Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/350

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324
The HISTORY of

They still leave to Learners, and Children, the old talkative Arts which best fit the younger Age. From hence it must follow, that all the various manners of Education, will remain undisturb'd; because the practices of them, and the labours of this, are not appointed to meet in the same Age, or Persons. But if this will not satisfy our Adversaries, let us proceed to consider the different Parts of Education: and then we shall be able to make the surer Conjectures, what manner of Influence new Experiments will have upon it.

Education consists in divers Rules, and Practices, whereby men are furnish'd for all the several Courses of Life, to which they may apply themselves. Of these preparatory Arts, some concern the Body, some the Mind. Those of the Body have no relation to my present Argument: Of those of the Mind, some intend the Purity and Ornament of Speech: Some the Knowledge of the Actions of former, and present Times: Some the Government, and Virtue of our Lives: Some the Method of Reasoning: Some the skill in the motions and measures of the Heavens, and the Earth, and all this great Frame of Visible things.

Grammar, and Rhetoric.First then I will make no scruple to acquit Experimental Philosophy, from having any ill effects on the usual Arts, whereby we are taught the Purity, and Elegance of Languages. Whatever Discoveries shall appear to us afresh, out of the hidden things of Nature, the same words, and the same ways of Expression will remain. Or if, perhaps, by this means, any change shall be made herein; it can be only for the better; by supplying mens Tongues with very many new things, to be nam'd, and adorn'd, and describ'd in their discourse.

Nor