An Hermetic Work.

AN HERMETIC WORK .

( Continued from page 438 . ) CHAP . II . Of the Causes and Manner of Multiplication of Life and Seed ; And one way of preparing Mercury for the Philosophers Stone , mid others for mailing of Universal

Medicines , § c . IN the beginning God gave his blessing to increase and multiply ; and commanded that each Thing from its like , should draw its Form ; and so created in Nature a certain Chain , or subordinate propinquity of Complexions , betAveen Visibles and Invisibles ; by Avhich the Superionr Spiritual Essences descend , ancl converse here beloAv Avith the matter . Yet Nature hath , nor had but one onely Agent ( hidden in the

universe ) Avhich is Anima Mundi , Avorking by its universal Spirit , through innumerable distinct , Concreates according to their Specifiq ; Forms and Seeds , Avhich God the Father , at first Creation by his AVOI-C ! and Idea ( or Son and Holy Spirit ) did Glance at once into the first matter , ancl so set LaAvs and Bounds in Nature : Of , In , ancl over all , Avhich he is still president , upholding , strengthening , ancl ordering all the said Powers , as his Instruments in every particular as Avell as in the general ; so that a Sparrow falls not Avichout his Providence ancl PoAver ; and so kind by kind , produceth kind in all Natures , Three Kingdoms ( Animal , Vegitable , and Mineral ) by means uf the said Seed ; For as Fernelius saith , Nihil est in ulla naturce parte , quod non in se generis sui semen

contineat . There is no part of Nature Avhich doth not contain within it self the seed of its OAVU kind . God ancl Nature still use the same , ancl as a mean to unite the Form to its own Matter , and to raise strength ancl Appetite in the Patient , and to invite the active Virtue of Form and Life to Avork freely . Yet still its motions to tend to its OAVU Specifick end as God had ordained ; except it be misplaced or abused ( as Sendivogius expresseth , or joyned to some unSt matter ; Avhich end being attained , the Life then seems Deador at a stand ; and so ChainedHedgedancl imprisoned Avith Corporal

, , , Fences , that it can work no further upon that subject to its Promotion ; but onely doth Organizare molem , ancl set its Prison or House into the best order it can ; Branching into several Members , that it may have the more room to employ its Faculties , evidently seen in Animals and Yegitals with various motions : But in Minerals ( more opprest Avith matter ) less apparent , and seeming slain by congelation , especially taken out of their Minesand Mechanically usedand so onely preserves its bodily Beingtill

, ; , Revived with new Ferment , ancl Matter , Avhereby the Body is opened again to manifest its living , essential Moisture hid in the centre , Avherein the seed and spirit of Life is placed as Fire , and then revives and restores neAV operations , in the neAV adjoined nourishment or matter . Aud thus Nature b y help of Art may transcend ( and as it were ) go beyond its self ; and so the Seed will still extend its poAA'er and Life , as long and often as it be thus opened ancl fitted Avith new matter and Ferments .

For Form is Light , the Source of central Heat , Which cloth'd with Matter , doth a Seed beget ; Wherein Life , like Fire seeks it self t' increase , Ancl Eternize , if Fuelne ' re do cease . Helmont in Butler , and Sendivogius in his new Light , partly testifie the same . Now this Seed is no sooner produe'd , but it assaies to change the matter , and stamps its Character therein , and so presently the Matter lives , and the matter then Ooworks together with the Form , to attain that end , to Avhich the Seed implanted cloth intend .