Lumen de Lumine

There is in the world a scribling ill-disposed Generation: they write only to gaine an Opinion of Knowledge, and this by amazing their Readers with whimzies and Fansies of their own. These commonly call themselves Chimists, and abuse the great Mysterie of Nature with the Name and Non-sense of Lapis Chemicus. I find not one of them, but hath mistaken this Descent for the Ascent or Fermentation. I think it Necessary therefore to informe the Reader there is a two fold Fermentation, a spirituall and a Bodily one. The spirituall Fermentation is performed by multiplying the Tinctures, which is not done with common Gold and Silver, for they are not Tinctures, but grose compacted Bodies. The Gold and Silver of the Philosophers are a soule and spirit: they are living Ferments and principles of Bodies, but the two common Metals whether you take them in their grose Composition, or after a Philosophicall preparation, are no way pertinent to our purpose.