But while the truth of God is carried by young and inexperienced men whose hearts are scarcely touched by the grace of God, the cause will languish. Brethren F and G are more ready to argue than to pray; they are more ready to contend than to persuade, endeavoring to impress the people with the solemn character of the work for this time. Men who dare to assume the responsibility of receiving the word from the mouth of God and giving it to the people, make themselves accountable for the truth they present and the influence they exert. If they are truly men of God, their hope is not in themselves, but in what He will do for them and through them. They do not go forth self-inflated, calling the attention of the people to their smartness and aptness; they feel their responsibility and work with spiritual energy, treading in the path of self-denial which the Master trod. Self-sacrifice is seen at every step, and they mourn because of their inability to do more in the cause of God. Their path is one of trial and conflict; but it is marked by the footprints of their Redeemer, the Captain of their salvation, who was made perfect through suffering. {4T 447.2}

Men når Guds sandhed fremføres af unge og (448) uerfarne mænd, hvis hjerter knapt nok er blevet berørt af Guds nåde, vil sagen sygne hen. Brødrene F og G er hurtigere til at diskutere end til at bede; de er hurtigere til at kæmpe end at overtale og sørge for at indprente folk den højtidelige karakter af denne tids arbejde. Mennesker der vover at påtage ansvaret at få ordet fra Guds mund og give det til folk, gør sig selv ansvarlig for den sandhed de overbringer og den indflydelse de udøver. Hvis de er sande Guds mænd, er håbet ikke hos dem selv, men i hvad Gud vil gøre for dem og gennem dem. De går ikke opblæste frem, påkalder folks opmærksomhed deres smarte væremåde og evner; de føler deres ansvar og arbejder med åndelig kraft, træder på den selvfornægtelsens sti, som Mesteren trådte. Selvopofrelse ses for hvert skridt og de sørger over at de ikke kan gøre mere i Guds sag. Deres sti er med prøvelser og kamp; men den er markeret med deres Forløsers fodaftryk, deres frelses Kaptajn, som blev gjort fuldkommen ved lidelse.