Section 4

on
oftbeRofectHcians* 39
rjli I meii) yet the Balfome of Nature was (li, ore powerful then the diftempers s. oci( his fire was fpread over all the Work! ^i )nducing to the good both of body and ^^ iind, in freeing the one from infirmities, [^, le other from greivous paflions 5 for ^ othing doth more chear and make glad mi ic heart of man then this Univerfal Me- ,^, icine ; precious Aones wrought into jfij 4btile powder, and leafe-gold are the
ngredients of this powder commonly jjjj ailed Edel herizfttlvn : Mjchilus doth ;^( ttribute the invention of. Pj/remattcji the j)jj ompofition of Medicines, the firftwor- QQJ dng upon Gold,Iron,and other mett%l% I 0 frontttheus'y h^nce the Athemans ere- [,j, ltd an Altar common to him, Vnlc(m J, md ?dlasy confidering how much fire ;l :onduced to the finding out of the fecrets j^ Df nature ; But we muft know that a ^g fourfold fire is required to bring this Me- ja dicine to perfeftion, and if one of them
is wanting) the whole labour is loft.
CHA^.
i«
50 The Mjfierks ami Lnwes
\
t
CttAp. V-
That the Cure of difeafes by fpecificki remedies of occult qmlityjK>hich th Fraternity ujeth^ is mofl futabtl to mans Nature^ and prevalent a gainft alldiftempers.
WEmuftnotby what hath been hi therto fpoken fuppofc that tht Brethren ofe Medicines which arc not na* tural; for they have Vegetables and Mi nerals, but they having a trneknow*^ ledge of the fccrct and occult operation •f things, know what will be mbft efie dual for their purpofe.
They have their fanchrefta, their folj^ chreflay their ManusCbrifti^ and other great titles; their Narcoticas znd Alex spharmaca^ of which Galen and others do much boaft, thinking them a prefent help at 1 dead life ; and to colour their cheats^ ftriftly conmaad thai none Stall either
pre-
dftbe RifecfUcidfffs 3 1
f>r€fcribe or give them whhout a large ec, as if the price added vertueto them, and the effect did much depend upon the coft.
The Brethren alfo have variety of Me- dicine? ; feme called Kings, fome Prin- ces, feme Nobles, and others KnightSj each one being denominated according tfllto its excellency and worth ; But we y muft take notice that they prefcribe not according to the purfe, but the infirmity of the Patient; neither do they defire a reward before hand ; they likewife fie not a childcs ILoe to an old manjbecaufe a due proportion ought to be carefully tb lobferved ; a dram Is fufficient for the one, itj^^nd an ounce of the fame Medicine for the other. Who would not think it ab- ]o4furd to apply the fame Plaifter to the itioi ihardned and brawny hand of a Plow- (fcfman, and to the delicate and neat hand
of a Schollar or Gentleman > pj He that praftifcth Phyfick aright doth lid confider the different temper of perfons (/({. In the fame difeafe, as a learned Judge fjijd doth not alwayes givie the fame judge- t,(}|) mentlnthe fame caufe, which circum* jjtj, ftancc* may very much alter : The Bre- Itlitf ihren look chiefly to the conftitadon of ff? '. the
Ja ihc MyfieriesandLawei
!W
the Patient, and do accordingly prc- fcrjbc. (itj
They have in all things experience to ]i\i confirme their knowledge 5 they ufeveri wj choice Vegetables which they gather ifla when they are impregnated with heaven- Soi ly influences , not deluded with com- p monidle Aftrological notions, but cer- tiki tainly. knowing at what time they have ||[( received a fignatUre effcftual to fuch an jd, end 5 and they apply thefe Vegetables to ^^ fuch difeafeg for which they were in ten- i^/f ded. (^;
It is a moft irrational thing when na- |nf ture hath afforded us fimple Medicines ^^ to corre6t and amend its deficiences, that tuf we (hould mixe and compound with qua- (v^ lities hot, cold, moift, and dry, io that mj ,oneSpecifick being perhaps fecretly of a ijij contrary ;^ operation to another ingre- ^^ dient, the proper vertues of both, if not [i^ loA,yet are much dimintfhed. i^j,
The GaleMifisCdiy that the firftQaali-fj] ties do alter, that the fecond do either ^ thicken or attenuate, and fo fooliihly and 0^ ignorantly of thp reft : Whereas each ^ Vegetable hath in It verme eflentially to jj chafe away that ditejife to which it may ,fj, rightly be applied. It is here b Medicine „j
88
I cfibeRafeetaeians. 3$
nn an Army, if each Souldicr falls out
ith thc^ihcr, or they mutiny againft
aeir Commander, the enemy gets
rength, and makes ufe of their weapons
1>! » flay them.
en ; Some may ask, wh^t is here meant by iQ aecifice^ I ahfwer that I intend that fT \hich the illiterate Galenifisc^iWsznoc* 3" ilt Qualitys becaufe it is neither hotj ^n lid, moi^> nor dry ; becau{« indeed sw ae profound knowledge was above OJ cir reach ortmderftanding.
VaUjcus de tar ant ay lib. 7. cap, it- n* fines or defirribes the Galenical occult fi« uaiity. A qucftion is ftarted how a iliu Jcuft hanged about the neck doth cure ]ii* Juartane > To which they anfwer, tlii at if thefe Empirical Medicines have oi y fuch vertue, they have it from their p^ cult Quality^ which contains the Spe- ft^ ick form of the difteraper conjoined th the influence of the Stars : but then ; may ask what that totall propriety is> fcrrhoes calls it a Complexion; others anf/thatitis the fub^ntial form of i mpound body s fome will have it to be e whole mix turcj vi«. The Form> the itter,and Complexion, which i^wicfw- iiciii4 names the whole fubftance. when h« D faW
\k
ead mi
■
34 ^J^^ Adyflerm and Lavpes
faid that a body hath neitheroperatidn . ^ from the Matter DOr Quality, but the.- ^^ whole Subftance or Compofition. f
But to (peak truely and dearly as it becomes Philofophers, we hold thatthere j, is a natural vertue and certaia-prcdefti- [^ nation flowing from the influenCf of hea*j i venly bodies, To particularly difpofing the Form to be introducedjthat it is (as ic ^ were J determined to its proper objeft| 4 whereby after due preparation of thq m matter, and conjunftion of the form, th4 ]t whole Subftance or mixed body necefla- \^^ rily produces a proportionable tffe^^ j^ And Avicenna perhtps meant thus maclk ^^^ whence Jdrnoldus in his* Book Ve Cauji ^^ Stertljtaiis, faith that the peculiar prgK }[(( priety of a thing is its nature which pro* ^ cceds from the right difpolition of th^ |n pares tobe mixed, and this is called ar f^^ occult Quality, to moftmen unknowr, | bccaufe of its difficulty. Hence it i fpj| that Nature is ftiled a Complexion, no; '^. becaufe it is fo properly, and found ou by reason, its fccrets being on ely di fcp vered by experiment and praftice : b] this the undeiftanding knows thateKi[)|,j^ perienecis above reafon; becaufe thei^ ^ arc fo many experiments of which w j,
cai
li
ffnc
idle
m
of the RofecruciuKs. 35
m give no rational account, nor finde
ut any method to fatisfie our felvcs
oncerning them. «^
By what hath hitherto been fpokcn, it
ainly appears that the whole propriety
fany thing is not the Complexion ; for
it were rp, all things Vvhich have the
meproprietVjWculd confcquently have
€ fame complexion, which is falfe 5 for
\ubarh and "laptarinds from their whole
opriety do attract: ^nd draw choler,
id yet are not of thefanae complexion,
kmVaUfciii. ;.. . ^ , !
It is therefore evident that |iie uue
opriety of Medicinal thing% is onely
town by experiment, and not by the
•Ife Galenical rules of Art, whkh.do not
ve us light into tfae nature of any
iftple. For inftance, confickr the Rofe,
fends forth a ifioft pleaiant perfume,
disof a ruddy lovely colour, not in
ifped of the Quality cold and dry , but
that proper vertae cflentially in it 5
ither can there be any deduction from
ofe Qualities being not fubjeft to Taft,
Feeling, to Hearing, and confequently
)ne at all, becaufe Specificks have ano-
er original.
How are the firft Qualities obferved^ I Di not:
56 ^hc Mjfjimes and Lawes
not from their cffence and nature, but a fenfe difcovers them , whence rcafor draws a concluRo*: But we fee noi how reafon candetermine concerning th Qualities of a Rofe, whether it is hot coldj moift, and dry, unlcfle it hath beci informed by the fenle?, as by the colour fentjtafte, or touch.
But thcfe fUiles are altogether unccr tain and fallacious, and there are mor, experiments to overthrow thcntocoi firmc them ; for who dare affirm that cold things have no fent, that all ho things hate fciit > that all fented thing J* arc hot, that all that have no fent ar ' cold; or that white things are coldo
' hot,that red things are hotter then white ' or contrartly that bitter things are hoi
^narcotick cold ? &c. for Oftwii^ the fpiri of wine, the Kofe and more things wi confute fuch an opinion 5 io that tb Qualities do depend upon fuch uncei taintics in refpeft of every limplc, that is far better to truft to experience t fearch into the fecrcts of Nature, th^ J'" vainly to triffle away time in gatherin } the fccond Qualities from thefirft, an ^^ the tViird from the fecond, or to ga^ ^ ^" reafon by ienfe 5 a thing moft ridiculoa *^
unl€(
llVl
V
min m
m(l( 'em,
np:i
of the Rofecruciam. 3 7
nleffe it b^ in the cure of difcafcs where ic Qualities are in confufion.
When the Mgyptians underftood this, leyftudied and moft cftcemedof that Ibyfick which was experimental, and ot notional 5 and therefore they ufcd to lace their Sick perfon in the ftreets, that
any one ot the! people that paffed by id laboured und(;r the fame difeaie, he light tell the Specifick remedy with hichhewas cured; whence itfome- meslofallsouc that an old woman or 1 Emperick in fome certain difeafes lay cffeft more by one proper fpecifickj ten many Phylitians by their methods id longcourfes.
I would not be mifunderftood^ as if icre were no judgement to be ufed in the Iminiftration oWhyfick, but that ex- ^rience (hould be the onely guide ; Me% cine whether fpcculative or praftical, iufl concur and meet in truth: I fay e muft notas to the invention or pre- ription of Phyfick truft too much to cafon enformed falfly concerning the iture of dijngS) but when experience ith confirmed us in myAeries and
Icrets^ecaufe reafon is too weak- fighte^ I reach them^wc muft not perverfly flight D ] them.
3 8 ihe Mjffiefki and Lawes
them, difefteeming ctivioufly tthat wejat cannot attain.
I do not account him a rational Phy jRtian who hath onely a large fcrowle (Mt^^ bill of Simples in his memory, and catJuli diftinftly tell you what are hot inth«ilie; firft degree .what in the fecond, v;hat iti thethirdjandcan rt!n thorow thelecono Qnalitie? and third ; and if at any tinK he is called to a Patient^from this rabbll as from the belly of the 7'rojane horfi iffue many Receipts, many bands, U't^ei in he isignoi'lnt of themoft incon(iderab! Simple, and knows not how rightly tl apply it : Shall not he who undcrftand^ . and is well acquainted with his Medi cinesjbe of more repute? A few felef prefcriptions that ai^e infallible and efft ftualto the cure, are%fm^;re worth tho *a rude mult i rude ofGakmcaiK^ccipts We have indeed now fo great va^ief of Mtdicine'^3 that it puzzles a Phyfitia more to chiiie what is bcft then to invent for it is not the abundance of remedji tbat overcomes a ^ifeaie^ but the veitii' method, order, andchoice of timeaft place, that give fucctffe.
We read in Hiftories of tht xour:l| and skill of a Sfartane Kihg , who \iyk
a ban
ojtme.oJecrHctaH.r^ jj
a band of 400, flout Lacedemonians poflef- iedihe ftreights by which Xerxes (hould paflc with^an Army. , of .1700000. and ade there a great flaughter of them ; when the inlulting Verfian boafted that ithey would clofe the Sun with their ar- [rows 5 the Spartaine King anfwered that then we will fight in the (haddow.
By thefe examples it appears that a fcleft company of choice fouldiershave great advantage againft a confui^d mul- titude j And why are not afew choice Iremeditrs beyond an heap of vain receipts? Some have faid that an Army is com* pleat that hath an hundred thoufand ; and if the number exceeds, it will be tu- multuous, and in no order and dKcl- pline. We may affert the like of Medi- cine5if it increafcth to a great number, it rather kills then cures; for every Spe- cifick waging war or being oppofitc to another, muft neceffarily difturb Na- tures peace and tranquillity.
^D4, CHAP.
40 ihc Mjjimes and Laws
im
uc
Ghap. VI. ^^
Although other Thyjitians may ihaU lenge^ as indeed they defervt^ a due revpard 5 yet the Brethren do cure grath^ not valning money.
WE read in Hiftory that great pcr- fonsj Kings and Princes, have cnttrrtained famous and learned Pfayfi- tians, not onely allowintj them a conii- derable annual Oipend) but have raifed them to great prefcroieac and honaur: Erafifiraxui^ound out the uifeafe of ^«- tiochus^viK,, his Icve of his mocher in Law, of which he recovered him, and received, of his Son Ptolomy ap hundred Talentt t Vemocidcs reftores the Tyrant TolycrJ^a for two Talents of Gold ; The fame perfon for curing Darius had given to
him
of the Bjofecrucians. 41
m a very rich chaine of Gold, and two jldcn Cups. Jaeobus Codmus Phyfi* an to Ltvis the fecond King of France^ id 50000. Crowes yearely paid him ; id Ih-^ddem the Florentine got 5,o Townesdailyj travelling op and down* ) cure the (icke.
The reward and gaines Phyfick bring* h in hath caufed many Students to nploy all their time and labour therein , ho for the moft part look more to the rofit then health of their Ne]ghbour» id good of the Common-wealth; If € indeed confider to hoiv many infirmi* es we are fubjeft, we ihall fin^e Phyfick )beas nccellary as food and raiment; ndthen able Fhyfitians are to be fought )r5whomay )udiciouQy admiriifter it j ut no man will employ all his paines, dA, and labour, in that of which he (hall japnoharveft; who will bcanothers irvantfor no wages? Will a Lawyer lead without his Fee ? neither is there ny injundionor law to command and bligc a Doftor to cure for nothing; It 70uM be very hard and rigorous, if any (lan (bould be forced to give away what •roperly belongs to him. Meneerates he Syracufan had nothing for his painet
but
"41 I'hd M/Jimei a^JLa voit
but affeftcd Divinity; he would b* he thought and accounted JufiUr^ whi V^as wcurfe then if he had required a rf? ward Tutablc to his Calling. I The Brethren are fo far from receiving aFeCj that they fcorneit ; fofarfrop vain glory of their fucceffe, that thqkw will not have fuch a favour acknoWfO^ ledged. They have not one MediciUnit for a great man, another for the pooif/oj but equally refpeft both; frequent in vifi j,^, ting5Comfortersin«^fRidion5 and reliiii,,^ verspf the poor ^ Their labour is the! ^^ reward, their paines to them gain; n^tnd Mice or other Vcrmine can diminifti thc^ ^i\ heap, no Dragon or wild Beaft can eith^^ poilbn or exhauft their Fountain.
Cxltus\J\b, 1 6, Cip. ID. tcHsus^jii p/j/ZoaPhyfitian, who found out cert ai he Medicines which he called "the Hands i the gods '^ but thj? e:reat Title was but Ivie hung out for a ihew to take the eye of theSpe£latours3 to furprife the can of the Hearers, which promifcd mor then they performed, and rather delude then helped any, having a glorious om Cdci but within dregs and corrupt : Bi the Brethren although they have the pio cSicacioq^ Medicines ia the World, y
the
of ihe Raficruciaftf, 45
', hey bad rather conceal the Vertues then
li'oaft ot thcin ; their Pov ders perhaps
i (nay be accounted i little Cinaberor
!) orae (light ft nffe, but they effe^ njore
htn kems to be expefted froul them; They poffeffe the Phalaia and Afii otBa^ ^^ius^ the Nepenthes that drives away for- rowo^Hcmr and "trifmegifius^ theOynt- ^ntntofGoldj the founfain of Jupiter HamrjfOTf ^vjhich at night is hot, at noon
s cold, lukewarme at fu» riling and fet- ling 5 iot they contemn Raines and in- come by their poflcflion, neither are they imticed with Honour or Preferment , i:hey are not (o overfeen as one of whom ^tjiVy rpeakes, who wrote againft others affcftaiion of eftceme, and placed his Iname in the Front! fpeice of his Book that ihe miehtbe more known 5 they embrace fecurity, and are not buried but live and i are active in filence.
Is not this a rare Society of men who I are injurious tonone, but feek the.good I and happineffe of aH, giving to eiich iperfon what appertains to him.? Thefe
Brethren do not adore the riling Sun, I meere Parafites^who conforme themfelves
to the becks of great men, their words
and actions are masked with cheat5.
Ic
44 Tie Myjleries and Larves
It is reported that the Statue of Diana by Art was Co framed,that if a prefent was brought to her by a Pilgrime, (he would fbew a chcareful and pleafing count e* nance ; but if any one came empty Hic frowned) was angry, and Teemed to threaten: even fo is the whole World, wherein all things are fubjeft to Gold 5 this duftofthe earth is of no value with them, becauie thoCe things are low in their eyes which others much adore» They had rather finde out a Myftery in Nature then a Mine ; and as Gold ferves to help forward their flfudies, fo they cfteeme of it : They wi(h and are ambi- tious of the age oi Solomon wherein there was (b great plenty at JerufaUm as tiles on thehoufesjiilver at common asliones intheftreet: fo in the golden age its ufe was not known 5 men were contented with what Nature freely afforded them, living friepdly under the Government of the father of the family, without broileSf luxury, pride, much lefle war.