Section 10

CHAP.
rfthe RofecTHcians. 121
Chap. XVIIU
Concerning the advantage or difad^ vantage arijing to Learning jrom the totall concealment^ or dijcovery (^as novp ii) of the Fraternity of the
R.e.
I Cannot imagine that any man can juft- ly accufe mc for my prolixity on the the Lawes of the jR, C. perhaps fome may fuck fpider like out of wholiome flowers dcftru ft iv e poifon ; and that which to o- thers is pleafant and fwect, to them dif- affcfted may feeme loathfome and ugly : they erring and being vaine themfelves, fcoffc and laugh at our Fraternity, {corn their lawesjfay they^what benefit (hall we receive from the difcovery of them / in- deed we doe heare that many under that; title doe abufe themfelves, and cheat o- thersjfor by fuch relations they vent their fophifticated drugs, andconfufe allme- thodc in medicine,
Wc
la a fhe JUj/fieries 4»dtawzf
We do not deny but that the beft thing may be abufed, but that is not to be char- ged upon the thing ic felfe $ but upon the perfon foiraployingofit ; fonone can truly fay that the Fraternity and Lawes thereof are unlawful, whofe inftitution and intention may be juftlfyed j but yet envious perfons who have devoted them- felve8 to malice may carpe at them; and endeavour the ditfjtisfaftion of mens minds) wherefore in this Chapter we will (hew the profit and difprofir. ariling either from them detefted or concealed.
There are four kinds of Good, Necef- rary:,Honeft,Pleafant and Profitable, by each of them men may be drawn to the affcftation or difrslifh of any Subjeft ; the two fiirft amongft thefe have the prehemi- ncncy,the others are of Jefs authority ^but yet very often the latter prevaile above the firft, and many had racher enjoy pleafure and profit fiitable to their natures ; then the others as being fomcwhat harfb, wherefore we will treat of them, but not as feparated from neceflary and honeft Good.
To what purpofc fhould there be fuch a Society, if the profit and benefit there- of (hould be wholly concealed/ iheEr^i-
ofians
^fthe Ryecruciatfs. 1 13
ofians and Jndtans kaving never heard of their FtfWtf and Confelfion are not taken with the Fraternity, but if they fhould believe that there is fuch a feleft company of men, yet they would beheedkfs, be* caufe they (hould receive no advantage by them : we care not for the r2chcft,minds,if f we cannot enjoy them, and affaires tran- flated at a great diftance from us,are no- thing to us,we do not take notice how the Jndzam fight, and they negleft our Arts. If the Fraternity had not made known therafelves, there might feeme to have no great damage thereby accrewed to lear- ning, fince it is not more augmented ; for heretofore cure of difeafes, and preferva- tions of health were pradifed and profef- fed, the Sciences have been fo refof- med, efpecially the laft hundred years pait, that they have attained their utmoft perfection : On the contrary if the Fra- ternity had been concealed, many might have great hopes and expectations of pro* fit, for all kind of curiofity had been laid afide, men would not have vexed them- felves with fearcbing dilligently, after them5whom they (hould with the greatel) difficulty hardly find, fo many defires had not been unfatisfied, fo many pro-
mifcs
i54 ^^^ Myfterief andLawes
mifes fruftratcd, fo many fighs and tears vain: laftly, no occafion of confufion, butjbecaufeall thefe things are fo falfe and abfurd we (hall not think them wor- thy of an anfwerj we (hall therefore pro- ceed to the profit of the Fraternity as it is detefted and made known. There is in the world fuch an abundance of all things by-the diverficy of Species, multi- tude of Individuallsthat itisalmoftim- polTible to difcernc either their increafe or decay. Hence is it that perfons of Quality being taken av;ay by death are not miftj becaufe others do fucceed them, and the rifing Sun makts us take little notice of the Set.
Had the Fraternity not been difcovc- red, the world had lacked nothing ; for that which is unknown is not deiircd and fought after j& the abfencc of it is no lofs, and we doubt not but that there are very manyfuch things in nature:who ever drea med of a new world now called America before it was found out? who thought of ufefulnefs of wrinng and printing till they were invented? but now it is fuffici- ciently known what benefit the whole world receives by them, although there feemed before to be no want.
For
ef the Rofecruciam. i j 5
^ or as no line is fo long, nor any body fo ^ig, to which fomething cannot bead- led ; fo the perfeftion of the world was lot fo abfolute but that it was capable of iddition.
Thus the deteftion ofthe Fraternity did cncrcafe the worlds glory , and we (hall (hew after what manner, viz,, by re- vealing fecrets and finding out others much conducing to the profit of man- kind.
The Poets report ofAnteus that he figh-", ting with Hercules, and by him beaten of- ten to the ground, did as often recover himfelf byvertue received from the touch of the earth (for he was thought to be Sonne of the earthy by which help he was alwaies viftcrious^till he firove with Her^ culesywho finding out this myftery caaght him in his armes and holding him in the aire crufhedhim to death. By Hercules is underftood a laborious and skilfull Philofopher^ by Aniens thefubjeft to be wrought upon, in which are contrary Qualifications : This matter is not cafily known, becaufe it lies hid everywhere, and at the fame time lies open^underftand thefirft inrefpeft of mens intcl lefts, the other in refpe^t of Senfe^and if it were
known
t26 'iheMyJieries and Lavpes
known, yet the preparation is fo difficult' little good can becxpeded, The Philo- fophical esrth is his Parent whofevertue isnoteaiily attained, Hence it is that this Antem is fecrctly ftrengthned from bfsmoihcr, and fo all endeavour of kil- ling Anteus IS in vain and to no purpofe.
Therefore Of^ris being about to travel intolndi^ did not unadvifedly confult with 'Prometheus vernour, a.nd Hercules as Prefident of the Provinces, by whofe direction and his own induftry he alwaies accomplifhed his end, he ufcd Vulcans (hop, the golden houfe where Apis is fed and ivouriflied, for thofe three forementioned have their fe- verall offices in the Philofophical worke : but fon)e may fay what is this to the Fra- ternity of the R.C, ,^ it properly apper- taines to them, for they have overcome Anteus , they have fufficiently declared their Herculean ftrength, the wit of Mer^ cury^ and the Providence of Frometbeus : This, this is the knowledge in which the Fraternity is skilled, fetched from the in- nermoft depths of nature j which to neg- (ed or to fuffer to pcrifh were folly and madnefs : There is no Chymifi who un- derftands noc What we mean.
They
of the Rofecmcians. 187
They who take a voyage to the Eaft- idies^ cannot be without fweet frefti f ater,and if they finde oat a fpring, they ' ke a fpeciall notkcof it, fet kdown in tcir Writings, that others travelling that ay may enjoy the like benefit, much ceater reafon is therc-(hat in the Philo- i>phicai voyage,having gotten a fountain nding forth pleafant ftreames, which in cafily quench thirfi and fatisfie, how reat reafon is there that this nK)uld be ighly efteemed and valued : I mean here le Philofophers living water and not ny dead, which when once attained, the 7hole bufineffe will fuccced, for the /hole work is perfcfted by one artifice, y one way, hy one fire which is natural not neglefting the other three, unnatu- al, againft nature and occafional) in one effell, at one time, with one laibour, zhich muft be cautiouUy underftooA e The Book M alwaies in the hand and ainde of the Fraternity, and tranfmitted till to pofterity, doth Efficiently lay o- )en the knowledge of this Nature, in vhich Book is contained the perfection o£ 11 the Arti, beginning with the Heavens md defcending to lower Sciences. For the nind of a wife man covets afcer the know- ledge
1 28 JheMyJierks and Lawes
ledge of all truths^ to confute crrours^atid to adorne it fclfe with glory and excel- lency , but this is not obtained by idle vain Speculation 5 but by diligent praftife which is the onely true wifdome : 3. I havefpoken enough before of their reme- dies for the cure of difeafes. 4* The Bre* thren laftly have a fecret of incredible vertue, by which they can give Piety, juftice and truth theupperhand in any perfon whom they afFeft, and fupprefs the oppofite vices, but it is not my duty to exprefs what this is : 1 befeech the Great God who governeth the whole world by his providence, fo to difpofe of all things that fuch myfteries may never be loft, but that the whole world may receive benefit thereby 5 and that hereafter men may not think it (ufficient fuperficially to look in- to nature ; but deeply prying into it may have more knowledge of God the Center, andprai/e him alwaies for his Goodnefs.
CHAP
oftheRofecrHcians^ ia9
ol^r CHAP. XIX. rha^t many Fables have pa fed under the name of the fraternity, raifed hy the multitude who alwaies mij' •judge ofth*t which they doe not underfiand.
It cannot beotherwife, the Fraternity beine in refpea of it felfe well known, inrefpeft oftlieperfons thereof concea- led, but that many ftrange, horrible, and incredible falfities fliould be caft upon them ; for i£we hear, fee, or by any other ff nfe have experienced any thing, yet in difcourfe this wiH te altered, ifnotal- toeetheq changed, becaufe he that relates wiU either adde or diminiih ; and the o- ther not apprehending it aright, or per- haps failing in memory, orforaffefti- on favouring or envying the bufiners.wiU unfaithfully report it : They who want thofe two faculties of memory and judg- ment are not competent judges m matter* of fo great concernment 5 what can a blind witnefs affirme that hefaw> one deaf that he heard? or one not capable of underftanding that he apprehendedHoc all thefe miftake one thing for another, they blame the fubjeft and not them- ' K lelves}
1 30 The Mjfleries andtavper
Cclvesj they fupoofe all things as low as their parts, and becaufe they want abili- ties, they acknowledge no deficiency j whoever they are who ignorantly or ma- licioufly doe caft out any words aiming thereby to wrong the Fraternityj doe onely, expofe themfelves 5 but letthefe geefe kept onely to fill the belly leave off to hilJe at our Swans : The water of ivhkh we now fpcak, is not that in which filhes doe fwimmc 5 neither is this a fit fiudy for (uch doltes and blocks.JLeave off to difcover what you are by your idle words : Learned and wife men are not cenfured by them, and why (hould they receive evill for good ? But fome may aske,what Fables are thus vented againfl the Fraternity t we anfwcr, that many havedetrafted and t^2i6\^ccA their inno- cent Fam^ and harmlefs confefljOn, that they have accounted them Hercticks, Ne- cromancers, deceivers , difturbers of the Commonwealth ; Oh.irfh times, O evill manners I what is the world come to vhen flinders (hall pafs for Truths, and they who devote ihemielves to God, holi- nefs, and make the Scripture their Rule, {hall be called hereticks, when they who flady the depths of Nature fliall be ac- counted conjurers, when they who make
*>> ihe Kojecmcunu 1 31
it tncir buGnefs to doe good to othersi iftall be efteemed cheaters ^ laftly when they who doe to their ucmoft power ad- vantage their Countrey , (hall be held the ereateft enemies thereof ?
I can think thefe abfurd railors to be none others then thole who are imploycd in thcdiftillation of fimple waters forA- pothecaiies; they hate nothing more then learning, and C(5unt themfelves io much happier by how much more igno- rant ; and fome (\cox\k(s) aaingfrom a more noble and divine principle, have enlarged mind?3 willing and dcfirousto contdn thellniverCe, who doe not onely imploy their time in ftudy and meditati- on, but experiment what they learne ; a wife man endeavours after the know- ledge of all things; as a Prince hath intel- ligence of all tranfaaion?, and ?s by the bneheisdiftingu'ibed frotti a fool, foby the other from a peafant ; But the Fra- ternity doe imitate both, fo that nothing is wanting to hinder their perfeftion.
As for that reproach they lie under concerning their difturbing of the Com- monwealth, it is altogether falfeand by them coined; therefore la it return upon thcfirft broachers of it, to whom it pro- perly belongs as being bheir owne : they ^ K 2 might
1^2 The Mjfjieries and Lams
jni^ht jaiHy complain of fuchindignitks offered to their, but they account it ver- tuous to fuffer.
That there are fo many Herefies a- broad in the world, is not to be charged upon the holy Scripturejbut theobftinacy of men forcing the text to eonfirme their willjisto be check'd ; foitis no fault of the Fraternity that they are abufed , but theirs who are fo wicked astocalumni- ate them; for if to accufe any man were fufficient to prove him guilty, juftice and inJuOice, truth andfalfliood, whitcand black would not be diftinguifhed, which is altogether unreafonable.
Chap. XX.
That the Brethren of the R, C. doe neither dreame of ^ hope f or ^ or in^ deavour any Reformation in the world by Religion ^ the converfion of the Jewes^ or by the Policies •fEn^ thufiajis which feemingly would he eftablij/jed by Scripture^ hut that they both acknowledge and J/jctp themfehes lovers of truth C^jujiice,
AS that which in the day time moft runs in mens thoughts, doth in the
night
^^tpe Jtiy ecruaans. 133
night ;ics j io every, n>^n is careful to let no op- portunity flip of indeavouring to accom- plith his intention ; they who fet their minds upon riches, arc very laborious and painful to advance their eftates; they who bend their thoughts to change Com- monwealths, to alter Religion, to inno- vate the Arts, make ufe of very often moft dtfpicable infiruments to doe their bufinefs : from this Tpring head hath iffued many murmuring ftrcamesj fuch Caufcs (\ fay) have produced many tu- mults and confufions in Common- wealths, where men have been a£ted by vain thoughts and foolifli dreame€,asit now doth evidently appcare both in the Artabaftifis and Enthufiafts : are there not many even in this our age, who being ambitious to be ringleaders in new waies, inftead of a Reformation, havedifturbed all order, and law /* they forfooth would have Religion and Learning luit with the irfentaftical ©pinions. ; ;; ^h As foone as thefe had heard of thS Honourable Society, they affuredthem- ielve^ that their deiires would have an happy iffue 5 for knowing thet thefe Bre- thren were able in learning and riches, they doubted not but that they would
imploy
134 ^*^ Myjleiries andBar^t
imploy both thofe talfents to caufe ah Univerfal Reformation in tlte worldjthey therefore immediately promlfed to thcm- felves one Empire, one Religion, unity and concord 5 but in all thefe things-they were belyed and abufedjfor they did never affert any fuch things; neither is there any ground of them in their writings : Out of their Books fomething may be gathered concer»5ng the Reformation of the Arts which was indeavoured by tht firft Author about 217. years agoe, about A, C. 1460. and at that time th6y had heed of a Reformation ; witilefs the la- bour and ftudy of eminent men who have to good purpofe fpent their time to pro tnote learning, as Kudolfhm Agricola^ E- rafmus Roterodammyl). Luther ufy phiiippus MeldftchthomsyTheop, Faracelfus^Joh* Re- gioffiOHtanusyCopernicusvjith many others! and there is no doubt but the Arts may be more encreafed, their Iiiftre more poli* flied^many more fecrets difcovered. But herein Religion is not at all concerned. Let Rome therefore that Whore oiBahyloftj and her Idolatrous affeding an Ecclefia^ flical tyrannyjwhowith niennacies makes hot oncly inferiorsjbut Kings their flaves andvaffals, who belch out proud words agaiiift the true Church of God, withoac
aoy
0^ the Rofecrncians. 135
iiy attempt of the Fraternity, (orfaking heir toics and vanities, their blafphemy 'z prophanefsjreturn into the right way } 0 may a reformation be produced , and 3iety and religion (hall flourifii.I fear yet :hat thefe as they who are rich and po- werful will not judge that true which may any waies prejudice them , they I doubt will not embrace naked Truth, ho- neft [implicity : But iuch Reformations Delong more to God then man, who can turn the hearts of men at his plealure,and Co difpofeall affaires thataleverechecke may be put to the growth of Popery. However the Brethren fas all good men oughtj count it their duty to pray for and expcft fuch a Reformation : the bu- (incfs lies more in theinlightning of the underftanding, then changing the will, which is Gods own work; for he gives to doe and will as he thinks fit : who caa ^although he had the power of miracles) convert the obftinare Jewes, when the fcripture more confounds them and be«» comes a ftumbling- block ?Gbferve how their own writings doe difagreejhow one thwarts: another ; and yet they conlider not that wherein is concord. As for youjc Enthufiafts their Revelations of which they fo much bQaft,are fonKtimes to Sin,,
but
t3$ TheMjifimes and L/twqst.
but that.cannot be from God $ dor th^y - not dreamiE interprecations on (crtpture| and when either tht Dcvill doth delude themorthty are diflraftcd, they count tlicir conditions happy ; they acknpw- ledge nt» iUif priority jthoughcorornanded and alk>W'«d i?n the Scriptures : Biit our l$ret}}rti> haye alwaiis had one anaongfi them a($ chr^te and goverrour towhoni they are obedient 5 th£y pitty {"uch.per- Cons wilom tbey findeeheattd and ottea pofitflcd •, laftjy ^as it h.hv poffibJe to fe- pairate heat from fire, fo its as irtippffible to feparate Vcrtue frdm this 5odety ; they beftow their dmem duty to Gad, in diligent of Search of the fcripture, in cha^* rityjinu healing gratis, in experin^enting the fccretsofNature: they have the true Aftronotoy, the true Pbyficks, Mathem*- ticks. Medicine and Chymiftry by which they are able to produce rare and won-* derful effcfts 5 they are very labourious, frugal!) temperate, fccrcr, true ; laftly, make it their buiincfs to be profitable and beneficial to all men, of whom when wc have Ipoken the higheft Commendations, wcmuftconfcfs our infufficiency to reach ^heir worth.