Page 31 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

Nymphs, Sirens, and such like. So a medicine of the earth will not help the other three
worlds, but only the living creatures of its own world. And so of the air, there are
diseases, physicians, skilful, and unskilful, in the air, which have their peculiar motion
there, as in their own world. The same may be said of fire. Now if it so chance that at
any time the Nymphs couple with earthy things and beget children, that is to be
imputed to the faculty of ravishment. Airy things, as the Melusines may ravish earthy
things. The Trifertes19 are snatched out of the fire by earthy things. If then those three
foreign worlds plant men in our world, as we have said, they are to be known in their
whole essence as gods in respect of us, by reason of that huge distance and very
strange essence which they have. But on the other hand, if any of us be caught away
by them, there is a contrary rape from us to them. Thus one element hath no need of
another, one is but the cabinet or conceptacle [container] of the other. As water and
earth separate from each other, so air and fire have their peculiar lots, without any
other contiguity, but like walls, and according to the inclination of the mysteries out of
all four.

But if there shall be any such meeting or conjunction, whereby all things return
into their former essence, then that will be a mystery, according to the aspect and face
of the elements. For there is no bodily thing by generation can appear, but the
appearance and presentaneous exhibition shall fill that place wherein all creatures were
contained, and so every one shall know those things that were made either before or
after him, as if he had seen them before with his eyes, yet nevertheless here the sense
of the last Great Mystery is hidden. Nor shall that be known by nature, but by the
knowledge of the causes of the last separation of the elements and all the creatures,
when every one shall give an account of his death: this is the case of the mortal, and of
the living, and of that which endures to the end. There will be the only judge that hath
eternal power, and who hath been the alone judge in all ages. This is the cause of all
religions and the original of religious men worship the Gods, all which custom is false
and erroneous. For there was never any other but one God, who is the eternal Judge. It
is too blasphemous foolishness to worship a mortal, frail, perishing rotten creature
instead of the author of all things, and ruler of eternity. Whatsoever is mortal hath no
power to rule and reign. There is then but one only way and religion, and it is madness
to affirm more.

When all creatures thus return [to] their predestinations, then there will be a
mystery. Predestination is the last matter, which will be without an element, and

19 Trifertes - Spirits inhabiting the element of fire
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