Were the gospel ministry what it should and might be, the teachers of Christ’s truth would be working in harmony with the angels; they would be co-laborers with their great Teacher. There is too little prayer among the ministers of Christ, and too much self-exaltation. There is too little weeping between the porch and the altar, and crying, “Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach.” There are too many long doctrinal sermons preached, without one spark of spiritual fervor and the love of God. There is too much gesticulation and relation of humorous anecdotes in the pulpit, and too little said of the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. {Ev 640.4}

Var evangelieforkyndelsen det som den burde og skulle være, ville underviserne i Kristi sandhed arbejde i (641) harmoni med englene; de ville være i samarbejde med deres store lærer. Der er for lidt bøn iblandt Kristi prædikanter; og for megen selvophøjelse. Der er for lidt gråd mellem forhallen og alteret, og råb: »Herre, spar dog dit folk! Overgiv ej din arv til skændsel!” Der holdes for mange langt overvejende doktrinære prædikener, uden en gnist af åndelig iver og kærlighed for Gud. Der er for mange gestikulationer og fortællinger af humoristiske anedokter bag talerstolen, og der siges for lidt om Jesu Kristi kærlighed og medfølelse.