Some ministers who profess to be called of God have the blood of souls on their garments. They are surrounded with backsliders and sinners, and yet feel no burden for their souls; they manifest an indifference in regard to their salvation. Some are so nearly asleep that they seem to have no sense of the work of a gospel minister. They do not consider that as spiritual physicians they are required to have skill in administering to souls diseased with sin. The work of warning sinners, of weeping over them and pleading with them, has been neglected until many souls are past all cure. Some have died in their sins, and will in the judgment confront with reproaches of their guilt those who might have saved them, but who did not. Unfaithful ministers, what a retribution awaits you! {2T 506.1}

Du er rigtig meget ligesom Meroz. Du er ganske ihærdig når det som du laver vil gavne dig selv, men du har intet motiv for flid hvis du ikke selv for nytte af det. Du er bestemt en doven mand. Du kan spise dine rationer regelmæssigt, men du har ingen særlig kærlighed for fysisk arbejde. Intet menneske kan udfylde en prædikants embede hvis han ikke er flittig, foretagsom og trofast i udførelsen af alle de sociale og offentlige pligter i livet. Gud har valgt os, som sine tjenere, til hans værk, som kræver udholdende energi. Vi skal ikke blive forkælede og undgå slid og slæb og konflikter.