There is an evil among some of the poor which will certainly prove their ruin unless they overcome it. They have embraced the truth with their coarse, rough, uncultivated habits, and it takes some time for them to see and realize their coarseness, and that it is not in accordance with the character of Christ. They look upon others who are more orderly and refined as being proud, and you may hear them say: “The truth brings us all down upon a level.” But it is an entire mistake to think that the truth brings the receiver down. It brings him up, refines his taste, sanctifies his judgment, and, if lived out, is continually fitting him for the society of holy angels in the City of God. The truth is designed to bring us all up upon a level. {1T 274.1}

(274) Blandt nogle af de fattige er der et onde, som visselig vil betyde deres ruin, medmindre de overvinder det. De har antaget sandheden med deres grove, uslebne, ukultiverede vaner og der vil hengå nogen tid, inden de indser og erkender deres mangel på dannelse og forstår, at den ikke er i overensstemmelse med Kristi karakter. De mener om andre, der har mere sans for orden og dannelse, at de er stolte og man vil måske kunne høre dem sige, at "sandheden bringer os alle ned på lige fod". Men det er en fuldstændig misforståelse at mene, at sandheden bringer modtageren ned. Sandheden løfter ham op, forædler hans smag, helliggør hans dømmekraft og hvis den bliver efterlevet, vil den stadig gøre ham mere skikket til omgang med hellige engle i Guds stad. Det er hensigten med sandheden at den skal hæve os alle op til samme høje stade.