3. The genuine alchemists all agree with one
another, differing only on superficial points or
on using different terminology
…… Statistical Significance ……… Supporting sources: 8
Contradicting sources: 0
Statistical significance: 0.9999847
This premise is statistically significant
…… Supporting Quotations ……… [875] This Art, of bringing all Imperfect Metals to Perfection, hath
been asserted for Truth, by Men of almost every Degree, in most Ages of the World; many of whose Books are extant. They have declared, that they have made and possessed this great Treasure, which not only brings all Imperfect Metals to the Perfection of Sol and Luna (according to the Quality of the Medicine), but healeth all manner of Diseases in Human Bodies, even renewing Youth and prolonging Life. Those Authors, from Age to Age, have justified one another's Testimony; alledging, as a farther Proof of the Art, that all that have understood it, have written most agreeingly of it, though contemporary, and unknown to one another in Person, or by Writing. How far these Men's Writings have obtain'd, a very little Enquiry may serve; for most men look upon these (Alchymic) Books only as Cunningly devised Fables, and the Art itself as altogether impossible. To which the (Alchymic) Authors answer, That it is not Lawful, nor Commendable to reprobate an Art, by Judges who are ignorant of its Laws as well as the Facts; and that the Ignorant Negative of such, is by no means sufficient to set aside the Affirmative Knowledge of so many Men of Unquestionable Credit, Piety, and Virtue, supported by Arguments and Circumstances of Uncontestible Force.
[881] This Harmony in Authors, that have written of the Art at the
same time, and unknown one to another, a Modern Adept of the same Nation with the two before mentioned, has brought as a convincing Argument (among others) to prove its Being; and which, with me, has great Weight, and seems to serve his purpose.
~ A Lover of Philalethes. A Short Enquiry Concerning the Hermetic Art. 1714 AD. Alchemical Tract
[89] The Sages have used different names for the substance, and have
p.22 3. The genuine alchemists all agree with one another, differing only on superficial points or on using different terminology
apparently indicated various methods, but they really agree with each other in regard to all essentials, and it is only their mystic language that causes a semblance of disagreement.
~ Anonymous. The Glory of the World, Or, Table of Paradise. 1526 AD. Alchemical Tract
[63] our Sages, in expounding the truth, veil it under obscure and
allegorical expressions, but nevertheless agree with each other so marvellously that they all seem to speak, as it were, with one mouth. They do not confound one thing with another, nor do they wish to lead the earnest enquirer astray. They express themselves in mystic phrases to hide the truth from the unworthy and impious, lest they should seem to be casting pearls before swine, and giving the holy thing to be trodden underfoot by those who think only of indulging their lustful desires.
[291] Sages wrote at different times, and in different languages, yet
their works exhibit so marvellous an agreement, that any true philosopher may easily see that all their hearts had been gladdened by God in the discovery of this stone, and that they all had performed this work with their own hands. Now, as the truth of their views is perceived by their agreement, so the disagreement of certain others marks them as false philosophers. For, not knowing the foundation of this glorious Art, and making up fanciful theories out of their own heads, they exhibit their ignorance to all.
~ An Anonymous German Philosopher. The Golden Tract Concerning the Stone
of the Philosophers. 16-7th Cen. (?). Alchemical Tract
[452] Hermes, surnamed Trismegistus, is generally regarded as the
father of this Art; but there are different opinions with regard to his identity. Some say he was Moses; all agree that he was a very clear- sighted philosopher, the first extant author on the subject, and was also of Egyptian extraction. Others say that Enoch invented the Art, and, before the coming of the Flood, described it on the so-called emerald tables, which were afterwards found by Hermes in the valley of Hebron. Many assert that it was known to Adam, who revealed it to Seth; that Noah carried the secret with him into the Ark, and that God revealed it to Solomon. But I do not agree with those who claim for our Art a mystical origin, and thus only make it ridiculous in the eyes of a scornful world. If it is founded on the eternal verities of Nature, why need I trouble my head with the problem whether this or that antediluvian personage had a knowledge of it? Enough for me to know that it is now true and possible, that it has been exercised by the initiated for many centuries, and under the most distant latitudes; it may also be observed that though most of these write in an obscure, figurative, allegorical, and altogether perplexing style, and though some of them have actually mixed falsehood with truth, in order to confound the ignorant, yet they, though existing in many series of ages, differing in tongue and nation, have not diversely
3. The genuine alchemists all agree with one another, differing only on superficial points or on using different terminology p.23
handled one operation, but do all exhibit a most marvellous and striking agreement in regard to the main features of their teaching—an agreement which is absolutely inexplicable, except on the supposition that our Art is something more than a mere labyrinth of perplexing words.
~ Philalethes, Eirenaeus. The Metamorphosis of Metals. 1694 AD. Alchemical Tract
[164] The substance of our Art is one, and admits of no variation or
substitute, and so also the mode of our Art is one. The unity of our Art is proved by the fact that, though the Sages exhibit considerable diversity in their methods of expressing themselves, yet they all understand each other. The very fact that Greek understands Greek, and Latin Latin, and Arab Arab, proves the unity of each language; and it is the same with our Art. Amidst the greatest apparent diversity there is a wonderful substantial agreement in the works of the Sages; they differ in words, names, and metaphors, but they agree in reference to things.
[642] If, therefore, thou shalt rightly consider those things which I
shall say unto thee, as also the testimonies of the ancients, well and fully shalt thou know that we agree in all things, and so all of us reveal the same truths. This was the deliberate conviction of Hermes, in his Secreta, who is styled the father and prophet of the Sages, of Pythagorus, Anaxagoras, Socrates, Plato, Democritus, Aristotle, Zeno, Heraclitus, Diogenes, Lucas, Hippocrates, Hamec, Thebit, Geber, Rhasis, Haly, Morienus, Theophilus, Parmenides, Mellisus, Empedocles, Abohaly, Abinceni, Homer, Ptolomeus, Virgil, Ovid, and many other philosophers and lovers of truth, whose names would be too tedious to record. Of most of these we have seen and studied the works, and can testify that they were, without a single exception, adepts, and brothers of this most glorious order, and that they knew what they were speaking about. . . . To the initiated it is clear that Moses, Daniel, Solomon, several of the prophets, and the evangelist St John, possessed the knowledge of this Art
~ Bonus, Peter. The New Pearl of Great Price. 1338 AD. Alchemical Tract
[257] Give yourself wholly to study, and be not flighty or double-
minded. Let your mind be like a firm Rock, in which all the various sayings of the Sages are reduced to the unity of their common meaning. For a man who is easily influenced in different directions is not likely to find the right path.
~ Valentinus, Basilius. The Practica. 1618 AD. Alchemical Tract
[173] But although the said philosophers have treated this subject with
so great a variety of method, and used many peculiar and singular expressions, curious parables, and strange and fanciful words, yet they all agree in pointing out the same goal, and one and the same Matter as essential to the right conduct of the Art.
~ Anonymous. The Sophic Hydrolith, Or, Water Stone of the Wise. 17th Cen. Alchemical Tract
p.24 3. The genuine alchemists all agree with one another, differing only on superficial points or on using different terminology
[835] Though the ancient Philosophers have written diversely of this
science, concealing under a multitude of names the true principles of the Art; yet have they not done it but upon important considerations, as we shall hereafter make appear. And though they are different in their expressions, yet are they not any way discordant one from another, but all aiming at one end, and speaking of the same thing, they have thought fit (above all the rest) to name the proper Agent, by a term, strange, nay sometimes contrary to its nature and qualities.
~ Anonymous. The True Book of the Learned Greek Abbot Synesius. 16-7th Cen. Alchemical Tract
…… Commentary ……… The alchemists wrote cryptically and it is this cryptic manner which makes the different alchemists appear to be implying different premises or instructions from one another. However, in most cases the alchemists are shown to be in perfect agreement if only the metaphors each use are correctly understood.