The Instructed Beginner in Chemistry: A Hermetic Epistle

see Christianus Parisinus Christopher of Paris, an alchemist active in the 15th century in his Elucidarium book 2, chapter 1. Afterward, it is indicated with clear words in a volume of the Chemical Theater original: "Theat. Chym." why it is so named and what it truly is. This is revealed by a sincere Sage, but I cannot note where that is here, so that this letter does not perhaps fall into foreign hands. But when I am with you, I will show it, and then Your Excellency will be astonished. This is the reason why the Sages described three different works, although it is always only one work and one matter. Therefore, Lullius wrote in his later Elucidation chapter 1: we have described three stones, namely the animal, vegetable, and mineral, though there is only one stone. We said this because this Compositum compound consists of these three, etc. On this matter, see Paracelsus in Alchemical Collections chapter 7, where he says publicly: the ignorant say, believing that the stone is triple and separated from a triple genus, namely from the vegetable,

animal, and mineral. This leads them to search for it in minerals as well. But this opinion is far removed from the opinion of all the Sages, for the Sages affirm that their stone is of one form: vegetable, animal, and mineral. And he adds further: some others who have endeavored to make Mercury firm through the sulfur of minerals and metals have been greatly deceived. And at the end of chapter 7, he concludes: some zealots of this art have sought this and their ferment in different minerals, both primary and intermediate, but they have learned that they worked in vain. For this very substance which is sought is in the whole work, from which everything becomes, etc., as Geber adds, etc. Therefore, you see clearly that all minerals or metals, both of the primary and intermediate genus, are rejected in this work, just as you will find the same if you read all authors diligently and everywhere. Therefore, Ripley Sir George Ripley, an English alchemist adds at the end of his Marrow original: "Medullæ": the elixir is triple,