But, oh, how differently has the mind been employed! Picking at straws! Church meetings, as they have been held, have been a living curse to many in New York. These manufactured trials have given full liberty to evil surmising. Jealousy has been fed. Hatred has existed, but they knew it not. A wrong idea has been in the minds of some, to reprove without love, hold others to their idea of what is right, and spare not, but bear down with crushing weight. {1T 164.3}

Men, oh, hvor sindet blev brugt på anden måde! Pillet i småstykker! Menighedsmøder, som er blevet holdt, har været en sand forbandelse for mange i New York. Disse opdigtede prøvelser har givet frit løb for onde tanker. Jalousi har været næret. Had har eksisteret, men de vidste det ikke. Nogle har haft en forkert forestilling, om at irettesætte uden kærlighed, fremholde for andre hvad de mener er rigtigt og ikke skåne, men betvinge med knusende vægt.