Lumen de Lumine

The Kitchin fire (as we all know) is visible, but the Philosophers fire is Invisible, and therefore no Kitchin fire. This Almadir expressly tels us in these words, Solos radios Invisibiles ignis nostri sufficere. Our work (saith he) can be performed by nothing, but by the Invisible Beams of our fire. And againe, Ignis noster Corrosivus est Ignis, qui supra nostrum vas Nubem obducit, in quâ nube radii hujus ignis occulti sunt. Our Fire is a Corrosive fire, which brings a cloud about our glasse or vessell, in which Cloud the Beams of our fire are hidden. To be short, the Philosophers call this Agent their Bath, because it is moyst as Baths are: but in very truth it is no kind of Bath, neither Maris, nor Roris, but a most subtil fire, and purely Naturall, but the Excitation of it is Artificiall. This Excitation, or preparation (as I have told thee in my Coelum Terrae) is a very triviall, slight, ridiculous thing: neverthelesse all the secrets of Corruption and Generation are therein contained. Lastly, I think it just to informe thee, that many Authors have falsly described this fire, and that of purpose to seduce their Readers. For my own part, I have neither added, nor diminished, thou hast here the true intire secret, and in which all the Eastern sages agree: Alfid, Almadir, Belen, Gieberim, Hali, Salmanazar, and Zadich: with the three famous Jews Abraham, Artefius, and Kalid. If thou doest not by this time apprehend it, thou art past my Cure, for I may tell thee no more of it, I may only teach thee how to use it.