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. / by John Smith.

SYNCRISIS, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Comparatio, a Com∣parison; derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [syncrino] comparo, to compare.

1. Syncrisis is a comparison of contrary things and divers persons in one sentence.

2. Comparatio is a form of speech, which by apt similitude shews that the example brought in, is either like, unlike, or contrary: like things are compared among themselves; unlike, from the lesse to the greater in amplifying, and from the greater to the lesse in diminishing; and con∣traries by opposing one another.

English Examples of Syncrisis.

The subtle commit the fault, and the simple bear the blame.

He that prefers wealthy ignorance before chargeable study, prefers contempt before ho∣nour, darknesse before light, and death before life.

Scriptural Examples of Syncrisis.

Luke 23.39, 40, 41. There you have the guil∣ty opposed to the just, and injurie to equity; in these words, saith the believing thief to the other thief, We indeed are justly here, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man (meaning Christ) hath done nothing a∣miss

Isa. 65.12, 14. Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall suffer hunger; my servants

shall drink, but ye shall abide thirst: Behold, my servants shall rejoyce, but ye shall be asha∣med: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry through sorrow of heart, and shall howl through vexation of spirit.

Many of Solomons Proverbs are compounded and garnished with this Exornation: as,

Prov. 10.25. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation, 19.10.

Prov. 14.1. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.

10.1. A wise son maketh a glad father: but an indiscreet son is an heavinesse to his mo∣ther.

3.33. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the Tabernacle of the just.

English and Scriptural Examples of Comparatio.

1. Comparison of like things: as,

Each book sent into the world, is like a Barque put to Sea, and as lyable to censures, as the Barque is to foul weather. Herbert.

In the greenest grasse is the greatest Serpent: in the clearest water the ugliest road: in the most curious sepulchre are inclosed rotten bones: the Estrich carries fair feathers, but ranck flesh.

2 Tim. 3.8. As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the Truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

2. Comparison of unlike things: as,

Brutus put his sons to death, for conspiracy of Treason: Manlius punished his son for his vertue.

Matth. 6.26. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them: Are ye not much better then they!

3. From the lesse to the greater: as,

Heb. 9.13, 14. For if the blood of buls, and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifie to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

The like examples are in Matth. 10.25.6.30.

4. From the greater to the lesse: as,

2 Pet. 2.4. If God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delive∣red them into chains of darknesse, to be reser∣ved unto judgment, &c. much lesse will he spare the wicked, who walk after the flesh in the lusts of uncleannesse.

1 Pet. 4.18. If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?