Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/59

Rh The next Philosophers, whom I shall touch upon, are the Chymists, who have been more numerous, in this latter Age, than ever before. And without question, they have lighted upon the right Instrument of great Productions and Alterations; which must for the most part be perform'd by Fire. They may be divided into three Ranks: Such, as look after the Knowledge of Nature in general; such, as seek out, and prepare Medicines; and such, as search after Riches, by Transmutations, and the great Elixir. The two first have been very successful, in separating, compounding, and changing the Parts of Things; and in shewing the admirable Powers of Nature, in the raising of new Consistencies, Figures, Colours, and Virtues of Bodies: And from their Labours, the true Philosophy is like to receive the noblest Improvements. But the Pretentions of the third Kind are, not only to indow us with all the Benefits of this Life, but with Immortality it self: And their Success has been as small, as their Design was extravagant. Their Writers involve them in such Darkness; that I scarce know, which was the greatest Task, to understand their Meaning, or to effect it. And in the Chase of the Philosopher's Stone, they are so earnest, that they are scarce capable of any other Thoughts; so that if an Experiment lye ever so little out of their Road, it is free from their Discovery; as I have heard of some Creatures in Africk, which still going a violent Pace strait on, and not being able to turn themselves, can never get any Prey, but what they meet just in their Way. This Secret they prosecute so impetuously, that they believe they see some Footsteps of it, in every Line of Moses, Solomon, or Virgil. The Truth is, they are downright Enthusiasts