Brother A had long indulged his appetite for stimulants, which had had an influence to becloud the mind, weaken the intellect, and lessen the moral powers. Reason and judgment were brought into bondage to depraved, unnatural appetite, and his birthright, his God-given manhood, was sacrificed to intemperate habits. Had Brother A made the word of God his study and his guide, had he trusted in God and prayed for grace to overcome, he would have had strength in the name of Jesus to baffle the tempter. {4T 28.2}

Bror A havde længe føjet sig i stimulanser, som havde haft en omtågende virkning på hans sind, svækket forstanden og formindsket de moralske kræfter. Fornuften og dømmekraften kom under åg af en fordærvet og unaturlig appetit. Hans førstefødselsret, hans gudsgivne mandom, blev ofret for umådeholdne vaner. Havde bror A gjort Guds ord til sit studium og sin vejleder, havde han stolet på Gud og bedt om nåde til at overvinde, ville han få styrke i Jesu navn til at bremse fristeren.