The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 18
Meditation XVIII. VponUpon the philoſophers stone.
THis Lemma, or Title may happily as much affect ſuch who make Gold their God, as the ſight of the Star did the Wiſe Men, hoping that it will be both a light and guide to the diſcovery of that rare and matchleſs ſecret, of turning the more baſe and inferiour Metralls into the more noble; Iron into Silver, and Braſs into Gold, and ſo Enrich them with an Artificial Indies. But I can ſc…rce reſolve my ſelf whether the Philoſophers Stone, which is thus framed for wonders, be not rather a Speculation than an abſolute reallity, or an attempt aſſayed by many, rather than an Atcheivment attained by few or any: How many have melted down Ample Revenues in their Cruſibles, and while they have, with much labour, ſought the Sublimation of Mettals, have ſunk themſelves into the deepeſt beggery? and how have others conſumed their time, if not waſted their Eſtates in a fruitleſs purſuit of it? and yet have ſeen no other change then what age and care hath made in themſelves, by turning their golden hair into ſilver hair; or at the beſt have gleaned up ſome few Experiments onelyonly, which have not Compenſated their coſt and travel. But, what if any Man, after long ſearch and ſtudy, can Archimedes like cry out joyfully, that he hath found? Yea, what if every Man, who have buſied his thoughts, and imployed his time in diving into this Myſtery, ſhould be able to effect ſuch a Change, and to multiply his Treaſure as the Sand? yet, how worthleſs and inconſiderable would ſuch productions of his Philoſophical Stone be found, if compared with the noble and tranſcendent effects of the Divine, or Theological Stone, which Chriſt promiſeth in the Revelation to him that overcometh: whoſe worth, as it is far greater, ſo the way to obtain it is more facile and certain, it being not a work of labour, but a gift of grace. This Stone is of ſuch power and energy, that whoſoever is poſſeſſed of it, can have nothing bef…l him, which it changeth and turneth not to his good: it turneth all temporal loſſes into ſpiritual advantages; all croſſes into bleſſings; all aſflictions into comforts: it dignifies reproach and ignomy; it changeth the hardſhip of a Priſon into the delights of a Pallace; it is an heavenly Anodyne againſt all paines, and makes the Soul to poſſeſs it ſelf in patience in every condition. It is a Panacea, an univerſal Salve for every Sore, to all acci…ents that can befall a Man; It is as the Seal to the W…x, putting upon them a new ſt…mp and figure, and making them to be what they were not before, and what they never could have been without it. Such it is that he who hath it, hath all good: and he that wants it (whatever elſe he ſeemes to poſſeſs) hath little leſs then nothing. Who then can without mourning as well as wondering, think at the prodigious folly of thoſe Men, who labour in a continual fire to effect the Stone of the Tranſmutation of Mettalls, and yet deem this Divine Stone ſcarce worth the begging of God in a Prayer? Is this wiſdom to toile in the refining of Clay, and to be able to make a dull piece of Earth to ſhine, and then to value our happineſs by it? is this wiſdom to ſet a low rate upon what God hath promiſed to give, and highly to eſteem what we can do? O Lord, if this be the Worlds wiſdom, let me become a fool: I had rather have this Divine Stone of thy Promiſe, then all the Treaſures that Nature and Art can yield. Let the Mountains be turned into Gold, the Rocks into Diamonds, the Sands into Pearles, yet this Stone with the New Name written in it, is to me more deſirable then all, as being a ſure pledg of life and happineſs in heaven.