The Art of Logic, Book 1 · Part 3
Of the Order of things.
Having hitherto treated of the first single Term, which is of a word; the next thing to be treated of, is the single Term of a Word which without the word representeth to the understanding somewhat of the thing it self.
And it is either The order of things called Predicament, or some Term or Not on without the Order.*foreign.
The Predicamental Order is a distinction and disposition of all things by certain orders, and degrees of orders.
Herein are considerable,
1 The manner how things are received into this order aWhat a Predicament is. a 1 The manner of receiving things.
2 The graduation or degrees of this order. b
3 The particular things themselves. c
1 The manner of receiving them into this order, is first Direct. 2 Proportional. 3 Collateral. 4 Indirect. 5 By accident: all which are declared by eight Rules following.
First then directly and primarily in the order or Predicamental scale, is a thing which is, 1 Real and positive. 2 Simple and of it self. 3 Universal. 4 Compleat or Whole. 5 Univocal (that is) a thing signified by one distinct and certain word; these five are as it were conditions of referribility in things unto a Predicamental order.
2 Receiving things into this order, is by proportion; thus may God (blessed for ever) be brought in, not directly, because he is a most simple Being, one in Number, having neither Genus above him, nor difference to restrain him, because whereof, he cannot be placed in the Predicament of substance, but Analogically, and by proportion.
3 Collaterally, side-wise, or obliquely; thus a difference is placed in the Predicamental scale or series (as a reasonable soul, if it be taken for the difference of a living creature, is placed in the Predicament of Substance, but sidewise, not directly: hitherto also may be referred Abstracts, to wit, Abstraction of Inferiours (as they are called) as Humanity, Animality, &c.
4 By Reduction, or indirectly: things placed in this Predicamental scale, are first Concrete, and which simply consist not of one and the same thing, as just, mercifull, and other Concretes, containing both substances and accidents: so the Church, the World, and other like Collectives: hither also may the parts of any whole be referred, as the head, hand, foot, &c. but reductively, and by reducing them unto their whole.
5 By Accident do appertain to the Predicamental order things compounded; and this they do by reason of their simple Terms, as Man is a living creature; this sentence is referred to the order of substance; A man is learned, this is referred to the order of substance in part, as it respects the man; and partly to the predicament of quality, as this man is learned. 2 Things Intentional, without the minde, as the Images of true things, colours seen in a glasse, &c. 3 Second Notions, as words of Art, Genus, Species, Difference, &c. 4 Relations of Reason, as the right or left side of a pillar, &c. 5 Privations, which are alway referred unto the same Predicamental order that the habits thereof are; as blindnesse is in the same rank that sight is. 6 Fained things, things of fiction, as a Golden Mountain, Hirco-cervus, &c. referred to the predicament of substance.
6 From the predicamentall order be excluded plainly 1 All words of ambiguity and doubt, at least before they be distinguished and limited. 2 Fained things, which are absolutely impossible, as a Created God, Deified flesh, an unbloody Sacrifice, merit of works in a sinner, universall Election, and other such prodigious fantasies.
7 A thing in it self simply one, pertains to one Predicament; if it be Concrete, it may be referred to two, but inequally, and so that it be primarily under one, viz. that which it most respecteth; so Baptisme and the Lords Supper are not to be referred to Substance or Action, but to Relation, because water and the washing therewith are but the materiall things in Baptism; the formall being the holy Relation in signing and sealing the Spiritual washing away of sin.
8 Lastly, things themselves are placed in the Predicaments of themselves and fundamentally; Conceits and Names of things but secondarily, and so far forth as they represent things: and so much of the manner how things are received into the Predicamentall scale or order: we passe now to the second, viz. The degrees of the order, or Predicamentall Series.
The degrees then of this Order, by which things are to be understood in their ranks, some are superiour, some inferiour to others, and these degrees are not unfitly called Predicables.
A Degree is
1 Direct. a a
2 Collateral. b b
1 Direct, when we ascend or descend forthright, that is in a strait and direct line in order, as Genus, Species, Individuum.
2 Collateral, when the ascent or descent is made in an indirect line, and side-long, as Difference.
Again, the direct degree is either Primary or Secondary.
Primary, as Genus, and Species: Secondary, as Individual.
Primary, is that which in the Predicamental order is universal or common to many, and is Genus and Species.