too THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY, 



out order or regularity, were not unlike to a 

 confufecl heap of dones, lime, fund, beams, and 

 rafters, rcquilite for condrufting an edifice; but 

 which, being combined with no Ikill, fail in pro- 

 ducing the propofcd cil'ed. Tlie falfe and per- 

 verfe opinions likcwiie which were entertained 

 by many, contributed in a great meafure to 

 thicken this darknef*. Several liad pcriuaded 

 themfelves, that gold could be compofed from 

 its principles by art ; and that medicines en- 

 dowed with the virtue of curing all difeafes, and 

 of rendering man immortal could certainly be 

 found. Thus they were perpetually grafping 

 at wealth, and defirous to piotrad life beyond 

 its natural limits. This was the goal to which 

 every fearcher into the works of nature ran with 

 all his might. Truth, however, they unxiouf- 

 ly avoided, led it fliould fugged any thing that 

 might enable others to folve thefe problems, 

 which they coniidered of the greatdl import- 

 dnce. In order, therefore, to died their my. 

 derious purpofe, they made uie of particular 

 characters and %ns, and employed a ridiculous 

 and metaphorical manner of fpcaking, that 

 their words and their writings (hould be undcr- 

 dood by themfelves only. But notwithdanding, 

 a cortfiderable number of books were produced; 

 though to what purpofe is not fo eaiily deter- 

 mined, as they had fparcd no pains to render 

 them as obfcure as poflible. Our furpofe, how- 

 eve* 



