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I never said that it was an exact and regular Syllogisme.
But first, here is matter for a Categorical Syllogisme, and it is easily reducible
1. Unto a Hypothetical Syllogisme.
2. Ad Syllogismum ducentem ad impossibile.
1. Here is matter for a Categoric al Syllogisme: The only rule of Decency hath not any thing undecent agreeable unto it: Custome hath many undecent things agreeable unto it: Therefore Custome is not the onely rule of Decency.
2. 'Tis easily reducible,
1. Unto a Hypotheticall Syllogisme.
2. Ad Syllogisinum ducentem ad impossibile.
1. It may be reduced unto an Hypotheticall Syllogisme thus: If Custome be the onely rule of Decency, then nothing can be undecent, that is agreeable unto Cu∣stome: But divers things are undecent which are agreeable unto Custome; There∣fore Custome is not the onely rule of Decency.
The sequele of the Major is evident, because nothing can be undecent that is agreeable to the onely rule of Decency.
And the Minor cannot bee denyed: In the Syllogisme then there is only a Crypsis, the Major is concealed, and the proof thereof placed in its roome, and Cryptical Syllogismes are in all discourses justifiable, when they may be reduced: If you call upon me to reduce the hypothetical Syllogisme, unto which it is redu∣ced, unto a Categorical, you will herein be unreasonable; for those hypotheti∣cal Syllogismes that have four terms in the Major, are hardly capable of reducti∣on unto a Categorical Syllogisme; So Scheibler hath instructed me, de Propos. &c. cap. 12, n. 24.
2. It is reduced unto that Syllogisme which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which doth ducere ad impossibile, as it is taken largly for that argumentation which doth re∣duce an adversary unto an absurdity upon his own principles; for from this your principle, that Custome is the onely ••ule of Decency, this Syllogisme will ine, vitably follow,
Nothing that is agreeable to the onely rule of decency can be undecent.
All things customary are agreeable to the onely rule of decency: Therefore nothing customary can be undecent.
But now this conclusion is apparently false, therefore one of the premises is also false; for ex vero nil nisi verum sequitur: It is not the Major, for the only rule of decency makes and denominates every thing conformable unto it to be de∣cent, therefore it is the Minor, which is, that all things customary are agreeable unto the only rule of decency; and if this proposition be false, then your posi∣tion is false too, that custome is the only rule of decency, because all things cu∣stomary are agreeable unto custome.