

be found and known, hearken with the understanding of the heart.

In the first Essence, it appeareth in an earthly body foul and full of

infirmities, in which it hath a property and virtue of curing wounds

and corruptions in the intrails of men, it purge’th putrefaction and

stink abiding in any place whatsoever, it cureth all things inwardly

and outwardly.

In the second essence it appeareth unto the sight in a watery body,

somewhat fairer than the first, containing corruptions, but more

plentifully working his virtue, never unto the truth, and in

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: