304 SYMPATHY AND ANTIPATHY OF THINGS. 



finally, they are the great and wonderful works of nature. 

 But this part of philosophy, namely, of the sympathy and 

 antipathy of things is most impure, which also they call 

 natural magic, and (which always likely comes to pass) 

 where diligence and care hath wanted, there hath hope re 

 mained ; but the operation thereof in men is merely like 

 unto certain soporiferous medicines which cast one asleep, 

 and do moreover send and infuse into him merry and plea 

 sant dreams. For first it casts man s understanding into a 

 sleep, representing unto him specifical properties and hidden 

 virtues, whereby men awake no more, nor look after the 

 finding and searching out of true causes, but acquiesce and 

 lie still in these idle ways. Then it insinuates an innume 

 rable company of fictions like unto dreams ; and vain men 

 hope to know the nature by the outward shape and show, 

 and by extrinsical similitudes to discover inward properties. 

 Their practice also is very like unto their inquiry ; for the 

 precepts of natural magic are such as if men should be con 

 fident that they could subdue the earth, and eat their bread 

 without the sweat of their brow, and to have power over 

 things by idle and easy applications of bodies ; and still 

 they have in their mouths, and like undertakers or sureties, 

 they call upon the loadstone, and the consent which is be 

 tween gold and quicksilver ; and some few things of this 

 kind they allege for to prove other things, which are not 

 bound by any such like contract. But God hath appointed 

 the best of things to be inquired out and be wrought by 

 labours and endeavours. We will be a little more careful 

 in searching out the law of nature and the mutual contracts 

 of things, neither favouring miracles, nor making too lowly 

 and straightened an inquisition. 



THE HISTORY OF SULPHUR, MERCURY, AND 



SALT. 



THE ENTRANCE. 



THIS triple of principles hath been introduced by the chy- 

 mists, and as concerning speculatives is of them which they 

 bring the best invention. The most subtile and acute of 

 these, and those who are most philosophical, will have the 

 elements to be earth, water, air, and the sky; and those 



