The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Golden Calf, Which the World Adores, and Desires, by John Frederick Helvetius

Title: The Golden Calf, Which the World Adores, and Desires

Author: John Frederick Helvetius

Release Date: January 9, 2005 [eBook #14641]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN CALF, WHICH THE WORLD ADORES, AND DESIRES***

THE

GOLDEN CALF,

Which the

WORLD

ADORES, and DESIRES:

In which is handled
The most Rare and Incomparable
Wonder of Nature, In Transmuting
METALS;

VIZ.

How the intire Substance of Lead, was in one
Moment Transmuted in Gold-Obrizon,
with an exceeding small particle of the true
Philosophick Stone.

At the Hague. In the Year 1666.

Written in Latin by John Frederick Helvetius,
Doctor and Practitioner of Medicine at
the Hague, and faithfully Englished.

London, Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre
in Fleetstreet near Temple-Barr

1670

To the most Excellent
D. THEODORUS KETJES,
by his many Peregrinations, a
most famous Phisician, and an
happy Practitioner of Medicine
at Amsterdam,
One of my Intimate Friends.

ALSO,
To the most Noble, most Excellent,
and most Experienc'd, and
Accurate Searchers into the
Vulcanian Anatomy,
D. JOHN CASPARUS FAUSIUS,
Counsellor, and Chief Physician
of the most Serene Elector Palatine
of HEIDELBERG.

AND
D. CHRISTIAN MENTZELIUS,
Principal Physician in the Court
of the most Serene Elector of
BRANDENBURG:

My Reverend Patrons, and intire
Friends.

The Epistle
DEDICATORY:

Most Noble, most Excellent, most
Expert, and most Accurate Inspectors
of the Vulcanian Anatomy,
and my most real
FRIENDS.

Although I neither was willing, nor able to be wanting to my honoured Friends, yet would not divulge and bring to light the Verity of the Spagirick Art, but by this most precious, and Miraculous Arcanum, which I not only saw with these Eyes, but taking a little of the transmutatory powder, I myself also transmuted an Impure Mass of Lead volatile in the Fire, into fixed Gold, constantly sustaining every Examen of Fire: in such wise, as henceforth it can no more be suspected by any Man, no not by those, who unto this day have perswaded themselves and others, that this Arcanum is given to no man: but contrarily we were fully and indubitately perswaded, that, in things of Nature, The Mercury of Philosophers is Primo-material, and is like a Fountain overflowing with wonderfull Effects, and those escaping every acuteness, and Light of Human reprehensible Reason, as shall be evidenced in this my little work: which I was willing to dedicate and consecrate to you, my Primary Patrons, as to most prudent Masters, and Defenders. Yet in the mean while, I pray consider, that I have not writ to the end I would teach any one, that Art, which I my self know not, but only that I might recite the true Process of this Arcanum. For, what can more confirm, and Patronize Verity, than the true Light of Truth it self? It is the property of Brute Animals to pass their life in Silence, and especially not to heed those things in them, which do most of all look to, and are required for the propagation of the Glory of the most Wise, and most powerful GOD our creator. Wherefore, since it is a thing unworthy, and to the Divine Majesty ungrateful, for Man, who should be a Consort of the Divine Nature, to wax brutish with Brutes, I present to you, my most faithful Friends, and Patrons of this Science, this most rare History: having as time, and my Ability would permit, recollected all things, and have faithfully commemorated them. Therefore, omitting all paints, and flourishes of Rhetorical Expressions, I will forthwith betake my self to the discovery of all, whatsoever I both saw, and heard from Elias the Artist touching this. For truly, I was not so intimately familiar with him, as that he should instruct me in the way of preparing the Universal Medicine, after the Method of Physico-artificial Chimistry: yet he supplyed me with such Reasons in the Method of Healing, as I shall never be able to commend his worth with condigne Praises. Therefore, most curious Favourers, and true Lovers of the Chimical Art, accept of this little work, as a mean Gift, or if you had rather, peruse if only for recreation of the mind; for in it I shall relate all things whatsoever, that were discoursed of between him and me, at several times: humbly requesting, that with the same benevolence you have received other of my small Treatises, you would also accept of this Novel, which I freely dedicate, and officiously give to you, for a motion, and increase of Admiration. Farewel, avete, favete.

Your most humble

John Fredrick Helvetius.

CHAP. I.

Most Excellent, and Prudent Sirs.
Before I enter upon the Description of the Philosophick PIGMY,(in this little Theatre of Secrets) overcoming and subduing GIANTS, I pray permit me here to use the words of Vanhelmont, taken out of his Book De Arbore Vitæ, fol. 630. and here Transcribed.

I compelled to believe, that there is an Aurifick, and Argentick Stone. But (Friend of the Spagyrick Art) I am not ignorant, that many have been found among the most wise, yea among the exquisite Chimists, who have not only consumed their own Goods, but the Goods of others also, in this Great Vulanick Secret, as Experience even at this very day sufficiently proves. For we have seen, the more is the pity! how unwary Chimists, yea such as are more worthy, than those who are called Alchimists; how, I say, they, labouring simply, are daily deluded with Guile of this kind, by Diabolick, Aurifick, and Argentick Suckgoods. Also I know, that many Stupid Men will rise up, and contradict the truth of my true Experience, touching the Philosophick Stone. One will have it to be a work of the Devil; another affirms there is no such thing; a third faith it is the Soul of Gold only, and that with an Ounce of that Gold, an Ounce of Lead, and no more may be again tinged: but this is repugnant to the Attestation of Kifflerus, as I shall briefly commemorate; a fourth believes the Verity and Possibility thereof, but faith it is so chargeable, as it will never quit Cost; with many other like Allegations. Yet I wonder not at this, for according to this Saying,

Quorum rationem non intelligimus, miramur,
Que vero pernoscere volupe est, rimamur.

What we cannot attain to, we admire,
But what to know is pleasing, do desire.

How can a Man, fallen from the Fountain of Light, into the Abyss of Darkness, effect any thing to purpose, in Natural things, especially when his Wisdome in this natural Philosophick Study is barren and sophisticate? It is, for the most part, proper to these Fools and unapt men, presently to contemn a thing, not knowing, that more are yet to be sought by them, than they have the possession of. Therefore, rightly saith