( 54 ) of Quickfilver and Brimftone, to fay that thefe two Ingredients are not met withal in the Mines ; for as parts of the Compofition of Metals they have already loft their proper Forms, and are paft into the Nature of that Oar, which is made up of them. But the moftskilful Artifts inquiring further into the Secrets of Nature, do again extraft from all forts of Metal Quickfilver, whereof they fay they are moft vifibly and palpably compounded. I forbear to fet down the Manner to avoid the occafioning of Chymical Experiments, which do more harm than good. In like Manner common Quickfilver is turn’d into fine Plate, which is a certain ProofJj the Pcffibility and Truth of what has been faid before, whereof there are fo many Eye-wit- nefies in thefe Provinces, that it were a Mad- nefs to disbelieve them all. CHAP. XX. Df the efficient and formal Caufes of Metals* B ESIDES the Heavens, which as an uni- verfal Caufe, concurs in the Generation of all Things, and particularly of Metal; fome other nearer efficient Caufe is necefl'a- ry, that having receiv’d Virtue from the Planets, may work upon die proper Matter of M etals; for the Qualities of the Elements alone are not fufficient, nor are appointed to produce any compounded Body, but only fo far as they are govern’d by fome other par ticular Virtue, as is manifcftly feen in living Cr eatures