“God is sifting His people. He will have a clean and holy church. We cannot read the heart of man. But the Lord has provided means to keep the church pure. A corrupt people has arisen who could not live with the people of God. They despised reproof, and would not be corrected. They had an opportunity to know that theirs was an unrighteous warfare. They had time to repent of their wrongs; but self was too dear to die. They nourished it, and it grew strong, and they separated from the trusting people of God, whom He is purifying unto Himself. We all have reason to thank God that a way has been opened to save the church; for the wrath of God must have come upon us if these corrupt pretenders had remained with us. {1T 99.3}

Gud sigter sit folk. Han vil have en ren og hellig menighed. Vi kan ikke læse menneskers hjerter. Men Herren har tilvejebragt midler til at holde menigheden ren. Et fordærvet folk er fremstået, som ikke kan leve sammen med Guds folk. De foragtede irettesættelse og ville ikke retledes. De havde lejlighed til at vide, at de kæmpede en uretfærdig kamp. De havde tid til at angre deres fejl; men selvet var for kært til at lade det dø. De gav det næring, og det voksede sig stærkt, og de adskilte sig fra Guds tillidsfulde folk, som han renser til sig selv. Vi har alle grund til at takke Gud for, at en vej er åbnet for menighedens frelse; for Guds vrede ville være kommet over os, hvis disse fordærvede hyklere var forblevet hos os.