Brother B has not been willing to endure the cross; he has not been willing to follow Christ from the manger to the judgment hall and Calvary. He has brought upon himself sore affliction by seeking his own pleasure. He has yet to learn that his own strength is weakness and his wisdom is folly. If he had felt that he was engaged in the work of God, and that he was indebted to One who had given him time and talents, and who required that they be improved to His glory,—had he stood faithfully at his post,—he would not have suffered that long, tedious sickness. His exposure upon that pleasure trip caused him months of suffering and would have caused his death had it not been for the earnest, effectual prayer of faith put up in his behalf by those who felt that he was not prepared to die. Had he died at that time his case would have been far worse than that of the unenlightened sinner. But God mercifully heard the prayers of His people and gave him a new lease of life, that he might have opportunity to repent of his unfaithfulness and to redeem the time. His example had influenced many in Battle Creek in the wrong direction. {3T 27.2}

Bror B har ikke været villig til at udholde korset; han har ikke været villig til at følge Kristus fra kryppen til domhuset og Golgata. Han har bragt smerte og lidelse på sig selv ved at søge sit eget behag. Han skal endnu lære at hans egen styrke er svag og hans visdom er tåbelighed. Hvis han følte at han var engageret i Guds arbejde og at (28) han stod i gæld til den som havde givet ham tid og talenter og som krævede at de skulle udnyttes til hans ære, - havde han stået trofast på sin post, - ville han ikke lide den lange trættende sygdom. Det han udsatte sig for på den fornøjelsestur gav ham måneders lidelser og ville have bevirket hans død hvis det ikke havde været på grund af alvorlig, effektiv troens bøn for hans bedste, fra dem som følte han ikke var rede til at dø. Døde han på det tidspunkt ville hans sag have været langt værre end den uoplyste synders sag. Men Gud hørte nådigt sit folks bønner og gav ham en ny livsfrist, så han kan have anledning til at andre sin upålidelighed og til at genløse tiden. Hans eksempel har påvirket mange i Battle Creek i en forkert retning.