Monitio logica, or, An abstract and translation of Burgersdicius his logick by a gentleman.

COMMENTARY.

1. §. Altho' Form be far more noble than Mat∣ter, and confer more to the Constituting the Cau∣sed, yet it is not to be doubted but that Matter al∣so is part of the Essence, and not only a Vehicle or Receiver.

Ax. 3. Matter in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is defined to be that out of which inexisting something is made.

1. §. This Definition is extant Book 2. of the Physicks, Cap. 3. and Book 4. of the Metaph. Cap. 2. But it may more Fully and Explicatiously be defined in this Manner. Matter is an Internal Cause of which any thing is made or consists. Why, I add Consists will be sufficiently understood out of the 9th Theo∣reme. Matter is also defined Book 2. Post. Cap. 11. but more obscurely to be That which, any thing being supposed, of Necessity must be so too.

2. §. Generally Matter is divided into that out of which, in which, and about which: That out of which is that which is properly so called, and we have but now defined; In which, the Subject; about which, the Object; Of which, in their Places.

Ax. 4. The Offices of Matter are two; to take up Forms and sustain them; and with the Form to con∣stitute the Composed.

Ax. 5. Matter is either First or Second.

Ax. 6. The first Matter is informed.

Ax. 7. The Second formed.

1. §. Altho' no Matter may exist without Form, yet Because Matter is not altogether nothing, nor the same with Form, why may it not by it self be un∣derstood not understanding Form? And this is the first Matter, which Aristotle Book 1. of the Phy∣sicks, Cap. 9. defines in this Manner. That is Matter, says he, which is the first Subject out of which any thing is made: So that it is not in it by Accident; and if it should be spoiled it would be into that resolved at last. Nor is it yet to be thought that the First and Second Matter are two several Matters. Nay, one and the same Matter, is said to be first and second, as it is this way or that way considered.

Ax. 8. Farther, Matter is either of Natural or Ar∣tificial Bodies.

1. §. For Example: Elements are the Matter of Mix'd Bodies; Seed of Living; Gold or Silver, of the Cup; Wood of the Shelf, &c.

Ax. 9. And both of these either of Composition, or Generation.

Ax. 10. The Matter of Composition is that of which a thing consists.

Ax. 11. Of Generation, out of which it is made.

1. §. For Example: The Body is the Matter of Composition in an Animal; Seed, of Generation. In things of Art the Matter of Generation and Com∣position is almost the same: as also in Meteors. For a Shelf is made and consists of Wood; Clouds of Vapours; Ice of Water, &c. When the Matter of Generation and Composition is divers, that is said to be the remote, this the proximate Matter.

2. §. Now Aristotle divides Matter also, Book 8. of the Met. Cap. 6. into intelligible and sensible: And Intelligible is that when in Accidents or other simple things the Mind distinguishes between Material and Formal. So Letters are said to be the Matter of Words, Words of Speech; so Precepts of Discipline, Method the Form: After this manner are distinguish∣ed Material and Formal in the Subjects of Disci∣plines. Material is the thing it self which is consi∣dered; Formal the manner of its Confideration: So the Material of Physicks is Natural Body; Formal, as Natural.

Ax. 12. Form is defin'd to be that which ex∣plains What a thing is; or the Ratio of that by which it is explained, What a thing is; or, lastly, the Ratio of the Essence.

1. §. Form in the Greek is is term'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or al∣so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is, Species, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is, Exemplar; sometimes also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is, ac∣cording to Hermolaus Barbarus, its perfect Habitude, or the like. These three all conspire in the same thing, and return to this, viz. That Form is the Internal Cause by which a thing is that which it is: For by Matter also it exists; but by Form it is that which it is; that is, of this or that Species. For Ex∣ample: That Man exists, is no less from Matter than Form: But that he is a Man rather than of any o∣ther Species of Creatures, is due only to Form.

Ax. 13. The Offices of Form are Two, viz. to inform the Matter, and with such matter to consti∣tute the Composed.

1. §. And these are not so much different in the thing it self as in Reason: For when Matter of it self informed, and determined, receives Form, it is determined with Form to constitute a certain Species of Compositum. Both therefore constitute the Composed; Matter by receiving Form, and Form by determining or Forming Matter, and that by an Union intervening: For without an Union of Form with

Matter, the Composed is not constituted, which brings us to the next Theorem, viz. that,

Ax. 14. Form is four ways divided, and first into Material and Immaterial.

Ax. 15. Material Form is that which is produ∣ced out of the Power of Matter, or which dependeth upon Matter in that. self same Moment and Act, by which it is made.

Ax. 16. Immaterial, which is not produc'd, nei∣ther does it depend, &c,

1. §. To be produc'd out of the Power of Matter, is nothing else but to be produc'd by an Efficient Cause in the Matter; and so as that the Matter promotes that Action by its Causality. After this Manner are produc'd Material Forms. Forms Im∣material are also produc'd by an Efficient Cause in the Matter; but the Matter it self does not contri∣bute towards the Action. And this properly is said to create. Material Forms, not only when making, but also when made, depend upon Matter Immaterial, neither. Hence is it that those are Corruptible, these Incorruptible. All Forms of Natural things, the Humane Soul excepted, are Material, which only is Immaterial.

Ax. 17. Secondly, Form is divided into Sub∣stantial and Accidental; of which that Constitutes the Substance, this the Accident in the Concrete.

1. §. For Example: The Substantial Form of a Musician, as he is Man, is the Rational Soul; Acci∣dental, as he is a Musician, Musick. In the like Man∣ner the Substantial Form of a Statue is, the Form it self abstractedly of the Marble or Brass; Acciden∣tal, as a Statue, the Figure.

Ax. 18. Thirdly, Form is divided into Natural and Artificial.

Ax. 19. Natural is that, which is of Nature, Ar∣tificial of Art.

1. §. For Example: The Soul is the Form Natural of every living thing. The Forms of other Natural

things want Names, and therefore are to us almost unknown. Figure is the Artificial Form of a Sta∣tue, as an Artificial thing; not as a Natural, to wit, Marble or Brass: For Artificial Forms are Qualities of Natural things, no Formal Causes; but yet they are the Formal Causes of Artificial things, as Artificial: For Artificials are certain Accidents Concrete with their Substances.

Ax. 20. Fourthly and Lastly. Form is divided into Principal and Disposing.

Ax. 21. The Principal is that which constitutes the Species it self.

Ax. 22. Disponent, which disposes the Matter to an Aptitude for the Reception of the Principal Form.

1. §. The Principal Form is always a Substantial Form, disposing either Accidental or Substantial. Dis∣position Accidental is required in all things having a Substantial Form; Substantial in animated only. For Example: When Wood's burnt, it is first made hot and dryed, and after this manner made fit, to receive the Form of Fire. So likewise, when a Statue is made out of a Beam or Timber, it is by degrees to be disposed and form'd into the Figure of a Statue. But when an Animal is to be generated of Seed, this Seed not only by its Qualities, but also Substantial Form is to be disposed and made fit to receive the Soul; which Form in Respect of the Seed is a Prin∣cipal, tho' of the Soul, or Animal, a Disposing, &c.

2. §. Form also may be divided into Intelligible and Sensible; but of this enough has been said already in the Doctrine of Matter.