LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 255 



and mistrustful of those with whom he con- 

 versed. This would indeed have been a disad- 

 vantage to him in an intriguing world, had he 

 not withal been master of so much prudence 

 as to prevent his taking toa much upon trust, and 

 to secure him from being injured by any abuses 

 of his goodness; and helped by intriguing, he 

 would have disdained to be. 



How far therefore he was a politician or cour- 

 tier, is not so easy to say, as it is that he did 

 not affect the character of being so in any sense, 

 nor aim at any reputation of skill in things that 

 were out of his profession. Whatever he might 

 know of the world, yet he was never forward to tell 

 the world all that he knew of it; which is too much 

 the temper of some who value themselves upon 

 such knowledge. He was not given to talk 

 much of state affairs, or deliver his judgment 

 upon them, nor indeed did he seem to meddle 

 with them farther than he was bound in dis- 

 charge of the duty he owed to the crown and 

 his country. 



The affairs of the Church of England were the 

 things that lay at his heaiH. In these he interested 

 himself deeply and zealously. He looked upon 

 himself in that post which no intriguing had 

 obtained to him, but Providence had allotted him 

 to be one of her chief pillars, and was resolved 

 to support her with all his might. And the 



