The Secret Work of the Hermetic Philosophy

96Non-natural fire is converted through successive degrees of digestion into natural or implanted fire, and increases and multiplies it. The whole secret consists in the multiplication of natural fire. In its simple state it can neither act beyond its own powers nor communicate a perfect tincture to imperfect bodies: it is sufficient only for itself and has nothing further to distribute. But when multiplied by non-natural fire, which abounds especially in the power of multiplying, it acts far more powerfully and extends beyond the limits of Nature, tinging and perfecting other, imperfect bodies through its abundant tincture and the hidden treasure of the multiplied fire.