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THE UNIVERSAL REFORMATION. 49
Thus the opinion of Bias was laid aside, when Cleobulus,
rising up, and with a low bow, seeming to crave leave to speak,
"
said thus : I clearly perceive, most wise gentlemen, that
the reformation of the present age, a business of itself very
easie, becomes by the diversity and extravagancy of our
opinions rather impossible then difficult. And to speak
with the freedom which becomes this place and the weight
of the business which we have in hand, it grieves my heart
to find, even amongst us, that common defect of ambitious
and slight wits, who, getting up into publike pulpits, labor
more to display their ingenuity by their new and curious
conceits, then to profit their auditors by useful precepts
and sound doctrines. To raise man out of the foul mire
whereinto he has fallen, to what purpose is that dangerous
operation of making little windows in their breasts, which
Thales advised 1 And why should we undertake the labor-
ious business of dividing the world into equal partitions
according to Solon's proposition
1 Or the course mentioned
and silver out of the world 1
by Chilo, of banishing gold
Or that of Pittacus, of
forcing men to walk in the way of
merit and vertue 1 Or, lastly, that of Bias,
that mountains
should be raised higher and made more difficult then
Nature hath made them, and that the miracle of navigation
should be extirpated, the greatest proof of human ingenuity
that was ever given 1 What are these but chimseras and
sophistical fancies 1 The chief consideration which re-
formers ought to have is, that the remedy proposed be
practicable, that it may work its effect soon and secretly,
and that it may be chearfully received by those who are to
be reformed, for, otherwise, we shall rather deform the world
then improve it. There is great reason for tnis assertion,
for that Physitian deserves to be blamed, who should
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