THE Stacte or Liquid Myrrh, is that which was presented to our Lord and Saviour by the Magi or Wise Men, and which the Ancients call'd Stacten, or Myrrha Stacte vel Electa, whose Scent was very grateful; as is observ'd in the third Lesson of the Office of the Virgin, where it is said in express Words, Quasi Myrrha electa dedi suavitatem odoris. It was a fat unctuous Liquor, which is met with in Myrrh newly fallen from the Tree, as that which falls from young Trees, without Incision. But as at present this precious Merchandise or Commodity is altogether unknown to us; several Persons have invented an artificial Liquid Myrrh, by dissolving it in Oil, which they call the Stacte Unguent. Others make it thicker, and give it the Name of Artificial Stacte.
Stacte, Stacten, Myrrha Stacte, or Liquid Myrrh, is a Kind of Balsam or gummy Liquor, that is of a fragrant Smell, and collected from under young Trees that produce this Myrrh, and which drops from it without cutting. The Ancients preserv'd this Drugg as a precious Balsam, and believed with just Reason that it was that Kind of Myrrh spoke of in the Gospel, and which the Magi brought to the Saviour of the World at Bethlehem, with Gold and Frankincense. This has the same Virtues with the other Myrrh, but more efficacious: Tho' the Stacte that we have brought us by the Merchants is often-times artificial, being made by dissolving Myrrh in Oil, and mixing a little Wax with it, to give it a Consistence.