A
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.
1.
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
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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
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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
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every work more powerful, in which generally it giveth aid to all sickness both hot and cold, because it is of a hid nature, chiefly it helpeth them that suffer venome in the breathing parts, for it chaseth venom form the heart, dissolveth without violence things contained in the lungs, and (notwithstanding the commotion) it doth consolid the same ulcerated, it cleanseth blood, it purifieth corruption contained in the breathing parts, and it preserveth them cleaned from corruption; being Thrice a day drunk by any that languisheth, it maketh good hope and etc.
In the third Essence, it appeareth in an airy body oily, almost freed from all diseases, in which it sheweth wonderfull works; for it helpeth young men to last in body, state, strength, and beauty, if they use it by little and little, and in a small quantity in their meat, because it suffereth no ways melancholy to exceed, nor choller to burn.
Moreover, above measure it encreaseth blood and seed, and therefore it behoveth them who use it, often to be let blood. Also this oil doth open the Nerves and Veins; and if any member be fading, it reduceth it to his measure; and if a young man before the state of age, hath an eye burst, if one drop be put therein every day, and that he be quiet for a month, without doubt his sight shall be restored. And if anything be putrified in any member, or superfluous, it dissolveth it speedily, and separateth it. And if it find it diminished, it restoreth it, & etc.
But in the fourth Essence, it appeareth in a fiery body not fully cured from all diseases; containing water, and not fully dried; in which it produceth many virtues: The old it maketh young, and if in the hour of the hickoake of death, there be given of this fire, so much as the Weight of one grain of Wheat tempered with Wine, so that it go down the throat, it reviveth and entreth, and warmeth, and pierceth even to the heart, and suddenly annihilateth all superfluous humours, and expelleth poison, and vivifieth the nature of the heat unto the Liver. And if old folk use this fire
5.
in a moderate quantity, and join thereto the water of gold, it removeth the infirmity of age; so that they may enjoy young hearts and bodies; and for this it is called the Elixir of life.
In the Fifth and Last Essence it appeareth in a body equally glorified, wanting all tanents, shining like the Sun and Moon. In which it hath all the foresaid Virtues and properties, which it possesseth in other essences, both fairer, and more wonderful. For his natural Works are esteemed the miracles of God, because if it be put to the roots of the bodies of trees long dead and dried, are made living, flourishing and fruitful; and if the lights of a Lamp be mixed with the self (same?) Spirit, they are not extinguished, but are burning eternally without diminishing.
And it maketh the precious Stones of Crystal most costly with divers colours; they that are of the mine shall never be better, and it doth many other things, which are not lawful, to be be revealed unto the unjust, which are esteemed impossible unto man, because it cureth all bodies both dead and quick, without any other medicine.
By Christ Jesus witness I do not lye in anything, because the influences of all heavenly bodies, which in all and everything are infused, are found in it.
In this Essence it sheweth the treasures drowned in the Sea, and hid in the earth, and it rnaketh all the bodies of metals most pure Gold and Silver, and nothing like to it is contained under the Heaven.
This Spirit is the Mystery which was hid from ages revealed to some Saints, to whom it pleased God to make known the riches of Glory, which remaineth fiery in water, and carrieth with it earth in the air, and out of his belly floweth floods of living water and life.
This Spirit flies through the midst of the Heavens, as a morning cloud, containing burning fire water, and earth clarified in air. It expelleth the malice of Saturn and Mars, joining Jupiter with
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the Moon and Mercury, and in the light of the Sun, giving unto his Sister Venus honey of the rock, and liveth with her forever.
And albeit these works appear erronious and false unto the Readers, yet to the skilfull and those that prove them actually, they are true and possible, if the figurative speech be faithfully understood, therefore unless thou understand sufficiently, do not intrude thyself any ways into this spirit, because God is marvellous in his Works, and there is no number of his Wisdom. This Spirit in a fiery nature is called Sandarasha, in airy Alkehist, in watry Azoch, in earthly Alcochaph; (?) by which means they who seek him are deceived, thinking the spirit of Life to be in such things, which to our knowledge be of rio value.
And albeit this Spirit whom we seek, by reason of his property is called by these names; yet in these bodies, he is not, nor cannot be; for the glorified Spirit cannot appear but in a bodie agreeing to his Kind, albeit he is named by these and many other names.
Neither should any man think, that there be divers spirits, but howsoever it is called, it is one and the self same spirit, that worketh all in all things.
This is the spirit whom in ascending the clearness of the Heaven hath overshined, and in descending the puritie of the earth hath incorporated, and flying above the wideness of the Sea hath received.
It is not of the lower Hierarchie, where is RAPHAEL called the Angel of God, most subtil, most precious and most pure, unto whom as unto a King all the rest obey.
This Spiritual Substance is not celestial, nor infernal, but a certain airy body gloriously purified betwixt the highest and lowest, placed in the midst, spiritually animated, wanting reason but fruitfully profiting; above all things under the Heavens choised and adorned.
This divine work is made too profound, that the fool may not understand it, because it is the last of the secrets of Nature.
7.
This is the Spirit of the truth of the Lord, who hath replenished the Globe of the Earth, and in the beginning was carried upon the waters. Whom the world cannot conceive, but by the grace of the inspiration, or the teaching of those that know it, and whom the whole world hath desired, for his virtues that appear inestimable.
For it entreth the Planets, chaseth away the Clouds, giveth clearness to every one, and converteth all unto Sun and Moon; it giveth all health and abundance of Treasure, it cleanseth the leprosie, cleareth the sight, comforteth the sad, healeth the sick, rendereth hid treasures, and generally cureth all discord.
By this Spirit the Philosophers have found out the seven Sciences, and had abundance of riches. By this Moses made the Vessels of pure Gold in the Temple, and King Soloman many and precious ornaments to the worshipping of God.
And many others have made wonderful and great workers, who built the Ark, Moses the Tabernacle, Solomon the Temple, Esdras recovered the Law, Mary the Sister of Moses kept hospitality, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other godly personages obtained length of days with abundance of riches, and flourished, and the godly knowing it glorified God.
Therefore the obtaining thereof is better than the traffick of Gold and Silver, because it is more precious than any works; and all things that are desired in this age cannot be compared unto it, because it is proved and found perfect and infallible.
For in it only consisteth the truth, wherefore it is called the Stone, or spirit of truth, and in his works there is no vanity, whose praises I cannot express because I am not sufficient to tell his Virtues.
For his goodness, property and vertue, is greater than the mind of man can conceive, or the Tongue express by words; because the properties of all things are hid in it, and all that nature hath given to other things, in it being true, is truly found; What shall I say more? There is not, was, or ever shall be, any who shall
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search nature deeper. 0 the height of the Wisdom of God, because what all bodies have, thou hast enclosed in the power of one SpirIt! O ineffable glory, 0! inestimable Joy, shown unto mortal man! Because the corruptible things of nature by virtue of the Spirit are made better. 0 Secret of all Secrets, health and remedy of all, the last search of nature under the Heaven, and the wonderful conclusion of the ancient fathers, and of the latter wise men, and of all Philosophers, the which the world and all the earth desireth. 0 most wonderful and much praise-worthy Spirit. It is the purity in which all delights and riches are contained, and also the fruitfulness of life, Science the strength of Sciences, giving temporal joy to those that know it. 0 Knowledge worthy to be desired and beloved above all things under the Moon by which nature is strengthened, the hearts with the members rejoiced, flourishing youth preserved, age removed, infirmitie destroyed, and most pleasant health kept, abundance of goods had, and all that delighteth man plentifully purchased.
O Spiritual Substance commendable above all Things! 0 superiour virtue in Things invincible! Which albeit it hath appeared contemptible unto the unwise, yet to those that know it, it is to be beloved, for praise, glory and honour; because it expelleth naturally all manner of death caused by humours: 0 Treasure of Treasures! 0 Secret of Secrets! This is the infallible Substance called and named by Avicen the soul of the World, most pure, most perfect, and most powerful. Nothing under the Heavens so precious, of hid nature and of wonderful virtues, operation, and infinite power. Unto which nothing is like amongst creatures, which hath all the virtues of the bodies under the Heaven, for out of it floweth waters of life, honey and oil of everlasting health, and so with the rock, arid honey he hath filled them. Therefore saith morien, “Who hath it possesseth all things, and needeth no ways the help of others.”
Blessed art thou, 0 Lord God our Father, who gave this Knowledge
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and understanding to the Prophets and Philosophers, that so they have hid it, that the blind filled with worldly lust might not find it, and the well disposed by this have praised thee.
Grant that it may be discovered to none, but to the lover of thee, and to the desirer -to do good things by it. Because who unworthily discovereth or revealeth the Secret of this thing, he is the breaker of the Heavenly Seal, and the hid revealation, so far as in him lieth he diminisheth the Majesty of God, and he is near unto many miseries to follow him.
And therefore with a godly heart I beseech all you faithful in Christ, having this knowledge, that you would not speak thereof nor communicate to any but to the godly livers, and disposers of themselves vertuously, long known and proved, and that you praise God who hath given such a treasure unto men.
This many do seek, but few do find it, for the defiled with vices or poluted, are unworthy to know such things. Therefore it is not shewn but to the devout, because it is incomparrable to all pieces.
God being my witness, I do not lie in anything, albeit it appear impossible unto the foolish. For none is, was, nor shall be, who hath so much searched the depth of nature. Blessed be the most High and Almighty God, who hath created this Science, and hath been pleased to show unto the faithful the Knowledge thereof. Amen.
So endeth this most worthy, and most excellent work, the Work called the Revealation of the Secret Spirit, in which all the secrets and mysteries of this World are hid, & etc.
But the Spirit a power, is one marvellous and holy, having for a gift the whole world, for it containeth it in itself,is, shall be, and was also a Fifth Substance.
10.
Table of Contents.
The Preamble to the &position of the Secret Spirit. p. 12.
Chapter 1.
Wherein it is proved that there is only one thing, out of which the Secret Spirit, or the Philosophers Stone, may be taken. p. 14.
Chapter 2.
In which shall be seen, (by means of many Sentences of divers Philosophers) if it can be judged, what thing is this only Thing. p. 16.
Chapter 3.
Wherein is proved, that of necessity it behoveth to reduce the body to the first matter, that it may be disposed for the Separation of the Elements. p. 21.
Chapter 4.
Where it shall be seen if it be possible, to know what
Thing is THIS FIRST MATTER.
Chapter 5.
In which is Handled the Separation of the Four Elements, which the Apparitions of that Secret Spirit do Signifie. p. 30.
Chapter 6.
In which shall be declared the Fifth Apparition of the
Secret Spirit in a Glorified Body. p. 34.
Chapter 7.
Wherein is shewed the Manner to make the Elixir, or
Medicine to conserve the Life of Man. p. 37.
Chapter 8.
Where are to be handled the divers Workers in this Science. p. 41.
11.
The Preamble to the &position of the Secret Spirit.
In the name of God then to begin this business, I say, that this Philosopher would have shewed and declared the wonderful Virtues and properties of that Secret Spirit; saying, that it is such a Thing, that removeth all corruption, in these words: “But that there was one Thing that could remove all corruptions. And after he saith, “That the said Philosophers painfully seeking that one thing amongst all things, & etc.” The which a little after he saith, “To be a glorious Spirit, called Quintessence.”
But he telleth not, out of what thing it may be taken; unless that he saith, “It is such a substance most pure, most precious, and most subtil, from an incorruptible body artificially extracted, that no ways can be destroyed, nor in any thing defiled with the Elements.”
Agreeing with John de Rupescissa, who speaketh thus, “And I said that the most High created the Quintessence, which is extracted out of the body of Nature created by God, with humane Artifice, & etc.”
Much less doth he show the manner nor the mastery of being able to have it, exQept that in some place he toucheth a little, and that under metaphores and Figures; therefore to declare this Text, I will ground myself upon three principal parts, to the end that this most noble Spirit may be found.
The first part shall be upon that body whereoutof the said Spirit may be taken. The second shall be, where he saith, “How that Spirit corporally appeareth that it may be the sooner found and Known, & etc.”
And because the Author followeth five apparitions, continuing without making other distinctions, yet because the matter doth require it, I will divide it into two parts, and for the second
12.
part shall be taken the four apparitions.
And for ...
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