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

COMMENTARY.

1. §. As if any one should recite the Significati∣ons of these Latin Words, Jus, Canis, Malum, &c. or distinguish in this Oration, Aio te Aeacide Roma∣nos vincere posse. That is, I say, you Aeacides can conquer the Romans. This properly indeed is not so much Division as Enunci••••••••••, and is more frequently call'd Distinction than Division.

Ax. 3. And is to be adhibited in the Beginning of a Disputation

1. §. So that the Disputation may seem to be insti∣tuted against the Thing, not Words: For it may happen, says Aristotle, that the Answerer may not direct his Thoughts the same way with him that interrogates, when any thing is ambiguous in a Speech, Book 1. Top. Cap. 8.

Ax. 4. Now Division of the Thing which is pro∣perly said to Be a Division, is an Explication of the Whole by its Parts.

Ax. 5. And is either by its self, or by Accident.

Ax. 6. Division by it self, is that by which is divi∣ded a Whole into its Parts, which are in it, of, or by themselves.

Ax. 7. Accident by Accident.

1. §. For Example; when Animal is divided into Man and Beast, or into Body and Soul, the Division is a Division by it self; because Man and Beast are by themselves contained under Animal; and Animal is of it self composed of Body and Mind. But when Men are divided into Freemen and Slaves, good and bad, the Division is by Accident; because here, not Men of themselves are divided, but the States and Conditi∣ons of Men or other Accidents which happen to them.

Ax. 8. Division of it self again is Four-fold; One of the Universal Whole, or Genus into Species's; An∣other of the Formal, or defin'd into its Parts defining, as Genus and Difference; Another of the Essential

or Composed into its Composing, as Matter and Form; Another lastly, of the Integrate into its Integrating; and this by a peculiar Name is called Partition.

1. §. For Example; When Animal is divided into Man and Beast, or Element into Fire, Air, Water and Earth; or Moral Vertue into Justice, Fortitude and Temperance, &c. the Division is of the Univer∣sal, or Genus into Species's. When the Definition of Man is resolved into its Parts; or when Animal and Rational are said to be Parts of Man, or of the De∣finition of Human Essence, the Division is said to be of the Whole Defined or Formal. When Man into a Body and Rational Soul, the Division is a Division of the whole Composed or Essential, &c. And hitherto are to be re∣ferred all Distinctions of Things into Material and Formal; as when the Material of a Word is said to be Voice, Formal, Signification. Lastly when Man or Hu∣man Body is divided into its three Regions and Limbs; or the Year into 12 Months; a Kingdom into its Provinces; greater into less; or Logick into Thematical and Organical: It is a Definition of the Integrate, or Mathematical, and is called Partition.

Ax. 9. Division by Accident is Four-fold, to wit, either of a Cause by its Effects, or an Effect by its Cau∣ses, to wit, Material, Efficient or Final; or a Subject by its Adjuncts; or an Adjunct by its Subjects, &c.

1. §. Of Cause by its Effects; as Plants, others heat, o∣thers cool: Syllogisms, others effect Faith, others Opinion, others Science. Effect by its Causes, and 1st. Efficient; as of Testimonies, others Divine, others Humane: By Cause Material; as of Statues, others are Marble, others Brass: Of Living things, others are of Seed, others Putrid Matter, &c. Cause Final; as of Men, others voluptuous, others studious of Money; others speculative, others ready for Acti∣on, &c. Cause Formal, that is, Division by Cause For∣mal is a Division by it self. Division by it self, al∣so is when a proper Accident is divided by its next Cause Efficient or Final: So Diseases or Distampers

do differ in Species which have a diverse next Cause or Synectical, or Containing, as a Fever and a Pleurisie, &c. of Subject and Adjuncts; as of Men, some are Bond, some Free, some are Learned, some Un∣learned Sounds, some are Grave, some Acute: Numbers, some are Even, some Odd: Charity, one towards God, the other towards ones Neighbour: Flowers, some Spring, others Summer: Animals, some Land, others Water, others both. But Divi∣sion of Subject by Adjuncts is often a Division by it self; As th' External Sense is Conversant either about Colour, Sound, or Smell, or Taste, or the Tactile Qualities. Lastly, Adjunct by Subjects; as, Vices, some are of the Mind, some Body; Virtues, some of the Understanding, some Appetite, &c.

Ax. 10. The Principal Laws of Division in gene∣ral, are seven; and first, the Parts of it ought to consent or agree in the whole

1. §. And therefore Vitious is the Division of Men into living and dead, real and painted; because dead and painted Men are not Men, unless aequivocally. So Vicious is the Division of Animals into Mortal, and Immortal; because no Animal is Immortal, &c.

Ax. 11. Secondly The Parts ought amongst them∣selves to be opposed.

1. §. Vicious therefore, that Division when ei∣ther the Parts are not different, as when Pleasure is divided into Delectation and Joy, or when one Part is contain'd in the other: As if Animal should be divi∣ded into Mortal and Rational, &c. and that Division is the best, which consists of Parts affirmed; but often∣times by reason of the Imbecillity of our Minds, and Want of Words, we are forc'd to divide by Pri∣vation; as when the Body is divided into Animate and Inanimate, &c.

Ax. 12. Thirdly, In Division are to be taken the next and immediate Parts.

1. §. For Instance, A living Creature must not immediately be divided into Plant, Man and Beast; but first into Animal and Plant, and then Animal into Man and Beast, and so on. See Book 2. Post. Cap. 13.

Ax. 13. Fourthly, The singular Parts must contain less than the whole.

1. §. For the Whole is greater than its Part, and therefore, if one Part should be equal to the Whole, the other would be superfluous, and therefore would not differ from the other; or else would not con∣sent with the whole.

Ax. 14. Fifthly, The Parts together, must contain nei∣ther more nor less than the Whole.

1. §. If more, there must be something in the Di∣vision which is superfluous and dissentaneous to the Whole; if less, the Division would be maimed; as if you should divide Rites and Customs into Pious and Im∣pious. For in this Division are omitted Rites of a middle Nature: as, by the Sound of a Bell to call People to Church, &c.

Ax. 15. Sixthly, Division ought to consist of the fewest Parts the Nature of the Thing will bear, and if it may be conveniently of two.

1. §. For by how much the Parts are the fewer in Number, by so much are they the more mani∣festly oppos'd, and better contain'd by the Memory. Not always, yet is to be affected a Bimembrous Divi∣sion: For often the Nature of the Dividend refuses a Dichotomy, or Bimembrous Division. The Division of Whole, Defin'd and Compos'd, must always be bimember'd. Division of Genus, the fewer the better; but it cannot always consist of two. And in that of whole Integral and by Accident to seek always for Di∣chotomy, is a sort of accurate Vanity.

Ax. 16. Seventhly, a Mean is to be put to divi∣ding lest the Number of Subdivisions encrease too much.

1. §. The same Fault, says Seneca, Ep. 89, has an Excess of Division as none; for that is like un∣to confus'd which is cut even to Powder. And thus much of Definition and Division: Now follows Syllogism.