190 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 



ing to his country. Whosoever compares this 

 his judgment or principle with Cardinal du Retzs 

 determination of his own conduct upon his pro- 

 motion to the Archbishopric of Paris, will see 

 how widely different were their respective sen- 

 timents and resolutions*. The one thought that 

 in point of mere prudetice or worldly policy (all 

 other considerations being abstracted,) it was 

 doubtless more safe and more effectual for serv- 

 ing the ends of his profession and calling, to 

 counterfeit godliness and virtue, than to prac- 

 tise them in reality; and to guard against the 

 appearances of evil rather than against the thing 

 itself. But the other judged that the reforma- 

 tion of mankind was not to be effected by arts 

 and human subtleties, or otherwise than by the 

 real practice as well as profession of godliness ; 

 that not only the merit, but in great measure 

 the capacity of being instrumental in that work, 

 was lost in one who did not conscientiously 



* " Je pris apres six jours de reflexion le parti de faire le 

 mal par dessein, ce qui est sans compareuson le plus criminal 

 devant Dieu, mais ce qui est sans doute le plus sage devant le 



monde. Voila la sainte disposition avec laquelle je sortis de 



St. Lazare. Elle ne fut pourtant pas de tout point mauvaise. 

 Car j'avois pris une ferme resolution de remplir exactment tous 

 las devoirs de ma profession, et d'etre aussi homme de bien 

 pour le salut des autres, que je pourvois etre mechant pour 

 moimeme." — Memoirs du Cardinal de Rctz, Vol, I. Liv. 2. 

 p. 61. 8vo. Jrmst. 1719. 



