It should also be carefully noted that the chemical philosophers designated and signified antimony—through which, as stated earlier in the chemical preparation, the ensuing fermentation must take place before it is presented to the obtained elixir or chemical king, or before taking and undergoing a sweating bath with old grey Saturn—by this very character, ♄. This may fittingly be regarded and contemplated as something wondrous and secret. A similar form and shape is also found among us Christians and is used and represented in almost the same hidden fashion: the supreme head and governor of the whole Christian commonwealth is given into his hand an imperial orb furnished with a little cross above it. This signifies that, before he attains peaceful and tranquil possession, he must first thoroughly experience this world’s cross and suffering and be driven, tested and proved through them. Perhaps those philosophers who lived in ancient years wished, neither by chance nor in vain, to signify this with the character ♄, precisely in this chemical labour, which also requires such a process. All this may fittingly be referred and applied to the true school of the cross and tribulation of Christians: before entering eternal joy and rest they too must first undergo a school of combat and sweating bath in the burdensome course of the world, with hostile grey Saturn—that is, the old Adam and Satan.

Alongside these tribulations already mentioned, many and various wonders and signs and great changes throughout the world must also be carefully considered and heeded. We shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, factions and sects, pestilence and dearth, all of which are heralds that our redemption is near. In sum, when the general resurrection of the dead takes place, human beings will then finally overcome through the Lamb’s blood. For the earlier rebirth in holy baptism is only a beginning of this second, true and at last wholly perfect new birth in eternal life. They will be awakened and exalted to a new, imperishable life after soul and spirit have been reunited with the body and brought into an inseparable, everlasting union or fixation. Through the power and working of our almighty heavenly king, Christ the Lord, with whom through faith we have been united really, truly, bodily and effectively, beyond all human reason, we shall thus be glorified with pure spiritual, wondrous power, strength, agility, glory and splendour, indeed made eternally, gloriously and more than perfectly blessed. This wondrous union of body, soul and spirit and this divine glorification and exaltation of the elect cannot be contemplated by us in this life without astonishment, much less seen, just as in the earthly work. Even the angels marvel at it and long to behold it. We shall then, with Christ our eternal prince of heaven, together with all holy angels and ministering spirits, rule and reign over all things in everlasting joy and majestic glory to all eternity. Amen.

Finally, just as a brief yet necessary correction or improvement of the damaged and neglected compound, explaining how appropriate help might be brought to it in time, was added at the beginning of the chemical-philosophical work, where the process and its requisite means may be found in due order, so here too the spiritual correction and restoration of a poor sinner must be diligently considered. One or more of the defects described may arise in a person if, by God’s permission and through the instigation of evil Satan, the godless world and his own flesh, he falls into sin. He may be brought down by pride and ambition, inborn in everyone, which correspond to harmful sublimation or premature redness, the first and second defects in the earthly realm; or he may finally despair of God’s mercy because of gross carnal sins committed; or, through the manifold heat of tribulations, murmur against God his creator and become impatient. These last two defects correspond to the third and fourth errors. Such a poor, damaged person, like the earthly compound set in the vessel but become defective, must first be dissolved anew. That is, upon recognising his error, he must, as often as he needs it, be absolved and cleansed again of his sins and daily failings through the releasing key of holy solution. Afterwards, in the holy Supper, he must be fed and given drink, refreshed and strengthened with pure spiritual milk, 1 Corinthians 3, and the true heavenly Lamb’s sweat, blood and water, indeed the water and fountain of life; also with the rich feast of pure wine and marrow, Isaiah 25, and the opened fountain of grace, Zechariah 13. Yet, like the mercurial water in the chemical work, this is the greatest poison to the unworthy and godless. He must thus be sustained until, like the earthly compound, he reaches final coagulation and complete fixation: that is, the full, enduring perfection of blessedness. These two wholesome means for curing and healing a poor sinner—holy absolution and the Supper—were ordained by the faithful, merciful God for humanity’s good and entrusted and commanded to his beloved Church to administer in need. For through the absolution just mentioned, also called the office of the keys, we are declared free and released when we truly repent. But if we are impenitent and persist in sins, through Christian excommunication and the binding key, which also belongs to this office, we are bound in our sins and handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, 1 Corinthians 5, so that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.