A DISCOVRSE OF FIRE and SALT, DISCOVERING Many secret Mysteries, AS WELL PHILOSOPHICALL, AS THEOLOGICALL. [Illustration] _London_, Printed by _Richard Cotes_, 1649. [Illustration] To his worthy friend Captaine _Thomas Falconbridge_. /Sir/, I Have been informed of your zeal and forwardnesse in advancing Learning and Truth, two commendable vertues, for a man of your merit and profession. And meeting with a subject composed by a _French_ Authour, I present the Translation to your favourable acceptance: It is of forraign birth, though swadled up in an English habit: It hath done much good abroad, and I am confident it will do the like here, if supported with your approbation: It had not seen the Presse here, had I not been assured of the candor and integrity of the Authour. I repose confidence of acceptation, because the Translator hath been of your long acquaintance, and was lately sensible of your propensity and assistance, when he came in your way: If this may find grace with you, you will engage him to make further inquisition into this most sacred and secret mystery, and to rest, _SIR_, _Your most affectionate friend_ /Edvvard Stephens/. [Illustration] AN EXCELLENT TREATISE OF FIRE and SALT· Composed by the Lord _Blaise_ of _VIGENERE_. _The first part._ _PYTHAGORAS_ who of all Pagans was undoubtedly, by common consent and approbation, held to have made more profound search, and with less incertainty penetrated into the secrets as well of Divinity, as of Nature, having quaffed full draughts from the living source of Mosaicall Traditions, amid’st his darke sentences, where, according to the Letter, he touched one thing, and mystically understood and comprised another; (wherein he imitates the _Ægyptians_ and _Chaldæans_, or rather, the _Hebrewes_, from whence all theirs proceeded) he here sets downe these two: Not to speake of God without Light; and to apply Salt in all his Sacrifices and Offerings; which he borrowed word for word from _Moses_, as we shall hereafter declare. For our intention is here to Treat of _Fire_ and of _Salt_.