THE Errors about this Noble Medicine are so many and so gross, they deserve not to be refuted. But the disparage­ment done to Learning thereby, as well as Damage to the Healths, and Lives of Persons, has concerned me in the Preparation and Vindi­cation of it.

All the Learned Masters of Chymistry, who have treated of this Celebrated Medicine, have declared the Subject to be the Salt of Nature alone; altho they have obscurely wrote, concerning its Discove­ry and Preparation, which has precipitated many into very great Errors; who not knowing the Sub­ject, busie themselves about other things, altogether unfit for this Work. But if they wou'd consider, what this Salt is in its own Nature, and what Qua­lities it hath, and so comparing the Qualities of their Compositions, with the Qualities of this Salt of Life, the Thing it self wou'd discover what is Truth, and what not.

Take a Description of it in these Particulars:

• 1. The Subject of the true Sal Volatile Oleosum, must be only one thing; For, Oleosum is op­posite to Macrum, as Fat to Lean.
• 2. The Virtues and Powers of the Superiors and Inferiors, are concentrated in it.
• 3. It containeth in it self the Vital Fire.
• 4. 'Tis incombustible, and despiseth the Violence of the Flames.
• 5. 'Tis both Volatil and Fixt.
• 6. It containeth the three Principles of Nature, in the highest Purity; viz. Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury.
• 7. 'Tis of great Splendor, Ponderosity and Te­nuity.
• 8. It contains the Vital Tincture of the World, in Potentia.
• 9. 'Tis the very Spring of Radical Moisture.
• 10. 'Tis only one Clean, Bright, Fat, Salt.

I know there are many, who will not approve of this Description of our Medicine, especially those who are employ'd about divers Mixtures and Com­positions, which they call by this Name, altho they have nothing of the Nature and Virtues of the true Medicine. But such wou'd do well to consult the Ancient Philosophers, who expound the Principles, and their occult Operations.

Then the certainty of this Salt wou'd be evidently known, by shewing Sulphur residing in it, in the form of a Subtil, Thin, Illuminating Oil, of an E­thereal Quality. And Mercury as the Aereal Humi­dity, and the inseparable Companion of Sulphur and the Medium to conjoin it with the Salt. And the Principle of Coagulation is the Salt, wherein is secur'd the Mercury and Sulphur, for it is cal­l'd, Domicilium invisibilis seminis.

So you have the three Principles of Nature, all in one Saline Body. But Salt is always reckon'd first, by Chymists, because, whoever has the true Universal Salt of the World, has Mercury and Sulphur included.

You must be very wary in the Choice of your Salt, for it is of most profound search, and differs much from all other Salts.

Avicen discoursing of this Medicine, says, Salia cujuscunque generis sint, nostrae Arti sunt contraria, ex­cepto Sale Naturae.

Sal Naturae in centro Elementorum, qualificatione A­strorum, per Spiritum Mundi, absque ulla cessatione, gene­ratur, & radiis Solis & Lunae in ma [...] Philosophico gubernatur. Arnoldus. But Morienus gives the Re­ceipt: Spiritus Ʋniversi dicitur Sal Spirituosum, & il­lud Sal extrahitur mensibus vernalibus, Sole ad nos re­deunte: Illud ipsum Sal ex rore Majali colligitur, ex eoque fit & conficitur Medicina Ʋniversalis.

If your Salt be right, in the Anatomy of it, you'l see a certain Subtil, Shining, Transparent Oil, (which is the Oleosum of the Medicine) full of Active Virtue, and containing the Vital Fire of the World; But most Temperate, Equal and Similar to Life in Man.

For the Natural Heat, or Fire in Bodies, is that Vital Flame, which forms its own Body, and is no­thing else but the Spirits, or Fiery Life in Crea­tures. And this Fire, or Life, which preserves Be­ings, must be cloathed with such an Essence, as can pierce and penetrate all Bodies whatsoever; for where it cannot penetrate, it cannot quicken and illuminate.

The Sun by its Fire doth excite and quicken every [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] thing upon Earth: So the Fire which is proper an [...] peculiar to every Creature does preserve in it Life.

For we find that when our Heat or Warmth begin [...] to decrease in its wonted Activity, we grow Dull▪ Cold and Unactive; and when it ceaseth altogether we Die and Perish.

It may be observ'd in declining Age, when Natu­ral Heat abates, that a cold Phlegmacy and rawness abounds with a crude Earthiness, and such Persons have often fresh insipid Urines, for want of the Salt of Life, which is inseparable from the Volatil Liv­ing Fire.

Experience shews that wheresoever our Fire is strong, Salt abounds, as in Sweat, Urine, &c.

The Salter any ones Sweat and Urine is, the more lively and vigorous he is. So that Salt is the conse­quent of Fire. Wheresoever Salt is, there Fire is al­so, whether it be in Air, Earth, Vegetables, Animals, &c. Some of the Ancients have called the Sun the Salt of the World. For which reason 'tis probable, the Greeks call'd Salt ἅλας and the Sun Ἥλιος. The Ro­mans called the Sun Sol, and Salt Sal, representing the likeness of their Natures, by the likeness of their Names. 'Tis said Mark 9. 49. Every one shall be salted with Fire. And this Fire, or Life, which is in the Salt, is pro­perly that, which preserves the Creatures from Putre­faction: For when this Life hath once left the Salt, we are told, Matth. 5. 13. That it is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trod under Foot by men.

Every Creature hath its vivifying Spirit or Fire, and stands in need of a Spiritual Nutriment, which is plen­tiful in the Air, and to be attracted in the Form of a tender Oily Salt. And since Spirit of Blood is a fine Volatil Salt, what more similar and uniform, than the Salt of Air to that of Blood.

But 'tis from the Sulphur and Mercury contain'd in the Salt, that it becomes capable of Production; for with them the Volatil living Fire insinuates it self most intimately with its influential Virtues giving Splendor and Spirit to the Salt: Thus it becomes agreeable to all Creatures for the sustaining of Life, and those Bo­dies that are most impregnated with it, are in a bet­ter State of Health and Vigor.

Besides 'tis the true Vital Ferment of Bodies, and Root of Radical Moisture; For by the Action of the Fire upon the Principles, is generated the Balsom of Nature and Seminal Spirits, and these are coagulated in this Salt of Nature, which is the Soul of the Earth and of all other things. If the Earth were depriv'd of this Salt, it wou'd want the Power of Sprouting and Budding. It is the only Subject un­der the Concave of the Moon, in which the Virtues as well of the Superiors, as of the Inferiors, lye concen­trated, and out of which alone by the Chymical Art, our Learned Masters prepar'd their true Sal Volatile Oleosum.

And not from the Lean, Impoverisht, Caustic Salts of any Bodies whatsoever, in Conjunction with Oils, Spirits, Perfumes, &c. after every ones Fancy, where­with the World does so abound. For at this rate may be made 1000 sorts. Whenas there is but only one in Nature, viz. A Clean, Bright, Fat, Virgin-Salt, which open'd by Art, shews a transparent white Sulphur, or Oil, that is of so great Moment; For in the white, lyes the incombustible red Sulphur, which cloaths the Fie­ry Life of Beings, and is the Spring of indelible, Vi­tal Tincture.

I have chose to give this Salt, thus open'd, for the more easie mixing with Liquors, and its readiness to be assimulated. Besides 'tis a demonstration of its Oily­ness, which manifests the Medicine and a piece of Art. For the Body is wholly Saline, and by an easie heat I can lock up the Mercury and Sulphur again, and re­present [Page 8] an intire Body of Salt. So you have the three Principles of Nature in Unity. This is a great Secret, and a branch of oceult Philosophy.

Honest Avicen, in very poor Latin, writing of this Medicine, says thus, Qui ergo scit Salem & ejus solutio­nem, Ille scit verum Salem Volatilem Oleosum Antiquorum Sapientum: Pone ergo tuam mentem super Salem, nec cogites de aliis, nam in ipso solo occultatur Medicina Vera.

From what is said, 'tis manifest, that this Salt alone hath Vital Endowments, let it appear under what form soever. And so it becomes the genuine, adaequate Medi­cine of the Spirits, and consequently an Universal Medi­cine.

In Man is a peculiar, vivifying, innate Spirit, which contributes both Light and Life to the Body; for con­serving and sustaining the same. And it manifests its own exquisite Skill, (as Experience daily proves) in separating the pure from the impure, of all our Meat and Drink.

This Spiritual Essence, the Active, Internal Agent in all Bodies, is often invaded by Diseasy Ferments, re­ceived from Meats, Drinks, Corrupt and Unwholsom Airs, &c. And very often no longer capable to sup­press those Disorders, without the help of a Medicine naturally gifted, to cast a friendly Ray or Beam of Light, upon the discompos'd and darkned Spirit, by which it is enabled to expell what offends.

And of such a Nature is our Medicine, Homogeneal to our Spirits, whereby they are kept undisturb'd, and Life and Health maintain'd.

Our Natural Spirits are Volatil Oily Substances, there­fore by Sympathy they are delighted and refresht with our Volatil Oily Salt. Spirituum Oleaginitas consistit in Sale Oleoso Volatili.

That which Fabricated the Man, must be the Conserver of that Frame. Diseasy Powers aim at nothing else but its Destruction. Yet no morbifick Power can exist in the Body of Man, where the Spirit of Life stands clear and undefil'd. As is apparent in a Pesti­lential Season: In some Bodies the Spirits being clean and strong, remain untouch't, and no Venom introduc't. But in others the Spirits being not so clear, or strong enough to defend themselves, admit of Pestilential Airs, and so form the Disease: Yet if timely assisted by Natural Remedies, easily and readily expel the same.

When the Spitits have any Diseasy Impress, by the means of a generous Medicine, they can rectify their own defiled Air, and illuminate and restore the dis­composed Spirits to their pristin State, so that no Dis­ease can long abide.

In Sacred Scriptures we read that Elisha, at the re­quest of the Inhabitants of Jericho, intending to heal their Venomous Waters, went not to the Streams, but to the Fountain it self, and there cast in Salt. So ought every Physician in his Administration of Reme­dies, to respect the Fountain or Original, not the Streams or Effects of Diseases.

For That, by which a Disease is form'd, is That, to which the Remedy ought to be apply'd.

A true Medicine relieves the Natural Spirits, d [...]bi­litated or disturb'd, without resolving the nourishing Juices of the Body, and ejecting of 'em as Excre­ments and Superfluities, as common Purges, and other forcible Medicines do, to the impoverishing of Nature.

The Spirits interrupted and opprest are uncapable to perform their wonted Actions and Natural Separations. But a Congeneal Medicine excites their Powers to officiate, amend and restore the Body.

The Body is the Subject, containing the Spirit, and the Spirit the contained Agent, vivifying and agitating the Body.

When the Body in all its parts, is intire and com­pleat, the Spirit without interruption performs all its own Operations perfectly. And 'tis evident the Spirit of Man delighteth in no Remedy, that is not capable to assist it in its own Acts, and to be better'd by it. Spiritus Spiritibus curantur: Spiritus optimi sunt Morbo­rum Medicatores.

Physicians are Nature's Ministers, and whatsoever tends not to her Preservation is out of the way that may be called Living. Eximius Medicus excellens debet esse Physicus: Accuratissime sciat quibusvis Spirituum defecti­bus subvenire, convenientes accommodare Medicinas, Natu­ram juvare, errantem in viam ducere rectam, debilitatem roborare, oppressam relevare, succumbenti succurrere. Et talia praestare, si calluerit, jure merito Naturae-Consultus dicendus est. Medicus vero, qui nec Naturam, nec Natu­rae Spiritus, nec Naturae Vires novisse didicit, qui Spirituum Morbos & impotentias ignorat, qui Purgationibus Naturam destruit, qui Medicamentorum farragine Stomachum obruit, qui Naturam in actionibus suis & operationibus confundit, Valetudinem conculcat: Et talis Medicus Naturae est de­structor, Hostis & Medicaster.

Sanitatis formalitas est Potentia Naturales actiones ex­ercendi. Spiritus sunt illi ipsi qui exercent illam potentiam.

Positis Spiritibus radiantibus, ponitur Vita, amissis & extinctis, ponitur Mors.

Illa itaque Spirituum Medicina est Sal Spirituosum, quia fluidam, volatilem, luminosam reddit Spirituum, Sanguinis & humorum obscuritatem, crassitiem & segnitiem.

The true Sal Volatile Oleosum is to be prefer'd before a thousand common Medicines, which prove them­selves to be rather injurious than profitable: Beccuse [Page 11] they want those Universal Virtues, that are capable to answer the Spirits Necessities.

Moreover, Experience manifests, that the Relicts of acute Diseases manag'd by Medicines contrary to Nature, become the Causes of Chronical Distempers.

Whereas true Medicine should not be contrary to our Natures: But contrary to Diseases, which are contrary to our Natures, and friendly to our Spirits.

Many Droop thro' Languid and Disordered Spirits, and for Relief suffer themselves to be tormented by Externals, or contrary Internals: Whereas a generous lively Remedy, agreeable to the Harmony of our Na­tures, and that neither dulls the Stomach, nor in­creases praeternatural Heat, but is found Temperate, Clean and Subtile; such a Remedy wou'd soon please the Spirit of Life, and charm all its dependent Pow­ers and Organs.

Tale est Sal Volatile Oleosum nostrum, quod non tantum hominem, sed quodlibet Animal praeservat in conservatione sanitatis. Curat omnes infirmitates de quibus Medici desperaverunt, & facit Hominem juvenescere. Virtutem habet efficacem omnem sanandi infirmitatem super omnes alias Medicinas Medicorum: Non enim permittit Sangui­nem putrefieri, nec Phlegma superdominari, nec Choleram aduri, nec Melancholiam superexaltari. Nam Sanguinem purum multiplicat; contenta in Spiritualibus purgat, & omnia Corporea membra efficaciter restaurat & custodit. Denique omnes tam Calidas, quam frigidas, tam siccas quam humidas infirmitates arctissime sanat. Et si quis nostro Sale utitur quotidie, illum aio animo, ac omni sen­suum habitu tam alteratum iri, ac si revera viveret in Paradiso.

Here I shou'd end: But that nothing may be want­ing to any ones Expectation, I'l instance some parti­cular [Page 12] Distempers it frequently Cures, without the help of any other Remedy.

First, Distemper'd Stomachs, from Heat, Choller, Phlegm, ill Digestions, Surfeits of Meat or Drink, Heart-burn, Sowerness, Wind and Weakness.

All sorts of Colli [...], tho' Scorbutic, and conse­quently habitual.

The Scurvy in all its Shapes, Rheumatisms, and Dropsies: For it renewes the Tincture of the Blood, and restores its Vital Ferment.

Fevers of all sorts, especially malignant.

Vapors, Melancholly, Hypochondriac Fumes, Hy­steric and Convulsion Fits.

Head-Aches, decay of Sight and Senses, Numness, Tremblings, Palsie, Lethargy, &c.

Coughs, Hoarsness, Tissicks, Asthma, Short-breath, &c. It keeps the Pipes and Lungs clean from Clam­miness and Ulcerous Putrefactions.

In all Weak, Declinning, Consumptive Cases, 'tis Restorative, Strengthning and Preservative. And so it is, to repair the Decays and Infirmities of Age.

All the time of Womens Lying-in, and in many other Cases, 'tis a Noble Remedy.

'Tis an Excellent Remedy at large, for an ill Habit of Body.

This Vital, Balmy Medicine disposes the Blood and Flesh to Healing, and so promotes a sound and speedy Cure in Chirurgical Cases.

To such as are afflicted with Gout or Stone, 'tis very adviseable, for mending the sharp Ferment in their Blood and Stomachs, and to expel Wind freely. Herewith may be prevented the Fits of Gout and Stone, and the Increase of either.

In the beginning of all Indispositions, while the Case is yet doubtful, 'tis a safe and proper Me­dicine.