MEDICINE 179 



to be abandoned. The pseudo-physician bases his art 

 on his books — i.e., on that which he believes the authors 

 of those books to have known ; the art of the true physi- 

 cian is based on his own knowledge and ability, and is 

 supported by the four pillars of medicine — Philosophy, 

 Astronomy, Alchemy, and Virtue " (Paragranum). 



" A physician who is true to his own higher self will 

 also have faith in himself, and he who has that faith 

 will easily command the faith of the people. A preacher 

 who utters moral sermons, but does not observe his own 

 doctrines, will not command respect ; he will rightly be 

 despised and bring his doctrines — even if they are true — 

 into discredit ; likewise a physician who is seen to be 

 untruthful, wavering, and ignorant will lose the con- 

 fidence of the public. The art of medicine should be 

 based on truth ; it is a divine art which should not be 

 prostituted for base purposes. A physician who deserves 

 the confidence of the people will be trusted by God, 

 for it is the Spirit of God that guides the hearts of 

 mankind." 



" I praise the spagyric physicians (the alchemists), for 

 they do not go about idling and putting on airs, being 

 dressed in velvets and silks, having golden rings on 

 their fingers and their hands in white gloves ; but they 

 are daily and nightly patiently engaged in their work 

 with the fire and seeking their pastime within their own 

 laboratory (the mind). They do not talk much or praise 

 their medicines; for they know that the work must 

 praise the master, and not the master the work " {De 

 Separat. Her.). 



All arts originate in divine wisdom, and no man ever 

 invented anything through his own power. Man cannot 

 accomplish even the most trifling thing without the 

 power of the Will ; but the will of man is not his 

 product and does not belong to him ; it belongs to God, 

 and has merely been lent to man ; he is permitted to 

 use it, and abuses it on account of his ignorance. All 



