To the Reader.
ter in the Philoſophers ſea. And as he in this caſe, ſo I in another know divers that will not beleeve that common quickſilver can of it ſelfe be turned wholly into a tranſparent water, or that glaſſe can be reduced into ſand and ſalt of which it was made, ſaying that fuſio vitrificatoria eſt ultima fuſio, or that an hearb may be made to grow in two hours, and the Idea of a plant to appear in a glaſſe, as if the very plant it ſelfe were there, and this from the eſſence thereof, and ſuch like preparations as theſe: the two former whereof may be done in half an hour, but the latter requires a longer time, but yet poſſible. And for the poſſibility of the Elixir, you ſhal aſ ſoon perſwade them to beleeve they know nothing (which is very hard, nay an impoſſible thing to doe) then to beleeve the poſſibility thereof. If there be any ſuch thing (ſay they) why are not the poſſeſſors thereof infinately rich, famous, doe many miracles and cures, and live long? Theſe Objections, eſpecially ſome of them, ſcarce deſerve an anſwer; yet I ſhal to ſhew the vanity of them make ſome reply thereunto. Did not Ar-
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