Section 6

faid
6o The Myfteries and tawes
faid of thofc who fell Medicines, whethe Pliyfitians or Apothecaries, If they abui their profeffion.
Itremaines to (hew that Specificks Vegetables and things of little worth are more powerful againft any difcaf then thofe which are of fo great price neither is the reafon fetch'd farre ; fo they whofe Property abfolutly refifts th malady, they C I fay J rauft needs be mor cffeftually then thofe who accidcntall] fuit the difcafe, and by meer chanc work a cure. In Mechanicke Arts if ; man excellent in one (hould boaft of hi, skill in another which he never faw, yot would finde him a bungler in it ; but | employ the fame in that Trade wherein L he hath been brought up, and he wil fhew himfelf to be a workman : So irjtli difeafes, when each Specifick doth itf own office, there is an happy ifliie, buj m applied to another proves of noeffeft neither can it be expefted from one martli ( thought he had an hundred hands J to A conquer an Army, which yet choice Bands of experienced Souldicrs may eafi- ly overcome ; but we have been tedious \ about this fubjedt.
CHAP
of the RofecrHchnt. 6 1
Chap. IX.
l^hdt many are haters p/Chymiftryj and others fcorne the ufe of Vege- tables 4» J Galenical contentions ^ either of which may he ufeful in f roper Cafes ^
S the Palats of men are not all ta- ken with the fame cafte, but what Ai pleating to one, is loathfome to ano-. , j] her ; fo mens judgements do differ, and \i ^hat one approves the other aOTents not bo into ; both which happen or are caufed ^ isby Sympathy or Antypathy, drawing ,ji liem on to embrace, and provoking tj :hem to hate fuch a thing ; (o alfo by jo prejudice or reafon corrupted. j Some dare not tafte Ciieefe all their ^jj life ; fome abftaine from it a few years ; rome drink onely water, refufing Wine or Ale > and in tbefe th^re h great va*
^ riety^
fib
^i ihe MyfteriefandLawes
riety ; no Icfle is the dilTerence amori^ Mlndes : Whence it is that two md'^ ting when neither hath fecn or heard the ether, at the firft fight, (hall define ar jl" feck each others friendlhip 5 and on ti contrary, whence is it that one hates a other from whom he never received ii ? jury I as evidently appears by one coff ing where two are gaming, he prefentl fhallfinde hisaflfeftion to clofe with th * one, and if his wifh might fucceed h ^^' fhoald winne 5 and he would gladly hav the other lofe, though he neither re cevid courtefie from the one, nor harra« or ill word from the other.
Now as much as the underftandiiu cxcells the tafte, and dull and fenfualfi ctilty 5 fomuch a truly wife man furpaf fcth one that cncly outwardly Terms jii dicious; one by rcfleftion confidcrs anc weighs the matter^the other not fo acute- ly apprehending is tempted to raflmcffe. Thus many learned men whofe Fanciej have not been in due fubjeftion to theit underftanding?, have abufcd themfelveA and have heedlefly embraced this as good, and caft off that as evil.
It may feem as ftrange in Medicine that fome Doctors flioald oncly prc-
fcribe
'03
ean ire
of the Rofecrucf ans* 6 J
m^ ibc Vegetables and Galenical ^\ijiick^ rfeftly hating Chymiftry, and that tiers wholly inclined to novelty (hould fule all Medicines that are not Chymi- (n lly prepared.
Both parties (^in mine opinion) arc
^ayed more by Fancy then Rcafcn ; for
uppoCe it ablolutly neceflary to ftudy
ffjft your ancient dogmatical Medicine
[i, Kh as CO the Speculative and the Pra-
pj ical part) and to corre6): the faults as
j,. e have already pointed in thefirft, fe-
^^ )nd, and third Qualities ; and the fame
ij^ Jurfe is to be taken in Chymiftry, fo
lat they be without fufpition and dc-
j;, sit: andfirft we will begin with the
fj Id^and then proceed to the new.
, We have fufficiently proved that there
le occult properties and fpecifick ver-
ues in Simple?, as no learned Galetti^
ver denyedj who have alfo confeffed
lat thefe did not work from their Qua«
Jlities or degrees, btu their natures to
^ nitigarc Symptoraes, uke away the
:aufe of the difcafe, and to Enthroni2«
h^th in mans body^.
Iftbbbctrue, why arenotPhyfitiant aiore careful in gathering and rightly ^dfirftiadfffg dije o»mr^ of Simples ?
f§rniliur
64 '^ke Myfierles and Lavpcs
Fernelius in his Book Ve ahditis reruf ^^ cdufis^ faith that this Specifick vertii which he calls the Forine,lies hid in ever part of a Simple, and is d ifu fed througbr out all the Elements , hence if by Ghy miftry water is drawn off, oylc is ex trafted, and Salt made out ot the a(he each of thefe, the Water, Oyle, andSaU hath the Specificall venue of the Simples but I fuppofeone not fo much as ano- ther, yet all joyned together are perfefl and compleat.
Thefe things being laid down anc confirmed, we muft confeffe that the out ward tangible body of any Simple thai may be beaten, cut, fifted, boiled, n ing- led with any other, to be the barke, the carkafl[e,and habitation of theSpeciffck Quality which is the pith, the foul, the houftolder: And now what fhallw^ fay of our common preparations in Apo thecaries (hops, which have good and bad, nay moft corrupt in them ? would not all laugh him to fcorne who being commanded to call a Matter out of his houfe, will needs have , the houfe along too ? that cannot ufe the birds nnleffe theneft be an Ingredient, that cannot cat Oyfters unkfle he may alfo devour
the
vfthe Rofecrucians. 6 $
he Qiels ? But the Apothecaries think his lawful enough, becaufe they can do lo better -, thefe occult Qualities indeed re fo lubtile, that they make an eafiy fcapejunleffe they be narrowly watch'd, ndwitha great skill houfed or incor- orared. Can^phire lofeth its ftrength nltflc it be cherilhed with flaxe-feedj .ubarb is preferved by waxe and the )irits of Wine ; the Salt of goats blood oes evaporate/if it benotclofe ftopp'd 1 glalfes.
What (hall we then fay of thefe Speci- :al Qualities feparated from their bo- i'^Mes? will ncr they return to their firft iiiciples ? for who can feperate the lualicie of burning from the fire ? the iaiitie of moiftning from the water ^ Jt if this be impoilible in fimple bodies, )W much more difficult is it in com- )und ^
1 could therefore wifli that Medicines ^« ere ufed which were lawful, poilible, tji^drearonablc, that laying afideoflen- cion and pride, truth might flouriih. Perhaps we might allow of Syrups, leps, Conferves, did not that great lantity of Sugar clog the natural opc- :ion of the Simple : Perhaps we might F approve
66 iht Myjlerks atjdLawes
approve of Eleftuaries, Opiars, And dotes, unleffc the nniltitiide of finiplc confulVdty put together did hinder, f not totally cxtin^uifh the true vertue Perhaps Pills,and all bitter, fovvre, fharp (linking Medicines are good ; biit ye they dcilroy appetite, caufe loathfomc neffejthat a Patient had better endur the difeafe then the remedy ; if bitter nefle, fowrnefle, fharpnefle, and an i favour, arc the Specifical Qualities, the (hould be rather checked then let loofi and indeed they are but handmaids t their Miftrjffe, but fubfervient to th fpecifical Quality 5 and the true difft renceisdifcovered by Chymiftryj for feparates the impure parts from the pur if rightly ufed : yet raiftake not, we fa not that Chyniicai preparations area w together fpiritual and without any bod; but are more peircing and fubtile, mo deffcatcd thengroflt' bodies made mo heavy by a great quantity of Sugar,: that they are not free and at liberty (iK a£l and play their parts. *r
By this time you may fee the folly ar li madnelfeof thofe who hate Chymiftr tti which ought to be uied, but with ca fil and judgement 5 for it is not the pi k
effife RoJec^Hcians. 67
jfaPhyfitian to burn, lance, cauterize, nd to take away thecaufe of thedifeafe, yweakning the Patient, and indanger- g his life j but Symptomes muft be a- ated, nature rcftored and comforted by ife Cordials. One Arch agatus was the rft Chirurgian that came to Kowey and ^as honourably received ; but coming ^ ufe lancing and burning, he was lought rather an hangman ; and for the ike caufe atone time all the Phyfitians rcre banidied Rome, One Charms a hyfitian condemning the judgement of [ is PredccelTors, fet up new inventions of l\ h own, and commanded his Patients ia oft and fnow to bath in cold water, as liny reports 5 who faith alfo that he hath en old men fct freezing them by his di- ftion. Acefias about to cure the Gout 3 »okcd more to the difeafe then pain e, hich j;)y negleft encreafed, whence the ^Jroverbe had its Original , Acefias medi" tus efty as 'Era\mm hathit^ when the edition growes worfe, Acefias his ure.
It is cleare enough from what hath ^ ten delivered that Nature is beft fatis- j^c d when profitable and wholefome j,jp an g$ arc applied. Afclipiades sm inti- F 2 mate
lyi
68 T/^e Myfierks and Larves
mate friend of C». fomfej fii ft (hewed tht benefit of Wine to iicke perlons,recover- ing a man carried tohisgravc;hctaughi to maintain health by a moderate ufe o^^ meat and drink, an exact care in excer- n cife, and much rubbing 5 he inventec im delightful and pleafing potions, hecoittai manded bathing, and for eafe to his Pa^ in tients invented hanging beds, that (leg k might furprize them in fuch a carelefl! V poflure. The fame Vliuy faith that Detm u cr/ttti was a Phyfitian, who intheCun I oiConfidta Daughter to Conl'ul Sereilms t did forbeare har(h mcans,and by the jonf "fl and continual ufe of Goats milk reco «n vcred her. iioi
^^ro« as C(r//«; reports. Lib. i^, caf^ 22. wasaPhyfitian aj^i^f«j, who ins^n great Plague when many were infe6ted I did onely caufc to be made great fire fiio nigh to the place; and thus d'i(i Wppou cratei yior which he w^^s much honoured h
Whence we may learne that mild anc «ii gentle iifage in a difeafe is moreeffica- ot; cions to the taking away of the caufc SQi and to healing the.S'ymptom€S,then harfl H and rugged dealing. The Mariner dotl air; pray for a full gale many times toforo er| him into his d fired Harbour 5 neithei|j(ii
dotH
efthe Rofecrncians. 69
Joth the Traveller goe jn adiredline, ^cc both in the end atcaine their hopes. Reread that Fabimhy dtlay conquered is enemy; fo that it is a Maftcrpeice of ►rudence well and maturely to deliberate nd then to exccure ; yet the method of uring remaines and the Axioms are rmt.,viz» Ifthecaufe be taken away, le effect ceafeth 5 if the difeafe is cured, le Symptomes do vaniOi and weare way.
But Chymiftry ftores and fupplies us
fith Medicines which are fafe, pleafant,
nd foone performe that for which they
rere intended : and others have abun-
antly fet forth this in their writings,
nd therefore it will not berequifiteto
and longer upon it.
Now let us face about and viewthofc
fi, ho are meer Chymifts5 rhefe would
,M B called young 'theof'oraft^^ afieftin^
ijj ke their Mafter a Divine Tide, which
jg p neither had by his Father nor Mother,
jp Mt affumed it to himfelf as moft Magni-
cent and glorious : but without all
ijloubt he was a man of eminent andad-
J3i lirable knowledge in the Art of Phylickj
■pK ecfurely it would be worthily judged
1^1 tadnelTe for his fake alone^ co forfake
lot F 3 the
JO The Myfieries and Lawa
the Ancients and follow his new invent ^ tions,
Itmayfeem an abfurd thing for oni to undertake to reftore a very o^dmzi^ to his former ftrength, beca^ife deaths*' then approaching, and every man i length mull lubmic to his Scepter. *-
Is not the World now ancient an^ '* full of dayes, and is it not folly to thinS S^ of recoveringandcallingback its youth; 'J^ furely their new Mtdiciue cannot revive the dying World, it may weaken it and haftenitsend : ytt ^Ay I pray you, dc not imagine that I do atprefent ccnfur? the excellent and plainly divine Prepa^ ^'' rations of Chymiftry^ bur rather the pa,r{ons who profeffe it, who make t\ 'P their bufineffe to deftroy, but endeavoui not to build, who trample on others to raife and exalt themfelves ^ as thejjalm ofolddid^ railing againft all men whc were not his followers ; So Chrjfippu. Mailer to Erafi^ratus^ to gain prehemi nencejdefpired and changed Hippocrates. Thefe and fuch like men are wonttc promife much ^ but perform little; for w may certainly conclude , that although fuch peffons may affed greatnes^yet they (balnever attain it by fuch indireft means.
I would
ofth e Bx^fecrucians. y i
would many of the Taracelftans did not oo much conforme to their Matters vices 5 f many late vvridngs were fcanned, and heir abufes and tart language againft )lhers left out, I doubt their volumes fould very much (hrink ; it were much setter thatdifeafes the common enemies vere more lookt after, then private ;rudges amongft Phyficians themfelves evengcd : Brute beafts do barke, (hew heir teeth, and fpic venomf ; a mans weapon is Reafon by which he (hould oilc his adverfaries.
As touching Chymiftry, we highly :om^end and admire thofe things in it vhich are good, but yet fo as not to de- pife Galenical Medicine, which in fome afesisas efFcftual : my opinion is that iach ought to be ufcd in its proper place. V!en are noj meer fpirlts but corporeal Subftances, and thtrefore need not Me- dicines exalted to their higheft degree of 3erfeftion,at leaftin every greife applied :o every perfon and to every part or Tiember. There are fome difeafes which "X)eing hot and dry are not to be cured by Chymical prefcriptions , whofe Ingre- dients or Preparations have the like Q^iaiitics. In a Common- wealth there F4 is
'oa
¥-
7 7 ^he Myjleries andLawes
is a Merchant, there is an Husbandman, t^o but one ought not to fupplant the other $ i«f fo a prudent Phyfitian will make ufe ofi li^^ fcoth as he fees occaiion 5 the one for a 'f' Country man, the other for a delicate! "ft' Peifon; the one inflight diftempers, th« lifi other in daiHgerous ca(es ; the one fop liot pleafantnefle, the other for efficacy as ne-) "t^ cefJjty requires. ^ b
m
— — — '--— • ?. Iiei
Chap. X. «,
1^
Kit
Ccncermng the unfufferable vices of-k many Vhjfiuans^ from vphich thi Fraternity of R. C. is free.
f
Coi
1 in
WE have not without fufficient caui«|m3 faid fomething of the abufes of Medicine, which the Brethren warily tr fhunncd by their firft Law, which was, li That they (hould cure the ficke Gratis^ U for the greedinefTe of Phyiitians purs i(. them upon unjuft and illegall actions- jjn Whence come thofe terrible long Bills ^ fc
thofe
of the Rofecruciant. 75
lofe (hort dear Bills,buc from coveteouf- efle ? every one raore ftriving to inrich limfelfe then to help the difeafed 5 yec ;t^e deny to none their honeft gains, jftice and Truth fhould (way them in leirpraftice; let them follow the me- nod of Hippocrates and Gakn-^ yet Na- are indeed is more to be look'd after len either of them, as a fare guide into s ov/n moft intricate fecrets : but from le faults of remedies we will come to le faults of Phyfitians themfelves, by a.hich fo many Pacients do and have ^/ifcarried.
They are commonly thcfe ; Self-con- ;eit, Pride, Malice, Hatred, Calumnia- :ion in word and writing ^Coveteoufnefs, gno ranee, Joyned with agratftockof [Confidence, or rather Impudence.
This Self-conceit becomes no man; if I man is puffed up like a bladder, he nay be fooner broken,a:id his glory will anifhi his greatnefs encreafeth his dan- ger; neither is Pride to be allowed of; t blaits all parts and endowments, and f the man efcape the envy of others, yet leather a flight Feaver makes him fall,, md he who even now was lifted up ihrough ambition, is brought down to
the
7 4 ^^^ Myfierks afid Lawes
the earth. It is not true learning thaip caufeth men to fwell, but an emptinefs they fuppofe themfclves tobeknowin men, when as indeed they underftaro not the depths of Nature. Socrates h learned a IcfTon of ignoranccjafter muchk,f (ludyhc found out his infufficency; iffy thefe vapourers would turn over a ne^^^^ leaf, they would fee their former pre fumption.
Mark how Malice and Hatred profper when two are fet againfteach oiher, theyd^, endeavour by making thcmrdves a com-Q^, mon laughing ftock, utterly to undo,f both, and each at length is whip'd with,., his own rod. There is this benefit in having an envious adverfary, that h Ipends and wafts away; his malice feeds upon hirafelf 5 To that it is better for any man to deferve the envy of another rather then his pittvj the one fuppofing hin\ happy, the other miferable; This vice as the Ivie by embracing trees doth fpoile them ; this vice I Cay clings to great perfons5and fecretly corrodes their Honour and Fame ; what noble exploits, what vertuous deeds have been performed but they have been blown upon by fome peftilential breath? This was thecaufe
of
of the Rofecrncians. 7 5
?ffuriousC/r/«^^ munhcring his rightc* us Brother ^i>f/, and th at j«;>ir^r ftruck ^ fcuiafius with a thunderbolt : to avoid
^ many have forfaken their Coun- "its and lived amongftftrangers, as did 'fbicraus in Ikracia^ timotheus in Lesbos^ hahrias in JEgyft^ Chares in Sigeunty \\io were all Greciam ; amongft the Ko- mn: Viucnphsj for his great and and famous ''iftories withdrew into the Country, nd came (eldome in publick, that he light ef cape the envy and malice which e feared, becaufe of his innocency and reatnede.