You have excused yourself for speaking evil of your brother or sister or neighbor to others before going to him and taking the steps which God has absolutely commanded. You say: “Why, I did not speak to anyone until I was so burdened that I could not refrain.” What burdened you? Was it not a plain neglect of your own duty, of a thus saith the Lord? You were under the guilt of sin because you did not go and tell the offender his fault between you and him alone. If you did not do this, if you disobeyed God, how could you be otherwise than burdened unless your heart was hardened while you were trampling the command of God underfoot, and in your heart hating your brother or neighbor? And what way have you found to unburden yourself? God reproves you for a sin of omission in not telling your brother his fault, and you excuse and comfort yourself by a sin of commission by telling your brother’s faults to another person! Is this the right way to purchase ease—by committing sin? {2T 53.1}

Du undskylder dig selv for at tale ondt om din bror eller søster eller næste over for andre, før du går til ham og tager de skridt som Gud så absolut har befalet. Du siger: "Hvorfor, jeg taler ikke til nogen før jeg er så bebyrdet at jeg ikke kan lade være." Hvad bebyrder dig? Var det ikke en klar forsømmelse af et "så siger Herren"? Du var under syndens skyld, fordi du ikke gik hen og fortalte synderen sin fejl mellem dig og ham alene. Hvis du ikke gør dette, hvis du ikke adlyder Gud, hvordan kunne du ellers overbebyrdes, hvis ikke dit hjerte var forhærdet, medens du trådte Guds bud under fode og i dit hjerte hadede din bror og næste? Og hvilken måde har du fundet på at aflaste dine byrder? Gud irettesætte dig for ikke at fortælle din bror hans fejl og du undskylder og trøster dig selv med en synd mod din pligt ved at fortælle din brors fejl til en anden person! Er dette den rette måde at få frisag? ved at begå synd?