_That the Stone hath Father and Mother, to wit, the Sunne and Moone._
And as wee see, that one liuing creature begetteth more liuing creatures like vnto it selfe: so artificially golde engendereth golde, by vertue of multiplication of the foresaid stone. It followeth therefore, the Sunne is his father, that is, Philosophers Gold. And as in euerie naturall generation, there must be a fit and conuenient receptacle, with a certaine consonancie of similitude to the father: so likewise in this artificiall generation, it is requisite that the Sunne haue a fitte and consonaunt receptacle for his seede and tincture: and this is Philosophers siluer. And therefore it followes, the Moone is his mother.
_That the coniunction of the parts of the stone is called Conception._
THe which two, when they haue mutuallie entertained each other in the coniunction of the Stone, the Stone conceiueth in the bellie of the winde: and this is it which afterwarde he sayeth: _The winde carried it in his bellie_. It is plaine, that the winde is the ayre, and the ayre is the life, and the life is the Soule. And I haue already spoken of the soule, that it quickneth the whole stone. And so it behoueth, that the wind should carry and recarry the whole stone, and bring forth the masterie: and then it followeth, that it must receiue nourishment of his nurse, that is the earth: and therefore the Philosopher saith, _The earth is his Nurse_: because that as the infant without receiuing food frõ his nurse, shuld neuer come to yeres: so likewise our stone without the firmentation of his earth, should neuer be brought to effect: which said firmament, is called nourishment. For so it is begotten of one Father, with the coniunction of the Mother. _Things_, that is, sonnes like to the Father, if they want long decoction, shalbe like to the Mother in whitenesse, and retaine the Fathers weight.
_That the Stone is perfect, if the Soule be fixt in the bodie._
It followeth afterward: _The father of all the Telesme of the whole worlde is here_: that is in the worke of the stone is a finall way. And note, that the Philosopher calleth the worke, the Father of all the Telesme: that is, of all secret, or of all treasure _of the whole worlde_: that is, of euery stone found in the world, _is here_. As if he should say, Behold I shew it thee. Afterward the Philosopher saith, _Wilt thou that I teach thee to knowe when the vertue of the Stone is perfect and compleate_? to wit, when it is conuerted into his earth: and therefore he saith, _His power is entire_, that is, compleate and perfect, _if it be turned into earth_: that is, if the Soule of the stone (whereof wee haue made mention before: which Soule may be called the winde or ayre, wherein consisteth the whole life and vertue of the stone) be conuerted into the earth, to wit of the stone, and fixed: so that the whole substance of the Stone be so with his nurse, to wit earth, that the whole Stone be turned into ferment. As in making of bread, a little leauen nourisheth and fermenteth a great deale of Paste: so will the Philosopher that our stone bee so fermented, that it may bee ferment to the multiplication of the stone.