Page 32 - Book of Composition

Springing and the fifth is Nourishment. Therefore if there be no
Coupling, there will be no Conception: if there be no Conception there
will be no Impregnation, and if there be no Impregnation, there can by no
means be any Springing or Increasing, for this is the direction of this
disposition which is likened to the creation of Man. For the Omnipotent
and most highest Creator, whose name for ever be blessed, has created
Man, not of parts constituted as an house is, which consists of its parts
appointed : as is the wall, the covering and the foundation: for these are
the parts of an house, and they are called things invented. But Man
consists not in such sort, because he is a creature, for Man when his
essence is changed he seems to pass from one thing to a thing that is
better. And this Man remains always in his Creation, who seems much to
differ from things invented, and thus he proceeds from day to day, and
from month to month, till such time as the most highest Creator
accomplish his creature in a certain time, the days being defined.
Because although the four Elements were first in the sperm, yet God the
Creator has placed and ordained a defined time of it, in which it may be
accomplished, which when it shall be finished, then the Creature is
strengthened. For such is the fortitude and wisdom of the Omnipotent
God. Moreover (O good king) it is convenient for you to know, that this
Magistery is nothing else but the secret of the secrets of the most great
and highest God, for he has committed this secret unto his Prophets,
whose souls he has placed in his paradise. And if the wise men who have
been after them had not found out the expositions concerning the quality
of the vessel in which it is effected, they could never have attained to the
perfection of this Magistery. Therefore commit these things to your
memory, for I have declared before that this Magistery differs not much
from the Creation of Man. And now I say unto you, that nothing which
has had like, or has been created by nativity, but after the putrefaction
and mutation of it. Whereupon the wise men say that the whole strength
of this Magistery is not but after putrefaction, for he said : “If it be not
putrefied, it cannot be melted or dissolved. And if it be not dissolved it
will come to nothing.”

King Calid : What will this be after putrifaction ?

Morienus : After putrefaction it will come to this with which the
omnipotent God and Creator of all things will effect the wished
composition. Know therefore that this Magistery has need of two
creations, and of two confections which are so commixed one with

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