Of Natural and Supernatural Things

The first part contains translations of Basilius Valentinus, Von den natürlichen, und ubernatürlichen Dingen (p.3-151); Roger Bacon, Oleum vitrioli ("Of the Medicine or Tincture of Antimony ... ", p. 152-81); and Johan Isaäc Hollandus, Opus Saturni ("A Work of Saturn ... ", p. 182-238). The second part, with separate title and pagination, is a translation of Alexander von Suchten, De secretis antimoni.

With a cancel title-leaf, apparently printed as the final leaf of pt. 1 (i.e. f.P8)--and sometimes present in copies with the cancelled title-leaf dated 1670.


“Because I have at this present undertaken to write of the of the first Tincture, the Root of Metals and Minerals, and to inform you of the Spiritual Essence, how the Metals and Minerals are at first spiritually conceived and born corporally; it will be necessary first of all to utter, and to acquaint you by a speech, that all things consist of two parts, that is, Natural and Supernatural; what is visible, tangible, and hath form or shape, that is natural; but what is intactible, without form, and spiritual, that is supernatural, and must be apprehended and conceived by Faith; such is the Creation, and especially the Eternity of God without end, immensible and incomprehensible; for Nature cannot conceive nor apprehend it by its humane reason: This is supernatural, what Reason cannot apprehend, but must be conceived by Faith, this is a Divine matter, and belongs to Theology, which judgeth Souls.”