Some of the church had no special anxiety to have Brother A return. They cared not enough to unbend from their dignity and pride and make special efforts to help him to the light. They stood back on their dignity and said: “We will not go after him; let him come to us.” Viewing the feelings of his brethren toward him as he did, it was impossible for him to do this. Had they regarded the lesson taught by Christ, they would have been willing to yield their dignity and pride, and go after the wandering ones. They would have wept over them, prayed for them, implored them to be faithful to God and the truth, and to abide with the church. But the feeling of many was: “If he wants to go, let him go.” {2T 218.3}

Nogle i menigheden bekymrer sig ikke så meget for om Bror A vender tilbage. De tænkte ikke om de skulle løsne sig fra deres værdighed og stolthed og anstrenge sig for at hjælpe ham til lyset. De stod tilbage med deres værdighed og sagde: "Vi vil ikke gå efter ham; lad ham komme til os." I betragtning af de følelser hans brødre havde for ham, er det umuligt for ham at vende tilbage. Havde de givet agt på Kristi lektie, ville (219) de havde været villige til opgive deres værdighed og stolthed og gå efter de omstrejfende. De ville have grædt over dem, bedt for dem, bedt dem indtrængende om at være trofast over for Gud og sandheden og forblive i menigheden. Men manges følelser var: "Hvis han ønsker at gå, så lad ham gå."