The Golden Calf, Which the World Adores, and Desires by John Frederick Helvetius
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John Frederick Helvetius >> 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 Vitae, 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 Seneca, in lib. de
Moribus: Thou art not yet happy,
if the Rout deride thee not. But I
matter not, whether they believe,
or contradict what I write, touching
the Transmutation of Metals.
I rest satisfied in this one thing,
which with my eyes I have seen,
and what with my hands I have
done. For what Philosophers say
of themselves, I also have with my
hands handled this Spark of the
Eternal Wisdome, or this Saturnine
Catholick Magnesia of Philosophers,
a Fire of potency sufficient
to penetrate Stones, yea, a
Treasure of so great value, as 20
Tun of Gold cannot exceed the
price thereof. What seek you?
I believe what I have seen with the
eyes of Thomas, and handled as he,
(but in the nature of things only)
as well as the Adept Philosophers;
although in this our decrepit age
of the world, That be accounted a
most Secret Hyperphysico-magical
Saturn, and not known, unless
to some Cabalistick Christian only.
We judge him the most happy of
all Physicians, who hath the
knowledge of this pleasant Medicinal
potion of our Mercury, or of
the Medicine of the Son of our Esculapius
resisting the force of death,
against which there is no Panacea
otherwise produced in Gardens.
Moreover, the most wise GOD doth
not reveal his Gifts of Solomon
promiscuously to all Mortals. They
indeed seem strange to them, when
they behold a Creature, from the
occult Magnetick potency incited
in it self, deduced into art by its own
like; as for Example: In Iron is
a Magnetick, ingenited, potential
virtue from the Magnet: a Magnetick
virtue in Gold from Mercury:
a Magnetick virtue in Silver
from Venus, or Copper: and
so consequently in all Metals, Minerals,
and Stones, Herbs, and
Plants, &c.
Moreover, I may properly quaery,
which of the wisest Philosophers
is so Sage, as to be able to
comprehend with the acuteness of
his own most dextrous ingeny,
with what Obumbracle the Imaginative
Tinging, Venemons,
or Monstrous Faculty of any pregnant
Woman, compleats its work in
one Moment, if it be deduced
into art by some External Object?
I do assuredly believe, that very
many will foolishly say, that this is
a Mortomagical Work of the Devil;
but the Doltish and Ignorant
are affraid to be out-shined by the
true resplendent Light of Verity,
with which their Owl-like Sight
is troubled, and afflicted.
Also the Stars are a cause of
what we treat of, and this cause is
not to be contemned, although I,
nor you, know not how to comprehend
the Celestial Influences of
them in our mind. Nor are the
Plants, which the Earth supplies
us with, to be rejected, although
I; or you, from the External Signature
of them, know not how to
judge aright of the Effect of Virtues
ingenited in them, which they
notoriously exercise, according
to their power, in healing and
conserving Humane bodies. Therefore,
since all others are also offended
at the Internal Light, being
ignorant of all abstruse things, of
which you, or I, want the Science,
how can the same Virtues be deduced
into art, according to the
end for which they were created?
A thousand other like things
might be instanced. Although
you know not the Splendour in
Angels, the Candour in the Heavens,
the Perspicuity in the Air,
Limpitude in Waters, the variety
of Colours in Flowers, hardness
of Metals and Stones, Proportion
in Animals, the Image of GOD
in regenerate Men, Faith in Believers,
and Reason in the Soul;
yet in them there is such a beauty,
as hath been throughly beheld,
and fully known by very few Mortals.
Although in the Stone of Philosophers
there be so potent a virtue,
and the same hath been seen
by me, yet I would not therefore
have any man to think, that my
primary Scope, and intention, is
to perswade the worthy, or unworthy
Sons of this Age, to labour
in this work, no, not at all:
but I shall rather dehort all, and
every of the curious Indagators of
this Art, that they seriously abstain
from this most perilous Arcanum,
as from a certain Sanctum
Sanctorum; yea, and I would admonish
the Studious of this Arcanum,
accurately to take heed to
himself, and beware of the Lectures,
and Association of false
Philosophers. But I hope I shall
satisfie the curious Naturalists,
or investigators of Physical Arcanums,
by communicating and publishing
in this present Discourse, all
which passed between Elias the Artist,
and Me, touching the Nature
of the Stone of Philosophers.
For that is an Ens more Effulgent
than the Morning, or a Carbuncle:
more splendid, than the Sun, or
Gold: more fair, than the Moon,
or Silver: so very Recreable,
and Amiable, was the sight of this
Light, and most pleasing Object
to me, as out of my inward Mind,
it cannot be obliterated, or extinguished
by any Oblivion; although
the same be credited by none of the
fatuate Learned, or illiterate ignorant
Asses, and such as glory only
in the praise of ambitious Eloquence.
For in this malignant
ulcerated age of the world,
nothing is so safe and secure from Calumnies,
but it is taken in a wrong
Sense, and perverted unworthily
by the Idiotick Ignorance of
mad-brain'd CacoZelots.
So very farr do
all these dark-sighted men deviate
from the true rule of Verity,
as in success of time, they, intangled
with their own Errors, will
miserably wast away and expire;
but our Assertion, built on the
Eternal Foundation of Triumphing
Verity, shall continue and remain,
unto the Consummation of
all ages, without diminution, although
this art be not yet known
to all Mortals. For the Adept Philosophers,
according to the antient
Faith of their experience, have
affirmed, that this Natural Mystery
(which many anxious men
have sinistrously sought, and required)
is only to be found with
Jehovah, Saturninely placed in the
Centre of the World. In the
mean while, we proclaim those
happy, who take care, by the help
of art, how they may wash this
Philosophick Queen, or how they
ought to circulate the Virgin-Catholick-Earth,
in Physico-Magical
Crystalline Artifice, as Khunradus.
did; they only, and none others
besides them, shall see the Crowned,
and internally fiery King of
Philosophers, coming forth from
his Glassy Sepulchre, in an external
fiery Body glorified, more then
perfect with all the Colours in the
world, as a shining Carbuncle, or
perspicuous, compact and ponderous
Crystal, a Salamander Spewing out
Waters, and by the benefit
thereof in the Fire washing Leprous
Metals, as I my self have seen.
What? How shall they see the
Abyss of the Spagyrick Art? when
as this Royal Art hath so long lain
hid, and been absconded in the
Mineral Kingdom, as in the Safest
of all Secret places, for so very many
years? Assuredly the Genuine
Sons of this Laudable Art, shall
not only behold a like Flood of
Numicius, in which AEneas heretofore,
by the command of Venus,
washed and absolved from his Immortality,
was immediately transformed
into an immortal God; but
also the Lydian River of Pactolus
all transmuted into Gold, and how
Midas Mygdonius washed himself
in the same. Likewise those candid
Rivals of this Art, shall in a serious
order behold the Bathing-place of
naked Diana, the Fountain of Narcissus
and Scylla walking in the Sea,
without garments, by reason of the
most fervent Rayes of Sol: partly
also the Blood of Pyramus and
Thisbe, of it self collected, by the
help of which, white Mulberries
are tinged into Red; partly also
the Blood of Adonis, by the descending
Goddess Venus transformed
into a Rose of Anemona; partly
likewise the Blood of Ajax, from
which arose that most beautiful
flower the Violet; partly also the
Blood of the Giants slain by Jupiters
thunder-bolt; partly also the
Shed Tears of Althea, when she put
off her Golden Vestments; and
partly the Drops, which fell from
the decocted Water of Medea, by
which green things immediatly
sprang out of the Earth; partly
also the cocted Potion of Medea,
made of various Herbs, gathered
always three dayes before full
Moon, for the cure of Jasons aged
Father; partly also those Leaves,
by the tast of which, the nature of
Gaucus was changed into Neptune;
partly also the Exprest Juice of
Jason, by the benefit of which, he,
in the Land of Cholcons, received
the Golden Fleece, afterward by
reason of that, compleatly armed, he
fought in the Feild of Mars, not
without the hazard of Life; partly
also the Garden of the Hesperides,
where Golden Apples may be gathered
from the Trees; partly also
Hippomenes running for the Mastery
with Atalanta, and staying her
Course, and so overcoming her
with three Golden Apples, the Gifts
of Venus; partly also the Aurora of
Cephalus, partly also Romulus transformed
by Jupiter into a God;
partly also the Soul of Julius Caesar, by
the Goddess Venus, transfigured into
a Comet, and placed among the
Stars; partly also Python, Juno's
Serpent, arising out of the putrid
Earth (after Deucalions Flood)
made hot by the Rayes of the Sun;
partly also the Fire, with which
Medea kindled seven Lights;
partly also the Moon, inflamed by the
burning of Phaeton; partly also the
Withered Olive Branch, a new;
flourishing and bearing Fruit;
yea, becoming a new and tender
Olive Tree; partly also Arcadia,
where Jupiter was wont to walk;
partly also the Habitation of Pluto,
at the Gate whereof lay the Three-headed
Cerberus; & also partly that
Mountain, where Hercules burned
all his Members, received from the
Mother, upon Wood, but the Parts
of the Father remained Fixed, and
incombustible in Fire, and nothing
of his Life was destroyed, but he,
at length, was transmuted into a God.
Likewise we will not forget
those Germans, the Sons of true
Philosophers, who entred into a
Country-house, at length transformed
into a Temple, whose Covering
was made of pure Gold. Certainly,
I cannot choose, but must yet once
more with acclamation, say with
the Adept: O happy, and thrice
happy is that Artificer, who by the
most merciful benediction of the
highest, Jehovah pursues the Art of
Confecting, and preparing that
(as it were, Divine) Salt, by the
Efficacious Operation of which, a
Metallick, or Mineral body, is
corrupted, destroyed, and dyes;
yet the Soul thereof is in the mean
while revived, to a glorious Resurrection
of a Philosophick Body. Yea,
I say, most happy is the Son
of that man, who, by his Prayers,
obtains this Art of Arts, unto the
glory of GOD. For it is most
certain, that this Mystery can be
known no other way, unless it
be drawn and imbibed from GOD,
the Fountain of Fountains. Therefore,
let every serious Lover of
this inestimable Art judge, that the
whole work of him required, is,
that he constantly, with the prayer
of true faith, in all his labour,
implore and solicite the Divine
Grace of the Holy Spirit. For the
solemn manner of GOD alone is,
candidly and liberally, either mediately
or immediately, to communicate
his gifts and benefits, to
none, unless to candid and liberal
Ingenies only. In this holy way
of practical Piety, all Inquisitors
of profound Arts, find what they
seek, when they, in their work,
exercise themselves Theosophically
by solitary Colloquies with
Jehovah, with a pure Heart and
Mouth, religiously. For the Heavenly
Sophia, indeed, willingly embraces
our friendship, presenting,
and offering to us, her inexhaustible
Rivolets, most full of gracious
goodness and benevolence. But,
happy is he, to whom the Royal
way, in which he is to walk, shall
be shown by some One expert in
this Arcanum.
I seem to presage to my self, that
I have not equally satisfied all Readers
in this Preface; but it is, as
if I did presume to teach them an
Art, unknown to my self; yet I
hope better of the greatest part of
them. For my intention was, only
to relate to you a certain History.
Therefore, Drink, my Friends, of
the following Dialogue, or Springing
Colloquy, presented by me,
wishing you well, that thence
you may satisfie, and allay all the
Thirst of your Thirsting Minds:
for I doubt not in the least, but
that this Study of Divine Wisdome,
will be more sweet to you,
than Nectar and Ambrosia. No
other will I communicate, no other
have I common, then that of Jul.
Caes. Scaliger: The End, of Wisemen,
is the Communication of Wisdome:
according to that of Gregory
Nyssen: He who is Good, in Nature,
the same very willingly communicates
his Goods to others. For it is the
part of good Men, to be profitable
to others.
CHAP. II.
Divers Ilustrious men have
written touching the Verity
of this Arcanum, among these,
take the Sayings of some of them,
as follows.
PARACELSUS
In his Book Of the Signature of Natural
things.
The Tincture of Naturalists, is
a, true sign, that by the transmutative
virtue thereof, all imperfect
Metals are changed, viz. the
White into Silver, and the Red
into the best Gold, if an exceeding small
part of this Medicine well
prepared, be injected upon the
Metal, while in flux in a Crucible,
&c.
The same.
For the invincible Astrum of
Metals overcomes all things, and
changeth into a Nature like it self,
&c. This Gold and Silver is more noble,
and better, than those,
which are dug out of Metallick
Mines; for Medicinal Arcanums
to be prepared therefrom.
The same.
Therefore, I say every Alchimist,
which hath the Astrum of
Gold, is able to tinge all Red Metals
into Gold, &c.
The same.
Our Tincture of Gold hath
Astrums in it self, is a Substance
most fixed, and in multiplication
immutable. It is a Powder, haveing
a colour most red, almost like
Saffron, yet its whole Corporal
Substance, is liquid as Rosin, perspicuous
as Crystal, brittle as
Glass, of the colour of a Rubie,
and exceeding poaderous, &c.
Also read Paracelsus his Heaven
of Philosophers.
Likewise, Paracelsus his Seventh
Book, Of the Transmutation of Natural
things.
Transmutation is a great natural
Mystery, Metallick, and not
contrary to the Course of Nature,
nor repugnant to the Order of
GOD, as many men of it do falsly
judge. For imperfect Metals, are
changed neither into Gold, nor into
Silver, without this Stone of Philosophers.
Paracelsus, in his Manual of the
Medicinal Stone of philosophers.
Our Stone is a Celestial, and
more than perfect Medicine, because
it cleanseth all the impurities
of Metals, &c.
HENRY KHUNRADUS
In his Amphitheatre of Eternal Sapience.
I travelled long, invited others,
who knew somewhat by experience,
and could with very firm
judgement conjecture; and this not
alwayes in vain. Among which,
I call God to witness, by his wonderful
ordination, I, from one,
received the Green Catholick
Lyon, and the Blood of the Lyon,
viz. Gold, not the Vulgar, but of
Philosophers, with my Eyes I saw
the same, with my hands, I handled
it, and with my Nostrils, smelt
the odour thereof. O how wonderful
is God in his Works! They,
I say, gave those Gifts prepared,
which I in most desperate Cases,
used with admirable success to the
benefit of my needy Neighbour.
And (by Instinct of Jehovah's
mercy) they sincerely revealed to
me, the wayes of preparing, &c.
The same.
This wonderful Method, the
wonderful God gave me. In this
way, in which I walked, God
alone, I say, immediately, and mediately;
yet subdelegately, Nature,
Fire, and Art, of my Master,
as well living as mute, corporally,
and spiritually good, sleeping
and waking, gave the same to
me, &c,
The same.
I write not Fables; with your
hands you shall handle, and with,
your eyes you shall see Azoth,
viz. the Catholick [or Universal]
Mercury of Philosophers; which
alone, with the Internal and External
Fire, yet with Sympathetick
Harmony, with Olympick
Fire (by reason of inevitable necessity)
Physico-magically united,
will suffice thee for obtaining our
Stone, &c.
The same.
You shall see, the Stone of Philosophers;
our King, and Lord of those
that bare rule, coming from his
Bridal Throne of the Glassy Sepulchre,
into this Mundane Scene,
in his glorified body, viz, regenerate,
and more then perfect:
namely, a shining Carbuncle, a
most temperate Splendour; and
of which, tire most Subtile, and
Depurated parts, are by the concordant
peace of Mixtion, inseparably
united into One, and perfectly
equallized, clear as Crystal,
compact, and most ponderous, as
fluid in fire, as Rosin, and before
the flight of Mercury, as Wax
flowing, yet without fume, entring
and penetrating, solid and
close bodies, as Oyl, Paper; resolvable
in every Liquor, melting,
and commiscible therewith; brittle
as Glass, in Powder, of the
colour of Saffron, but in the intire
Mass, like a blushing Rubie;
(which Redness is a sign of perfect
Fixation, and fixed Perfection)
permanently Colouring, or Tinging;
in all Examens whatsoever,
even of Sulphur adurtive, and
in Tryals of corroding Waters,
and in the most vehement persecution
of Fire, fixed, alwayes during,
and unburnable; permanent as the
Salamander, &c.
The same.
The Stone of Philosophers in
the greater World, is in the parts
thereof, fermented; by reason of
the Ferment, it transforms it self
into whatsoever it will &c.
Hence you may learn the reason,
why Philosophers on their Azoth imposed
the name of Mercury which
adheres to bodies, &c.
The same.
It is fermented with Metals, viz,
the White existant in the highest
Whiteness, with pure Silver for
the White; but the Sanguineous
Stone, with Gold Obrizon for
the Red. And this is the Work
of three dayes, &c.
HELMONT, Of Eternal Life
For I have oftentimes seen it,
and with, my hands handled the
same, &c. See in the same place
further. Then I projected this
quarter of one Grane, wrapt up in
Paper, upon eight Ounces of Argentvive,
hot in a Crucible, and immediately
the whole Hydrargyry,
with some little noise ceased to
flow, and remained congealed like
yellow Wax: after fusion thereof,
by blowing the bellows, there
were found eight Ounces of Gold,
wanting eleven Grane. Therefore,
one Grane of this Powder,
transmutes 19186 equal parts of
Argentvive, into the best Gold.