The compovnd of alchymy Or The ancient hidden Art of Archemie: Conteining the right & perfectest meanes to make the Philosophers Stone, Aurum potabile, with other excellent Experiments. Diuided into twelue Gates. First written by ... George Ripley ... & Dedicated to K. Edward the 4. Whereunto is adioyned his Epistle to the King, his Vision, his Wheele & other his Workes, neuer before published: with certaine briefe Additions of other notable Writers concerning the same. Set foorth by Raph Rabbards Gentleman, studious and expert in Archemicall Artes |
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The Prologue.
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 | The compovnd of alchymy |  |
The Prologue.
Childe of this discipline incline to methine care
And harkē to my doctrine with al thy diligēce
These words of wisedome in minde doe thou beare,
Which of olde fathers be true in sentence:
Liue cleane in soule, to God doe no offence.
Exalt thee not but rather keepe thee lowe,
Else will thy God in thee no wisdome sowe.
And harkē to my doctrine with al thy diligēce
These words of wisedome in minde doe thou beare,
Which of olde fathers be true in sentence:
Liue cleane in soule, to God doe no offence.
Exalt thee not but rather keepe thee lowe,
Else will thy God in thee no wisdome sowe.
From sinfull doctrine and wicked thought,
The holy spirite doth him withdraw,
Nilling to dwell where sinne is wrought:
Dread God therefore and obey his law:
A righteous man forsooke I neuer sawe:
Neyther his seede begge bread for neede:
In holy scripture this doe I reede.
The holy spirite doth him withdraw,
Nilling to dwell where sinne is wrought:
Dread God therefore and obey his law:
A righteous man forsooke I neuer sawe:
Neyther his seede begge bread for neede:
In holy scripture this doe I reede.
Make wisdome therefore thy mother to be,
And call on Prudence to be thy friend,
By pathes of truth they will guide thee,
With loue and honesty wheresoeuer thou wend:
Both vertuous to be, curteous and hend:
Pray God therefore that thou maist finde,
Wisedome and Prudence with mouth and minde.
And call on Prudence to be thy friend,
By pathes of truth they will guide thee,
With loue and honesty wheresoeuer thou wend:
Both vertuous to be, curteous and hend:
Pray God therefore that thou maist finde,
Wisedome and Prudence with mouth and minde.
All manner good come with them shall,
And honestie by their hands innumerable,
Then into cumbrance shalt thou not fall,
So be they in riches incomparable:
To worship and profite they will thee able,
To cunning and all manner of grace,
Both here and after thy liues space.
And honestie by their hands innumerable,
Then into cumbrance shalt thou not fall,
So be they in riches incomparable:
To worship and profite they will thee able,
To cunning and all manner of grace,
Both here and after thy liues space.
For these benefites which they doe bring,
I meane these vertues of prudence and sapience,
To whome I can compare no thing,
No riches, nor spices of redolence,
Aboue all treasure such is their excellence,
That whatsoeuer earthly precious is,
To them is compared as clay I wis.
I meane these vertues of prudence and sapience,
To whome I can compare no thing,
No riches, nor spices of redolence,
Aboue all treasure such is their excellence,
That whatsoeuer earthly precious is,
To them is compared as clay I wis.
Infinite treasure to man they be,
Who vseth them shall friendship haue
With God in heauen and there him see,
After them therefore busily craue,
For bodie and soule they will both saue,
And here in goods thee multiply;
And afore princes thee dignifie.
Who vseth them shall friendship haue
With God in heauen and there him see,
After them therefore busily craue,
For bodie and soule they will both saue,
And here in goods thee multiply;
And afore princes thee dignifie.
Thinke how Adam lost his wisedome,
Sampson his might which was so strong:
King Saule also lost his kingdome,
And Dauid was punished for his wrong:
In the Oke by the haire fayre Absolon hong,
King Ezechias by sicknes had punishment,
And many one moe for sinne was shent.
Sampson his might which was so strong:
King Saule also lost his kingdome,
And Dauid was punished for his wrong:
In the Oke by the haire fayre Absolon hong,
King Ezechias by sicknes had punishment,
And many one moe for sinne was shent.
But see how other which liued weele,
And to their God did no offence,
Such chastisement did neuer feele;
But God sheweth euer to them beneuolence,
Enoch and Hely were carried hence,
To Paradice, and orher good liuers were
Of God rewarded in diuerse mannere.
And to their God did no offence,
Such chastisement did neuer feele;
But God sheweth euer to them beneuolence,
Enoch and Hely were carried hence,
To Paradice, and orher good liuers were
Of God rewarded in diuerse mannere.
Some had great Fortune, some great cunning,
Some had great peace, some great riches,
Some conquered lands to their great wynning;
Some were exalted for their great meeknes,
Some other were saued from the cruelnes
Of Tyrants, Lyons, and of the hot furnace,
As Daniel and others in many a place.
Some had great peace, some great riches,
Some conquered lands to their great wynning;
Some were exalted for their great meeknes,
Some other were saued from the cruelnes
Of Tyrants, Lyons, and of the hot furnace,
As Daniel and others in many a place.
Thus to good liuers God sent great grace,
And vnto sinners great and sore punishment,
Some to amend in this life had space,
Some sodainely with fire from heauen were brent,
Sinfull Sodomites for euer were shent,
With Dathan and Abiron with many moe,
Which sunke for sinne to endles woe.
And vnto sinners great and sore punishment,
Some to amend in this life had space,
Some sodainely with fire from heauen were brent,
Sinfull Sodomites for euer were shent,
With Dathan and Abiron with many moe,
Which sunke for sinne to endles woe.
Thus euer sith this world was wrought,
God hath rewarded both euill and good:
Thus if it may rest in thy thought,
From sinfull liuing to change thy moode.
If sinfull people this vnderstoode,
They ought to be afrayde God to offend,
And soone their sinfull liues to amend.
God hath rewarded both euill and good:
Thus if it may rest in thy thought,
From sinfull liuing to change thy moode.
If sinfull people this vnderstoode,
They ought to be afrayde God to offend,
And soone their sinfull liues to amend.
Therefore with God looke thou beginne,
That he by grace may dwell with thee,
So shalt thou best to wisdome winne;
And knowledge of our great priuitie:
Nourish vertues, and from vices flee,
And trusting thou wilt thee well dispose,
Our secrets to thee I will disclose.
That he by grace may dwell with thee,
So shalt thou best to wisdome winne;
And knowledge of our great priuitie:
Nourish vertues, and from vices flee,
And trusting thou wilt thee well dispose,
Our secrets to thee I will disclose.
Keepe thou them secreate and for me pray,
Looke that thou vse them to Gods pleasure,
Doo good with them what euer thou may;
For time thou shalt this life indure,
That after thy ende thou mayst be sure
In heauen for to rewarded be,
Which God graunt both to me and thee.
Looke that thou vse them to Gods pleasure,
Doo good with them what euer thou may;
For time thou shalt this life indure,
That after thy ende thou mayst be sure
In heauen for to rewarded be,
Which God graunt both to me and thee.
FINIS
| The compovnd of alchymy | |