ALCHEMY AND ASTROLOGY ^49 



" There are hundreds of different kinds of salt, 

 sulphur, and mercury in the universe and in the 

 human system, and the greatest arcana (potencies) 

 are contained in them. All things are hidden in 

 them in the same sense as a pear is hidden in a pear- 

 tree and grapes in a vine. The superficial observer 

 sees only that which exists for his senses, but the 

 interior sight discovers the things of the future. A 

 gardener knows that a vine will produce no pears, 

 and a pear-tree no grapes. The ignorant speak of 

 heat and cold, of dryness and moisture, of sweetness 

 and acidity, of bitterness and astringency, without 

 knowing the cause that produces such qualities ; but 

 the wise recognise in them the qualities of the stars" 

 {Paragranum) . 



" Let no one be so foolish as to imagine that Alchemy 

 can easily be understood and be made common property. 

 If you want to make the sphere of Saturn run in 

 harmony with earthly life, you may put all the planets 

 therein. Of Luna, however, you must not take too 

 much ; only a little. Let it all run until the heaven 

 of Saturn entirely disappears; then will the planets 

 remain. They will have died in their corruptible bodies 

 and taken an incorruptible perfect body. This is the 

 life and spirit of heaven which causes the planets to 

 live again and become corporified as before " {Codum 

 Philosophorum) . 



The remedy by which, according to Paracelsus, rejuve- 

 nation (regeneration) could be accomplished is something 



become separated disease will be the result. Where such a separation 

 begins there is the origin of disease and the beginning of death. There 

 are many kinds of Sulphur, of Mercury, and of Salt ; that which belongs 

 to Sulphur should be made into Sulphur, so that it may burn; what 

 belongs to Mercury should be made to sublimate and ascend ; what 

 belongs to Salt should be resolved into Salt." 



"To explain the qualities of the three Substances it would be neces- 

 sary to explain the qualities of the Prima materia ; but as the Prima 

 materia mundi was the Fiat {Logos)^ who would dare to attempt to 

 explain it ! " 



