Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/23

 here's the misfortune, the very kindnesses of friends may be cruelty: Commendations, or even the hinting at them, are poison to a mind addicted to pride. A nail never sinks deeper than when dipt in oil. A friend's words may be softer than butter, and notwithstanding, be very swords. Pray for me, dear Sir, and heal the wound you have made. To alone give glory. To sinners nothing belongs, but shame and confusion. So much in answer to one part of your too kind letter. Mrs. Powell you say continues very ill. No wonder, Sir; desperate diseases must have desperate remedies. Satan has desired to sift her as wheat; but will pray for her, I trust, and then her faith will not fail. Oxford friends have not been wanting in letters, and I find I must not stay much longer here. For some are going to travel, some are dead, and one is married, so that we must join and warm one another, as well as we can in their absence. I hope to feast with you at Crypt next Sunday. Amazing, that ever sinners should sit with their Saviour! To what dignity has exalted human nature. And how did he do it? Why, by humbling himself. Let us go and do likewise. Give me leave, with due respects to all friends, to subscribe myself, Your and spouses very humble servant and sincere friend, G. W.  P. S. If Mr. Pauncefort's petitions run after this manner for me, I should be thankful: "That  would finish the good work he has begun in me, that I may never seek nor be fond of worldly preferment; but employ every mite of those talents it shall please  to entrust me with, to his glory and the church's good, and likewise, that the endeavours of my friends to revive true religion in the world, may meet with proper success." LETTER IX. To the Same.

Dear Sir,         Bristol, Sept. 18, 1735.

AS you did not expect to hear from me till Mr. Bd came, I hope you have not as yet accused me of being too dilatory in writing. Now I have taken the freedom, what can be more proper for me to begin with, than to return