That which has caused us the greatest discouragement has been to see those in ----- who have had years of experience in the cause and work of God, shorn of their strength by their own unfaithfulness. They are outgeneraled by the enemy in nearly every attack. God would have made these persons strong, like faithful sentinels at their post, to guard the fort, had they walked in the light He had given them and remained steadfast to duty, seeking to know and do the whole will of God. Satan will, no doubt, through his delusions deceive these delinquent souls, and make them believe that they are about right after all. They have committed no grievous, outbreaking sins, and they must, after all, be on the true foundation, and God will accept their works. They see no special sins to repent of, no sins which call for special humiliation, humble confession, and rending of heart. The delusion upon such is strong indeed when they mistake the form of godliness for the power thereof, and flatter themselves that they are rich and have need of nothing. The curse of Meroz rests upon them: “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” {2T 395.1}

Bror M, du opmuntrer ikke din hustrus tillid. Du lider af mangel på høflighed og en vedvarende venlig agtelse for hende. Du viser nogle gange kærlighed, men det er en egoistisk kærlighed. Det er ingen principper hos dig der rækker dybt ned og understøtter alle dine handlinger. Det er ikke en egoistisk kærlighed, som hos dig fremkalder en stadig omtanke for hende og omhu for at have hende i dit selskab. Dette viser at du foretrækker hendes ledsagelse (416) frem for alle andre. Du har søgt efter dine egne fornøjelser, ladet hende blive alene hjemme og ofte bedrøvet. Du har udført dig sådan også før I flyttede til dette sted og du har fortsat sådan i en mindre grad fordi du har manglet anledninger eller påskud.