Liquor Alchahest, OR A DISCOURSE Of that Immortal Dissolvent OF Paracelsus & Helmont.

It being one of those two Wonders of ART and NATURE, which radi∣cally dissolves all Animals, Vegitables and Minerals into their principles, with∣out being in the least alter'd, either in weight or activity, after a Thousand Dissolutions, &c.

Published by J.A. PYROPHILƲS.

Quicun{que} ergo Medicinae operam datis summo studio id adniti debetis ut Alchaest prae∣parare discatis propter aversionem multo∣rum morborum qui ab Haepate oriuntur &c.


Paracels. Archidox lib. de viribus mem∣brorum cap. 6. de viribus Hae•atis.
LONDON, Printed by T. R. & N. T. for W. Cademan at the Popes-Head in the Lower Walk of the New-Exchange, 1675.

To the truly Honourable ROBERT BOYLE, Esq

SIR,

THAT I have made choice of your Honour to Patronize this Po∣sthume Tract, will appear no wonder to such that have

been acquainted with your know∣ledge in this more occult Philosophy of the Adeptists, as well as with your Candour to encourage such who have been but pretenders to Py∣rotechny. I know

well, you affect not Flattery; and for me to speak much, would but lessen, the World having been (by so many) acquain∣ted with your worth. All the ex∣cuse I make your Honour is, That

the present Trea∣tise is yours by Right, the Author having in his Pyro∣techny Asserted, begun this Dis∣course, so that I only surrender what's your own. If the Nobleness of the Subject be

not sufficient to plead my excuse for this Dedicati∣on, I hope your wonted Charity to forgive others, will not be straitned to me, since I had no other Ambition in the Publication thereof, then the

promoting the publick good, by inspiriting others to do the like, and giving this further testimony of my self, that I am

Your Honours Obliged Humble Servant J. ASTELL.

From the Golden Globe against Strand-Bridge.

THE PREFACE.

AFter a long de∣bate with my self, I found I was obliged to put forth this little Tractate, not only to show my justness to the Dead, but my de∣sires of gratifying the living; for in an Age

wherein this kind of Philosophy receives such great incourage∣ment (having acquired many eminent Practitio∣ners as well as Patrons) and by the happy disco∣very of diligent search∣ers, hath made so large an improvement: I thought I could do no less then communicate this Essay concerning the Immortal Liquor Alcha∣hest, that being the great

Key which unlocks Na∣tures choicest Secrets; and which at present is so diligently sought af∣ter. The Author of it was a person so indu∣striously laborious in the searching after natures choicest mysteries, that he spared not for pains nor costs in the hunting after the true knowledge of the most abstruce Philosophy. That his acquirements

were great, is not un∣known to the World, es∣pecially to those who had any intimate familiarity with him, his Writings testifie his ability in the Philosophy, or learning of the Schools, as well as in that of Nature, his discoveries having truly intituled him Phi∣losophus per Ignem. It was his misfortune to justifie Truth in an Age when Chymistry had few

Friends that durst ap∣pear to justifie her, yet so great an effect had his Writings, back'd with Truth, that the Eyes of many were opened, and occasioned several to be∣come Proselytes to Py∣rotechny. It would not, I believe, lessen the esteem of some eminent Practi∣tioners, should they ac∣knowledge with me, that they had from him those true fundamentals of Art

that hath rendred them thus famous. So that this present Age reaps the benefit of his more early Studies. Had he not met with many Crosses and Troubles, doubtless his discoveries had been greater; and had not he been cut off by that ra∣ging Pestilence, 1666. When he was just rising out of those Clouds which Eclipsed his worth, it would quick∣ly

have appeared to the World, notwithstanding the malice of his Ene∣mies, That he was a true follower of Nature. Pyrotechny hath not had a bolder Champion; and I verily believe, ma∣ny of his Enemies will now confess, they are convinced of the ineffi∣cacy of Vulgar Medi∣caments; and that there is an absolute necessity for a new method of

Physick, as to the Phar∣malentick part: for dayly such incroach∣ments are made upon this noble faculty, that if not speedily prevented, it will be of little or no esteem. The Common method of Physick being passed into the hands of all kind of unletter'd People; and the chief remedy that is left, would be a diligent in∣quiry after noble Medi∣cines,

such that are agreeable to Nature, which the Author of this Tract candidly did not only hint at, but discover as plainly as it was fit, without incurring the same inconveniencies as did attend the making publick the Common me∣thod of Physicks which faults are not only to be taken notice of on the Gallenical part, but like∣wise those abuses are to

be consider'd which have sprung from Chymistry. It being common in this latter Age, for many to cry up themselves for great Chymists, who (ignorantly decrying all others) have hardly known well the Names, (much less the uses of Chymical Vessels) these Men have had the im∣pudence to impose on the World Trifles, for Ʋni∣versal Remedies; many

of which undiscreetly administred, have truly cured all Diseases; by giving the unwary Pa∣tients their Pasports in∣to another World. But I shall pass them over, as being unworthy my time to particularize their Cheats, which I have not patience to think of, nor can any true Son of Art consider without resentment, the abuses that are daily

committed by this Farra∣go of Impostors, that have been, and will ever be, a dishonour to the honest Professors of Py∣rotechny. The only ex∣pedient in this Case, wherein the good of Mankind is concerned, the Lives of Persons be∣ing more to be valued, then all other worldly consideraoions, is this; for some well experien∣ced Artists, to put to

sale to the World, such true Remedies, with their uses, as may be be∣nificial for the eradica∣ting of Diseases, Me∣dicines that have been known to be successful by reiterated experi∣ments, not those duely made, not conjectural. By this means the ho∣nour of that most noble faculty of Physick will be recover'd and advan∣ced, and the truth of

Chymical Remedies will be manifested, notwith∣standing the reproaches of malicious gain-sayers. This the noble Helmont did; and by this way will it soon appear, whe∣ther or no those refined Chymical Medicaments, are not more safe, more easie, and more effectu∣al for eradicating of Di∣seases, then the Common Gallenical apparatus of Medicine. But such

Artists, whoever they be that will thus expose any thing for the good of Mankind, I am sure will be more ingenious then those undiscreet pretenders to Chymistry, as to make the World be∣lieve, That an univer∣sality of healing Disea∣ses, can any way be ex∣pected from any one par∣ticular Medicine; it being impossible, were they Masters of the

Grand Elixar, with that to cure all Diseases. I come now to speak some∣thing concerning the Au∣thor of this Tract, who was Dr. George Star∣key, (my very good Friend) a Man whose Writings spoke him more to the World then his Person or Dis∣course;* whose moral fail∣ings I dare no more justi∣fie, but he was a Man,

and as such, the best of us are subject to erre, which consideration should in∣gage our Charity to for∣get. When imployed in Pyrotechnies School, Nature had not a more diligent Scholler; and who, to my own know∣ledge (not in vain) wrought for many years upon this Subject he dis∣courses of.

I must confess, I never could get a sight of the

Alchahest perfected by him, whether occasioned by the importunities of Patients for Remedies, whose condition would not admit the tarrying for Medicines of so high a preparation, or his want of conveniencies, being hurried from place to place, I know not, yet have I seen and known him, possessor of several Magisteries, and not many Months before his

death, I knew him Ma∣ster of a mercurial Me∣dicine, whose effects were such, That it merited the name of an Arcanum. Had he lived, I know not what greater proofs he might have given of the certainty of such an uni∣versal Solvent. His Ar∣guments deduced from those hints the most noble Helmont gives are con∣siderable, if duely weigh∣ed; and the true search∣ers

after Truth may re∣ceive no small Light from him; for my own part, I have no reason to repent my Labours, and time spent in this Study, Na∣ture being very Grateful to her diligent followers. From this Fountain have I gain'd a Salt, which dissolved in Rain Water, {arsenic} being amalgam'd with another Metal, this be∣ing caused to boil in a Sand Furnace for the

space of two hours the Amalgame was dissolved into a Liquor, with as much ease as Sugar dis∣solves in Water. This I did in the presence of two Friends, no mean Artists. Therefore not to be impo∣sed upon, with which Me∣dicine, my Menstruum be∣ing separated from it, and further operated on, I cu∣red deploracle Poxes, &c. I shall forbear to dis∣course any further, what

other medioaments I have made by the help of good Dissolvents, resolving, if God spare me life, to put forth Pyrotechny Tri∣umphant, which the Au∣thor, had he lived, inten∣ded to do, which will be an Explanation of his Pyro∣techny Asserted, and Ex∣plication of the History of Nature, comprehended in those Subjects.

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Liquor Alchahest, &c.
I am come now to the discove∣ry of the great Circulate, or immortal di∣solvent of Pa∣racelsus, and Helmont, not lay∣ing here the foundation of its Use and Excellency, which I presume is sufficiently believ'd in the World already, who had rather now hear tidings how it may be attain'd, then be tantaliz'd with a large En∣comium
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of its worth and va∣lue. I elsewhere taught its Nature, Nativity and Efficacy, although briefly I shall here come to a more large handling of it, yet with caution as well as candor. It is (as I said) a Spiritual Salt, or Saline Spi∣rit, which by reason of its transcendent purity, cannot be corruptively dissipated, and not finding any body so noble (at least more noble) then it self; disdains to be wedded unto any, nor is it capable of a diverse ferment from it self, and so not liable to transmu∣tation: the knowledge and preparation of it, is the work
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of most abstruce Philosophy, the hope and crown of the adepti. O immortal Ens or Liquour! which penetrates all bodies, and perfectly reduces them to their first Ens or mat∣ter, without any loss of vir∣tue, or pondus, but remains in number, weight, and mea∣sure, the same after a 1000 times acting upon bodily con∣cretes; only one conquers and subjugates it, and is in it self destroyed in its destruction. It is vile and yet precious, it costs nothing, every man hath it, the poor as well as the rich; Adam carryed it with him out of Paradice, it is most
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secret in Microcosme, most po∣tent in the Macrocosme; it de∣stroys and conquers all bodies, and subjugates the most rebel∣lious nature. 'Tis the product of Urine, then which nothing more common to come by, no∣thing more difficult to work on, well therefore said Hel∣mont, that its preparation was most tedious: And most tru∣ly wrote he of such as contemn so vile and sordid a thing, and disdain to learn by the fire what its contents are, That true Wisdom doth and will de∣spise them. For the plainer unfolding the mystery of its nativity and preparation, I
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shall recite my own broileries, how I hunted after it, and how after many years search, and and infinite errors, I at length attained it, if there be any thing deserving imitation in my example, follow it, and perhaps (God blessing your studies, labours & watchings) you may at last attain your de∣sires, as I, through the undeser∣ved mercy of God, at last at∣tained mine. I had not been long conversant in the writings of that noble Phylosopher; but I soon (from some of his expressions) gathered a strong presumption, that Urine was the subject. Especially from
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that place in his Trac. de Lith. where he thus speaks, Est in Natura universi, &c. There is in the whole nature of the U∣niverse, but only one fire, (which is our consuming Vul∣can) and so likewise there is but one only Liquor which is of power to dissolve all solid bodies into their first matter, without being its self in the least changed or weakned in its virtue; which those that are adept know and can testi∣fie. But in the activity of other Spirits, the dissolvable bodies can never radically mix themselves with the dissolving Liquor; and therefore, though
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they are corroded, yet is not this to be esteemed an intire dissolution, for every acid Spi∣rit (being corrosive) by corro∣ding another body, is coagula∣ted, and in a manner fixt, and becomes transmuted into the form of a condensed Salt, not that the body, which (without alteration) endured what the pontick Spirit could work up∣on it, acts any thing towards its coagulation, but it self by its proper corrosive activity, is Coagulated of its own accord. Thus far Helmont in that place, who elsewhere speaking of his examination of all Salts, by way of Analyzing them, found
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by all trials possible, that their Spirits were still acid, except only Alcalizate Salts, and those of the Essential Sulphurs of vegetals. The Spirit of Mans Urine, notwithstanding, was neither Acid nor Alcali∣zate, but meerly Saline, also the Spirit of the Urine of Beasts. Hence I conclu∣ded, that in one of these two the Immortal Liquor must find its primitive original, ha∣ving on good reason, exclu∣ded all acid Spirits; (and by consequence the Spirits of all other Salts in the World) Nor was the controversie long deciding between Alcalizate
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and Urinous Salts, considering the words of Helmont: when (saith he) I distinguished be∣tween the ☿ies, and the Salts and {sulphur}s of Concretes, by an analytical resolution of them, I wondred at the sluggish, in∣active nature of the ☿ial com∣pared to the dignity and ex∣cellent activity of the other two principles (to wit Sul∣phurous and Saline) More∣over I found, saith he, those Salts more dull and languid, which partaked of the nature of {sulphur}, but of Acalizate Spi∣rits, and those of Essential vegitable Sulphurs, he saith definitively, that their saline
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Acrimony is fat and Sulphu∣erous, nor easily or speedily reducible into Salt, unless by a tedious inversion of their whole substance; whence I observed, that Alcalyes were not to be volatized (duely and truly) but by means of essential vegetable Oyls or {sulphur}s. Secondly, That being vola∣tized, they retained their Sul∣phureous fatness a long time, till by a tedious inversion of the whole substance, the Sul∣phureous nature was turned in∣to a Saline. Thirdly, Yet (even then) those saline Al∣calizate spirits could not give the immortal Liquor, because
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Meretriciously addicted to wed any subject, and by dis∣solution thereof, to be redu∣ced into a Coagulative vola∣tile Salt, as Helmont expresly teacheth in his Tract. de Feb. as also in his Tract. de potest Medicam, his words are these, If, saith he, you cannot attain to the Arcanum of our Fire, learn (as a succedaneum there∣to) to make Alcalyes volatile, and with their Spirits perform your dissolutions; which, al∣though they leave their dissol∣ved Bodies (when digested in our Stomacks) yet have they by their Dissolution of, and Co∣agulation upon them, borrowed
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so much of their virtue, as by it to be able to overcome most Diseases. And in another place he saith, If Spirit of Salt of Tartar dissolve Quick-Silver, Silver, Ʋnicornes Horn, Crabs Eyes, or any other simple; it will cure (not only all Feavours) but most Di∣seases indifferently. And with∣out making distinction; not that I expect the Quick-silver, Silver, &c. should pass with the Spirit into the Veins; but it is sufficient that the Alca∣lizate Spirit is by means of these Bodies, reduced into the nature of a Volatile and Co∣agulable Salt; and in the
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Stomack being first digested, (as other Meats are) it it passeth into the Meseraicks, being carried thither by the Urine; and in its passage re∣solveth and loosneth whatever obstructing filth it meets with, by virtue of its Exotick qua∣lities, borrowed in dissoluti∣on, from the bodies whereon it was coagulated. And in his Tract. de potest Med. speak∣ing of Alcalyes, I perceived or felt (saith he) that they are utterly void of all seminal power, or properties, and have only a Saponary, Abster∣sive, and resolving nature, wherewith they are conten∣ted;
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except they be made volatile, and then I was sen∣sible that they re-assumed Bal∣samick seminal Vertues, and the radical principles of these concretes (by whose volatile {sulphur}s they were revived and made volatile.) But adds,

I was sensible how easily these volatile Alcalyes are trans∣muted into new and various forms, since they unite most readily to any Bodyes, and wed therewith: acting ac∣cording to the native dispo∣sition of the Bodyes, to which they are thus conjun∣ctively associated.
By these testimonyes of this noble and
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most acute Phylosopher, whom I felt understandingly, having first often read him, and se∣riously consider'd his words, I was wholly confirmed in my opinion concerning Urine, as the only subject in which this secret Liquor was to be sought and attained. Which opini∣on of mine was dayly more and more strengthned by se∣veral expressions of his con∣cerning this subject, one of which I recited before, name∣ly, That Wisdom did (and for ever will) despise all such who think scorn to learn by the fire what the contents, nature, and properties of
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Urine are, how sordid and contemptible a thing soever it seem and appear to be. Therefore in his Tract. con∣cerning the six digestions in man, he useth this expression concerning the Salt of Mans Urine, that in the whole sy∣steme of the Universe it had not its fellow or peere. Nei∣ther Sea nor Fountain Salt, Salt Peter or Gemme; In a word, not any natural Salt whatsoever, nor yet the Salt of the Urine of Beasts, was comparable to it. The same he affirms in his Tract de Lith. And instances in the Urine of a Horse, which he found far
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to fall short of the dignity of Mans Urine, not having in it, or by any preparation, yield∣ing that noble Spirit, which in Mans Urine was to be found, which Coagulated Spirit of Urine in an instant, not into a fixed body, but an Aetherical subtle, spiritual Salt, then which nature hath not a more spiritual penetrative Creature; of the Salt of Urine he before said, That he knew not if or no the whole World afforded any thing of a more subtle nature: comparing which with that Paragraph concerning the Immortal dissolvent in his Tract. de Medicam potest: he
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calls it the highest and most noble of Salts, which hath attained its utmost pitch in na∣ture of subtilty and purity, penetrating all things, and is the only agent in the World, which acting upon Bodyes, re∣mains always immutable, and with ease resolves all things, and brings them into ready obedience, liquefying and (at the same time) volatizing them, as Snow is melted in warm water. I observed, I say, in the works of this Philosopher, the Liquor Al∣chahest, and the Circulated Salt of Paracelsus, otherwise called the greater Circulate,
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were Synonimous, and indif∣ferently used to signifie this fire of Hell, or immutable dissolvent; and where is it to be found but in that subject whose Spirit is even saline, ne∣ver Acid or Alcalizate? Not without cause therefore (by way of incouragement) he thus allureth the studious searchers of truth; seek (my Brethren) and as many of you as are sedulous and diligent shall find truth ready to meet you with open arms, to em∣brace you, and crown your searches with unspeakable joy. First learn to dissolve the Due∣lech, or Stone of the Bladder
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or Reins, or the Gravel of either, in a Glass with a Tepid Liquor, inoffensive to either Stomack or Bladder, rejoyce, for you are near the great se∣cret, then learn to dissolve the Ludus, and reduce it into a volatile Salt, &c. Now this Spirit or Liquor which will thus resolve the Duelech, is the second, which is drawn from Urine (putrified by long di∣gestion.) The former Coagu∣lating Spirit (of Aquae Vitae rectified) being some dayes before taken away by distilla∣tion. From the testimonyes of this most acute and truly adept Philosopher by the fire,
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I set my mind to consider the thing it self, and found it a subject of great wonder. My Experience convinced me, that it was an Anomalous Coa∣gulum, which being it self a most subtile Spirit, was yet the Coagulation of other (and none but) Spirits, and those only vinous, for although it seems to Coagulate, it de∣stroys utterly all acid Spirits, and returns them into Water insipid, or rather the acid Spirit, attempting by its Cor∣rosiveness, to destroy this ten∣der Spirit, which is most ex∣quisitely volatile and flying: It the better to defend it self,
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assumes the form of a coagu∣lated Body (as Water to withstand the active force of the Cold which would turn it into a Gas, crusts it self by its own action, into an Ice) And so this most fugacious penetrative Spirit, plays un∣der the Maske of a far more fixed (yet totally volatile) Body of Salarmoniack, while the Spirit (to avoid whose tyranny it thus disguised it self) is by its own fretting activity totally destroyed from what it was, and becomes a mere elemental Water: That this Coagulation, and disguised fixation, with a total suspen∣sion
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of the acute Urinary odour and tast, i• from it self, and not the acid Spirit (effe∣ctively.) I demonstrate, first in that upon any Acidity, fixt or volatile, it will do the same thing, and become the same Salt, and so the acid Calci∣nate of Vitriol, as well as its acid volatile Spirit will cause the same saline product. But Secondly, were the Urinous Spirit coagulated passively, it would be really and actually transmuted, and become ano∣ther thing, whereas the same Urinous Spirit (identically and numerically) is (in this action) but veiled under a
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Larva, or masked under the disguise of a more fixed body (as Water still remaining the same, counterfeits a body of appearing Glass, being indeed but the same water identically, in the disguise of Ice.) And this the affusion of a Lixivium of Salt of Tartar, or any other Al∣caly, will easily discover, when in the twinkling of an eye, or the space of the same quickest thought, the same Spirit of U∣rine, in the same pondus & qua∣lities, and with the same formal properties, will distill over as before, re-assuming the same subtlety of odour, fieryness of tast, being equally Vola∣tile,
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coagulating also Spirit of Wine, speedily, power∣fully, and solemnly, as if it had never been coagulated. Whereas the acid Spirit is turned into an insipid Water; having spent it self in vain upon this disguised Body of Sal Armoniack. And Thirdly, were the coagulation and se∣mifixation actively from the Corrosive Spirit, which is most fiery, and in its tumultuous action, causeth a sensible in∣sufferable heat to the touch, it could not upon a Spirit most exquisitely hot and fiery, actu∣ally imprint that Lunar Blas, which is apparent in Sal Ar∣moniack:
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For it being in na∣ture and quality hot, and ma∣terially and really (although hiddenly) containing the most fiery Spirit of Urine, of which a drop in an instant will vesi∣tate the Toung or Lips, as powerfully and speedily as the most fiery potential cautery; and the Spirit by its most acute sharp odour (arguing the most exquisite heat of it when rectified) being so volatile and penetrative, scarce any stopple can keep it confin'd to the Vessel which contains it; and so piercingly acute, that no humane, or other Animals Organs of smelling can long
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endure its odour, without a threatned Syncope, if not an Apoplexie for the time doth yet so powerfully operate by a Lunar Blas, that if Sal Ar∣moniack be put in an Urinal, or other thick Glass, and wa∣ter poured on it, straightway it causeth such an extremity of Cold, as will actually freeze Water on the outside of the Urinal, yea although {antimony}, or {sulphur}, or ☿, be sublimed with it, which are of a hot fiery Nature; And this Lunar Blas is insperable from it as long as it appears in the form of a more fixed Body of Salt, where observe by the by, that
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Cold is a real positive Ens or Being, and not a bare priva∣tion of heat, as the Schools most coldly teach. (It is I say) a Being which in the twinkling of an eye, can by the irradiating Blas of moist∣ned Sal Armoniack be sent through the impervious sides of a strong Glass, so as in an instant to produce Cold in its glaciating extream, which was not so the moment before. Therefore Secondly, this can∣not be an impression stampt upon the most fiery Corrosive; but is done by the activity of the Urinous Spirit upon it self, which it is so sollicited too by
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the excitation of the Corro∣sive Spirit, as Water actually crust it self with Ice, by the Irritation of extream Cold, which otherwise threatens ru∣ine to its present form of Ex∣istence. And Thirdly, By a peculiar priviledge the Crea∣ator hath given this Spirit, the most Cold Lunar Blas, mar∣ries it self to this (naturally hot in quality) subject, which it influentially imprints on whatsoever it toucheth; so soon as moisture (over which the cold Moon by its Light is president) is poured on its Body; that the Atomes of Water and Salt do embrace
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each other. Fourthly, no marvell, since the Lunar in∣fluence (having dominion o∣ver moisture) is the main in∣strument of reducing things to their first matter (as is evi∣dent in Inke, Broth, Jellies, Flesh, or Fish, once throughly Frozen) that the acid Cor∣rosive Spirits, (which acting their fury upon Bodies, are variously coagulated into fixt coagulated Salts, of times very Corrosive) are in this acti∣on, by a retrograde reduction, brought into mere insipid Ele∣mental Water: For let the Corrosive Spirit be of what kind soever, Acetous, Vitri∣olate,
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Nitrous of Salt Gemme, Sea Salt, or any other acidity, the product of Sal Armoniack is still the same, as also the Lunar Blas inhering in it, if not appearing with the same countenance at first coagula∣tion, yet by sublimation of the coagulated Salt, the iden∣tity is soon perceptible; and the same reduction of the Corrosive Spirit to insipid Water, is as well the end of one acidity as another; By which the action of the Spirit upon it self, (not suffering a passive coagulation from the acid Corrosive) is beyond dispute, and out of question.
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So then this is the original and production of Sal Armo∣niack the most subtle acute pe∣netrative Urinous Spirit, meet∣ing with an acid Corrosive; this s••eks (by a furious as∣sault, to destroy that; which to prevent, the Urinous Spi∣rit, counterfeits a Body by a spontaneus Coagulation, which (as more permanent) it op∣poseth to the fury of the Cor∣rosive spiritual Acidity. In∣to this Body the Lunar Blas concenteates, and joins it self, dwelling in it invisibly, yet acting visibly.

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The acid Spirit, fretting it self in vain upon this wonder∣ful body, receiving a deter∣mination from its Cold Lunar Blas, ends in the total extin∣ction of its saline seminal vir∣tue, and that which in other actings, receives from various bodies, various coagulations, into divers forms of Salts fix∣ed from this counterfeit body (guarded by a Lunar Blas (or influence) receives its final destruction, and b•comes insipid) Elemental water; thus that the Spirit through itr own activity is exantlated (by a frustaneous acting on this larvated body) is from
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it self; But that the end of this fury, and excandescence, should be the total extinction of its saline life, or being, is wholly to be attributed to the Lunar Blas, which is inti∣mately and inseparately wed∣ded to the form of Sal Armo∣niack; whose coagulation in∣to that disguise of a body, is by its own action, on it self, according to an unerring in∣stinct by which the wise Crea∣tor hath injoyn'd it to act.

This I have described the more at large, that the stu∣dious might lay this true rela∣tion of this anomalous Gene∣ration, as a sure foundation to
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work upon in the most seeret discovery of what only a true mental man will intellectually apprehend, and intuitively behold, with the clear sight of the Soul or mind. For as there is a Sal Armoni∣ack Vulgar, which scarce any Fool but knows; so is there also a Sal Armoniack of Phi∣losophers, which only true elect Sons of Learning know: In the circulation of which, is the perfection of the hope of all true adept Brothers of Art, so far as concerns this sire of Hell, which is Fire and yet Water, Water, and yet no Water, Air, and yet
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condensible, not Corrosive, yet the most sharp and perpe∣tual Corrosive: A choice Me∣dicine, cleansing and purify∣ing Nature, yet the destroy∣er and conquerour of Bodies. But vinous Spirits are actually and actively coagulated by Spirit of Urine, and it self is actually con-coagulated with them, of which coagu∣lation Helmont gives not an unlike Elogium, to that of the Immortal Liquor it self; namely, That it is not made by a bare association of parts, but a marrying of each to other in the bond of indis∣solveable unity, a production
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of a new Ens, which is a neu∣tral, most subtle, spiritual body, distinct from either parent. Here is a spiritual body arising from two, yet without any diversity of fer∣ment, for a vinous Spirit is in∣timate, and centrally one with the Spirit of Mans Urine, by virtue and efficacy of which, it coagulates Spirit of Wine, and is coagulated it self, which cannot happen to any Urinous Spirit, unless by the influential power of a vinous; which is the only coagulable object (primarily) of Spi∣rit of Urine. With which, if it meet with any other vo∣latile
Page 38
Spirit, essentially united, it coagulates it self therewith, so the Oils of Spices, and o∣doriferous Vegetables, being first intimately associated to a Urinous Spirit, are with it coagulated together into one spiritual body by rectifi'd Spi∣rit of Urine; and truly, upon serious consideration, the uni∣versallity of the nature and energy of Urine in its Spirit, cannot sufficiently be admir'd. For (mediately at the least) there is nothing in the whole universe (except the central heart of ☿, and one thing which alone is its compere, the one destroying it, the other
Page 39
untoucht by its activity) which is not either by it trans∣muted into its own nature, or else absolutely destroy'd, and reduced into clear and ele∣mental water.

For demonstrating this, it will not be amiss to take an exact survey, at least briefly of all sublimary Concrete Bodyes. In the Mineral King∣dom, the central heart of ☿, (as was abovesaid) excepted, all Sulphurs, mettaline and mineral, yea even of ☉, ☽, and ☿ themselves, are by re∣iterate cohobations, turned into saline Liquors, or Spirits, and they at last return to in∣sipid
Page 40
elemental Water; so all Stones not calcinable by this sire of Hell, are made into Salts, which by oft circula∣ting or cohobating with this Liquor, are volatiz'd, and by addition return a• last into Water. All calcinable stones and shells, yield an Alcaly, which being by essential Oyls volatized, unite with rectifi'd Spirit of Wine, and are con∣coagulated by an Urinous Spirit; which subtle Coagu∣lum, being by a convenient acidity made into a more abi∣ding bodily Salt, and subli∣med, whatever will not for∣mally abide therewith, is se∣parated
Page 41
straightway in form of an Heterogeneous Liquor, and by an easie art is robb'd of its seminal Crasis, and re∣turns to insipid water. All Animals, their Flesh, Bloud, and Bones, besides a Mercu∣rial Liquor (which is soon turn'd to elementary water) give a fat Sulphur, and an urinary Salt, if not by imme∣diate distillation, yet by a pre∣vious maceration by ferment and putrifaction. The Caput Mort becomes by the cohoba∣tion of our Circulated Salt, a mere Salt, and at last becomes Water, as all Earths, Stones, or the like, the Urinary Salts
Page 42
being purified by rectification, and semifixed into a more per∣manent body by proper Aci∣dities, become a Sal Armo∣niack; which in sublimation (losing its Heterogeneityes) arises univocally the same with other of the same kind. The fat by distillation is volatized, and by an Alcaly becomes susceptible of union with Spi∣rit of Wine, and consequent∣ly of con-coagulation by an Urinous Spirit, and by aci∣dityes proper is made a Sal Armoniack.

The Urine of all Creatures giving a Spirit, is by an aci∣dity made a tractable body
Page 43
of Salt, and by subliming with other Sal Armoniack; what is not made one identi∣cally therewith, is separated as Heterogeneus, and by an easie art totally destroyed. All horns and hoofs, either im∣mediately, or being before buried, yield an Oyle, and an Urinous Salt; and may be handled, as I said before, in the like case, of the same pro∣ducts of Flesh, Bloud, and Bones. All Trees by burning, give a fixt Alcalid Mercurial Liquor, a volatile Sulphur, and a volatile Salt in the soot, which is plainly and truly Urinous; some Spices, Flow∣ers,
Page 44
Seeds, Barks and Roots of Trees, give an Essential Oyle, others exprest Oyle: at least, all exprest Oyles by reiterate distillations, being rectifi'd and cohobated with Alcalyes, become capable of union with Spirit of Wine, and consequently of coagula∣tion by, and subjugation too, Urinous Spirits; which with whatever will not hold coagu∣lation and sublimation, is se∣parated as Heterogeneall, and easily reducible to insipid Wa∣ter. The destruction of all acid Spirits (by urinous) I taught before. In a word, whatever in the World is (be∣side
Page 45
the cential Nut of {arsenic}) is either fixt or volatile, the fixt, either saline or not, what is not saline, by art is made so, and both (by art and pains) become volatile; and being volatized, are soon reduced to Elemental Water, robb'd of all seminal virtue; fixt Alcalyes are volatized, mar∣ryed with vinous Spirits; and coagulable (together with them) by means of Urinous: Oyles become Salts Volatile, and so commiscible with Spi∣rits of Wine, and so trans∣mutable by Urinous: Vinous Spirits are most universal, all Herbs, Roots, Barks, Fruits,
Page 46
Honey, Suggar, Leaves, Grain∣seeds, Flowers, &c. yielding (by fermentation) a true vinous Spirit, which (by re∣iterate rectifications) loosing the qualities of the (media vita) of its concrete, is not discernable from others, and is (pari jure) coagulable in Spirit of Urine, (exquisitely deflegmed) which being then reduced to a more fixt Sal Ar∣moniack, if not by it self, yet by subliming (together) with that which is the product of humane Urine, becomes one (homogeneally) with it, and whatever (with it) abides the test of sublimation, in that
Page 47
more fixed bodily form, is ever after univocally, homo∣geneally, and identically the same, hath the same Lunar Blas, and being reviv'd with an (Alcaly, or otherwise) gives the same coagulating Spirit, which will coagulate Spirit of Wine. Behold here the admirable nature of the Spirit of Mans Urine, how it plays its part among all other Concretes, Spirits, Acetous, Oleagenous, Vinous, Alca∣lizate, and Urinous; As Aa∣rons Rod did with the Rods of Pharaohs Inchanters, it devoured them all, either as∣simulating them to it self in
Page 48
matter and form, or destroy∣ing and reducing them (at last) to mere insipid Elemen∣tal Water. Here you have a body at last of an admirable product (not Vulgar but Philosophical Sal Armoniack) concerning which, I have ve∣ry much yet to write, how∣beit, my writings will be more knotty then Apollo's Oracles, till you learn to distinguish between Sal Armoniack Vul∣gar and Philosophical.

Page 49
The unheard of Hete∣roclyte Doctrin of Sal Armoniack, both Ʋulgar and Philoso∣phical.
IN my Pyrotechny Asser∣ted and Illustrated, which contains the Se∣cond and Third part, accounting my vindication of Helmont, and Explication of Nature for the first part, being originally in Latine wrote to∣gether,
Page 50
and making with my other Writings but one Vo∣lume, I writing of the Im∣mortal Liquor, or Fire, did paraphrastically interpret that place of Helmont. Ars inda∣gando sollicita est Corpori, quod tantae puritatis Symphonia col∣luderet nobiscum, ut a corrum∣pente nequirent dissipaeri, ac tan∣dem stupefacta est Religio, re∣perta latice, &c. To which place, I shall remit the Reader, for what is there spoken too, not intending here a repetiti∣on, but a further illustration of things more briefly or ob∣scurely discoursed of there. I observed it to be a Body,
Page 51
which Art was so inquisitively sollicitous to find, but such a one, as might play with us or make us sport (colluderet) by its harmony of so great purity, as not to be capable of dissipation, by means of any corruptive agent or instru∣ment; such play or sport is more pleasant to a true Artist, then the Lords of the Philistins could have expected from Sampson, yet this pulls down, and destroys as he did, (not Houses) but the most solid compact bodies; and Cham∣pion like maintains its ground, although very few Gallants and Ladies have that happy∣ness
Page 52
to see the prizes plaid by this Anomalous Combatant. This body I there forbore to discover, except mystically and parabolically; but here I shall plainly enough, to a Son of Art, discover the same, It is as I said, a Body of a Spiritual indestructible Salt, in plain terms, it is the Salt of Humane Urine, or Sal Armo∣niack, not Vulgar (the pro∣duct of Urine, Soot, and Sea-Salt) but Philosophical, to which the Vulgar is related, as ☿ Vulgar, is to the ☿ of the Philosophers. The que∣stion now will be how this Sal Armoniack Philosophical
Page 53
is made, which I think I have sufficiently declared to a Son of Art; but I shall be a little more plainer and candid in my discovery, That most acute subtile penetrative Spirit of Mans Urine, by the help of another medium, not of a di∣verse ferment from it self, but centrally one I say with it, must be united to an Acidum, not Corrosive, sed naturae suae gratissimum. This Acidum must be equally volatile with the Salt of Urine, before it can be Married or United in∣timately with it. Then by often Circulations it attains that height of purity to be en∣tituled
Page 54
Ens salium, summum salium & falicissimum. After all this, I must conclude with that saying of the most excel∣lent Helmont in another case, Chap. de Feb. speaking there concerning the Aurum Horizon∣tale, Tametsi paucis absolvi secretum quod medicum nobilitat istudque parasse pro primo vice ingentis operis est pendetque directio a manu ejus qui dator est omnium donorum bonorum. So I may well say in this, al∣though I have discover'd the matter more plainly then any other, yet when attained, the way of working with it, is not easie, but depends from
Page 55
his teaching who is the giver of every perfect gift; to whose Tutoridge I leave the honest inquirer and searcher after Truth.

Carbones emunt atque vitra,
Dii vero suderibus vendunt Artes.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
PAge 4. r. in the Microcosme, p. 9. r. Sul∣phureous, idem p. 10. p. 17. for Urine r: Wine, idem for Aetherical r. Aetherial, p. 19. for even r. sver, p. 20. for the r. he, p. 32. for saeks r. seeks, p. 39. for sublimary r. sublunary, p. 43. for Alcalid r. Alcaly.