The Preface.
not the ſame with the Philoſophers Stone, either in Form or Matter, and let this ſatisfie thee. I know ſome Diſpoſition are ſo croſs to theſe Principles, I might write again to excuſe that I have written, but this I am reſolved not to do. If thou art a malicious Reader, and doſt think it too much, becauſe it ſuits not with thy own Gingles, I muſt tell thee, thou art none of my Peers: for I have known ſome Sciences which thou haſt never heard of, nor thy fathers before thee. But to make an end, I would have every man deſcend into himſelf, and rationally conſider thoſe Generations which are obvious to out eyes. We ſee there is a power granted to man over thoſe Things, whoſe Original he doth know: Examples and Inſtances we have in Corn, and other Vegitables, whoſe ſeed being known to the Husbandman, he can by the ſeed Multiply his Corn, and provide for himſelf, as he thinks fit. It is just ſo in Minerals, there is a ſeed out of which Nature makes them, a firſt matter; and this the Magicians carefully fought after, for they reaſoned with them-
ſelves
