Compare these two enterprises. One is certain, eternal, enduring as the life of God; the other is a thing of this life, changeable, perishable, and if men succeed in their ambitious pursuits, that which they gain frequently stings like an adder, and drowns them in perdition. Oh, why should there be so great a contrast in the efforts of those who are engaged—the one class in a worldly enterprise, the other in a heavenly? the one laboring for a treasure here that is perishable, and in the effort suffering much pain for that which is frequently a source of great evil, the other putting forth efforts for the salvation of precious souls, which will be approved of Heaven and rewarded with heavenly riches. There are no risks to run here, no losses to be sustained, the profits are sure and immense. {2T 335.3}

Min sjæl har været nedbøjet af angst, når Guds folks svage tilstand er blevet fremstillet for mig. Uretfærdighed er til stede i overflod og kærligheden bliver kold hos mange. Blandt (348) bekendende Kristne er der kun få, som ser denne sag i det rette lys og som har det rette herredømme over sig selv, når den offentlige mening og sædvane ikke fordømmer dem. Hvor få er der ikke, der tøjler deres lidenskaber, fordi de føler sig moralsk forpligtet dertil og fordi de har Guds frygt for øje! De højere evner hos mennesket trælbindes af begær og fordærvede lidenskaber.