Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
23. But now in the tincture only is the understanding, which governeth the mind, and maketh the [thoughts or] senses ; therefore all is as it were dead, and the constellation now only ruleth in the root of the first Principle, where the Deity, like a glance [lustre] or virtue, worketh in all things : There the starry spirit in the glance of the glass of the divine virtue in the element of fire looketh into the matrix of the water, and setteth his jaws open after the tincture, but that is void of power ; and therefore he taketh the virtue of the tincture (viz. the mind) and mingleth [or qualifieth] with it, and then the mind sealeth the elements, andCh. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 207 worketh therein dreams and l visions, all according \representations.
to the virtue of the stars ; for 2 it standeth in the 2 the mind working and quality of the stars ; and these are the Con818tethdreams and visions of the night in the sleep.
The Gate of the highest Depth of the
Life of the Tincture.
24. Though the doctor, it may be, knoweth what the tincture is, yet the simple and unlearned do not, who many times (if they had the art) have better gifts and understanding than the doctor, therefore I write for those that seek ; though indeed I hold, that neither the doctor, nor the alchemist, hath the ground of the tincture, unless he be born again in the spirit ; such a one seeth through all, whether he be learned or unlearned ; with God the peasant is as acceptable as the doctor.
25. The tincture is a thing that separateth, and bringeth the pure and clear from the impure ; and that bringeth the life of all sorts of spirits, or all sorts of essences, into its highest [pitch] degree [or exaltation]. Yea it is the cause of the shining, or of the lustre : It is a cause that all creatures see and live. But its form is not one and the same [in every thing] ; it is not in a beast, as in man ; so also it is different in stones and herbs ; although it is truly in all things, yet in some things strong, and in some weak.
26. But if we search what it is in essence and property, and how it is generated, then we find a
p. 208
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 12
1 being, essence, or thing.
2 the image of itself.
very worthy [precious] noble l substance in its birth, for it is come forth from the virtue, and the fountain of the Deity, which hath imprinted 2 itself in all things. And therefore it is so secret and hidden, and is imparted to the knowledge of none of the ungodly, to find it, or to know it. And although it be there, yet a vain, false [or evil] mind is not worthy of it, and therefore it remaineth hidden to him : And God ruleth all in all incomprehensibly and imperceptibly to the creature ; the creature passeth away it knoweth not how ; and the shadow and the figure of the tincture continueth eternally ; for it is generated out of the eternal will : But the spirit is given to it by the Fiat, according to the kind of every creature ; also in the beginning of the creation it was implanted and incorporated in jewels, stones, and metals, according to the kind of every one.
23. But now in the tincture only is the understanding, which governs the mind, and makes the [thoughts or] senses ; therefore all is as it were dead, and the constellation now only ruls in the root of the first Principle, where the Deity, like a glance [lustre] or virtue, works in all things : There the starry spirit in the glance of the glass of the divine virtue in the element of fire looks into the matrix of the water, and setts his jaws open after the tincture, but that is void of power ; and therefore he takes the virtue of the tincture (viz. the mind) and mingls [or qualifies] with it, and then the mind seals the elements, and
Ch. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 207 works therein dreams and l visions, all according \representations.
to the virtue of the stars ; for 2 it stands in the 2 the mind working and quality of the stars ; and these are the Con818tethdreams and visions of the night in the sleep.
The Gate of the highest Depth of the
Life of the Tincture.
24. Though the doctor, it may be, knows what the tincture is, yet the simple and unlearned do not, who many times (if they had the art) have better gifts and understanding than the doctor, therefore I write for those that seek ; though indeed I hold, that neither the doctor, nor the alchemist, has the ground of the tincture, unless he be born again in the spirit ; such a one sees through all, whether he be learned or unlearned ; with God the peasant is as acceptable as the doctor.
25. The tincture is a thing that separates, and brings the pure and clear from the impure ; and that brings the life of all sorts of spirits, or all sorts of essences, into its highest [pitch] degree [or exaltation]. Yea it is the cause of the shining, or of the lustre : It is a cause that all creatures see and live. But its form is not one and the same [in every thing] ; it is not in a beast, as in man ; so also it is different in stones and herbs ; although it is truly in all things, yet in some things strong, and in some weak.
26. But if we search what it is in essence and property, and how it is generated, then we find a
p. 208
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 12
1 being, essence, or thing.
2 the image of itself.
very worthy [precious] noble l substance in its birth, for it is come forth from the virtue, and the fountain of the Deity, which has imprinted 2 itself in all things. And therefore it is so secret and hidden, and is imparted to the knowledge of none of the ungodly, to find it, or to know it. And although it be there, yet a vain, false [or evil] mind is not worthy of it, and therefore it remains hidden to him : And God ruls all in all incomprehensibly and imperceptibly to the creature ; the creature passes away it knows not how ; and the shadow and the figure of the tincture continues eternally ; for it is generated out of the eternal will : But the spirit is given to it by the Fiat, according to the kind of every creature ; also in the beginning of the creation it was implanted and incorporated in jewels, stones, and metals, according to the kind of every one.