Section 7

What (hall we think of that monfter irijhtle^ who ( as it is reported ) was Dfpightful to his Mafter p/ aufed many of his works to be burnt nat he might (hine brighter? he was fearful his honour fiiould be eclipfedby is Matters greatnefs . Aiax hated Vlyffesy Uilus Homer '^ Vidimus Alexandrinus was nemy to M.'TuV, Cicero. Vahmon the jrammarian toM. Fflrro, C idrianus to iraian^ M. Crajfus to Tompey^ ilexander to Achilles at the fight of his Jepulch^r, Julius C^far to Alexander^ md many others who were all pofleffed
with
7 6 The Myjieries and Lawes
ivith this evil fpirit ; but in Medicini oc fuch praftices are more dangerous, bci d caufe the body of man being of mon 0 worth then Arts or other trifles, is engaiiiie ged^as being the fubjeft of Medicine. irii
This flame encreafeth and moft com-^ifd monly breaketh out , envy turns to Ca-^li)! lumniation ; hence is it that fo many vain Pamphlets are fent abroad full o bitter cxprcfTion?, which become no ra tional prudent man; but this vice hath been by many fet our, and we will fpendi no more paines upon ir.
Coveteoufnefle is another vice whichlin hath infecltd many Phy(itians,who make lot it their onely ftudy to heap up richcs;and nai though their ftrength of body is decay 'd ipj through age, yet with a moft rigorous iw defire do they endeavour after money ;iic nay though they have one foot in the on grave, they will h-we another in a bag to m counterpoize them. Phyficians indeed |iii above others are urnpted to this vice; for when they grow old they are moft fought Im unto becaufe of their experience ; and by this means they are encouraged to fee j] Silver above Juftice, and Gold above Confcience. But if an Apothecary be covcteous and greedy, more mifcheifes
do
of the Rofecmcianf, yy
iDcnfuc*, all his compofidons will be lade up either of ftale or falfe Ingre- tcnts, (o that both the Phyfitian and Itient are cheated 5 the one iscenfured if ill fuccefff, the other is not onely not ired, but may complain of the bad ^yiick as of a new difeafe.
I (hall fpeak nothing concerning the jilitics and qualifications of a tryed, xaminedj and Jicenfed Phyfitian 5 but of le unskilfulneffe of thofe who rafhly ndertake to praftice when they want nowledge and learning to guide and ireft them 5 they ftudy impudence \ and ote, that an illiterate rude fellow in laintaining his opinion ftiall alwayes ppeare mcft confident : their Gt^it are Jwans, their abfurd receipts are Oracles nd Myfteries, and they are enjoyned to onceale what they know not, if any ne oppofeth them, they eith«r flander im or envy him perfe6tly.
Thefe and the like vices have no place tnongft our Fraternity 5 they are not Imulous or Arrogant, they are not ;pightfuland Envious^ but delight in nftrufting one another in Myfteries; no »rawling or difgraceful fpecchesareut- cred amongft them, much lefle are they OYCteousi The
78 ihe Myjieries and Lawes
The Book M. declares their skilU:^t well in other Arts as in Mtdicine *, if an* n one pleafe to confult their other Booii! and weigh diligently their nature ancen all circuniftances, he (hall finde what w have laid abundantly there confirmed.
la^
Chap. XI.
\
whether any one of the Fratermty be-^^ ing called to a Patient^ is boHndtO'^^ appear e} and whether they are^^, able to cure all Difeafes 5 as well thofethat are accounted incnrable^ as thofe that are thmght curable ?
THe aftions of men as well as their perfons are fubjeft to many mif- carriagesj as the one may die, fo the o- thcr may beforgotenj as the one may be infirme, fo the other may be abufed; wherefore an Aft was invented by which all worthy deeds might faithfully be
. kept
of the Rofecrnchm. 79
pt and tranfmicted to pofterity. Per- ns indeed whole Offices are publick, OaI performance of their duties of truft, in te neccffariiy bound if occafion requires, dih publickly in their place ; But if in : little World any dilbrder happen?, adifeafe (ubverting health, the fick Tfon immediatly goes not to a Magi- itej but a Phyiitian f wherefore Medi- ne properly reipefts noc the publick, ut the pnvate health of this or that Pa- ent; therefore it will follow that a hyfitian being not compellM by the ,aw, nor ingaged by fervice , (hall be )rced to vilit any Patient who fends for im ; foraPhyfitian doth notprefcribe ) all, but to a particular fick man, and ; a fervant to Nature, but not to the ifeafed whom he governs by his rules 11 he hath reftored them to health. We m^y cnquiit more Ihiftly concer- ingtheie Brethren, whethfr fince they rofeffe onely Medicine as their firft Law nioine, if wrote unto , or fpoken to for he taking away of a difficult difeafe, vhcther in any particular place they muft ippearc being engaged thereto^either by )romifc,or charity ? We anfwer nega- ively 5 for if other Phyfitians are not
f 0
\n\
Q o Tie Mjjierks and Lawts
foftreightned, much IcfTe are they^-wW^^ do their Cures without price, who expcfl ^^ not a reward from men but from Godj*^ to whom as alio to the lawful Magiftrac^ *p they are obedient. ^ ^'
Furthermore, whether all difeafcsa cured by them, even thofe whom othe judge paft help;> as the Leproufy, th Dropfy, the Peftilence, the Cancer, th Heftick, the Gout, and many others 3 We aniwer, that they ingeniouily con fcffe in their writings that they kno not the time of their own death, an they acknowledge that all men muit pa their debt to death, which cannot be hin dred or prevented by any Medicinesi^^r if according to predeiiination it feifefl'W upon any man, and to endeavour againft} i" Providence were impious and vain. i '"
But there are thre6 degrees confider-il '«" a1)le in the forementioned maladies 5 Thcj ^ beginning, the increafe, theftate: A(fc^'^ thefirftalior rooft of thtfe difeafesare ^ cureable; when they prevaile fomewhatj |w over Nature remedies may be had ; and doubtlefle the Brethren have Medicine* which will effeft the cure, Gods provi- dence allifting them in their lawful en- deavours ; fuch difeafcs in thdr height
which
I
ofihe RofecrHCiank 8 1 "^
jihi(;h havea tendency to death areiri- Airable; as for common fickncfles we bdc that cither Galenical or Chymical ] eparations may remove them.
We will now declare the reaforts why imetimcsthe moft able Phylltians are liled and difappoinced. Firft we muft I low that diieaits are the cfitrfts of fin^ ; d deferved punifhment doth often- \ nes (hut oiit favour^ fo that tedioui 1 knefles and death are means which 1=; people ; in vain therefore will man 1 Dour to fruftrate the D-'cree of the Al- jightyin his will and pleafure. The l:ondreafon may be drawn from the 1 tureof Difeales, which are either dead- '. in themfelvcs, or as they arc confe- rences of others being produced by
em. The Plurifie or the Inflamation « the Pleura although it is danpjercus, " L ifdireft means be applied in time, it
i helped and cured: But if the matter flamming is not evacuated by letting ood, or by txpeftorations thrre will •llow a corrofion of the Pleura, and the irruption Bowes into the cavity of the eaft, and thus another difeafe is eenc* ued called Ennpiema : and now if Ma- G curr
8 d The Myfterks and tan>es
turc (lands not much the Patients friend, pc
and doth not convey this matter into the «t
water courfes, as often is feen^ or alfo by ^^
Art } fome Mufels arc opened , and th^ wi
corruption within forty daycs carried k
away, the Lungs will be ulcerated, and tl
a Confumpcion will enfue altogechec ^
incurable. i
The Qneftion is whether cureabhi:
Difeafes are by them helped ? Such in- ei
deed would end without any applica*^!
tion , and Nature needs no ailiftance to k
fuch enemies, fo that then Medicine were «
ufelefle 5 for who will trouble himfelft oc
to feek after means, when his greife wil ift
ftiortly of itfclfc ceafe and go away '-i
Though here be many difficultieiiic
couched, yet we (hall breifly ftate thif
cafe : Let thofe who are unfatisfied h e(
large Treatifes fhew whether in thitf
World it was abfolutely neceflary tha i
all things (hould be done which are done tr
or whether they might have been other it
wife difpofed of; Cardanus ard th( oe
Stoicks do attribute all events to fata le
neccflity, to which thc.y dolubjeft Go
himfelf, as not being able to reiift ^ fc i;
blafphemous arc they. I
We hold that God is a free Agent om- «
nipotCDt
ioftbe RpfecrHcUnf. 83
potent 5^6 can do what ever he pleafeth;
: ha^h made Nature his handmaid, and
e having received a CommilliQA doth
cordingly aft ; (he produccth all rhings rrial ther for the good and happinefs of men, ani ' elfe to plague and puniih them, and etha this rank are Difeafes, and Death ic
(fe coraeth from fuch prevalent difea-
eabii \ : But God alone difpofeth of good
ID. evil to every one ; he indeed generally
icr;s Nature keep its courfe, but fomc-
tcines to (hew liis freedom, he interrupts
^at order, and by a particular provi-
i/eMnce thwarts the intention of Nature
lether it tend to health or fickne(Ic5 iyjyiis in his power to fhorten a difeafe Ititi lich to us may feera tedious, he can
^poffP^ath when we give over the
iceti
(fdiiie of means. Now if God forefees the
ok'
e cvi.k which naturally hang ower men,
^\j^d doth not prevent fuch evils but
erewith will punilli men, he is not the
ithor of that evil forcfeen and brought
ion any one by nature, although fome-
fi^al pes he fend^ miraculous plagues upon
Qoi s enemies. Hence, is that faying 5 0
^j . in ad th) deftru^^ion is from thy felfe^ becauje
f vpick^dneffe haih. ^rawn dox9n judge-
^iffSf^U upott tbiijf h^fkd. When fome cf
G2 tbs
84 ^^^ JMyfieries andtawes
the wife Heathens had taken noticed « this ; they feigned Pleafurc and Sorrot ^ to be linckcd together, as if the excei t thereof were to it felfe a fufficlent punit Uf roent: They alfo faid that a Difea « was brother to Death, that by fwc "^ vertue was attained j and to this purpoi ii is that place in Scripture 5 there is 1^ evil in the City that is mtfrom Gody whe )1 is meant the evil of puniflimcnt, eith brought upon any perfon miraculoul and by the immediate hand of God, clfe naturally falling upon him.
Hence we learn the birth and origin of Vice, it proceeds from the corrupt* Nature of fallen man 5 his will enjoy its liberty in rcfpeO: of earthly thin§ but as to heavenly things its not fre Its with a man as with a weak infir perfon who cannot lift his hands to b head, but with eafe he can let them ha downwards. So finful man natural inclining to (infulnefs, without ai paines falls into wickednef?, he needs particular inftinft from God 5 but ftrength which muf^ fupport his infirn in tics, exalt him to Heaven, Co that may obey God, is not from man himfefc but from the free grace and mercy of f t
heaven
I«
avcnly Father, who hath mercy on rjhom he will ; but yet excludes none xc( om his favour who forfaking earthly uni iings do accept of the true means and lift ceive the bene6t thereof, who pray and fwi ideavour to their utmoft ability to be hat they ftiould be, committing them- Ives firft and chiefly to God, and then wk ♦ Nature, who faithfully obeys him in fit! j things.
ijo)
efibe Rofecruciant. 8 S'
Chap. XIL
i hat the Brethren a/ theFratirnitj do nfeomly laxpful and f/atnr at reme- dies.
hi
rHe holy Scripture makes mention of a King of Juda who being fick of le plague and death Teemed to approach, y divine providence was healed by ha- jjf ing Figs applied to the fore,and he lived ,[ I uny years after ^ To that we fee that G 3 God
i«B
ii
26 ihe Myfterks and Latvet
God can nsiraculoufly direft tomear|^' which in themfelves are natural , as if deed this was a very lawful remedy, ar the reafon is not unknown ; To herev will cxaixine whether the means whi the Brethren ufe be of themleives lawff" and warrantable. A certain Auth thinking to infinuat^ himfelfe into t)\^ favour of the Brethren^ fpeaks of ra blellings and Exorcifmes by which man may promote the happinefs of Y "' Patients and curfe and endamage his A verfaries, butwho will tfteem this la^ ful and good*" Such things may cat fome filly old women and by them accounted fcc^eri: they ^^ould be greateft ilmder imaginable to the learn Fraternity i for the Brethren ufe natui riieiins withe uiV^atiy mixrui^e of fup llitioii, as we rtiay fee by the example him at Weit»Ur ; who u ith applicati of one Simple took away the ragi pain of an Ulcerated Cancer, whom fh nis applauds for his rare Art 5 for by i fameheaib he alfo did the Cure, I fame Brother carried a bag of roots a hcarbs alwayes about with him; much commended the Bryony root, I chofc the bitter one 5 he taught alfo t
occ
of the Rofecmciant. 8 /
tieji k:cu1c vertue and proper ufe of many 15 jj iimples, which are loft and forgotcen. jn Wc will not decide the controverfy ^{, whether the Simples ought to be gathered ^^i( ccording to particular conflellations 5 jpfjOany very learned men do favour this ,jf|,()pinibn : As 6rft of all Barthol. Car' Q[\icbt€rus^ who divided the nioftappro- rj/ed and cffeftual Simples according to ; 1, "our Triplicities of the Signes in the Zo- I j,liack, and in each of them made three ;;^iegrees. I have known many who ad- ,j,difting themfelves to this ftudy^ have ^JJhereby been able to cure very dangerous jj, jGckncffes, efpccially old lllccrs and out- j(||wardgrlcfe5,
J That (b many lights fhould be placed Jin the Heavens to no end and purpofe, ic ,^|wrcre profane to imagine, becaufe God Ifjcreated all things to aft according to .jjtheir nature 5 and furely the Stars were .^jjfmade to yeild their infliit nces, and there p^,is not any doubt but that Vegetables^ JMineralls, and Animals, do receive their 'll occult Qualities from them; he there- jP fore is an happy man who can fearcl^ (out the effeft by the caufe, and by the l„ effeft is able to judge of the caufe. Plants j^ have relation as well to the heavens as ci
88 The Myfimes andlarvcs:
to the carrhyind he who knows thiscomrirt munity h a great Artift 5 but the Brethren C employ all their tinie in thefe Myfteriesi ffi s^s they conftfT- as well in their F^Wijiiit ancj confcll^on as i n other vvi itings. .. Bu We dare roc afiirrn that their Aiiroloi liy gy is the fan^e with that which is vulgar-^ dii ly profriTed, or their Botanick conmioiti (0 for theirs are foiinied upon certain and w true Ax;on-iS; ivh'yd: to no change but pi aiwayes concirkuing the iame wjsrth aaii p yertue. '» a
Other AxiomF ^re Co Infirm, that they & otttntime? art proved falle and adrRiio corre6tior. Ir is an Axiom that at Wineishotj vvhich hitherto bath beer received as true j but if from feme Conn try be brought. Wines uhofe nature fe cold, the fal iity will appeare. He whc never fjw a Bat or dotii not confider ia- fefts will iuimediarely Uy, that every thing that flics hath fe::ibcrs j when then are alfo fly in ^^ ^Ca v hich make u(e oi their fins, fo that there are many excep- tion« belong to the general rule : Whf would not conclude this for a certaii truth that fcur-fuoted creatures canno; palfe ihorow the Aire as well as they pafle on the Earth but by flying .*" but
_■' ; cxpc.
of the Rofecrudam, 99
Oft Tcpcricnce confutes this ; for the Indian re !)atby fpreading fome membranes Cnoc wings) from her hinder feet to her for- ««i tntfjgbcsin the Aire whether (he pi eafeth: But the Axioms iaid down and followed olo oy the Brethren are fuch which faile not, 23J iheir principles alwayes attain their end 9 fo that there is nothing deficient in them m ivhich may exclude or diminifb their perfedion ; wherefore cures wrought by inlproperties truly drawn from the Stars and the Planets, muli ncccifarily be true i'lffSc certain jforti^e tffefts do furely refult from their caufes not anticipated ormi- ftaken. He who proniifeth with fire, to heat, to dry, to burn, is not deceived, neither doth he deceive, bccaufc he hath that which can perform all thefe offices : fo if they undertake a Cure, ihercis no doubt but that they can efFeft it ; becaufc they know and can make ufe of the true and proper means, which Mediums are purely natural, the hidden treafure of Nature, the extraordinary gifts of God. They apply tbemfelves onely to the ftudy of Natural Magick, which is a Science containing the deep Myftcriesof leyf Nature, neither is this divine knowledge toij given to any by God, bat to thofe who
are
90 ihc Mjfteries and tavpcf
are Religious, good and learned. Orh gentra^atu. $. fufer Matth: faith, than the Magical Art doth not contain any thing fubiifting, but although ic ibouldj yet that muft not be evil or fubjed tp contempt and fcorne. The fame 9)^ HomL jufer Num, ("peaking of Natural iWaglck, doth diftinguifh it from the Di* abolical : many hold that t^amus ex*? crcifed the Natural Magick onely, an4 we do not deny ir. fhilo Eebuus lib,di Legihu^i fpeaks thus ; That true Magick by which we come to the knowledge of the fecret works of Nature, is fo far from being contemptible, that the greatdS Monarchs and Kings have ftudied it ; najf amongft the Petfiatts none might Reign qnleffe they were skilfull in this great Art.