He believed those whom he wished to get under his hoof, the Grantlys and Gwynnes of the church, to be the enemies of that religion.

He believed himself to be a pillar of strength, destined to do great things, and with that subtle, selfish, ambiguous sophistry to which the minds of all men are so subject, he had taught himself to think that in doing much for the promotion of his own interests, he was doing much also for the promotion of religion.

But Mr.Slope had never been an immoral man.

Indeed, he had resisted temptations to immorality with a strength of purpose that was creditable to him.

He had early in life devoted himself to works which were not compatible with the ordinary pleasures of youth, and he had abandoned such pleasures not without a struggle.