The Lord has seen fit to give me a view of the needs and errors of His people. Painful though it has been to me, I have faithfully set before the offenders their faults and the means of remedying them, according to the dictates of the Spirit of God. This has, in many instances, excited the tongue of slander and embittered against me those for whom I have labored and suffered. But I have not been turned from my course because of this. God has given me my work, and, upheld by His sustaining strength, I have performed the painful duties He has set before me. Thus has the Spirit of God pronounced warnings and judgments, withholding not, however, the sweet promise of mercy. {4T 14.3}

Herren har fundet det formålstjenligt at give mig et indblik i sit folks trang og fejltrin. Skønt det har voldt mig smerte, har jeg med troskab vist overtræderne deres fejl og midlerne til at afhjælpe disse, overensstemmende med Guds ånds anvisning. Dette har i mange tilfælde opægget bagvaskelsens tunge og skabt bitterhed mod mig hos dem, jeg har arbejdet og lidt for. Men jeg er ikke af den grund veget fra min vej. Gud har givet mig min gerning og støttet af hans Kraft har jeg udført de pinlige pligter, han har pålagt mig. Således har Guds ånd udtalt advarsler og straffedomme, men dog ikke tilbageholdt den liflige forjættelse om barmhjertighed.