Chap. XII An Enigmaticall Insinuation What the Matter of the Stone Shoulde Be
THerefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus. Now that he hath declared the composition of the Stone, he teacheth vs after a secret maner, wherof the Stone is made: first naming himselfe, to the ende that his schollers (who should hereafter attaine to this science) might haue his name in continuall remembrance: and then hee toucheth the matter saying: Hauing three parts of the Philosophie of the whole world: because that whatsoeuer is in the worlde, hauing matter & forme, is compounded of the foure Elements: hence is it, that there are so infinite parts of the world, all which he diuideth into three principall partes, Minerall, Vegetable, & Animall: of which iointly, or seuerally, hee had the true knowledge in the worke of the Sunne: for which cause hee saith, Hauing three parts of the Philosophie of the whole world, which parts are contained in one Stone, to wit, Philosophers Mercurie.