Page 49 - Charnock alchemical letter

The Oxford Man

By all these your probations as well out of the Old Testament, as by your
philosophers’ authors makes me give credit that this science is true. But I
marvel that his is of no greater proportion when he is come to his
perfection, seeing that it is a thing of so long continuance.

Master Charnock

I must say with Christ in his gospel: who so exalteth himself, shall be
made low, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. This may be a
similitude to our science, for first of all in his proportion he is made of
many things, as of the 4 elements and planets seven, and to a great
quantity, wherein he prideth and exalteth himself. And then by a long
continuance of time, his is made one thing fixed and of a mean quantity,
and so he is made low. Ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.23

Then for his humbleness which he hath suffered, he shall be exalted and
brought to a more higher degree than he was before, as if I might say, ille
sublimatus est in Episcopum, id est in digniori statu exaltatus seu
positus.24

The Oxford Man

Why do the philosophers say then that their work is but a work of
women, and of children at play?

Master Charnock

No more it is not, for it is a work of women because women are always
at home, and do all their work within doors, and so must we be always at
home to tend to our work: and it is a play of children because children
will ever be piddling in the ashes and in the fire and so must we.

The Oxford Man

But what way you to this, that the opinion of many practisers of this
science is: that when this stone shall be wrought, and perfectly brought to
pass, that the end of the world is at hand. And this way they do it apply
saying that against the last day all secrets shall be opened.

Master Charnock

All the philosophers within this realm shall not fix that judgement in my
44