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[ CLI] The Ruler's sins hasten the ruine of a State.
JUdges and Magistrates are the Physicians of the State,* 1.1 and sins are the diseases of it. What skills it, whether a Gangreen begin at the head, or the heel, seeing both waies it will kill, if the part that is diseased be not cut off; except this be the diffe∣rence, that the head being nearer the heart, a Gangreen in the head will kill sooner, than that which is in the heel.* 1.2 Even so will the sins of great Ones overthrow a State sooner, than those of the meaner sort; therefore wise was that advice of Si∣gismund the Emperour, when upon a motion to reform the Church, one said, Let us begin at the Minorites; Nay rather (saith the Emperour) let us begin at the Majorites; for if the great ones be good, the meaner cannot be easily ill; but be the mean ones never so good, the great will be nothing the better.