Jesus wrought a miracle and fed five thousand, and then He taught an important lesson of economy: “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Duties, important duties, rest upon you. “Owe no man anything.” Were you infirm, were you unable to labor, then your brethren would be in duty bound to help you. As it is, all you needed from your brethren when you changed your location was a start. If you felt as ambitious as you should, and you and your wife would agree to live within your means, you could be free from embarrassment. You will have to labor for small wages as well as for large. Industry and economy would have placed your family, ere this, in a much more favorable condition. God wants you to be a faithful steward of your strength. He wants you to use it to place your family above want and dependence. {2T 435.3} Battle Creek, Michigan, March 22, 1869.

Der er nu hyklere som vil skælve hvis de får et syn på sig selv. Deres egen elendighed vil fortære dem på den dag som snart kommer over os, en dag hvor, »Herren går ud fra sin bolig for at straffe jordboernes brøde.« Oh, den skræk kan nu gribe fat i dem, så de kan have en levende fornemmelse af deres tilstand og vække op der hvor der er nåde og håb, bekende deres synder og ydmyge deres sjæle stærkt for Gud, så han kan tilgive deres overtrædelser og helne deres frafald! Guds folk er uforberedte for de farefulde og vanskelige scener foran os, uforberedte til at stå uplettede fra ondt og lysterne i denne fordærvede tidsalders farer og forkrænkeligheder. De har ikke retfærdighedens rustning på sig og er uforberedte til krigen mod den fremherskende uretfærdighed. Mange adlyder ikke Guds (447) bud, alligevel bekender de sig til at gøre det. Hvis de ville være trofaste og adlyde alle Guds love ville de have en kraft som ville overbevise de vantros hjerter.