Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/368

empty Prudence, but designs it for Action: The other does the same with his Discoveries: Upon a just, severe, and deliberate Examination of Things, they both raise their Observations, which they do not suffer to lie idle, but use them to direct the Actions, and supply the Wants of human Life.

 

Sect. XIII.
Experiments useful for the cure of Mens Minds.Besides what I have said of the help which Experiments will bring to our public Duties, and civil Actions, I promis'd to add something concerning the Assistance that they are able to give towards the Management of the private Motions, and Passions of our Minds: Of this I need say the less, because there is amongst the Philosophers a particular Science appointed for this Purpose, to prescribe Rules for calming our Affections, and conquering our Vices. However, I will not wholly pass it over in Silence: but I will try in few Words to make appear, that the real Philosophy will supply our Thoughts with excellent Medicines against their own Extravagancies, and will serve in some sort, for the same ends, which the Moral professes to accomplish.

If we shall cast an Eye on all the Tempests which arise within our Breasts, and consider the Causes, and Remedies of all the violent Desires, malicious Envies, intemperate Joys, and irregular Griefs, by which the Lives of most Men become miserable, or guilty; we shall find, that they are chiefly produc'd by Idleness, and may be most naturally cur'd by Diversion. Whatever Art shall be able to busy the Minds of Men, with a constant course of innocent Works, or to fill them with as vigorous and pleasant Images, as thole ill Impressions, by which they are deluded; it will certainly have a surer effect in the composing and