"The knowledge of useful arts," says Sanctius, "is not an invention of human ingenuity, but an emanation from the Deity, descending from above for the use of man, as Minerva sprung from the brain of Jupiter.

Wherefore, unless thou give thyself wholly to laborious research into the nature of things, and diligently examine the _causes and reasons_ of the art thou teachest, believe me, thou shalt but see with other men's eyes, and hear with other men's ears.

But the minds of many are preoccupied with a certain perverse opinion, or rather ignorant conceit, that in grammar, or the art of speaking, there are no causes, and that reason is scarcely to be appealed to for any thing;--than which idle notion, I know of nothing more foolish;--nothing can be thought of which is more offensive.

Shall man, endowed with reason, do, say, or contrive any thing, without design, and without understanding?
Hear the philosophers; who positively declare that nothing comes to pass without a cause.

Hear Plato himself; who affirms that names and words subsist by nature, and contends that language is derived from nature, and not from art." 19.