These are the true feelings of many of our people. And Satan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived that they know not that it is he. The people have not erected graven images, yet their sin is no less in the sight of God. They worship mammon. They love worldly gain. Some will make any sacrifice of conscience to obtain their object. God’s professed people are selfish and self-caring. They love the things of this world, and have fellowship with the works of darkness. They have pleasure in unrighteousness. They have not love toward God nor love for their neighbors. They are idolaters, and are worse, far worse, in the sight of God than the heathen, graven-image worshipers who have no knowledge of a better way. {2T 440.2}

Nogle prædikanters indflydelse er ikke god. De har ikke omhyggelig givet agt på deres øjeblikke og således givet folk et (499) eksempel på flid. De bruger øjeblikke og stunder på ladhed, som går over i evigheden og kan aldrig genkaldes. De er naturlig dovne, hvilket gør det svært for dem at af få succes med deres foretagender. Denne mangel har været set og følt i hele deres religiøse erfaring. Dem der fejler er ikke taberne; andre får lov til at lide for deres svagheder. I denne sene periode har mange en lektie at lære som burde være lært på et meget tidligere tidspunkt.