Part 1 (1/2)

The Natural round Physick.

by Jon Evans.

The Natural round Physick or Philosophy of the Alchymical Cabalistical Vision The Sun and Moon with all the firmament appeared first, they stood still, a colour indeed they had, but gave no light. Beneath them also there appeared the globe of the Earth having a colour. In whose centre there was a little globe of a most white, s.h.i.+ning colour, like snow. While I beheld all these, there was made a most horrible thunder with a great noise and fiery flash, which much affrighted me. A great cloud came also, which going away, a star was seen above the Sun, Moon, and firmament, whose s.h.i.+ning was so bright, I could not fix my eyes upon it, with its redness it exceeded the redness of the Sun. As soon as ever this star appeared the whole firmament with the Sun and Moon began to run their race, and dance. In the meantime the said star darted fiery rays from above, through the exterior firmament. Of which sometimes more sometimes fewer, some also but by halves were carried upon the globe, but the little globe received the smallest part of these rays. Those rays whose halves only, entered the globe, moved the waters, that they might flow and fish might be seen in them. The other rays made the great globe begin to live, and bring forth all sorts of trees and fruits, on which also animals and men did walk. But the part of the rays, which entered into the small globe, so moved it, that it begun to boil like water in a pot, and disperse out of itself a white clear and pure vapour in the form of a star even unto the root of the trees, and herbs. Then out of this globe or white, s.h.i.+ning star, there began, but yet slowly enough to grow all sorts of trees, and herbs, and tended towards the circ.u.mference of the globe, and when they almost attained to it, behold two white, stony mountains arose and were opened out of each end of the globe. In the mean time I saw the herbs and trees continually go forward in their growth, that the mountain at length bore flowers of all sorts and colours, which again were shut and changed into red, yellow, green and white knots. The knots of the mountain on the right hand were small and transparent, but those of the left greater but not transparent. In the meantime the superior and greater star sent continually more rays by the benefit of which more herbs and trees always grew. At last a voice was heard crying out thus clearly and aloud: Blessed be G.o.d who created this star; This shall be called always the Star of Wisdom and the eternal Light.

The Explication of the Vision The great globe is the Earth, out of which grow all sorts of fruit, through which the waters pa.s.s to moisten it. In the middle is that which in respect of common water, I call corporeal, of which I not long since told you that it was the field, out of which all minerals had their rise, and take their seed from heaven or the firmament, as you see, for the heaven is extended above the Earth, which with its luminaries in their course surrounds the Earth, and affords the seasons, times of the years, and of the days. But that you think the star, we speak of to be G.o.d, therein you grievously mistake. For it is a divine creature, endowed with so great a virtue, that all which are in heaven as well as on Earth draw their original from it.

This star which you behold and by whose power Heaven and Earth are moved, is not properly a star, but by reason of the weakness of human nature, it is so delineated for you, which no corporeal creature can with corporeal eyes behold, nor comprehend: for it is nothing else but an invisible and eternal fire the next to G.o.d, and placed above all heavens. It is, I say, the force, power, form, life, virtue and preservation of all things in heaven, upon and in the Earth, a perpetual motion, not Nature, but the Lord of Nature, who commands Nature and all her powers, and in fine is all in all. But that it is called the Star of Wisdom and an eternal Light, this is the reason, because it is Light in itself, and borrows nothing from others, but rather communicates to them a virtue, and because the foundation of wisdom is hid therein, words are wanting to me to express the virtue and the power that do lie hid in it, which although I could perform, yet an impossibility hinders you from attaining it. For as it is impossible for ones mind to pierce to the bottom of the secrets of G.o.d and omnipotence, so neither is it possible for you or other men to enquire into this virtue. Yet this is not be so understood, as if this virtue of this light were equal to G.o.d, for he rules over it, because it arises from him, and in it G.o.d has shown his omnipotence, that we might have a knowledge of his works.

Question the First!

What, therefore, is the virtue of this star: And what is the meaning that the stars are moved about by it, that it gives motion to the waters, and that by its rays the Earth produces fruits?

The Answer.

The Omnipotent G.o.d is in all his works the image or the aforehand representation of things, which must appear hereafter. Hence it is that after he had created heaven, Earth and all creatures, leaves, gra.s.s, herbs, brutes and men, he said: Increase and be multiplied. By this word the invisible fire took beginning, and received an impression (as also did the Heaven and Earth an astral property), that it compelled nature to complete the works implanted in her, and by this means gave to the Sun and by his a.s.sistance to the Moon and all the stars, not only a perpetual brightness but also a moveable virtue, and a seed, from whence terrestrial things draw their original, and are conceived by the Earth, as in a certain matrix, which like the load-stone drawing iron, has an attractive virtue. As the firmament first attracts a form to itself, that is, the eternal Light; so does the Earth, which ought to be taken notice of, attract out of the firmament a form unto itself, which form nevertheless before that time, was the matter of the star.

But if the most high G.o.d had not uttered these words, all things had perished: for the herbs had in a little while been decayed, animals had died, the heaven had turned to nothing, and so this mighty work, in which the Omnipotence and Wisdom of G.o.d does s.h.i.+ne, in a small time had been destroyed. Though also this fire were the first effect of the first Creation, and in respect of the world eternal, vivifying and constant, yet it must have yielded obedience to its Creator, have stood still and abstained from all operation upon Nature and the other creatures. But as soon as ever these mighty words were uttered, that incombustible and enlivening fire past into the bowels of Nature, and by exerting its impression stirred up Nature. Then at length motion received power, and an attractive property was implanted in heaven or the starry firmaments. Then at length the living force of propagation in all creatures went forward with stronger steps. This is the cause why the Sun, Moon, stars and all things were shown you dead, nor undeservingly dead, because they had soon again declined into destruction; because what were in an instant created, would immediately also have descended into ruin, had not these divine words been as it were their establishment. For these being spoken by G.o.d, the sun received a seed to purge himself, and as it were grow young again, the Moon also and the stars and the Earth to amend and restore their defect every day. To the efficacy of these words it is owing, that without ceasing and always every day and every night, rays are sent from the stars into the firmament, which serve the firmament like life and soul for a preservation against corruptibility. These rays take their seed, that is their chiefest essence from the Sun, Moon and stars, by which means the living fire mixes itself with, and is trans.m.u.ted into the nature of the a.s.sumed seeds, but the seed obtains a moveable or vegetable life, and the virtue of multiplying itself, that is, to bring innumerable numbers to [or of] its own kind. This mixture being made in heaven or the firmament, this seed animated with a living fire or form, separates itself from the stars, and falls into the Earth as a matrix, with so strong a force, that it does invisibly divide the Earth and so long falls from above even until it come to the centre of the Earth. But in falling much of this seed, remains upon the Earth partly, and partly descends something lower into the bosom of the Earth. For much excrement is shaken off from this seed, out of which all sorts of herbs, trees and fruits proceed, according to the nature which the spiritual, volatile and material body a.s.sumed out of its star. This is the form, of which I said before, which as soon as it lights on the Earth, seeketh itself a proper matter, and multiplying itself therein const.i.tutes such a corporeal body, as its spirituality before was, which fell down from heaven, in which a fire, as a life, was formed by the mediation of the great Star, that all sorts of great and small fruits may be made evident. For there is nothing on the Earth, which hath not been beforehand shaped and prepared into a form by the Star.

But the reason why some fruits are found in one certain place and not also in another, is this. Heaven consists of two poles, and is as it were fixed to them, upon which it is turned so, that one cannot come at the other. The stars also depending on them are not like one another, for so many stars, so many places. Since therefore one part of heaven cannot pa.s.s into the other, the roundness of heaven and the middle point of the Earth make an impossibility for the seed of the star of one place to be able to fall to the star of another place, and betake itself thither, but must needs fall as perpendicularly downwards as it can.

Hence you may conclude that a seed in India being the offspring of its star, cannot fall in Swedeland by reason of this distance of the star. This indeed is true, that men transfer and transplant an herb or a seed from its place to another which its own star cannot reach to and which also grows, the cause of which thing is unspeakable, the hidden multiplication in the spiritual fire is succeeding good digestion of the seed. But on the contrary this is also true, that some herb will grow well in one place and by no means be produced in another, the reason of which defect is this, both because it is dest.i.tute of a convenient matter, and because it meets with either too weak or too strong a digestion. For an herb growing in Arabia, cannot grow in Germany, because it needs a stronger digestion as is proper to its nature. And so on the other hand, an herb growing in Germany will not grow in Arabia, but will there be burnt up and reduced to nothing. So therefore it is made evident that vegetables are produced by the benefit of the stars, have their influences, and die even as men do, and are reduced to nothing, and do get their poisons. Now we will proceed further and discover how man is governed and produced according to the stars.

Of the generation of Man and Animals

As to what appertains to men, and the generation of all sorts of sensitive animals, the manner is different. For as soon as there is a mixture made of the male and female, the stars are stirred up in the animal or in man, which are so strong that they draw unto themselves the stars, and the stars the eternal light (for the matter of everything attracts its form) then, I say, there happens an injection of the star together with the injection of the seed into the matrix, whence there succeeds the motion of vegetation, that the male sperm as the agent, may be mixed with the female, may act upon it, and beget a man or an animal, according to the form, in which the star or firmament did then excel. This body being so prepared, there follows another injection, that is the astral, material, spiritual and fundamental body, together with life.

Such therefore as the disposition of the stars then was, such the man or animal in sense and thought shows itself, that he who by reason of his external form is a man, yet has the mind of a dog, a wolf, or a bear, but a brute animal, as a dog or a wolf may be more cruel than another brute of its kind, and on the contrary, a wicked father may have an honest son.

Hence their demonstration is overthrown, who pretend to judge the nature of a man by physiognomy, or the face, or the shape of his members. For it comes to pa.s.s, that those who are unlike one another by reason of the external form, may yet have the same mind and thoughts. Often also and most commonly it happens that the second injection of the stars into animals, which concerns the soul or the life, agrees not with the first injection, and has not the property thereof; for such an one shows a sad, angry and cruel countenance, who yet is in his heart civil and humble, which may also be perceived in brute animals.

Although the eye, (that subtle member of the body) and tongue do sometimes show a man's mind, yet a man cannot from hence be sufficiently known, which some are so bold as rashly to affirm. For the diversity of places and times makes a man be different in one place from what he is in another, and at some times more angry or more civil than at another, which proceeds from the diversity of the climate, of the stars and countries, which, if they agree with a man, then his mind and impression conferred from heaven is made so much the stronger; but if they are contrary, then his will is hindered and his body also sometimes feels inconveniences. So therefore it appears by what means the stars rule man, and either promote or hinder his intention. Hitherto of the animal man who does what the stars will.

But now it is the part of a true man to consider, that he is n.o.bler than every creature, and that beside this corporeal and astral body, he has from the omnipotent G.o.d received a spirit or a certain third and most chief thing, that is a body endowed with a soul, and for that reason that there is in him an everlasting eternity, and that he is made by reason thereof a possessor also of the heaven and of the firmament, and can rule over them. By this foundation all impressions, complexions, and nativities are rejected. For here the government of man is not to be attributed to the stars, but to the body endowed with a soul, that is to the divine spirit, that the deeds may correspond with the name. That is that man ought to behave himself according to the will of G.o.d his creator, who forbids him evil, and commands him to follow good. By virtue of which command the whole heaven or the firmament falls down together, the doctrine of their influence, I suppose, for this command admits of no respect of man of what complexion so ever he be, or whithersoever man does incline; and drives away all excuses. For had it not been well known to G.o.d, that man could resist the stars, and had thought man ought to behave himself according to the inclination of the stars, he had not given the command, nor appointed man the lord of all things, heaven also and the firmament would be in more esteem than man, nor in the last day could any man be judged, but the fault would be to be thrown on fortune, the stars, and G.o.d himself; which may G.o.d forbid. Men therefore do evilly when they say they are the sons of Venus, the Sun, or Mars, for this is not a rational speech but belonging to a beast. This to make idols of the stars, that they have contributed anything to your nativity. But your discourse ought to be such: I am of the sons of the most high G.o.d, who gave his only Son for me to redeem me with his Blood, Pa.s.sion, and Death out of the power of the evil Spirit. So you ought to speak and give honour to him who has well deserved of you. The heathens did put confidence in Astronomy, subjected themselves to the stars, and wors.h.i.+p them as G.o.ds, but you like Christians, not heathens, ought not to speak so brutishly; which may you judge as said to you and everyone unto himself; least G.o.d do punish you severely.

The second Question. Of Astronomy.

Is Astronomy therefore to be quite rejected?

Answer.

Astronomy of itself is an excellent art, and praiseworthy, if its true use be observed; but it has been much corrupted while they would make G.o.ds by it. Besides, the true calculation has been lost, so that the astronomers of these times follow that which Ptolemy left in his writings. Which nevertheless is full of error and falsehood, for now there is another const.i.tution of heaven, its course is become slower, and its virtues are diminished. But whoever knows the true method of Astronomy, let him use it as a Christian not like a heathen, that is to find out days, years and season, but not as some would, for the certain and infallible prediction of wars, seditions and other evils: for these depend upon the Divine Will, and what men deserve. Though a city or province have a very good ascendant, and the inhabitants should take a wandering way or contrary to the Divine command, yet the divine chastis.e.m.e.nt and revenge would not be suspended. Sodom and Gomorrah are for an example, whom neither the good nor the evil planet a.s.sisted, but their sins being punished by G.o.d, was to them instead of an evil planet, of which thing there are many examples extant in scripture; and man therefore ought to have his mind attentive to and regard his Lord G.o.d. For he who kept Daniel and Joseph, is still as powerful. But whoever relies on the Stars, and subjects himself to them, he transgresses the bounds of human nature and renders himself a brute animal, and makes unto himself strange G.o.ds, on which occasion if he happen to meet ill fortune, he must of necessity ascribe and attribute it to himself. But this is done by the divine permission, that this man's folly and ingrat.i.tude may be known.

Others also cherish an error in respect of herbs and other things, which they think should be gathered or dug up according to the influence of the stars; for what has Astronomy or the course of the stars to do with the herb. Come then; cast the seed of some herb into a good and newly cultivated earth, and exposed to the Sun, and some of the same seed into a dry earth, ill dressed, and shadowed from the Sun and you shall see that seed which was sown in a good earth arise and sprout out, sooner than the other which was cast into a bad earth; though both places are nigh one another. Now if by the rule of Astronomy they be gathered on a certain day and time, you'll see that one of the two seeds is better grown than the other, that one has received increase the other decrease, what knowledge have you therefore of a certain time? Conclude therefore this opinion to be false and erroneous.

The ancients had indeed a true understanding of Astronomy, but in process of time it has been corrupted and falsified. And it is true that every simple ought to be dug up or gathered according to its Astronomy, which nevertheless is to be taken in a proper sense. For everything has its Astronomy or star within itself, of which you must be mindful, that is when there is a good ascendant at hand, and its chief planet (from whose seed it descended) is exalted, for then any herb (or whatever else it shall be) is most efficacious in its virtue, then it ought to be gathered and kept for use, having no consideration of heaven, summer or winter; but rather of the proper heaven of the herb, of its proper autumn and station, in which by its own body that herb is made the best, and arrived at the highest degree. Behold this is the best Astronomy. You will be able to learn the inferior from the superior; to know by the const.i.tution of time, that which is taken in hand and when any planet is exalted. Likewise, if it shall appear to you, which planet any herb is subject to, by its signature, you may observe its exaltation.

Besides, what has been said something high and greater is drawn from Astronomy. For with the conjunction and exaltation of some planets being observed, their kinds (as are metals, minerals, herbs, gems and stones) are united with them under heaven, then the rays of the stars enter into these bodies, which so augment and exalt their virtues that by them most wonderful things, and as it were impossible to be done, may be effected: not only in curing the diseases of men spiritually, (since by the touch of seals hanging on their necks distempers are invisibly taken away) but also in natural magic.

But the reason, for which this operation ought to be done in the point of the conjunction of the planets and stars; this is worthy to be observed: Every matter desires a new form, hence it is that as soon a conjunction of the planets is made this heavenly, spiritual and material matter, desired to undergo every living form, and by reason of its attractive nature or property does in a moment draw unto it self that heavenly fire, of which our discourse is, as it were a life, and joins it to itself, so that by this means the spirit and soul are mingled together and united. The Earth which in respect of heaven the Father, is considered as the Mother, in a moment also attracts these bodies to itself, to that these two conjunctions are made in an instant of time, whence all vegetables, animals and minerals draw their original. If therefore such rays fall on a water or wood which is correspondent to their nature, then such virtues or bodies, insinuate themselves spiritually into them, and are the cause of so great magical virtues. But if by means of Astronomy, you shall be aware beforehand of this conjunction, and conveniently touch the metals and vegetables, which have the nature and complexion of those stars, which make the influx, then they will enter, not into the Earth, but into such bodies (for like rejoices in like): by which means such strange things have been performed by this miracle of Nature. Every Philosopher and Chymist ought here to understand some other thing. Enough to the Wise.

Of the Generation of Minerals and Vegetables Since it was also said above, that the virtue of the seed or of the rays drifted from the stars, or the firmament fell into the centre of the Earth and went to the little globe, as the heart of the Earth; it is to known, that such rays, descending so low, are more subtle and spiritual than those, which could not arrive thither. These rays by falling down through the Earth (as water through sand) are purged, the way of which purgation is this: All created things are by reason of mans transgression of the Divine Command made liable to the Curse, whence it comes to pa.s.s that the stars and, as you and all men do, abound also with their impurity, hence it comes that when the rays are sent into the Earth, the thicker spirits from this seed of the foundation remain in the superficies of the Earth, which produce all sorts of herbs, part whereof does affect animals, so that from thence several diseases break forth. But the more subtle and purged spirit, like a spirit pa.s.sing through a wall, penetrates even to the middle point of the Earth, and preserves the Earth, and fortifies it with its strength; for the centre is a certain greater and better thing than the circ.u.mference, for as much as the circ.u.mference is from the centre itself, in which all the virtues of the circ.u.mference are collected, which are dispersed in the circ.u.mference. Let man be an example to you, in the middle of whom there rest the soul and spirit, the virtue and motion. So in the herb the celestial fire and the number of multiplication lies hid, the remaining path is only the house or the cover of its virtue. The same reason is also here. For the corporeal water or mineral earth, lies in the earth as the yolk in the egg, being endowed with the purest and (as I said) the highest and most subtle powers of the Earth. The Earth from this subject taketh water, but it takes nothing from the Earth, but multiplies itself in itself, and like the phoenix grows young again. The virtue of multiplication has been granted to it by the only G.o.d, as well as to fire, whence it has in itself its own firmament, and proper motion. The thing will appear from the example of wheat; take thereof one part, and two parts of earth, or as much as you please, in the way of sowing it, cast this seed into the earth, and after it has grown up, weigh it, which being done you will find that nothing went away from the earth but that it retains its former weight, whence it appears that the wheat is endowed with its own firmament, its increase by growth, and its motion, by virtue whereof it grows warm, tinges, grows young again, and acquires strength in its multiplication.

This subject also suffers no diminution of itself, for though metals grow out of it, yet nevertheless they dye again. In the same manner you see men are born and again dye and perish. As out of one sea there flow many waters, and flow back again into it; so also many minerals pa.s.s away, and others succeed into their place; of which those that perish, leave their bodies in the place whence they arose, but their soul or virtue retires, and is attracted by that from which it was produced, and rejoices in its like. There appears therefore to be no defect in this water, but as to what relates to the faeces which it leaves, they fall into the earth and are made the form of the earth, which are the cause of its long continuance. This thing neither you nor any man has ever perceived, nor could you ever penetrate into the knowledge of it, without the help and a.s.sistance of me and my companions ordained for this by G.o.d.