198 At)VAKCkM£M' Of tEARl^lNO. [booK V. 



as froquently Lappen and come in dispute ; and this we call 

 the promptuaiy way : but the latter can scarce be called a 

 jiart of scienc<3, as consisting rather in diligence than any 

 artificial learning. Aristotle on this head ingeniously derides 

 the sophists of his time, saying, they acted like a professed 

 shoemaker, who did not teach the art of shoemaking, but set 

 out a large stock of shoes, of different shapes and sizes/' 

 But it might be replied, that the shoemaker who should have 

 no shoes in his shop, and only make them as they were be- 

 spoke, would find few customers. Our Saviour speaks far 

 otherwise of divine knowledge, saying, " Therefore every scribe 

 which is instructed into the kingdom of heaven, is like unto 

 ii man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his 

 treasure things new and old."'* 



We find also that the ancient rhetoricians gave it in pre- 

 cept to the orators to be always provided of various common- 

 l)laces, ready furnished and illustrated with arguments on 

 botli sides ; as for the intention of the law against the words 

 of the law ; for the truth of arguments against testimonies, 

 and vice versa. <^ And Cicero himself, being taught by long 

 experience, roundly asserts, that a diligent and experienced 

 orator should have such things as come into dispute, ready 

 laboured and prepared, so as that in pleading there should be 

 no necessity of introducing anything new or occasional, ex- 

 cept new names, and some particular circumstances.'' But as 

 the first opening of the cause has a great effect in preparing 

 the minds of the audience, the exactness of Demosthenes 

 judged it proper to compose beforehand, and have in 

 readiness, several introductions to harangues and speeches ;•' 

 and these examples and authorities may justly overrule the 

 opinion of Aristotle, who would have us change a whole 

 wardrobe for a pair of shears. This promptuary method, 

 therefore, should not be omitted; but as it relates as well to 

 rhetoric as to logic, we shall here touch it but slightly; 

 designing to consider ic more fully under rhetoric.^ 



We divide topical inventions into general and particular. 

 The general Is so copiously and diligently treated in tlie 



• De Eeprehen. Soph. ii. 9. *» St. Matt. xiii. 52. 

 « De Oratore. '^ Epistles to Atticus^ vi. 16, 



• The prefaces alluded to are of doubtful authority. 

 » See hereafter, sect. 18. 



