therefore
let no one be offended at the venerable and sacred title of Magician, a
title which every wise man merits while he pursues that path which
Christ Himself trod; namely, Humility, Charity, Mercy, Fasting,
Praying, etc.: for the true Magician is the truest Christian, and
nearest disciple of our blessed Lord, Who set the example we ought to
follow ; since He says, ' If ye have faith, as a grain of mustard-seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place : and it
shall remove.' "
Concerning Metals (about which, of the nobler sort, the Second Part of the present Manual treats), Dr. Schroder's Chymical Dispensatory goes
on to say, " They are brought into three ranks, according to their
conformity, and disparity of hardness; and according to their
conveniency of preparations." " The First are the Noblest Metals; as
Gold, and Silver." " The Second are the more ignoble, and hard ; as
Iron, and Copper." " The Third are the most ignoble, and soft; as Lead,
and Tin."
"
Metals are to be prepared by: (1) Purgation; (2) By Calcination ; (3)
By Volatilisation (by which the Metal is made of a spiritual nature);
(4) By Extraction (whence come Tinctures); (5) By Sublimation (whence
are Flowers) ; (6) By Salification (whence comes Salt)."
In
the fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries, amongst British Professors of
Physic, all their knowledge of Chemistry was very primitive.
Furthermore, gross superstition prevailed, insomuch that Alchemy and
Astrology occupied the minds and attention of these
