more fluxible it is: our Argent vive, by how much the more it is decocted, the more it is thickned. By these circumstances therefore thou maist consider how the Common Mercury differs from the Mercury of Philosophers. If thou dost not yet understand, do not expect it, for no mortall man will ever speake more plainly, and cleerly, then wee have done: but now of the vertues of it. Our Argent vive is of such vertue, that it is of it self sufficient for thee, and for it self without any addition of any extraneous thing, it is dissolved, and congealed by a naturall decoction only: but Philosophers for brevities sake adde to it its own Sulphur well digested, and ripened, and so they work. Wee could cite the Writings of Philosophers to confirm what we have said; but because we have wrote clearer things then are in their Writings, they need not any confirmation, he shall understand who looks into other mens writings. If therefore thou wilt follow our advice, Wee advise thee, that before thou settest thy self to this Art, in the first place thou learn to hold thy tongue, and that thou inquire into the Nature of Mines, and Metalls, as also of Vegetables, for thou shalt find our Mercury in every subject, and from all things the Mercury of Philosophers may bee extracted, although it be neerer in one subject, then in another. Know also for certain, that this Art is not placed in fortune, or casuall invention, but in a reall Science, and that there is but this one matter in the world, by which, and of which the Philosophers Stone is made. It is indeed in all things, but in extracting of it a mans life would fail, and not be sufficient. Yet without the knowledge of naturall things, especially in the Minerall Kingdome, thou shalt be like a blind man that walketh by use. Truly such a one seeks after the Art but casually; and although, as it oftentimes falls out, that a man may by chance fall upon the matter of our Argent vive, yet then he ends the worke when hee should begin; and so as hee found it out casually, hee loseth it casually, because hee knows not upon what hee should ground his intention. Therefore this Art is the gift of the most high God: and unlesse God reveales it by means of a good wit, or friend, it is hardly known: for wee cannot bee all as _Geber_, nor as _Lullius_: And although _Lullius_ was a man of a subtill wit, yet if hee had not received the Art from _Arnoldus_, certainly hee had been like unto those which find the Art with difficulty: So also _Arnoldus_ confesseth that hee received it of a friend. For it is easy to write what Nature dictates: It is a Proverb, _It is easy to adde to things already found out_. Every Art, and Science is easy to the Master, but to a young Scholar not so: and to find out this Art there is a long time required, many vessells, great expence, and continuall labour, with much meditation, although to him that knows it already all things are easy, and light. To conclude