The Chemical Theater

...without His Referring to God, whose consent was mentioned at the end of the previous page as necessary for reason to grasp the sublime. consent, human reason cannot reach them. And understand that when God was alone, He created four things: fire, air, water, and earth. From these, once they were created, He made all things—both the sublime and the inferior—according to what He had predestined. He decreed that all creatures, drawn from their root, are multiplied and increased by water, so that they might inhabit the world and that His judgments might be fulfilled within them.

Therefore, before all else, He created the four elements, from which He later created various creatures. Some of these He made from only one element.

The Assembly said: "Master, what are those creatures?"

And he replied: "They are the angels, whom He created from fire."

The Assembly asked: "From what, then, were the two created—the sun, moon, and stars—which come from fire and air?" The Latin text here suggests a dialogue clarifying that celestial bodies are composed of two elements, unlike angels who are of one.

He replied: "For this reason, angels are more radiant than the sun, moon, and stars: because they were created from a single, pure element, which is the finest of the four. But the sun and the stars were created from a composite of fire and air."

The Assembly said: "Master, what of the creation of the heavens?"

And he replied: "God created the heaven from water and air; thus the heaven is also composed of two elements. From one, namely air, comes its lightness original: rationem; here used in a physical-metaphysical sense to denote the subtle or 'rational' nature of the upper air.. From the other, namely water, comes its density."

And they said: "Master, finish your discourse regarding the three elements; gladden our hearts with your words, which are like life to the dead."

And he replied: "I make known to us that God created certain creatures from three elements, and others from four. From three were created birds, brute animals, and plants vegetabilia: things that grow, including plants and fungi—specifically from air, water, and earth. Some were created from water, air, and earth, while others were made from fire, air, and earth."

The Assembly said: "Distinguish these different types from one another."

And he replied: "Brute animals original: bruta animalia; animals that lack human reason, such as livestock. are made from fire, air, and earth. Birds, however, are made from fire, air, and water, because birds and all things having spirit original: spiritum; refers to the 'breath of life' or vital force. among the growing things were created from water. All brute animals are from earth, air, and fire. In plants, however, there is no fire, for they were created from earth, water, and air."

The Assembly said: "With all due respect, we would say that fire is present in plants."

And he replied: "You have spoken truly; I say indeed that fire is present."

And they asked: "From where does that fire come?"

Response: "It comes from the heat of the air hidden within it, just as wood contains a subtle fire within the air. However, the fire about which you doubted only exists in those possessing spirit and soul. Furthermore, from all four elements, our father Adam and his children were created—namely from fire, air, water, and earth.

Understand, all you wise ones, that anything God created from a single essence does not die until the day of judgment. For the definition of death is the 'separation of a composite' original: compositi disiunctio; a central alchemical and philosophical concept: anything made of parts will eventually fall apart. Only a 'simple' or single substance is immortal.. In that which is not composite, there is no separation, for it is one. Death is the separation of the soul from the body. Anything composed of two, three, or four elements must eventually be separated, and that is what death is. And know that..."