not to heed those things in them, which do most of all look to, and are required for the propagation of the Glory of the most Wise, and most powerful god our creator.  Wherefore, since it is a thing unworthy, and to the Divine Majesty ungrateful, for Man, who should be a Consort of the Divine Nature, to wax brutish with Brutes, I present to you, my most faithful Friends, and Patrons of this Science, this most rare History:  having as time, and my Ability would permit, recollected all things, and have faithfully commemorated them.  Therefore, omitting all paints, and flourishes of Rhetorical Expressions, I will forthwith betake my self to the discovery of all, whatsoever I both saw, and heard from Elias the Artist touching this.  For truly, I was not so intimately familiar with him, as that he should instruct me in the way of preparing the Universal Medicine, after the Method of Physico-artificial Chimistry:  yet he supplyed me with such Reasons in the Method of Healing, as I shall never be able to commend his worth with condigne Praises.  Therefore, most curious Favourers, and true Lovers of the Chimical Art, accept of this little work, as a mean Gift, or if you had rather, peruse if only for recreation of the mind; for in it I shall relate all things whatsoever, that were discoursed of between him and me, at several times:  humbly requesting, that with the same benevolence you have received other of my small Treatises, you would also accept of this Novel, which I freely dedicate, and officiously give to you, for a motion, and increase of Admiration.  Farewel, avete, favete.

Your most humble

John Fredrick Helvetius.

CHAP.I.

Most Excellent, and Prudent Sirs.  Before I enter upon the Description of the Philosophick pigmy, (in this little Theatre of Secrets) overcoming and subduing giants, I pray permit me here to use the words of Vanhelmont, taken out of his Book De Arbore Vitae, fol. 630. and here Transcribed.

I compelled to believe, that there is an Aurifick, and Argentick Stone.  But (Friend of the Spagyrick Art) I am not ignorant, that many have been found among the most wise, yea among the exquisite Chimists, who have not only consumed their own Goods, but the Goods of others also, in this Great Vulanick Secret, as Experience even at this very day sufficiently proves.  For we have seen, the more is the pity! how unwary Chimists, yea such as are more worthy, than those who are called Alchimists; how, I say, they, labouring simply, are daily deluded with Guile of this kind, by Diabolick, Aurifick, and Argentick Suckgoods.  Also I know, that many Stupid Men will rise up, and contradict the truth of my true Experience, touching the Philosophick Stone.  One will have it to be a work of the Devil; another affirms there is no such thing; a third faith it is the Soul of Gold only, and that with an Ounce of that Gold, an Ounce of Lead, and no more may be again tinged:  but this is repugnant to the Attestation of Kifflerus, as I shall briefly commemorate; a fourth believes the Verity and Possibility thereof, but faith it is so chargeable, as it will never quit Cost; with many other like Allegations.  Yet I wonder not at this, for according to this Saying,