If Brother G had received the light that the Lord sent him months ago and had frankly conversed with his wife, if both had broken their hard hearts before the Lord, how different would be their present state. They both slighted the words of reproof and entreaty of the Spirit of God, and did not reform their lives. But closing their eyes to the light God had sent them did not make one of their faults less grievous in the sight of God nor lessen their accountability. They have hated the reproof which the Lord in pitying tenderness gave them. Brother G has naturally a kind and tender heart, but it is crusted over with self-love, vanity, and evil surmising. His heart is not callous, but he lacks moral power. He is a coward as soon as the necessity of self-denial and self-sacrifice is brought before him, for he loves himself. To control self, to put a watch upon his words, to acknowledge that he has done wrong or spoken wrongly, is a cross which he feels is too humiliating to lift; and yet if he is ever saved this cross must be lifted. {4T 242.2}

Hvis bror G havde modtaget det lys som Herren sendte ham for måneder siden og talt rent ud med sin hustru, hvis begge havde brudt deres hjerter for Herren, hvor anderledes ville deres nuværende tilstand da ikke blive. De begge har ringeagtet Guds Ånds irettesættende og bønlige ord og ikke fornyet deres liv. At lukke øjnene for det lys Gud sendte dem gjorde ikke een af deres fejl mindre alvorlig i Guds øjne, det gør heller ikke deres ansvar mindre. De har hadet den irettesættelse Herren gav dem i medynk. Bror G har af naturen et venligt og ømt hjerte, men det er overtrukket af egenkærlighed, forfængelighed og onde tanker. Hans hjerte er ikke tykhudet, men han mangler moralsk styrke. Han er en kujon lige så snart selvfornægtelsens og selvopofrelsens nødvendig kommer frem for ham, for han elsker sig selv. At styre selvet, sætte vagt om hans ord, anerkende at han har gjort forkert eller talt forkert, er for ydmygende for ham at bære; og hvis han nogensinde skal frelses, må korset alligevel løftes op.