Men who are harsh and censorious often excuse or try to justify their lack of Christian politeness because some of the Reformers worked with such a spirit, and they claim that the work for this time requires the same spirit; but this is not so. A spirit which is calm and under perfect control is better in any place, even in the roughest company. A furious zeal does no good to anyone. God did not select the Reformers because they were overbearing, passionate men. He accepted them as they were, notwithstanding these traits of character; but He would have placed tenfold greater responsibilities upon them had they been of humble mind, having their spirits under control of reason. While ministers of Christ must denounce sin and ungodliness, impurity and falsehood, while they are sometimes called to rebuke iniquity among the high as well as the low, showing them that the indignation of God will fall upon the transgressors of His law, yet they should not be overbearing or tyrannical; they should manifest kindness and love, a spirit to save rather than to destroy. {4T 486.2}

Ubehagelige og kritiksyge mennesker undskylder sig ofte eller søger at forsvare deres mangel på kristelig høflighed med, at nogle af reformatorerne udviste en sådan ånd i deres gerning og de påstår, at arbejdet i vor tid kræver den samme ånd; men dette er ikke tilfældet. Et roligt sind, som man har fuldkomment herredømme over, er godt under alle forhold, selv i de mest rå omgivelser. En heftig nidkærhed gavner ingen. Når Gud udvalgte reformatorerne, var det ikke, fordi de var anmassende, lidenskabelige mænd. Han antog dem, som de var, trods disse karaktertræk; men han ville have lagt tifold større ansvar på dem, hvis de havde været ydmyge af sindelag og deres ånd havde været under fornuftens herredømme. Medens Kristi tjenere må fordømme synd og ugudelighed, urenhed og usandhed og medens de undertiden må straffe ugudelighed hos høje som hos lave og vise dem, at Guds vrede vil ramme overtræderne af hans lov, bør de dog aldrig være anmassende eller tyranniske; de bør vise venlighed og kærlighed, et ønske om at frelse i stedet for at fordærve.