Self-righteousness and carnal security have closed you about as with bands of iron. You need to be zealous and repent. You have been unfortunate in sympathizing with the disaffected, whose course has been in opposition to the work that the Lord through His servants was doing upon this coast. The wrong men have had your sympathy. Because your heart was not right with God, you did not receive the light He sent to you. You set up your stubborn will to resist the reproof which the Lord gave to you in love. You knew these things were true, but tried to close your eyes to the true state of your case. Whether you heed the voice of reproof and warning God has sent to you or not; whether you reform, or retain your defects of character, you will one day realize what you have lost by placing yourself in a defiant position, warring in spirit against the servants of God. Your bitterness of feeling toward Elder H is astonishing. He has endured and sacrificed and toiled on this coast to do the work of God. But in your blindness, while unconsecrated in heart and life, you have ventured, in connection with I and J, to handle the servant of God in a cruel manner. “Touch not Mine anointed,” saith God, “and do My prophets no harm.” It is not a small matter for you to array yourself, as you have done, against men whom God has sent with light and truth for the people. Beware how your influence turns souls from the truth which God has sent His servants to declare, for a heavy woe hangs over you. {4T 228.3}

Selvretfærdighed og kødelig sikkerhed har lukket sig om dig som jernbånd. Du behøver at blive nidkær og angre. Du har ikke været heldig med at forstå dem, som er imod Herrens arbejde, ved sine tjenere på denne kyst. Du har haft sympati for forkerte mennesker. Fordi dit hjerte ikke var godt med Gud, fik du ikke lyset han sendte dig. Du sætter din hårdnakkede vilje op, for at modstå den irettesættelse som Herren gav dig i kærlighed. Du vidste dette (229) var sandt, men prøvede at lukke dine øjne for din egentlige situation. Uanset om du giver agt på Guds irettesættels- og advarselsstemme eller ej; eller om du reformerer dig, eller beholder dine karaktermangler, vil du en dag indse hvad du har mistet, ved at trodse dig og åndeligt bekrige Guds tjenere. Din bitterhed mod ældre - er forbavsende. Han har døjet og ofret og slidt på denne kyst for at gøre Guds arbejde. Men i din blindhed vovede du, da du ikke var helliget i hjerte og liv, sammen med I og J, at behandle Guds tjener på en grusom måde. »Rør ikke mine salvede,« sagde Gud, »gør ikke mine profeter ondt!« Det er ikke lige så let at bringe dig selv i orden, som du har gjort mod mennesker, Gud sendte med lys og sandhed til folk. Pas på hvordan din indflydelse vender sjæle fra den sandhed, Gud har sendt sine tjenere at forkynde, for en stor ulykke hænger over dig.