Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/30

8 on of those times, would not allow a very large Commerce with foreign Nations: they were much exercis'd in the civil Affairs of their Country: they had almost a perpetual War at home, or abroad: which Kinds of busie and active Life breed Men up indeed for great Employments: but not so well for the diligent, private, and severe Examination of those little and almost infinite Curiosities, on which the true Philosophy must be founded.

In that City therefore, the Knowledge of Nature had its Original, before either that of Discourse, or of human Actions; but it was quickly forc'd to give way to them both: For it was not yet come to a sufficient Ripeness, in the time of Socrates; and he, by the Authority of his admirable Wit, made all parts of Philosophy to be taken off from a Condition of encreasing much farther, that they might be immediately serviceable to the Affairs of Men, and the Uses of Life. He was one of the first Men, that began to draw into some Order, the confus'd and obscure Imaginations of those that went before him: and to make way for the composing of Arts, out of their scattered Observations. All these various Subjects, the Vastness of his Soul comprehended in his casual Disputations: but after his Death they were divided amongst his Followers, according to their several Inclinations. From him most of the succeeding Sects descended: and though every one of them had its different Principles and Rendezvouses; yet they all laid claim to this one common Title of being his Disciples. By this means, there was a most specious Appearance of the Increase of Learning: all places were fill'd with Philosophical