Friendship With World or Favor of God?—Among God’s preferred people, there are men in responsible positions who are content to remain in a state of coldness and backsliding. Their piety vanishes at the approach of temptation. To gain the friendship of worldlings, they will risk the consequences of losing the favor of God. The Lord is trying His people as silver is tried. Closer and still closer will come the searching test, until the heart is wholly submitted to God, or hardened in disobedience and rebellion (The Signs of the Times, June 2, 1881). {2BC 1001.7}

Venskab med verden eller Guds gunst? - Iblandt Guds foretrukne folk, er der mænd i ansvarsfulde stillinger, som er tilfreds med at blive i en kulde- og frafalds-tilstand. Deres medynk forsvinder når de nærmer sig fristelse. For at vinde verdsliges venskab, vil de (1002) løbe risikoen af at miste Guds gunst. Herren prøver Sit folk, ligesom sølv prøves. Den ransagende prøve vil komme tættere og endnu tættere på, indtil hjertet er helt overgivet til Gud, eller forhærdet i ulydighed og oprør (ST 2. juni, 1881).