He giueth vs also an example of the composition of his Stone, saying, _So was the world created_. That is, like as the world was created, so is our stone composed. For in the beginning, the whole world and all that is therein, was a confused Masse or Chaos (as is aboue saide) but afterward by the workemanship of the soueraigne Creator, this masse was diuided into the foure elements, wonderfully separated and rectified, through which separation, diuers things were created: so likewise may diuers things bee made by ordering our worke, through the separation of the diuers elemẽts frõ diuers bodies. _Here shal be wonderfull adaptations_: that is, If thou shalt separate the elements, there shall be admirable compositions, fitte for our worke in the composition of our Stone, by the elements rectified: _Wherof_, to wit, of which wonderfull things fit for this: _the meanes_, to wit, to proceede by, _is here_. CHAP. XII. _An enigmaticall insinuation what the matter of the Stone shoulde be._ _Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus._ Now that he hath declared the composition of the Stone, he teacheth vs after a secret maner, wherof the Stone is made: first naming himselfe, to the ende that his schollers (who should hereafter attaine to this science) might haue his name in continuall remembrance: and then hee toucheth the matter saying: _Hauing three parts of the Philosophie of the whole world_: because that whatsoeuer is in the worlde, hauing matter & forme, is compounded of the foure Elements: hence is it, that there are so infinite parts of the world, all which he diuideth into three principall partes, Minerall, Vegetable, & Animall: of which iointly, or seuerally, hee had the true knowledge in the worke of the Sunne: for which cause hee saith, _Hauing three parts of the Philosophie of the whole world_, which parts are contained in one Stone, to wit, Philosophers Mercurie. CHAP. XIII. _Why the Stone is said to be perfect._ For this cause is the Stone saide to be perfect, because it hath in it the nature of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals: for the stone is three, and one hauing foure natures, to wit, the foure elements, & three colours, black, white, and red. It is also called a graine of corne, which if it die not, remaineth without fruit: but if it doo die (as is aboue said) when it is ioyned in coniunction, it bringeth forth much fruite, the afore named operations being accomplished. Thus curteous reader, if thou know the operation of the Stone, I haue told thee the truth: but if thou art ignorãt thereof, I haue said nothing. _That which I haue spoken of the operation of the Sunne is finished_: that is, that which hath beene spoken of the operation of the stone, of the three colours, and foure natures existing and beeing in one onely thing, namely in the Philosophers Mercurie, is fulfilled.