Fearful Power of Self-deception—To be without the graces of the Spirit of God is sad indeed; but it is a more terrible condition to be thus destitute of spirituality and of Christ and yet try to justify ourselves by telling those who are alarmed for us that we need not their fears and pity. Fearful is the power of self-deception on the human mind! What blindness—setting light for darkness and darkness for light! The True Witness counsels us to buy of Him gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich, for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster.—Testimonies for the Church 4:88 (1876). {2MCP 725.3}

Selvbedragets frygtelige kraft — At være uden Guds Ånds dyder er i sandhed ilde; men endnu frygteligere er tilstanden, når man således er blottet for åndelighed og er uden Kristus og alligevel søger at forsvare sig ved at sige til dem, der er bekymrede for en, at man ikke trænger til deres frygt og medynk. Frygtelig er selvbedragets magt over menneskesindet! Hvilken blindhed at antage lys for mørke og mørke for lys! Det sanddru vidne råder os til, at vi af ham køber guld, som er prøvet i ilden, hvide klæder og øjensalve. Guldet, der her omtales som prøvet i ilden, er tro og kærlighed. Det gør hjertet rigt, for det er blevet lutret, indtil det er rent og jo mere det prøves desto mere stråler dets glans. — Vidnesbyrd for menigheden 4:88 (1876).