Distillation
THE FOURTH TREATISE OF THE MEANS BY WHICH NATURE ATTAINS HER ENDS
ARISTOTLE in the Book of Origins speaks thus: “SUN and Man create a Man, for the Sun’s force and spirit give life, and the process has to begone through seven times, by means of the Sun’s heat.”
But as the Philosophers in their work have to aid Nature with Art, so have they also to govern the heat according to the Sun, so as to create the before-mentioned Stone, which as well has to undergo seven processes. For such a work requires:
SIXTHLY: The Heat warms the cold earth, that while cold was half dead. Thereof says SOCRATES: When Heat penetrates, it makes subtle all earthly things, that are of service to the matter, but come to no final form while it is acting on the matter. The Philosophers conclude on the mentioned Heats in brief words, saying: Destil seven times and you have separated the destructable moisture and it takes place as in one destillation.
Mercury
Seven Stages
