Page:The Art of Distillation, 1651.djvu/21

 To the Reader. thy veels; work diligently and contantly. 5. If it be poible, acquaint thy elf throughly with ome true Philoophers. Although they wil not directly dicover themelves that they have this ecret, yet by one circumtance or another it may be concluded how neer they are to it. Would not any rational man that had been converant with Bacon, and eeing him doe uch miraculous things, or with Sandivogius who did intimate the Art to ome word by word, have concluded that they were not ignorant of it? There have been Philoophers and perhaps til are, that although they wil not dicover how it is made, yet may Certifie you, to the aving of a great deal of cot, pains, and time, how it is not made: and to be convinced of an errour is a great tep to the truth. If Ripley had been by any Tutor convinced of thoe many errours before he had bought his knowledge at o deare a rate, he had long before, with lee charges attained to his bleed deire. And as a friendly Tutor in this, o in all pagyrical preparations whatoever, is of all things moft neceary. A faithful wel experi- ¶ 3enced