God has given man intellectual faculties capable of the highest cultivation. Had the Brethren B seen the natural coarseness and roughness of their characters, and with assiduous care cultivated and trained the mind, strengthening their weak points of character and overcoming their glaring defects, some of them would have been accepted as Christ’s messengers. But as they now are, God cannot accept any one of them as His representative. They have not sufficiently realized the need of improvement to cause them to seek for it. Their minds have not been trained by study, observation, reflection, and a constant effort to thoroughly discipline themselves for the duties of life. The means of improvement are within the reach of all. None are so poor or so busy but that with Jesus to help them they can make improvements in their life and character. {4T 340.3}

Gud har givet mennesket forstandsmæssige evner, der regner sig til den højeste dannelse. Havde brødrene B set den naturlige grovhed og råhed i deres karakter og med ihærdig omsorg dannet og oplært sindet, styrket deres svage karakterpunkter og overvundet deres skærende mangler, ville nogle af dem være accepteret som Kristi budbringere. Men som de er nu kan Gud ikke antage nogen af dem som sine repræsentanter. Deres sind er ikke blevet oplært ved studie, iagttagelse, eftertanke og en stadig anstrengelse for at disciplinere sig selv grundigt for livets pligter. Udnyttelse af midlerne er inden for alles rækkevidde. Ingen er så fattige og har så travlt end at Jesus ikke kan hjælpe dem til at forbedre sig.