Page 27 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

As the fire brought forth various shapes and essences, in the same manner also did
the element of air produce the like. Though the four elements differ somewhat in those
things that are engendered out of themselves. For every of them engendered some
thing in special and peculiar to itself. The firmament is like none of the other three.
Fate is from the air, yet is it not like any of the rest. Those that belong to the earth are
not in the least like any of the other three. So likewise is it with sea monsters in relation
to other things. Every creature begat both reasonable and unreasonable creatures in
itself. Heaven, as well as the element of earth, hath rational creatures in the
firmaments. In like manner the fate of the air is distinguished in its signature by reason
and brutishness. The same also is true of the earth and water. Now who is he that can
tell us what the truth is, which [is] within the four sealed elements, who are they to
whom the true faith and right way of salvation is committed and instructed, or who
alone are they that shall inherit eternity, which we will now pass by? It must needs be,
that men live in all four, as if they did but in one element, to wit, the earth. As touching
destiny, we are to understand, that its generation out of the element is manifold, yet
without any body and substance, according to the property of the air (which is not
corporeal) and its habitation. Some are corporeal, others cannot be touched, as we
know.

Most manifest is it, that out of one seed the root sprouts into many sprigs, then
into the stalk, afterwards the boughs shoot out, lastly the flower, fruit and seed put
forth. Just so is it in the various procreations out of the four elements. All which
procreations that are from one element cleave close to each other, as an herb grows
from one seed. Though they be not all permiscuously [without distinction] alike to their
seed. The creatures which are made of the water, are partly men, partly living
creatures, and partly the food of both. One element clearly discovers its own signature,
want, and sustentation [needs for nourishment]; as also hints its course and coming,
which may easily be know by the stars, not as though the stars do guide and govern us,
but they keep pace with us, and imitate the inward motion of our body. Whatever is
made in the element of earth, is also made in the element of water. For Lorind is the
commotion of the change of that element of water. When this moves itself in the
element of water, yet then is the element of earth moved too. Lorind is like a comet or
blazing star. The monster of the sea may be considered, as the error of the firmament.
So that a peculiar world, with its mystery, to the end of the world, may be found out in
the water. They have the same principle with the other elements. Their end is no other,
but as the rest of the elements is. The only difference is of the forms, essence, and
natures, that happen to them, with their signatures and elements. Hence we may find

22