Artist.

Master Doctor, I indeed read not, nor have I read many Books, yet among those I have read, I find no Authors more curious, than Sandivogius, especially in that Book, which is Entituled Cosmopolita, in Dutch, Borger Der Werelt.  Also Brother Basilius in in his twelve Keys.  As to Sandivogius, this Author you may peruse, untill I return, as I said:  for in his obscure words the truth is latent, even as our Tincture of Philosophers is both included, and retruded, in External Minerals, and Metallick Bodies.

Physician

Sir, I give you thanks, for this so great friendship.  I shall do according to your advice, and as to what you say, touching the Objects of the Tincture, I easily assent to, and grant; for I believe that the wonderful, and efficacious Essences of Metals, are hid under the external Rinds and Shells of Bodies, although I find very few so well exercised, and experienced in the Fire, who know how to uncase the Kernel, according to the Rule of Art.  Every External, and Robust Substance, of any Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral, is the Body, like unto that Terrestrial Province, into which (as Isaac Holland hath prescribed) excellent Essences spiritually enter.  Wherefore, it is needful, that the Sons of Art should know, how by some Saline suitable Ferment, grateful to the Metallick Nature, they may subdue, dissolve, separate and concentrate, not only the Magnetick Metallick virtue of Tinging, but also, how they may multiply the same in its own Philosophick Homogeneal Golden, or Silvery-manner.  For we see, that the bodies of all Creatures, are not only easily destroyed, but thenceforth also the Internals cease to live, and hasten to the dark Shadowings, in which they were, before they, by the Creation of God the Creator, were brought to Light.  But what Man will discover to us this Art in the Metallick Kingdom?

Artist

You say well, and have rightly judged of the Natural Destruction of things, and if it shall be pleasing to the most merciful God, to deal graciously with you as He hath done with me; He, according to your good hope, will direct some one of the Adept to demonstrate, to you the way of destroying Metals, and of collecting the Internal Souls of them.  But, in the mean while, do you invoke the most Wise God, to whose Vigilant Eyes I commend you, which are always open upon his Sons, regenerated to him by Christ.  Again Farewel, and rest assured, I will be your Friend.  I must at this time go hence, but I hope to see you again in good health, ere it be long.

Thus my new Friend took his Leave, and went away; it leaving me, his Friend, most sad for the space of three Weeks, which being expired, according to his Word, he returned, and gave me the Tincture, as you may learn by the above-recited History.  After this, that Philosophick Man of God went from me, and I never more saw him, from that time, unto to this very day, nor could I hear of him by any of the Carriers, or Posts, or by any of my Intimate Acquaintance.