in the
same manner and form out of the upper Region, as doth the Spirit of
_Mercury_, but in another manner and kind, whereby the Stars manifest a
separation in fix'd and unfix'd, in colour'd and uncolour'd things.

The Tincture consists only in the _Spirit of Copper_, and most of all in
that of his Bed-fellow; it is a meer Vapour, stinking and ill-sented in
its beginning; this Mist must be dissolved in the manner of a Liquor,
that the stinking, incombustible Oil may be prepared thereof; but yet it
must have and take its beginning out of _Mars_; this Oil unites freely
with the Spirit of _Mercury_, assuming all Metallick Bodies speedily
unto them, if they be first prepared in all points as I have advised in
my Keys.

I observe not the Order of the Planets, and not without just grounds;
for I observe the order of their Birth, by which I am directed; for
because _Venus_ hath much Sulphur, she is sooner digested and ripened
together with _Mars_, before other Metals; but because unconstant
_Mercury_ shewed them both too little assistance, therefore no room is
left him to work harder, by reason of the superfluous Sulphur, so that
they could obtain no melioration of their unfixt Bodies. Now I will
reveal a Secret unto thee, that Gold, Copper, and Iron have one Sulphur,
one Tincture, and one Matter of their Colour; this Matter of the
Tincture is a Spirit, a Mist and Fume; as aforesaid, which can
penetrate and pass through all Bodies, if you can take it, and acuate it
by the Spirit which is in the Salt of _Mars_, and then conjoin the
Spirit of _Mercury_ therewith in a just weight, purging them from all
impurity, that they be pleasant and well sented, without all Corrosives,
you have then such a Medicine, whereunto none in the world may compare,
being fermented with the bright shining Sun, you have made an entrance
penetrating to work, and to transmute all Metals.

O Eternal Wisdom from the beginning! how shall we thank thee for such
great Mysteries, which the Children of Men do no wayes regard, but are
despised by the greater number, to know what thou hast concealed in
Nature, which they see before their Eyes, and know it not; they have it
in their Hands, and comprehend it not; they deal with it, and know not
what they have, nor what they do, because the Internal is concealed. I
will yet reveal this unto thee in truth, and by the Love of God, that
the root of the Philosophical Sulphur, which is a Celestial Spirit, is
found w