An Hermetic Work.

I AA ould say more of this matter , but shall refrain for the coA-etousness , and wicked men , AA'I IO seek nothing but the mine of theh' neighbour , and to live iu pomp and pleasures , Avho as unworthy , God Anil have wander in darkness , Avithout this EJIOAV - ledge . Wherefore let all that by God's Grace have any illumination , beAAwe they communicate nothing to Avicked men , though they seem Angels of Light . Nusquam tuta fides , There is no faith to be found on Earth . Soli Deo tn comfidas , promissis Iwminum dijjidas , Deus Solus fidem servat , a Mundofid . es exulat ; Avhich is , In God shalt thou put

thy trust , man ' s promises distrust as Dust ; God only keeps his promised plight ; but from the Avorld all faith takes flight . Wherefore I say , let all Avell-minded men beware of Luxurious , proud , vain , and covetous persons ; for these Vices proceed from . the Devil , and return again to him , and . one can hardly find an honest man , though sought with Diogenes his Lanthorn , amongst many : For Avhich cause I shall ere long publish a short Tractate of evil and wicked men , viz . HOAV and AA'hereby to know them by their outward signatures and form , for virtue and vice ? And had I known this skill before , it had been a great advantage to have made me beware of such disembling Impostures .

If any shall hereby reap any benefit , let them give God the praise , and be mindful of the poor : If otherwise , let them belieA r e they are yet unworthy to We such things communicated to them ; for truly I haA'e Avritten here so plainly and truly , as no Philosopher ever did before me . But noAv nevertheless I confess I have a more easy Avay for these things , viz . for extracting Gold out of Sand , etc ., and such as neA er AA * as known before to the World . 1 . My first Method is AA * ith a AA'ater of small charge or priceAA * hich be had in

, may plenty Avithout Distillation . 2 . My second is a singular Metal , of which Chauldrons may be made , in which these Stones and Sand , AA * ith this small prised water are boiled , and yet not corroded or consumed thereby , and after the water shall dissolve any Gold out of the Sand or Stones , then you may draw forth the sand and ivater with a Scoop or Bowl proper for this usewith holes in the bottomand a wooden basket strainer thereuponand so the

, , , impregnated water or Menstruum , Aidth the Gold , may pass through , and leave the sand or stones behind in the scoop or bowl with the strainer , then pom- on more warm water on the said sand , to wash out the remaining Gold and Tincture , and after all is washt out , throw the said sand or stones quite away , as useless . 3 . My third compendium is , to pour upon the said clear Menstruum , which hath the

Gold or Tincture , another singular sort of water of small price , AA'hereby all the said Gold and Tincture ( at such a hei ght and quantity ) in the solvent , Avill be precip itated to the bottom - . and so the clear solvent being freed from the Tincture , must be Canted off to serve again for the like use , as preserving still its own strength and virtue , without any abatement or diminution whatsoever , either by the said water precipitating , or by any other Avays whatsoever ; and if any he lost or spilt by the usage , it may be easily

repaired , by getting more of the same Avithout much trouble or charge . NOAV if any should mix any precipitating Lixiviat Liquor or Lees with the said solvent , contrary to its Nature , and thereby niortifie the solvent by precip itating the Gold ( which is clone in other processes , and is used in and by my former experiments and trials in this Book about the Avhite sand and stones , etc . ) , what damage and loss Avould come thereby ; for every time there is occasion to use it , our dissolvent should he

destroyed , and the extraction thereb y become very troublesome and chargeable ; especially being done in Glass or Earthen Cucurbits or bodies ; but this way all things cost almost nothing , and may be done in in greater Vessels , and cheaper , and the said waters be without loss . And this Hnd of extraction may be compared like the making of Saltpeter , where the Ai'orkman haAing extracted the Salt-Peter , throws away all the ashes and dirt , and puts more matter into the ( Cupam ) Tubs or Bowls , for the like common water extract more .

1 . Our fourth Compendium is that precipitated Oak or Gold , after the filtration in a bag , is taken out , dried , and by a good , cheap , and singular good matter flux it > is reduced to a bod y ; and so no part of the said Gold Avill be lost or diminished .