Book of Collections on the Art of Preaching

From this, an argument is taken in this way, Matthew 16: "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today there will be a storm, for the sky is gloomy and red.'"

SENTENCE is the will of a judge promulgated by word or in writing. To this corresponds that which is written in Deuteronomy 17: "And you shall do whatever they who preside over the place say; you shall follow their sentence."

CUSTOM is the long-standing duration of habits approved by the consent of the people, from which we derive an argument this way, Genesis 29: "It is not our custom in this place to give the younger in marriage before the elder. Fulfill, therefore, the week of this woman, and I will give you this one also, namely Rachel, for you, Jacob."

USAGE is the handling of a thing. From this place, an argument is drawn thus, Romans 1: "They changed the natural usage into that usage which is against nature."

LAW is a decree commanding what is just and forbidding what is contrary. Hence, the maximum proposition of an argument is, Romans 2: "Whoever has sinned in the law will be judged by the law."

ON ARGUMENTATION

Having discovered the places which are an aid to the cause, it is necessary to know how we might handle arguments in an ornate and complete manner. Thus, we ourselves will be able to remember what we have said in each place, and the auditor will easily retain the distribution of the arguments.
Species of argumentation

Perfect argumentation, therefore, is distributed into five parts: proposition, reason, confirmation of the reason, ornamentation, and conclusion.

PROPOSITION is what we wish to prove, stated summarily.
REASON briefly shows that what we intend is true.