Treaty of Grand Prix concerning the Philosophical Stone

Published by a German sage in the year 1423,
Under the following title: The True Teaching of Philosophy
Concerning the Generation of Metals
and Their True Origin.


CHAPTER I

All temporal things derive their origin, existence and essence from the earth, according to the succession of time. Their specific properties are determined by the outer and inner influences of the stars and planets (such as the Sun, Moon, etc.) and the four qualities of the elements. From these combined circumstances arise the particular forms and appropriate substances of all things growing, fixed and producing, according to the natural order appointed by the highest at the beginning of the world. The metals, then, originate from the earth and are specifically composed of the four qualities, or properties of the four elements, their particular metallic character being marked upon them by the influences of the stars and planets. So we are informed by Aristotle in the fourth book of his Meteor, where he says that mercury is the common substance of all metals. The first thing in Nature, as we have said before, is the substance which represents a peculiar conglomeration of the four elements which the Sages call Mercury or quicksilver, but this mercury is still imperfect, because of its gross sulphurous and earthy nature, which renders it too easily combustible, and because of its superfluous watery elements, which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. where he says that mercury is the common substance of all metals. The first thing in Nature, as we have said before, is the substance which represents a peculiar conglomeration of the four elements which the Sages call Mercury or quicksilver, but this mercury is still imperfect, because of its gross sulphurous and earthy nature, which renders it too easily combustible, and because of its superfluous watery elements, which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. where he says that mercury is the common substance of all metals. The first thing in Nature, as we have said before, is the substance which represents a peculiar conglomeration of the four elements which the Sages call Mercury or quicksilver, but this mercury is still imperfect, because of its gross sulphurous and earthy nature, which renders it too easily combustible, and because of its superfluous watery elements, which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. is the substance which represents a particular conglomeration of the four elements which the Sages call Mercury or quicksilver, but this mercury is still imperfect, because of its raw and earthy sulphurous nature, which renders it too easily combustible, and because of its superfluous watery elements, which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. is the substance which represents a particular conglomeration of the four elements which the Sages call Mercury or quicksilver, but this mercury is still imperfect, because of its raw and earthy sulphurous nature, which renders it too easily combustible, and because of its superfluous watery elements, which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur. which have all been brought together from the four elements by the action of the celestial planets. This substance is composed of a hot sulphurous earth and a watery essence, in such a way that the sages have called it imperfect sulphur.

Now, since Nature is always striving to achieve perfection and to reach the goal set before her by the Creator of all things, she is continually working on the qualities of the four elements of each substance; and therefore stirs and awakens the interior action of the elements by the accidental heat of the Sun and by the natural heat which arises from a sort of vapor or smoke in the veins of the earth. This vapor cannot make its way out, but is enclosed; in the penetration of the thick, earthy, oily and impure sulphurous substances, it attracts to itself more or less of these foreign and external impurities. This is the reason why one sees such a great variety of colors in it before it achieves purity and its own characteristic color.

Those mineral and metallic substances which contain the greatest effective proportion of sulphurous and mercurial vapor are the best; and each quality of the four elements has its own operation and transmuting influence in such a conglomeration of diverse substances - their action being awakened by the sulfur of the earth and the outer heat of the Sun. By these agents the Materia (substance) is often dissolved and coagulated, before that which is pure, or impure, is brought up; and it is the work not of a few years, but of a great duration. Nature must purge the special characteristics of all other metals before she can make gold; as you can see by the fact that the different kinds of metals are found in the same metallic vein. This fact can be explained as follows. When the mercury and sulphurous vapors rise, they are mixed and united by coction, with the above-mentioned substance. If these sulphurous vapors are earthy thick, and impure, and the heat of the Sun, or their own natural heat, has too sudden and violent an effect, the substance hardens, with all its sulphurous impurities before it can be purged of its coarseness and it becomes rather like metallic sulphur. If the mercury is hardened, the whole mass takes the form of some metal, according to the influence of the particular planet with which it is penetrated. For Nature, of the first associations of the four elements in some substance or body, which then receives its specific properties by the influence of a planet. Such is the origin of copper, tin, lead, iron and quicksilver. But it is not essential here that I describe in detail the specific composition and the distinctive properties of each of the imperfect metals; they are all mixed in various proportions of impure sulfur and ineffective mercury. Nature, as I have said, is continually at work on this purifying of imperfect metals and separating pure mercury from the impure and pure sulfur from the impure, until all their grossness is removed and they become what God designed them to be, that is, gold. But if these vapors float upwards in their original pure condition, with their interior pure and subtle earth, unmixed with the raw, earthy and sulphurous alloy,

If, however, this pure mercury floats upwards in a pure mineral earth, without any raw alloy, it is hardened in the pure white sulfur of Nature by being subjected to a very moderate degree of mild heat, it will have the specific form of silver. Like all other metals, it can always be developed into gold if left under the influence of its natural heat. But if this same pure, unalloyed mercury is subjected to a higher degree of natural heat, it is transmuted into the pure red sulfur of Nature and becomes gold without passing through the first stage of silver. In this form it will remain, because gold is the highest possible stage of metallic development.

Mercury is the mother of all metals, because of its coldness and humidity; and once purified and cleansed of all foreign matter, it can no longer be mixed with any kind of coarseness, nor become an imperfect metal again. For Nature does not destroy her work and what has once become perfectly pure can never become impure again. On the other hand, sulfur is the father of all metals, because of its heat and dryness. In the next chapter, we will refer to this difference and talk about mercury in more detail.

CHAPTER II

There is, then, in all the metals the true mercury and the good sulfur as well in the imperfect metals as in the perfect metals. But in imperfect metals, it is stained with impure matter and needs to mature. Hence you see that all metals can be changed into gold and silver, if the properties of gold and silver which are in them are freed from all alloy and reduced by gentle heat to the form of silver or gold. Those metals, indeed, which have been torn apart by the roots, that is to say, which have been unearthed from their own soil in the veins of the earth, can no longer pass on that course of development which they pursued in their native abode; also, as much as in their lie, they strive to be perfected. Now, the Spirit of Truth,

CHAPTER III

But we must now go on to say a few words about the method of preparation of this Medicine, by which imperfection is removed from imperfect metals through the mediation of perfect mercury, and how the form of gold and silver is developed in them.

I find that the writings of the Sages are all about gold, silver and mercury, that it says they must be reduced to the form they bore before they became metals, that is, the form they bore perhaps a few thousand years ago. But the operation of Nature is progressive, not retrogressive. Hence it is a great error to suppose that the work of Nature can be reversed by dissolution in strong water (aqua fortis) or by the amalgamation of gold or silver and mercury. For if the metal is immersed in a solvent, if water is distilled from it, or if mercury is sublimated from it, it always remains the same metal as it was before. The specific properties of a metal cannot be destroyed in order to obtain the first substance. Moreover, Aristotle says that metals cannot be changed unless they are reduced to their original substance.

CHAPTER IV

What we said in the previous chapter shows that the Alchemical Art cannot be concerned with working gold, silver or mercury through chemical processes. Nevertheless, what you read in the books of the Sages is most true, and we shall see in the following pages in what sense it must be understood, that our Art is in gold, silver and mercury. But it is clear that our Art cannot use mercury as it can be obtained from the metals by means of any sort of artificial process, such as dissolution in aqua fortis, or amalgamation or some other method of chemical purification.

So, if it is not the right substance or the original mercury, it is clearly not to be found in the metals. For even if you fuse two, three, or four metals together, not one of them can give the others any aid towards the attainment of perfection, in view of itself remaining in need of external aid. And though you mix an imperfect metal with gold, the gold will not give up its own perfection for the succor of the other because it has nothing too much that it could impart to the imperfect metal. And even if the imperfect metal could assume the virtue and efficacy of gold, it could only do so at the prices of gold itself. In vain, then,

CHAPTER V

Again we read in the books of the Sages that quicksilver and mercury are the original substance of all metals. These words are true in a certain sense. But by many beginners they are assumed to mean ordinary quicksilver. Such an interpretation, however, makes the nonsense of the saying of the Sages. Because ordinary quicksilver is an imperfect metal which is itself taken from the original substance of all metals. The Sages, indeed, say little of the origin of their mercury, but it is exactly because they use the name of mercury or sulfur, for the first substance of their perfect metals. If common mercury were not a metal, there would be no metal corresponding to the celestial influence of the planet Mercury as gold and silver receive their specific properties from the influence of the Sun and the Moon. Now, as it is one of the metals from which other metals cannot be derived from it, still less can their properties be derived from it or them, although the actual perfect mercury is quite as abundant in mercury as in any other metal. Nor can common sulfur be the first substance of the metals, for no metal contains so much impurity as common sulfur; and if mixed with any metal, that metal becomes even more impure than it was before, and is even partially, or completely, corroded. as it is one of the metals from which other metals cannot be derived from it, still less can their properties be derived from it or them, although the actual perfect mercury is quite as abundant in mercury as in any other metal. Nor can common sulfur be the first substance of the metals, for no metal contains so much impurity as common sulfur; and if mixed with any metal, that metal becomes even more impure than it was before, and is even partially, or completely, corroded. as it is one of the metals from which other metals cannot be derived from it, still less can their properties be derived from it or them, although the actual perfect mercury is quite as abundant in mercury as in any other metal. Nor can common sulfur be the first substance of the metals, for no metal contains so much impurity as common sulfur; and if mixed with any metal, that metal becomes even more impure than it was before, and is even partially, or completely, corroded. Nor can common sulfur be the first substance of the metals, for no metal contains so much impurity as common sulfur; and if mixed with any metal, that metal becomes even more impure than it was before, and is even partially, or completely, corroded. Nor can common sulfur be the first substance of the metals, for no metal contains so much impurity as common sulfur; and if mixed with any metal, that metal becomes even more impure than it was before, and is even partially, or completely, corroded.

CHAPTER VI

Again the Sages affirm that quicksilver, or mercury, is the spirit of the specific nature of the metals, gathered out of the four elements by the influence of the Planets and the operation of Nature in the earth - and from it is developed gold, silver, or another of the seven metals, according to the particular effects of the prevailing planetary influence.

Hence, ignorant alchemists assumed that everything came from common mercury, because it amalgamates with all metals and is soft and volatile. But why should its volatile properties prove it to be no metal? By this definition, we could deny the metallic character of tin, lead, and other metals, because they do not stay fixed in a violent fire - although one can withstand a greater degree of heat than another. If, again, any substance may be called the first substance of the metals on account of the facility with which it amalgamates with them, copper would have better reason to be considered, since it enters into a closer union with gold and silver than mercury, and shares their nature both fusible and malleable. But it is not the final union, because it implies separation; and mercury can, with the greatest facility, be separated from the metals with which it has amalgamated. A true union of metals can only take place in the original substance which is common to all. We can find amalgams of three or even more metals; but then this union was consummated in the first substance, which is one, and the whole amalgam would have been developed into gold, if its natural growth had not been retarded by the gross, sulphurous, arsenical, and earthy impurity, which is found among metals when purified. The metals which we dig up from the earth are, indeed, torn by the roots and, their growth having stopped, they cannot undergo any further development into gold, but must always retain their present form, unless something is done for them by our Art. From there we must begin at the point where Nature had to stop: we must purge all the impurity, and the sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. unless something is done for them by our Art. From there we must begin at the point where Nature had to stop: we must purge all the impurity, and the sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. unless something is done for them by our Art. From there we must begin at the point where Nature had to stop: we must purge all the impurity, and the sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. From there we must begin at the point where Nature had to stop: we must purge all the impurity, and the sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. From there we must begin at the point where Nature had to stop: we must purge all the impurity, and the sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. and sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. and sulphurous alloy, as Nature herself would have done if her operation had not been accidentally or violently disturbed. She would have matured the original substance and brought it to perfection by gentle heat and, in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter. in a longer or shorter period of time, she would have transmuted it into gold. In this work Nature is unceasingly occupied as long as the metals are in the earth; but it takes away nothing from them except their superfluous water and the impurity which prevents them from attaining the golden nature, as we briefly showed in the second chapter.

CHAPTER VII

It is clear, then, that the final union of the metals, or their perfection, cannot be attained by the mixture of any specific metals; that the metallic substance becomes useless for our purpose as soon as it assumes a specific form; at the same time, all metals have a common origin, or Matter, which is a thing, issuing by the operation of nature, which never desires a form more perfect than its own essence and condition will admit. And it is the form of gold, the highest and best of all that belongs to the metallic kingdom. If, therefore, the purest form of this substance, which it is possible to obtain by Art with the help of Nature, is added to the imperfect metals then they overcome that which is impure in them, for it is not the impure, but the pure subject which is the same in them. But you shouldn't assume that this power belongs to common gold; common gold has its own specific form, which it is incapable of communicating to other metals. The power of gold is sufficient only to preserve its own excellence; but our prepared substance is much better and more honorable than gold, and has the power to do what gold cannot do, that is, to change the common matter of all metals into gold. The power of gold is sufficient only to preserve its own excellence; but our prepared substance is much better and more honorable than gold, and has the power to do what gold cannot do, that is, to change the common matter of all metals into gold. The power of gold is sufficient only to preserve its own excellence; but our prepared substance is much better and more honorable than gold, and has the power to do what gold cannot do, that is, to change the common matter of all metals into gold.

CHAPTER VIII

From what I have so far said, an ignoramus in alchemy might suppose that the teaching of the Sages is in every way false and dubious. So I must now go on to tell you how it can truly be said that our Art is concerned with silver, mercury and gold, or with mercury and sulfur and what sense mercury is the spirit of the metals. I will speak first of mercury, starting immediately from the principle that this word is not taken here to mean common mercury, which is only one of the metals, but the first substance of all metals and is itself no specific metal. For a metal is derived its distinctive properties from planetary influences; nor can any metal be the first substance of all metals. This mercury is neither too hot, neither too cold, nor too moist, nor too dry; but it is well tempered by the mixture of all four. When perfectly matured mercury is subjected to external heat, working on it, it is not burned, but escapes into a volatile essence. Hence it may well be called by philosophers a spirit, or a swift and winged, and indestructible soul.

As long as it is palpable and visible it is also called the body; when subjected to external cold it is frozen into a fixed body and then these three, body, soul and spirit, are one thing, and contain the properties of all four elements. This outer part which is moist and cold is called water, or mercury (quicksilver). Because of its inner heat, it is called air; if otherwise it appears hot and dry it is fire, or brimstone; and because of its internal coldness it is also called the earth. In this way mercury and sulfur are the original substance of all metals; but, of course, I do not mean that the substance is prepared by mixing sulfur and common mercury. The sulfur and the mercury of the Sages are one and the same, which is first in the nature of mercury,

CHAPTER IX

But I want to limit my discourse to the mercury and sulfur of the philosophers, from which all metals derive their origin; and it is according to the Sages a heavy earthy water mixed with the very subtle white earth, and subjected to a natural coction until the moist and dry elements have become united and is coagulated into one body - by the perfect mutual adjustment of all elemental properties and by the accidental operation of cold. It is the substance which is used for the purposes of our Art, after it has been perfected and purified by gentle coction, and freed from its earthy, sulphurous coarseness and the combustible wateriness of mercury. It is then a clear, pure and indestructible substance, coming from a double substance, exhibiting in their greatest purity and efficacy the united properties of mercury and sulphur. In art the operation is similar to Nature. Hence the Sages rightly asserted that our Art is concerned with mercury, gold and silver. For in its first stage the substance resembles mercury which is sublimated by gentle natural heat, and purified in the veins of the rocks into the form of a pure vapour, as we have explained before. To this we have added silver and gold, for the following reason, because we cannot find anywhere else in anything the metallic power necessary to awaken the sulfur of mercury and coagulate it, except in gold and silver because the Sage cannot prepare our mercury unless it is first removed from the earth and separated from the potential of its natural environment; and all these natural influences can be artificially supplied only by the complement of gold and silver. Our Art must then find a substitute for these natural forces in the precious metals. By them alone he is able to fix the volatile properties of our mercury, for in them alone are really to be found the powers and influences which are indispensable to our chemical process. You should also bear in mind that silver should be applied to our mercury before gold, because mercury is volatile and cannot be safely subjected to sudden high heat. Silver has the power to stir up the inherent sulfur of mercury, whereby it is coagulated into the form of the Remedy to transmute metals into silver, and this coagulation is brought about by the mild heat of the silver. Gold requires a much higher degree of heat, and if the gold has been added to the mercury before the silver, the greater degree of heat immediately changes the mercury into red sulphur, which, however, would be useless for making gold, because it would have lost its essential moisture; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. whereby it is coagulated into the form of the Remedy to transmute metals into silver, and this coagulation is brought about by the mild heat of the silver. Gold requires a much higher degree of heat, and if the gold has been added to the mercury before the silver, the greater degree of heat immediately changes the mercury into red sulphur, which, however, would be useless for making gold, because it would have lost its essential moisture; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. whereby it is coagulated into the form of the Remedy to transmute metals into silver, and this coagulation is brought about by the mild heat of the silver. Gold requires a much higher degree of heat, and if the gold has been added to the mercury before the silver, the greater degree of heat immediately changes the mercury into red sulphur, which, however, would be useless for making gold, because it would have lost its essential moisture; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. Gold requires a much higher degree of heat, and if the gold has been added to the mercury before the silver, the greater degree of heat immediately changes the mercury into red sulphur, which, however, would be useless for making gold, because it would have lost its essential moisture; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. Gold requires a much higher degree of heat, and if the gold has been added to the mercury before the silver, the greater degree of heat immediately changes the mercury into red sulphur, which, however, would be useless for making gold, because it would have lost its essential moisture; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. because it would have lost its essential humidity; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance. because it would have lost its essential humidity; And our Art requires that the mercury must first be coagulated by means of silver into white sulphur, before the greater degree of heat is applied, by which gold changes it into red sulphur. There must be whiteness before redness. Redness before Whiteness spoils our whole substance.

CHAPTER X

The mercury of the Sages has no power to transmute imperfect metals, until it has absorbed the essential qualities of gold and silver; in itself it is no metal and if it is to impart the spirit, color and hardness of gold and silver, it must first receive them itself. It is with the first substance of metals as it is with water. If saffron is dissolved in water, the water is colored with it and if it is mixed with another water, it also imparts to this water the color of saffron. Unless the first substance, or mercury, be tinted with silver and gold and coagulated by their efficacy, it cannot impart color, or coagulate the water or first substance which is latent in imperfect metals. That is why he is essentially a spirit. And volatile. And if it is added to the imperfect metals, it cannot act on their water, or on the first undeveloped substance, because it is partially fixed by their coagulated sulphur. But if the first substance was fixed by means of gold and silver, it became a fixed and indestructible water: and, if added to the imperfect metals, takes into its own nature their first substance, or water, and mixes with them. By this means everything combustible and impure is expelled from them by fire. And it is in this that the true word which was spoken by Sage Haly "the spirit (i.e. mercury is not coagulated, unless the body, i.e., gold and silver is first dissolved. And though this new substance fuses in the fire, yet when it cools again it still remains what it was, nor is it ever again converted into a permanent spiritual substance. It is mercury, then, that constitutes the main force and efficacy of our Art; and he who has no mercury is without the same seed of gold and silver from which they grow in the earth. And though this new substance fuses in the fire, yet when it cools again it still remains what it was, nor is it ever again converted into a permanent spiritual substance. It is mercury, then, that constitutes the main force and efficacy of our Art; and he who has no mercury is without the same seed of gold and silver from which they grow in the earth. then which constitutes the principal force and the effectiveness of our Art; and he who has no mercury is without the same seed of gold and silver from which they grow in the earth. then which constitutes the principal force and the effectiveness of our Art; and he who has no mercury is without the same seed of gold and silver from which they grow in the earth.

EPILOGUE

We have sufficiently explained that mercury is the first substance of metals, without which no metal can become perfect, in Nature or in our Art. But we don't yet know where to look for it or where to find it. This is the great secret of the Sages, which they always so carefully veil in dark words that scarcely one out of thousands is thought worthy of finding the philosophical Mercury. Much has been written about it; but I will quote the words of a philosopher whom I consider most helpful: In the beginning, he says, God created the plain of the earth, plain, rich, and very fertile, without stones, sand, rocks, hills, or valleys, it was the influences of the planets that now covered it with stones,

First, the earth which was created rich, great, deep, broad, and diverse, was, by the daily operation of the rays of the Sun, penetrated into its very center with fervent, bubbly, and vaporous heat. For the earth in it is cold and saturated with moisture from water. In detail the vapors which were thus formed in the heart of the earth became so strong and powerful as to seek to force a way out into the open ground and so, instead of performing their task, threw up hills and little hills or, indeed, bubbles in the face of the world. And since in those places where the mountains were formed the heat of the Sun must have been most potent, and the earthy moisture rich and most abundant, it is there that we find most of the precious metals. Where the land remained flat, this steam did not succeed in lifting up the mountains; it escaped and the earth being deprived of its moisture, was hardened into rocks. Where the land was poor, soft and thin, it is now covered with sand and few stones, because it never had much moisture and, being deprived of what little it had, has now become sandy and dry and unable to retain moisture. No earth was changed into rocks which were not rich, viscous and well saturated with moisture. For when the heat of the Sun has absorbed its moisture, the richness of the earth still holds it, though now it has become hard and dry; and the earth which is not yet perfectly hard even now is undergoing a change into hard stones, by the diligent work of Nature. But the steam and the vapors which fail to escape remain joined in the mountains and are day by day subject to the ripening and transmuting influences of the Sun and the planets. Now, if this vaporous moisture becomes mixed with a pure, subtle and earthy substance, it is the mercury of the Sages; If it is reduced to a fiery, earthy hardness, it becomes the Sulfur of the Sages. This investigation opens up the way to find our mercury, or the first substance of metals, but though it may be found in large quantities in all mines, it is known only to very few people. It is not silver, or gold, or common mercury, or any metals, or sulphur. The Sage says "it is a vaporous substance out of the four elements, watery and pure, and though it is found with all metals. It is not matured in those which are imperfect. Hence it must be sought in the ore, in which we find gold and silver." And when again he says "if this mercury is hardened, it is the sulfur of the Sages." It means that this can only be done by means of gold and silver, which it takes into itself and by which it is sublimated and coagulated by its own natural soft coction, under the influence of the heat of the Sun and in its own proper mineral. The Sage says "it is a vaporous substance out of the four elements, watery and pure, and though it is found with all metals. It is not matured in those which are imperfect. Hence it must be sought in the ore, in which we find gold and silver." And when again he says "if this mercury is hardened, it is the sulfur of the Sages." It means that this can only be done by means of gold and silver, which it takes into itself and by which it is sublimated and coagulated by its own natural soft coction, under the influence of the heat of the Sun and in its own proper mineral. The Sage says "it is a vaporous substance out of the four elements, watery and pure, and though it is found with all metals. It is not matured in those which are imperfect. Hence it must be sought in the ore, in which we find gold and silver." And when again he says "if this mercury is hardened, it is the sulfur of the Sages." It means that this can only be done by means of gold and silver, which it takes into itself and by which it is sublimated and coagulated by its own natural soft coction, under the influence of the heat of the Sun and in its own proper mineral.

O heavenly Father, show this mercury to all whose prayers walk in Your paths!

END