whereof afterwards are to be covered over with lute, and the vial will never be in danger of being broken. _See the fourth Figure._ These foresaid ways of stopping are the best, by which the breakings of glasses are prevented, _viz._ whilest men are in an errour about the fixing of spirits of salts, minerals and metals, which although they are fixed with great costs and labours, yet do not satisfie what is promised and expected, because those kinds of fixations are violent and forced, and by consequence contrary to nature: but in the profitable fixation of spirits, not so, where we must follow Nature, and not commit our selves to fortune in our labours. For only fools are wont to break their glasses in their supposed tincture; but Philosophers not so; for _every violent thing is an enemy to Nature_; and all the operations of Nature are spontaneous. They erre therefore, and never shall come unto their desired end, who attempt violent fixations. I cannot be perswaded that bodies dead, or half dead can be so mixed together as to multiply: but I could easily believe that the conjunction of male and female of one and the same species, sound and nourished with sound and wholesome meats to be natural, and to make a spontaneous propagation, and multiplication of their species; _viz._ of those that endure in a good, and adverse fortune, in life, and death; but the conjunction of dead things, to be dead, and barren. Do but consider how many and various instruments both gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead; as also earthen, glass, stone, and other vessels of other materials have been already invented, and found out for the fixing of Mercury alone with gold and silver, but in vain, because they have no mutual affinity. For although Mercury adheres to metals, or metals to it, yet that is not by reason of any affinity for multiplication, or perfection sake: for it appears by experience that Mercury flies away in the fire, and leaves the gold, silver and other metals. Where it is clear that they have no mutual affinity requisite for the multiplication of metals, nor is it ever possible: For they that have a mutual affinity embrace one the other and abide together for ever, although volatile, yet never leave one the other, like gold and Mercury, when they are united together with the strongest bond, so that they can never be separated although with the strongest fire. Wherefore a great care is to be had in the fixation of things joined together; which if they have a mutual affinity, will embrace and retain one the other, without the help of any curious glasses with long necks. Of which things if thou art ignorant, abstain from medling with them, as being more hurtful then profitable, as dayly experience both mine own, and others do witness. But that thou mayst the better understand what things have a mutual affinity one with the other: attend a little to what I shall say.