fect into the world by the Nutriment, therefore let that alone
likewise; for man cannot make the Elements, but only the Creator, and
remain by thy made Spirit which is already formal and unformal, tangible
and intangible, and yet is presented visibly. So have you enough of the
first Matter, out of which all Metals and Minerals grow, and is one only
thing, and such a matter which unites it self with the _Sulphur_ in the
following Chapter, and enters into a Coagulation with the _Salt_ of the
fifth Chapter, that it may be one Body, and a perfect Medicine of all
Metals, not only to bring forth in the Earth at the beginning, as in the
great World, but also by help of the vaporous Body to transmute and
change, together with the augmentation in the lesser World: Let not this
seem strange to you, seeing the Most High hath permitted, and Nature
undertaken it.

Many will not believe this, esteeming it impossible, despise and vilifie
these Mysteries, which they understand not in the least, they may remain
Fools and Idiots till an illumination follows, which cannot be without
Gods Will; but remains till the time predestinate. But wise and
discreet, men who have truly shed the sweat of their Brows, will be my
sufficient witnesses, and confirm the Truth, and indeed believe and hold
for a truth all that which I write in this case, as true as Heaven and
Hell are preordained, and proposed as Rewards of good and evil to the
Elect and Reprobate. Now I write not only with my hands, but my Mind,
Will and heart constrain me to it: Those who are highly conceited,
illuminated, and world-wise, hate, envy, scandalize, defame and
persecute this Mystery to the utmost Rind, or innermost Kernel, which
hath its beginning out of the Center; but I know assuredly, there will
come a time, when my Marrow is wasted, and my Bones dried up, that some
will take my part heartily, after I am in the Pit; and if God would
permit it, they would willingly raise me from the dead; but that cannot
be; wherefore I have left them my Writings, that their Faith and Hope
may have a Seal of Certainty and Truth, to testifie of me what my last
Will and Testament was, which I ordained for the poor, and all the
Lovers of Mysteries, though it did not behove me to have wrote so much,
yet I could not refrain without prejudice to my Soul, but to drive a
Light or Flash through a Cloud, that the Day might be observed, and the
dark Night, thick and gloomy, rainy Weather expelled.

No