The mysterie of rhetorique unveil'd wherein above 130 the tropes and figures are severally derived from the Greek into English : together with lively definitions and variety of Latin, English, scriptural, examples, pertinent to each of them apart. Conducing very much to the right understanding of the sense of the letter of the scripture, (the want whereof occasions many dangerous errors this day). Eminently delightful and profitable for young scholars, and others of all sorts, enabling them to discern and imitate the elegancy in any author they read, &c.
Smith, John, Gent., Sergeant, John, 1622-1707.
Page  [unnumbered]

A brief Explication of the terms used in Rhetorique, some being borrowed from Logick, and pro∣posed in a Greek, and therefore to most in an unknown, resse.

1. A Cause, is that by which any thing hath its being, as God, by whom the world, &c. hath its being.

2. The Caussate, is that which depends upon the Cause, as having its being thence, as, the Artifice from the Arti∣ficer; Misery from Sin.

3. The Efficient, is that which brings a thing to passe: as Christ, the Salvati∣on of the world.

4. The Effect, is that which is brought to passe by the Cause: as, the World by God; plenty by peace; penury by war.

5. The End, is the Cause for whose sake the thing is; or it is whatsoever is intended by any that set upon a work: as, To speak well is the end of Gram∣mar; to grow rich, is a covetous mans end; to get learning, is intended by a scholar.

6. Finitum, or Medium, is whatsoever is helpful to bring to passe a purposed end: as, industry and instruction, to get knowledge.

Page  [unnumbered]7. Materia, is the matter or substance, of which any thing is made: as, Gold, of which a Ring; Silver, whereof a Cup is made.

8. Materiatum, is what is made of the matter; as, a Sword, of Steel; a Ring, of Gold.

9. Forma, the Form is that inward principle, by which any thing hath its being, or is what it is; as, the Soul, where∣by a man is a man.

10. Formatum, is that which hath its being from the form: as, the man from his soul.

11. Subjectum, the Subject is that to which any thing is adjoyned or belongs: as, the mind, to which knowledge, or ignorance; man, to whom riches, or poverty, fame, or infamy, &c. belongs.

12. Adjunctum, the adjunct, is that which belongs to any thing: as, infamy to villany; light to the Sun; heat, to fire.

13. Genus, is a more general title at∣tributed to some things more special un∣der it: as, Substance, to

  • Metals.
  • Living Creatures.
  • Elements.

Page  [unnumbered]14. Species, is a more special title at∣tributed to divers particulars under it: as, Man to

  • William,
  • Thomas,
  • John.

15. Totum, is whatsoever hath parts: as, mans body hath head, heart, arms, &c. and so parts are such as make up the whole.

16. Contraries, are qualities which mutually destroy one another: as heat and cold: wisdom and folly, light and darkness.

17. Similia, are such as agree in some qualities: as, the good man is likened to the Palm in greenness, a wise man to an Ant in Providence.

18. Abstractum, the abstract signifies some form with the exclusion of the sub∣ject. The abstract is the substantive, as, whitenesse: It is also called Denominans, the thing denominating.

19. Concretum, the concrete signifies the same form with those qualities which adhere to the subject: The concrete is the Adjective, as, albus, white: It is also called Denominatum, the thing de∣nominated.