Plain, and short rules for pointing periods, and reading sentences grammatically, with the great use of them by M. Lewis ...

Rules for reading Grammatically.

R. 1. EVery Sentence consisteth of a Substantive, called the Nominative Case, and a Verb (expressed, or understood) with their Dependents. The Dependents of the Verb are those words, which it affects with its motion mediately; or immediately.

Except a Vocative Case, and any word, or clause, having the import of a Sentence, where the Verb is virtually. These are sometimes Conjunctions, Inter••ections, Participles of the present, and pretertense, one Substantive after another by apposition, the Infinitive Mood, &c with their Dependents. You have Examples for these in the general Rules for Pointing.

R. 2. The Nominative Case begins the Sentence, with which the Verb agrees.

Except, a Conjunction, the oblique Cases of Relatives, Interrogatives, or Partitives do begin the Sentence. As, What book dost thou read? Thou didst meet with my brother, whom thou didst salute, he will direct, what Book I shall read.

R. 3. The Nominative case stands before the Verb.

Except, it stands after the Verb to distinguish Demanding, and Commanding from Shewing. As, Lovest thou? dost thou love? let a man love. Love thou.

Except, Nor, neither, or there do go before the Verb. As, Neither can I learn, how there came a man into my house.

R. 4. The Nominative case stands immediately before the Verb.

Except, a Genitive case, or a Gerund in D••, analogous to a Genitive case, do come between. As, The lord of the Creatures was made after God's image.

An Adjective, governing a Case, a Participle, a Relative, a Conjunction with their Dependents, may part the Nominative case and Verb. As, A man doth labour, may be thus parted. A man desirous of honour, desiring honour, which doth desire honour, if he doth desire honour, doth labour.

These Clau••es may be placed after the Verb. As, A man doth labour, if he doth desire honour.

R. 5. Every Adjective may have a Substantive after it, with which it doth agree.

Except, Participles, and Adjectives, governing Cases, have their Substantives before them. As, God creating man, &c. A man desirous of honour.

R. 6. Every Verb may have a sign of a Mood, or Tense.

Except the Verb is a sign of a Mood, or Tense; or do follow a Verb, that is the sign of a Mood, or Tense. As, God alone can create.

R. 7. Every Substantive may have a sign of a Case, by which it is governed.

Except. 1. Pronoun Substantives in the Accusative case. As, Me, us, thee you him, her, it, them, which will not admit a general Sign.

2. Except, 1. The Substantive coming after Dignus, indignus opus, and usus signifying need. 2. After Verbal, in Bilis, and Passive Participles. 3. After Verbs of Comparing, being angry with, to meet with. 4. The word coming after Verbs of Esteeming. 5. Proper names of Lesser places, and Humi, domi, militiae, bells. 6. The word coming after Satago, misereor misereseo. 7. After Interest and resert. 8. After Verbs of wanting, and potior. 9. After Fungor, fruor, utor. 10. After certain Verbs signifying profit, dis∣profit, &c. where TO is implyed. 11. Apposition. 12. The Ablative Case absolute. 13. The word of Price.

These Rules for Pointing, and Reading, primarily intended for the English Tongue, are applicable to other Languages with a little alloy.

When we understand these Rules, and can decline Nouns, and form Verbs, there remains only the Propria quae maribus, As in praesenti, and the Syntax, which are made thus short, and plain.

First, The Propria qua maribus is reduced to five special Rules thus:

• 1. All Nouns of the first, and fith Declension are of the Feminine Gender.
• 2. All Nouns of the second, and fourth Declension are of the Masculine Gender.
• 3 All Nouns of the third Declension ending in An, in, on, o er, or, os, are Masculine.
• 4. All Nouns of the third Declension in x and s, are the Feminine.
• 5. All Nouns of the third Declension in us, &c. are Neuter.

A few Exceptions will perfect these Rules.

Secondly, The As in praesenti is reduced to three Rules.

• 1. All Verbs in O impute are of the first Conjugation, and do make Avi in the Preter∣perfect tense, and Atum in the Supine.
• 2. All Verbs in Eo are of the second Conjugation, and do make ui, and itum.
• 3. All Verbs in Io are of the fourth Conjugation, and make Ivi, and itum.

All Verbs of the third Conjugation are enumerated. All Irregular Verbs of the first, second, and fourth Conjugation are also enumerated, and ought to be learnt by Begin∣ners, as a Vocabulary: because they are generally Primatives, and words of most fre∣quent use.

Thirdly, The Syntax is reduced to three Rules, according to the number of words de∣clined, and are all contained in the Rules for reading Grammatically.

• 1. Every Verb hath Number, and Person by the Nominative Case, which is a Substantive placed before it: because the Verb is not determined in these.
• 2. Every Adjective hath Number, Case, and Gender by the Substantive following. This comprehends the Antecedent and Relative. The Adjective is not determined.
• 3. Every other Substantive is governed of the word before it, on which it depends, according to the Sign of the Case.

These Signs are Of to, for, with, from, by, then, in, at, a, the, which two last are onely general Signs.

The stress of the Syntax lies in these Rules for the government of the Substantive. How easy it is by the Signs of Cases in comparison of Lilly's Rules, founded upon the signification, or enumerations of the preceding Word (being in number Fifteen score) will appear by the following comparison.

LILLIES Rules.	R. by the signs of Cases.
1. Qaum duo Substantiva. 2. Adjectivum in Neutro genere. 3. Laus & vituperium rei. A Genitive is true Latin, An Ablative more elegant. 4. Adjectiva quae ad copiam. A Genitive is true Latin, An Ablative more elegant. 5. Adjectiva quae desiderium. 6. Adjectiva verbalia in Ax. 7. Nomina Partitiva. 8. Comparativa & Superlativa. 9. Sum Genitivum postulat. 10. Verba accusandi. 11. His impersonalibus poenitet. 12. Participiorum voces. 13. Quadam adverbia loci.	Of after a Substantive or Adjective is a sign of the Genitive Case. As, The love of Mony. Desirous of Mony,
1. Pas••ivis additur Ablativus. 2. Quadam accipiendi. 3. Moercor cum Adverb••s. 4. Diversa verbis implendi, & onerandi. 5. Verbum impersonale passiva vocis. 6. Vapulo, veneo, liceo.	Of after a Verb is made by a Preposition. He is praised of the Mr.
1. Adjectiva quibus commodum. 2. Huc referuntur nomina. 3. Opus adjective pro ne••essarius. 4. Numeralia in alio sensis. 5. Nomina diversitatis. 6. Exosus & perosus. 7. Omnia verba acquisitive. 8. Verba significantia Commodum. 9. Verba Comparandi. 10. Verba dandi. 11. Verba promittendi. 12. Verba fidendi. 13. Verba imperandi, & nuntiandi 14. Verba obsequendi. 15. Verba minandi. 16. Sum cum compositis. 17. Verba composita cum prae, ad. This is an uncertain Rule. Mutant Dativum aliquoties in a∣lium casum. It is according to the Sign usually, when that sails, Authority is the best Rule. 18. Est pro habeo. 19. Huic confine est supperit. 20. Sum eum compositis. 21. In dativum ••er••••tur hac. 22. Quadam adverbia. 23. Est etiam ubi in Dativum.	To before a Substan∣tive, and For, are signs of a Dative. For is sometimes made by a Preposi∣tion, Hard to be deter∣mined by a Beginner. For, the Cause, is alwaies the Ablative. Do tibi, pignori [pro pignore], causâ honoris.
1. His vero attinet, pertinet, &c. 2. Ex his quadam efferuntur. 3. Quaedam variam habent constructionem. 4. Nomina appellativa. 5. Verbis significantibus motum ad locum. 6. Ad hunc modum utimur Rus.	After attinet, pertinet, spectat, loquor, hortor, invito provoco, addo, voco, and words of Motion, To is made by Ad. Ambulo ad templum.

	To before a Verb is a sign of the Infinitive Mood Active. Cupio amare. 1. Except after Substantives and Adjectives governing a Ge∣nitive Case, To is made by a Gerund in Di. Tempus a∣mandi. 2. After aptus, paratus, tardus, and Verbs of Exhorting, ex∣citing, and prevailing, a Gerund in Dum. Aptus ad aman∣dum. 3. About To is the Future in Rus. Amaturus. 4. After words of Motion, the first Supine. Venit amatum.
	To ••e is the Infini∣tive Mood Passive. Cupit amari. Except. 1. After Verbs Substantives, and Noun Substantives, the Future in Dus. Est homo amandus. 2. After certain Adjectives, easy, hard, worthy, unworthy, &c. The latter Supine, facilis amatu. There are not Rules found in Lilly's Syntax to answer these, except those two, prius Supinum, and posterius Supinum.
1. Adjectiva regunt allativum. 2. Forma vel modus rei. 3. Praeditus contentus. 4. Verba abundandi. 5. Quedvis verbum, &c. 6. Adverbia diversitatis. 7. Tanto, quanto.	With, and by the Cause, or Manner, and after Comparatives and Su∣perl. is a sign of the All.
1. Nomina diversitatis. 2. Numeralia in alio sensis. 3. Natus, prognatus. 4. Diversa verbis implendi. 5. Verbis significantibus motum à loco. 6. Ad cundem modum usurpatur.	From is made by a Preposition, expressed, or understood.
1. Nomina appellativa. 2. Quibuslibet verbis subjicitur. 3. Qua significant partem. 4. Ve••um si proprium nomen loci.	In, or At, a Prepo∣sition.
1. Verba transitiva. 2. Quin etiam verba intransitiva. 3. Hac impersonalia accusandi. 4. His impersonalibus subjicitur. 5. Quae autem durationem. 6. Magnitudinis mensura. 7. Ex his quaedam efferuntur. 8. Quaedam variam habent constructionem. The variety is accor∣ding to the Sign. 9. Spatium loci, &c. 10. Adverbia accusandi casum admittunt. 11. En, ecce, and cedo govern an Accusative Case, and are not Ad∣verbs, but defective Verbs.	A, or The, which are not particular signs, or no signs at all, shall be the Accu∣sative. Do vestem. Deus amat hominem.

Hanc Accusativum ••utant authores, &c.

Ingens praterea adjectivorum turba nullis obstri••••a regulis, &c.

These mutations are determined by the signs of Cases, commonly.

A Participle of the Present tense, having a sign of a Genitive Case, is a Gerund in D••. Time of loving. Tempus amandi.

A Participle of the Present tense, having a sign of an Ablative Case, is a Gerund in Do. Hindred in loving. Impeditus amando.

Consider how obscure Lilly's Rules are for Gerunds.

I have on purpose omitted the Exceptions: because they just balance one another, and are enumerated in the Rules for reading Grammatically, with which you may compa••e Lillies Grammar.

If the Scholar should be instructed only in the Rules for Signs of Cases and never be troubled with more then three Exceptions, he might be easily perfected in all the rest by Examples, it may be, better then by Rules.

By this Grammar, one, that hath lost his Latin Tongue, may in a few daies, after many years discontinuance, recover the Grammar of it, though he never had any perfection in it. This I have often tried, and am ready again to demonstrate.

1. Consider, If you peruse Lillies Grammar, Whether all the fundamental Rules, necessary for a Beginner to learn, are not comprehended under these few Rules by the Signs of Cases? The Rules for Elegancy are of a second consideration, and many variations from the Signs of Cases are Grecisms, and so will aptly fall in with the Greek Tongue, the Syntax of which is accommodated to this method.

2. Consider, Whether by this Syntax it is not easy to begin to Make Latin, before we begin to Perse, as Lilly directs in his Preface to his Grammar? There being no more in the government of Substantives to be considered, then what sign the Sub∣stantive hath: If it hath no particular sign, it must be the Accusative Case; or if it have a sign, it is made according to that sign.

3. Consider, Whether the impossibility of using Lillies Syntax is not the reason, why all neglect Lillies Directions, to Make Latin, before they begin to Perse?

4 Consider, Whether those, that learn Lillies Syntax, do not get the Tongue meerly by habit, burdened with a huge fardle of useless Rules; or at the best, they make their Latin at first by signs of Cases (not allowed for Rules) till they have got the habit?

5. Consider, Whether this is not the reason, that all men do forget their Gram∣mar, as soon as they have got the Tongue: because the Grammar, as to the Syntax, being of no use in getting the Lingua, is of no use in keeping it, neither can it be of any use in recovering it, when once lost: because we do no learn the Tongue by the Rule, but by a frequent application of numerous Examples to the Rules, we come to understand them, and that principally by the Signs.

6. Consider, Whether Lillies Rules understood exclusively (as most apprehend them) are not false? Most words do govern other Cases, then those the Rules assign, and yet direction is seldome given (such as a Child can understand) when they have those other Cases.

7. Consider, If the Rules be understood inclusively (as Lilly intends) Eidem verbo diversi casus diversâ ratione apponi possunt. Whether the Rules are not then impracticable; because to understand this diversa ratio, it is necessary to have three hundred words enu∣merated, and Rules so perfect, as to see them, as it were, at one look, which is impossible for one of ordinary parts to do, and then the whole Syntax falls to the ground.

Those that think this may be done, let them make a tryal themselves upon that Rule in the Greek Grammar, Verba incipiendi, desinendi, appetendi, amandi, &c. where there are but twenty heads enumerated. If Verbs named cannot be reduced readily and judici∣ously by a man to these twenty, how shall a Child do with fifteen times so many?

Thus the Rules of Grammar (so much contended about) are made plain, and short. A little Grammar will serve the turn, where the Tongue learnt, is constantly spo∣ken, and exercised diligently.

Comenius hath prescribed a Method for the gaining the Copia Verborum, beyond what I have seen.

His Vestibulum, and Orbis pictus contain the primitive words.

His Lexicon Januale teaches to Decline Derivatives from their Primitives,

His Janua comprehends Primitives, and Derivatives in their proper signification,

His Atrium teaches the Elegancy, and Idiom of the Tongue.

The advantage, a Scholar shall have from this Method, will be this:

1. From the Janua, perfectly learnt in Latin, and Greek, any other Languages may be quickly attained;

2. Things may be learnt with Words by shewing the things themselves from Repositories, by using Maps, and Globes, and Pictures, where the things them∣selves cannot be had; or the things may be described (as the Learner is ca∣pable). This will make Learning pleasant.

Doubtless one thus Instructed in the knowledge of things, and initiated in all Acts, and Sciences (especially in Arithmetick, and Geometry) is like to make a better pro∣gress, when he is advanced to the University; or probably will be a wiser man, when he is otherwaies disposed of in the world, then another, who learns only

Appellatives, and a little History, but knows nothing of things: seeing he hath said the Foundation of real Knowledge; and will improve it by his daily converse in the World.

The School may be made Ludus literarius, by a prudent use of School-mony: Those, that are diligent, will have most Mony; Those, that have most mony, shall have most Honour; The most honourable, shall have most liberty for Play. This is certain, If Chil∣dren can be made diligent, they will imprint things in their memories as fast as men. These waies proposed (without any severity, unless in cases of contempt) will cer∣tainly effect it.

They may be also diverted by Bodily exercises, as, Dauncing, Fencing, Vaulting, Riding, which give a graceful garb, and increase bodily strength.

They may be incouraged, as their Genius shall lead them. In Painting, Limning, Etching, Turning, and such like Devices.

Those, that desire to see more of this Subject, may consult a Grammar, and an A∣pology, composed by M. Lewis, and sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, and by M. Million at the Bible in Fleet-street; or they may be further satisfied by the Author, upon any Thursday at three of the Clock in the After-noon, at the Tun and Bolt in Fleet-street. Who undertakes to perfect any Person, that will attend him there, in a few daies, in the plain part of Grammar; and in a few hours, in the exact skill of Pointing.

At Tottenham High-Cross there is a GYMNASIUM Erecting, where any Person Young or Old, as their Quality is, may be perfected in Grammar according to this Me∣thod, and in the Tongues by constant conversation, and may also be instructed in Ex∣perimental Philosophy by Visibles, in History, Rhetorick, Musick, Bodily exer∣cises, Painting, The Mathematicks, As Astronomy, Geography, Geometry, Arithmetick, Fair Writing, in a short and compendious Method, as may further appear by the Grammar and Apology, before spoken of.