View source for A sad motley mixture'

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<p>(The following is an excerpt from Philpot's letter to <br>
  a church which desired him to come as their pastor)<br>
  <br>
  "I am less than the least of all God's people." <br>
  Ephesians 3:8<br>
  <br>
  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;<br>
  of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15<br><br>
<strong></strong>
<strong>Many are foolishly apt to think that a minister is more <br>
  spiritual than anyone else</strong>. But I am daily more and more <br>
  sensible of the desperate wickedness of my deceitful heart, <br>
  and my miserable ruined state as a sinner by nature and by <br>
  practice. I feel utterly unworthy of the name of a Christian, <br>
  and to be ranked among the followers of the Lamb.<br>
  <br>
  <strong>I have no desire to palm myself off on any church</strong>, as <br>
  though I were anything. I am willing to take a low place. <br>
  <br>
  The more you see of me, you will be sure to find out more of <br>
  my infirmities, failings, waywardness, selfishness, obstinacy, <br>
  and evil temper. I am carnal, very proud, very foolish in <br>
  imagination, very slothful, very worldly, dark, stupid, blind, <br>
  unbelieving and ignorant. <br>
  <br>
  I cannot but confess that <strong>I am a strange compound</strong>—<strong>a sad <br>
    motley mixture</strong> of all the most hateful and abominable vices <br>
  that rise up within me, and face me at every turn.<br>