Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/133

 An Ambition, which though it was punished in the old World by an universal Confusion, when it was managed with Impiety and Insolence; yet, when it is carried on by that Humility and Innocence, which can never be separated from true Knowledge; when it is designed, not to brave the Creator of all Things, but to admire him the more; it must needs be the utmost Perfection of human Nature.

Thus they have directed, judged, conjectur'd upon, and improved Experiments. But lastly, in these, and all other Businesses, that have come under their Care; there is one thing more, about which the Society has been most solicitous; and that is, the manner of their Discourse; which, unless they had been very watchful to keep in due Temper, the whole Spirit and Vigour of their Design had been soon eaten out, by the luxury and Redundance of Speech. The ill Effects of this Superfluity of Talking, have already overwhelm'd most other Arts and Professions; insomuch, that when I consider the Means of happy Living, and the Causes of their Corruption, I can hardly forbear recanting what I said before; and concluding, that Eloquence ought to be banished cut of all civil Societies, as a thing fatal to Peace and good Manners. To this Opinion I should wholly incline, if I did not find, that it is a Weapon, which may be as easily procur'd by bad Men, as good; and that, if these should only cast it away, and those retain it; the naked Innocence of Virtue would be, upon all Occasions, expos'd to the armed Malice of the Wicked. This is the chief Reason, that should now keep up the Ornament of Speaking in any Request, since they are so much degenerated from their original Usefulness. They were at first, 2