To be without the graces of the Spirit of God is sad indeed; but it is a more terrible condition to be thus destitute of spirituality and of Christ, and yet try to justify ourselves by telling those who are alarmed for us that we need not their fears and pity. Fearful is the power of self-deception on the human mind! What blindness! setting light for darkness and darkness for light! The True Witness counsels us to buy of Him gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster. The white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience. The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise. God has given His church eyes which He requires them to anoint with wisdom, that they may see clearly; but many would put out the eyes of the church if they could; for they would not have their deeds come to the light, lest they should be reproved. The divine eyesalve will impart clearness to the understanding. Christ is the depositary of all graces. He says: “Buy of Me.” {4T 88.2}

At være uden Guds ånds dyder er i sandhed ilde; men endnu frygteligere er tilstanden, når man således er blottet for åndelighed og er uden Kristus og alligevel søger at forsvare sig ved at sige til dem, der er bekymrede for en, at man ikke trænger til deres frygt og medynk. Frygtelig er selvbedragets magt over menneskesindet! Hvilken blindhed at antage lys for mørke og mørke for lys! Det sanddru vidne råder os til, at vi af ham køber guld, som er prøvet i ilden, hvide klæder og øjensalve. Guldet, der her omtales som prøvet i ilden, er tro og kærlighed. Det gør hjertet rigt, for det er blevet lutret, indtil det er rent og jo mere det prøves desto mere stråler dets glans. De hvide klæder er en ren karakter, Kristi retfærdighed, der meddeles synderen. Denne er i sandhed et klædningsstykke af himmelsk vævning og kan kun købes hos Kristus for et liv i villig lydighed. Øjensalven er den visdom og nåde, der sætter os i stand til at skelne mellem det onde og det gode og til at opdage synden i en hvilken som helst forklædning. Gud har givet sin menighed øjne, som han kræver de skal salve med visdom, så (89) de kan se klart; men mange ville stikke menighedens øjne ud, hvis de kunne, fordi de ikke ønsker, at deres gerninger skal komme for lyset, for at de ikke skal blive irettesat. Den guddommelige øjensalve vil give forstanden klarhed. Kristus er alle dyders opbevarer. Han siger: "Køb af mig!"