Other women were shown me in ----- who were at war with the truth. One was presented before me who embraced a few points of truth, and then went no further with God’s remnant people. She was exalted in her own eyes, and thought she understood it all. She was wise in her own opinion, and was shown me as constantly looking back and referring to an old experience; because she had received a degree of light in the past, she had become lifted up, and thought she had sufficient light and knowledge to instruct the whole body. Her faith is scattered and disconnected. Many of her ideas of truth are erroneous; yet she is egotistical, and righteous in her own estimation. She is forward to instruct, but will not be taught. She has despised instruction, and cast behind her the teachings of God through His servants. I saw her pointing to her righteousness, her devotion, her prayerful life. Like the Pharisee, she enumerates her good deeds. “God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” The Pharisee’s prayer was not regarded; but the poor publican, who could only say, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” moved the pity of the Lord. His prayer was accepted, while the prayer of the boasting Pharisee was rejected. “For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” {1T 330.3}

En anden kvinde blev vist mig i ___, som var i krig med sandheden. Én blev fremstillet for mig som antog nogle få punkter i sandheden og gik så ikke længere med Guds restfolk. Hun var ophøjet i sine egne øjne og (331) troede at hun forstod det hele. Hun var klog i sin egen anskuelse og lod mig til stadighed se tilbage til en gammel erfaring; fordi hun i fortiden havde taget imod én grad af lys og blev løftet op og tænkte at hun havde tilstrækkeligt lys og kundskab til at belære hele legemet. Hendes tro er spredt og usammenhængende. Mange af hendes forestillinger om sandhed er fejlagtige; dog er hun egocentrisk og retfærdig i hendes egen vurdering. Hun er hurtig til at belære, men vil ikke blive belært. Hun har foragtet belæring og lagt Guds lære, der kommer igennem sine tjenere, bag sig. Jeg så at hun viste hen til hendes retfærdighed, hendes helligelse og hendes fromme liv. Ligesom farisæerne opregnede hun sine gode gerninger. »Gud! jeg takker dig, fordi jeg ikke er som de andre mennesker, røvere, uretfærdige, ægteskabsbrydere og heller ikke som denne tolder. Jeg faster to gange om ugen, jeg giver tiende af hele min indtægt.« Farisæerens bøn blev der ikke lagt mærke til; men den stakkels tolder, som kun kunne sige »Gud! vær mig synder nådig!«, rørte ved Herrens medlidenhed. Hans bøn blev accepteret, medens den pralende farisæers bøn blev afvist. »Thi enhver, som ophøjer sig selv, skal ydmyges; men den, som ydmyger sig selv, skal ophøjes."