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it. Of the Tranſmutation of Metals, what may be done by Art I will not take upon me to determine: I am apt enough to believe that ſome ſtrange things (in that kind) may be done, if a man will go to the coſt of it, and undergoe the trouble upon ſo much uncertainty of the event. But ⟨that⟩ which we call ordinarily, and moſ underſtand by it, The Phyloſophers Stone, is certainly a meer cheat, the firſt author and inventor whereof was no other then the Divel. Legi etiam Spirituum ſupernorum revelatione traditam antiquitus ar tem faciendi Auri, & me ætate idem uſu eveniſſe, &c. faith one (Jo. Franc. Picus Mirandula) of the learnedſt Authors that I have ſeen of that ſubject, in defence of it, I meant. If he mean Supernos Spiritus, ſuch as appear in form of Angels of Light, fuch as deluded Dr. Dee, and daily doth thofe that hunt after Revelations, and Prophecies, and unlawful Curiofities, I grant it. But that any good Angels did ever meddle in a practice commonly attended with fo much impofture, impiety, coufenage as this commonly is, I fhall not eafily grant. Though I muft add, I make great difference (if we will speak properly, between Ars faciendi auri (a thing I do not deny to be feasible by natural means)and that we call the Phylofophers Stone, as before already intimated. And for that objection of his, why evil Spirits fhould not be the Authors or revealers of it unto any (though other wife for fome other reasons he thinks it probable) because it is not likely that God would fuffer them to give fuch power unto men like themſelves, whom only among men they favour and refpect, that is, wicked ungodly men. Firft, I anfwer, That is a very weak objection, fince we know by conftant experience of prefent and future Ages, that they are not of the belt of men commonly that are the greatest and richeft. But Secondly, There is no great caufe to fear that any thing hitherto revealed (or hereafter to be revealed, I believe) of this fecret, fhould enable men (good or bad) to do much hurt in the world. The greatest hurt is to themſelves who are deluded (yea, and beggerd many firft or faft) and to fome few not very wife whom they coufen as themselves have been coufened. And for this that they can do no more, we are beholding not to the Divel who certainly would not be vvanting to himself or to any opportunity to do mifchief by himself or his Agents, but to God vvho doth not give him the povver: So much to Mirandula, out of my respect to his name, and for the better fatisfaction to the Reader. I ovve the fight and ufe of the book to my Learned friend Dr. Windett before mentioned. I am much confirmed in that opinion (of the Divel being the Author) by vvhat I find of it in the book vvhich hath given me this occafion to fpeak of it. Were there nothing ife but the grofs and impudent forgeries that have been used to commend it unto men, fome entituling the Invention to Adam himſelf, others to Solomon, and the like; and the many books that have been counterfeited to the fame end; and again the moft ridiculous and profane applying & expounding of Scriptures, a thing ufually done by moft that are abettors of it, thofe things vvere enough to make a man to abhor it. Sure enough it is, that not only Dr. Dee, but others alfo vvho had part of that precious Powder brought unto them by Spirits, and expected great matters of it, vvere all cheated and gull'd (and I believe it coft fome of them a good deal of money; Prince Rofemberg particularly) by thofe Spiritual Chymifts. Let them confider of it that have been dealing in fuch things as they fhall fee caufe.