So if the Question be whether God must be worfhipped, we feek a third Idea, fuppofe the Idea of a Creator, and say,

Our Creator must be worshipped.
God is our Creator.

Therefore God must be worshipped,

The Comparison of this third Idea, with the two diftinct Parts of the Question, ufually requires two Propofitions which are called the Premiffes: The third Propofition which is drawn from them is the Conclufion, wherein the Question itself is anfwered, and the Subject and Predicate joined either in the Negative or the Affirmative.

The Foundation of all Affirmative Conclufions is laid in this general Truth, that so far as two propofed Ideas agree to any third Idea, they agree alfo among themselves. The Character of Creator agrees to God, and Worship agrees to a Creator, therefore Worship agrees to God.

The Foundations of all negative Conclufions is this, that where one of the two propofed Ideas agrees with the third Idea, and the other difagrees with it, they must needs difagree fo far alfo with one another; as, if no Sinners are happy, and if Angels are happy, then Angels are not Sinners.

Thus it appears what is the ftrict and just Notion of a Syllogifm: It is a Sentence or Argument made up of three Propofitions fo difpofed, as that the laft is neceffarily inferred from thofe which go before, as in the Instances which have been just mentioned.

In the Constitution of a Syllogifm two Things may be confidered, (viz.) the Matter and the Form of it.

- The Matter of which a Syllogifm is made up, is three Propofitions; and thefe three Propofitions are made up of three Ideas or Terms variously join

ed.

The three Terms are called the remote Matter of a Syllogifm; and the three Propofitions the proxime or immediate Matter of it.

The three Terms are named the Major, the Minor, and the Middle.

The Predicate of the Conclufion is called the major Term, because it is generally of larger Extenfion than the minor Term, or the Subject. The major and minor Terms are called the Extremes.

The middle Term is the third Idea invented and disposed in two Propofitions in fuch a manner as to fhew the Connection between the major and minor Term in the Conclufion; for which Reafon the middle Term itself is fometimes called the Argument.

That Propofition which contains the Predicate of the Conclufion, connected with the middle Term, is ufually called the major Propofition, whereas the minor Propofition connects the middle Term with the Subject of the Conclufion, and is fometimes called the Affumption.

Note, This exact Distinction of the feveral Parts of a Syllogifm, and of the major and minor Terms connected with the middle Term, in the major and minor Propofitions, does chiefly belong to fimple or categorical Syllogifms, of which we shall speak in the next Chapter, tho' all Syllogisms whatsoever have something analogical to it.

Note farther, that the major Propofition is generally placed firft, and the minor fecond, and the Conclufion in the laft Place, where the Syllogifm is regularly compofed and reprefented.

The Form of a Syllogifm is the framing and difpofing of the Premiffes according to Art, or just Principles of Reasoning, and the regular Inference of the Conclufion from them.

The

The Art of Reasoning or inferring one thing from another, is generally expreft and known by the Particle Therefore, when the Argument is formed according to the Rules of Art; though in common Difcourfe or Writing, fuch caufal Particles as For, Because, manifeft the Act of Reafoning as well as the illative Particles Then and Therefore: And wherefoever any of these Words are ufed, there is a perfect Syllogifm expreft or implyed, tho' perhaps the three Propofitions do not appear, or are not placed in regular Form.

CHA P. II.

Of the various Kinds of Syllogifms, with particular Rules relating to them.

Yllogifms are divided into various Kinds, either according to the Question which is proved by them, according to the Nature and Compofition of them, or according to the middle Term, which is used to prove the Question.

SECT. I.

Of univerfal and particular Syllogifms, both negative and affirmative.

According to the Question which is to be

proved, fo Syllogifms are divided into univerfal Affirmative, univerfal Negative, particular Affirmative, and particular Negative. This is often called a Divifion of Syllogifms drawn from the Conclufion; for fo many Sorts of Conclufions there T

may

Part III. may be which are marked with the Letters A, E, I, O.

In an univerfal affirmative Syllogifm, one Idea is proved univerfally to agree with another, and may be univerfally affirmed of it, as every Sin deferves Death, every unlawful Wifk is a Sin; therefore every unlawful Wish deferves Death.

In an univerfal negative Syllogifm, one Idea is proved to disagree with another Idea univerfally, and may be thus denied of it, as, no Injustice can be pleafing to God; all Perfecution for the Sake of Confcience is Injustice; therefore no Perfecution for Confcience Sake can be pleafing to God.

Particular affirmative, and particular negative Syllogifms may be easily understood by what is laid of Univerfals, and there will be fufficient Examples given of all these in the next Section.

The general Principle upon which these univerfal and particular Syllogifins are founded is this; whatsoever is affirmed or denied univerfally of any Idea, may be affirmed or denied of all the particular Kinds or Beings, which are contained in the Extenfion of that univerfal Idea. So the Defert

Death is affirmed univerfally of Sin, and an un lawful Wifh is one particular Kind of Sin, which is contained in the univerfal Idea of Sin, therefore the Defert of Death may be affirmed concerning an unlawful Wish. And fo of the rest.

Note, In the Doctrine of Syllogifms, a fingular and an indefinite Propofition are ranked among Univerfals, as was before obferved in the Doctrine of Propofitions.

SECT.

SECT. II.

Of plain, fimple Syllogifms, and their Rules.

HE next Divifion of Syllogifins is into fingle and compound. This is drawn from the Nature and Compofition of them.

Single Syllogifms are made up of three Propofi tions: Compound Syllogifins contain more than three Propofitions, and may be formed into two or more Syllogifms.

Single Syllogifms, for Diftinction's Sake, may be divided into Simple, Complex and Conjunc

tive.

Those are properly called fimple or categorical Syllogifms, which are made up of three plain, fingle, or categorical Propofitions, wherein the middle Term is evidently and regularly joined with one Part of the Queftion in the major Propofition, and with the other in the minor, whence there follows a plain fingle Conclufion; as, every bu man Virtue is to be fought with Diligence; Prudence is a human Virtue; therefore Prudence is to be fought diligently.

Note, Tho' the Terms of Propofitions may be complex; yet where the Compofition of the whole Argument is thus plain, fimple and regular, it is properly called a fimple Syllogifm, fince the Completion does not belong to the fyllogiftic Form of it.

*As Ideas and Propofitions are divided into fingle and compound, and fingle are fubdivided into fimple and complex; fo there are the fame Divifions and Subdivifions applied to Syllogifms.