(72) This Spirit takes its Original in the Fire-flash, that is, in the bitter Quality, and rises up in the Flash through the sweet Water, wherein it mitigates itself, so that it becomes clear and bright, and is reserved and kept in the astringent Quality, and there it touches or stirs all the Spirits; and from this Touching or Stirring rises up the Tone; its rising Source or Quality stands in the Flash, and its Body or Root stands in the sweet Water in the Love.

(65) Horfolcus saith:t You must know, O all ye who love wisdom, that whereas Mundus hath been teaching this Art, and placing before you most lucid syllogisms, he that does not understand what he has said is a brute animal! But I will explain the regimen of this small thing, in order that any one, being introduced into this Art, may become bolder,} may more assuredly consider it, and although it be small, may compose the common with that which is dear, and the dear with that which is common. Know ye that in the beginning of the mixing, it behoves you to commingle elements which are crude, gentle, sincere, and not cooked or governed, over a gentle fire. Beware of intensifying the fire until the elements are conjoined, for these should follow one another, and be embraced in a complexion, whereby they are gradually burnt, until they be dessicated in the said gentle fire. And know that one spirit burns one thing and destroys one thing, and one body strengthens one spirit, and teaches the same to contend with the fire. But, after the first combustion, it is necessary that it should be washed, cleansed, and dealbated on the fire until all things become one colour; with which, afterwards, it behoves you to mix the residuum of the whole humour, and then its colour will be exalted. For the elements, being diligently cooked in the fire, rejoice, and are changed into different natures, because the liquefied, which is the lead, becomes not-liquefied,* the humid becomes dry, the thick body becomes a spirit, and the fleeing spirit becomes strong and fit to do battle against the fire. Whence the

Philosopher saith: Convert the elements and thou shalt find what thou seekest. But to convert the elements is to make the moist dry and the fugitive fixed. These things being accomplished by the disposition, let the operator leave it in the fire until the gross be made subtle, and the subtle remain as a tingeing spirit. Know ye, also, that the death and life of the elements proceed from fire, and that the composite germinates itself, and produces that which ye desire, God favouring. But when the colours begin ye shall behold the miracles of the wisdom ‘of God, until the Tyrian colour be accomplished. O wonder-working Nature, tingeing other natures! O heavenly Nature, separating and converting the elements by regimen! Nothing, therefore, is more precious than these Natures in that Nature which multiplies the composite, and makes fixed and scarlet.

(145) it is not a constant and lasting Thing or Being, Clarifying or Brightening of the qualifying or fountain Spirits, much less of the bestial Body, but it is the Ray of the breaking through of the Light of God with a fiery Impulse, which rises up through the meek Water of Life in the Love, and remains standing in its Heaven.

(102) And now, when it is almost made, then it has its true Virtue and Colour, and there is only one Thing wanting, that the Spirit cannot elevate itself with its Body into the Light, but must remain to be a dead Stone; and though indeed it be of greater Virtue than other Stones, yet the Body remains in Death.