If Brother J enjoyed the love of God, he would be a channel of light. He has too little moral power, with strong tendencies to unbelief. He is pitied by the heavenly angels, for he is surrounded with darkness. His ears hear words of unbelief and darkness almost continually. He has doubts and questionings constantly thrown before him. The tongue is a world of iniquity. “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” If Brother J would cling to God more firmly and feel that he should preserve his integrity before God even at the cost of his natural life, he would receive strength from above. If he allows his faith to be affected by the darkness and unbelief that surrounds him—the doubts and questioning and much talk—he will soon be all darkness and doubt and unbelief, and will have no light or strength in the truth. {4T 236.2}

Hvis bror J nød Guds kærlighed, ville han være en kanal for lys. Han har for lidt moralsk styrke, med stærke tendenser til vantro. Han er ynkværdig for de himmelske engle, for han er omgivet af mørke. Hans ører hører næsten hele tiden om vantro og mørke. Tvivlsspørgsmål falder hele tiden ned foran ham. Tungen er en syndig verden. Tungen kan intet menneske tæmme; den er et uregerligt (237) onde, fuld af dødelig gift. Hvis bror J ville klynge sig fastere til Gud og føle at han bør bevare sin renhed for Gud, endda på bekostning af sit naturlige liv, ville han få styrke ovenfra. Hvis han lader sin tro påvirkes af den mørke og vantro som omgiver ham - tvivlsspørgsmålene og megen snak - vil han hurtig være i al mørke, tvivl og vantro og vil ikke have lys eller styrke i sandheden.