From the light I have had, the ministry is a sacred and exalted office, and those who accept this position should have Christ in their hearts and manifest an earnest desire to represent Him worthily before the people in all their acts, in their dress, in their speaking, and even in their manner of speaking. They should speak with reverence. Some destroy the solemn impression they may have made upon the people, by raising their voices to a very high pitch and hallooing and screaming out the truth. When presented in this manner, truth loses much of its sweetness, its force and solemnity. But if the voice is toned right, if it has solemnity, and is so modulated as to be even pathetic, it will produce a much better impression. This was the tone in which Christ taught His disciples. He impressed them with solemnity; He spoke in a pathetic manner. But this loud hallooing—what does it do? It does not give the people any more exalted views of the truth and does not impress them any more deeply. It only causes a disagreeable sensation to the hearers and wears out the vocal organs of the speaker. The tones of the voice have much to do in affecting the hearts of those that hear. {2T 615.1}

Menighederne er ikke helt sammensat af rene, oprigtige kristne. Ikke alle navne som står optegnet i menighedsbøgerne er værdige til at stå der. Nogles liv og karakterdannelse sammenlignes med andres goldhed som værdiløse slagger. Sådan behøver det ikke at være. Dem som er værdifulde i liv og indflydelse har mærket betydningen af at følge Jesus nøje, at gøre Kristi liv til deres studium og eksempel. Dette vil kræve anstrengelser, meditation og alvorlig bøn. Det kræver anstrengelser at opnå sejr over selviskhed og gøre interessen for Guds sag til det primære. Nogle har anstrengt sig og praktiseret nøje disciplinering af selvet og de har vundet dyrebare sejre. Dem som betragter deres egen interesse som det primære, lever for selvet. Deres karakter er i Guds øjne som værdiløse slagger.