The Sceptical Chymist | Page 5

the heat of Disputation, mine,) partly in this
Discourse, and partly in some other Dialogues betwixt the same
speakers (though they treat not immediately of the Elements) which
have long layn by me, and expect the Entertainment that these present
Discourses will meet with. And indeed they will much mistake me, that
shall conclude from what I now publish, that I am at Defyance with
Chymistry, or would make my Readers so. I hope the Specimina I have
lately publish'd of an attempt to shew the usefulness of Chymical
Experiments to Contemplative Philosophers, will give those that shall
read them other thoughts of me: & I had a design (but wanted
opportunity) to publish with these Papers an Essay I have lying by me,
the greater part of which is Apologetical for one sort of Chymists. And
at least, as for those that know me, I hope the pain I have taken in the
fire will both convince them, that I am far from being an Enemy to the
Chymists Art, (though I am no friend to many that disgrace it by
professing it,) and perswade them to believe me when I declare that I
distinguish betwixt those Chymists that are either Cheats, or but
Laborants, and the true Adepti; By whom, could I enjoy their
Conversation, I would both willingly and thankfully be instructed;
especially concerning the Nature and Generation of Metals: And
possibly, those that know how little I have remitted of my former
addictedness to make Chymical Experiments, will easily believe, that
one of the chief Designes of this Sceptical Discourse was, not so much
to discredit Chymistry, as to give an occasion and a kind of necessity to
the more knowing Artists to lay aside a little of their over-great
Reservedness, & either explicate or prove the Chymical Theory better
than ordinary Chymists have done, or by enriching us with some of
their nobler secrets to evince that Their art is able to make amends
even for the deficiencies of their Theory: And thus much I shall here
make bold to add, that we shall much undervalue Chymistry, if we
imagine, that it cannot teach us things farr more useful, not only to
Physick but to Philosophy, than those that are hitherto known to vulgar
Chymists. And yet as for inferiour Spagyrists themselves, they have by
their labours deserv'd so well of the Common-wealth of Learning, that

methinks 'tis Pity they should ever misse the Truth which they have so
industriously sought. And though I be no Admirer of the Theorical Part
of their Art, yet my conjectures will much deceive me, if the Practical
Part be not much more cultivated than hitherto it has been, and do not
both employ Philosophy and Philosophers, and help to make men such.
Nor would I that have been diverted by other Studies as well as affairs,
be thought to pretend being a profound Spagyrist, by finding so many
faults in the Doctrine wherein the Generality of Chymists scruples not
to Acquiesce: For besides that 'tis most commonly far easier to frame
Objections against any propos'd Hypothesis, than to propose an
Hypothesis not lyable to Objections (besides this I say) 'tis no such
great matter, if whereas Beginners in Chymistry are commonly at once
imbu'd with the Theory and Operations of their profession, I who had
the good Fortune to Learn the Operations from illiterate Persons, upon
whose credit I was not Tempted to take up any opinion about them,
should consider things with lesse prejudice, and consequently with
other Eyes than the Generality of Learners; And should be more
dispos'd to accommodate the Phænomena that occur'd to me to other
Notions than to those of the Spagyrists. And having at first entertain'd a
suspition That the Vulgar Principles were lesse General and
comprehensive, or lesse considerately Deduc'd from Chymical
Operations, than was believ'd; it was not uneasie for me both to Take
notice of divers Phænomena, overlook'd by prepossest Persons, that
seem'd not to suite so well with the Hermetical Doctrine; and, to devise
some Experiments likely to furnish me with Objections against it, not
known to many, that having practis'd Chymistry longer perchance then
I have yet liv'd, may have far more Experience, Than I, of particular
processes.
To conclude, whether the Notions I have propos'd, and the Experiments
I have communicated, be considerable, or not, I willingly leave others
to Judge; and This only I shall say for my Self, That I have endeavour'd
to deliver matters of Fact, so faithfully, that I may as well assist the
lesse skilful Readers to examine the Chymical Hypothesis, as provoke
the Spagyrical Philosophers to illustrate it: which if they do, and that
either the Chymical opinion, or the Peripatetick, or any other Theory of
the Elements differing from that