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177
The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
·
M. M. Pattison Muir
32
This
sentence
evidently
teaches
the
unity
of
things
in
heaven
and
things
on
earth,
and
asserts
the
possibility
of
gaining,
not
merely
a
theoretical,
but
also
a
practical,
knowledge
of
the
essential
characters
of
all
things.
Moreover,
the
sentence
implies
that
this
fruitful
knowledge
is
to
be
obtained
by
examining
nature,
using
as
guide
the
fundamental
similarity
supposed
to
exist
between
things
above
and
things
beneath.
The
alchemical
writers
constantly
harp
on
this
theme:
follow
nature;
provided
you
never
lose
the
clue,
which
is
simplicity
and
similarity.
The
author
of
The
Only
Way
(1677)
beseeches
his
readers
"to
enlist
under
the
standard
of
that
method
which
proceeds
in
strict
obedience
to
the
teaching
of
nature
...
in
short,
the
method
which
nature
herself
pursues
in
the
bowels
of
the
earth."
The
alchemists
tell
us
not
to
expect
much
help
from
books
and
written
directions.
When
one
of
them
has
said
all
he
can
say,
he
adds--"The
question
is
whether
even
this
book
will
convey
any
information
to
one
before
whom
the
writings
of
the
Sages
and
the
open
book
of
Nature
are
exhibited
in
vain."
Another
tells
his
readers
the
only
thing
for
them
is
"to
beseech
God
to
give
you
the
real
philosophical
temper,
and
to
open
your
eyes
to
the
facts
of
nature;
thus
alone
will
you
reach
the
coveted
goal."
"Follow
nature"
is
sound
advice.
But,
nature
was
to
be
followed
with
eyes
closed
save
to
one
vision,
and
the
vision
was
to
be
seen
before
the
following
began.
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