CHAPTER XI.

Now, whatsoever hath been said in the Fama, through
hatred of impostors, against the transmutation of metals
and the supreme medicine of the world, we desire to be so
understood, that this so great gift of God we do in no
manner set at naught, but as it bringeth not always with
it the knowledge of Nature, while this knowledge bringeth
forth both that and an infinite number of other natural
miracles, it is right that we be rather earnest to attain to
the knowledge of philosophy, nor tempt excellent wits to
the tincture of metals sooner then to the observation of
Nature. He must needs be insatiable to whom neither
poverty, diseases, nor danger can any longer reach, who, as
one raised above all men, hath rule over that which doth
anguish, afflict, and pain others, yet will give himself again
to idle things, will build, make wars, and domineer, be-
cause he hath of gold sufficient, and of silver an inexhaust-

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96 HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

ible fountain. God judgeth far otherwise, who exalteth
the lowly, and casteth the proud into obscurity ; to the
silent he sendeth his angels to hold speech with them, but
the babblers he driveth into the wilderness, which is the
judgment due to the Eoman impostor who now poureth
his blasphemies with open mouth against Christ, nor yet
in the full light, by which Germany hath detected his caves
and subterranean passages, will abstain from lying, that
thereby he may fulfil the measure of his sin, and be found
worthy of the axe. Therefore, one day it will come to
pass, that the mouth of this viper shall be stopped, and his
triple crown shall be brought to nought, of which things
more fully when we shall have met together.