Even the professed church of Christ, with their exalted privileges and high professions, discerned not the image of Christ in this self-denying child of God because they were so far removed from Christ themselves that they reflected not His image. They judged by the external appearance and took no special pains to discern the inward adorning. Here was a woman whose resources of knowledge and genuine experience in the mysteries of godliness exceeded those of anyone residing at -----, and whose manner of address to the youth and children was pleasing, instructive, and salutary. She was not harsh, but correct and sympathetic, and would have proved one of the most useful laborers in the field as an instructor of the youth and an intelligent, useful companion and counselor to mothers. She could reach hearts by her earnest, matter-of-fact presentation of incidents in her religious life, which she had devoted to the service of her Redeemer. Had the church emerged from darkness and deception into the clear light, their hearts would have been drawn out after the lonely stranger. Her prayers, her tears, her distress, at seeing no way of usefulness open to her, have been seen and heard in heaven. The Lord offered to His people talented help; but they were rich and increased with goods, and had need of nothing. They turned from and rejected a most precious blessing of which they will yet feel the need. Had Elder E stood in the clear light of God and been imbued with His Spirit when this servant of Jesus, lonely, homeless, and thirsting for a work to do for her Master, was brought to his notice, spirit would have answered to spirit, as face answereth to face in a mirror; his heart would have been drawn out after this disciple of Christ, and he would have understood her. Thus also with the church. They had been in such spiritual blindness they had lost the sound of the voice of the True Shepherd and were following the voice of a stranger, who was leading them from the fold of Christ. {2T 141.1}

Selv Kristi bekendende menighed, med deres ophøjede privilegier og høje bekendelser, så ikke Kristi billede i dette selvfornægtende Guds barn fordi de fjernede sig så langt fra Kristus at de ikke genspejlede hans billede. De dømte efter det ydre udseende og gjorde sig ingen umage for at se den indre besmykkelse. Her var der en kvinde hvis kundskabsforråd og ægte erfaring i gudfrygtighedens mysterier overgår enhver der bor i ___ og hvis henvendelsesmetoder til børn og unge var tiltalende, belærende og gavnlige. Hun var ikke hård, men korrekt og sympatisk og ville have vist sig at være en af de mest brugbare medarbejdere på marken som lærer for unge og en forstandig og brugbar kammerat og rådgiver for mødre. Hun kunne nå hjerter ved sine alvorlige, realistiske fremstillinger af begivenheder i hendes religiøse liv, hvilket hun havde helliget til sin Forløsers tjeneste. Havde menigheden stået frem fra mørke og bedrag og gået ind i det klare lys, ville deres hjerter have været strakt ud mod den ensomme fremmede. Hendes bønner, hendes tårer, hendes pine, ved at ikke kunne se en nyttig vej åbne sig for hende, er blevet set og hørt i himlen. Herren gav sit folk talentfuld hjælp, men de var rige og overfyldt med goder og havde ikke brug for noget. De vendte sig bort og forkastede den dyrebareste gave som de alligevel vil mærke manglen af. Havde Ældre E stået i Guds klare lys og været gennemtrængt af hans Ånd og han var blevet opmærksom på denne Jesu tjener, ensom, hjemløs og hungrende efter et arbejde at gøre for sin mester, som hun gjorde og ånd ville svare til ånd, som ansigt svarer til ansigt i et spejl; ville hans hjerte være strakt ud efter denne Kristi discipel og han ville have forstået hende. Således er det også med menigheden. De har været i en sådan åndelig blindhed at de har (142) mistet øreforbindelsen til den sande Hyrdes stemme og har fulgt en fremmeds stemme, som har ledt dem fra Kristi fold.