In their work, Ezra and Nehemiah humbled themselves before God, confessing their sins and the sins of their people, and entreating pardon as if they themselves were the offenders. Patiently they toiled and prayed and suffered. That which made their work most difficult was not the open hostility of the heathen, but the secret opposition of pretended friends, who, by lending their influence to the service of evil, increased tenfold the burden God's servants. These traitors furnished the Lord's enemies with material to use in their warfare upon His people. Their evil passions and rebellious wills were ever at war with the plain requirements of God.

I det reformarbejde, der skal udføres i dag, er der brug for mænd, der ligesom Ezra og Nehemias nægter at pynte på eller undskylde synden og ikke er bange for at forsvare Guds ære. De, der bærer dette tunge ansvar, vil ikke tie, når der begås uret, og de vil heller ikke søge at dække over synden med en kappe af falsk barmhjertighed. De glemmer ikke, at der ikke er personsanseelse hos Gud, og at strenghed over for de få kan betyde barmhjertighed over for de mange. De husker også på, at Kristi ånd altid bør kendetegne det menneske, der revser synden.