Having once started in this way, they usually continue in it until the worldly element prevails and they sneer at their former convictions. They despise the simplicity manifested when their hearts were tender, and they find excuse to elude the sacred claims of the church and of the crucified Redeemer. This class can never become what they might have been had not the convictions of conscience been stifled, the holiest, tenderest affections blunted. If in after years they become followers of Christ, they will still bear the scars which irreverence for sacred things has made upon their souls. {5T 41.1}

Som tidligere anført, fortsætter de med dette, indtil de verdslige elementer får overhånd og så forhåner de deres tidligere overbevisning. De foragter den enkelhed de udviste da de var ømhjertede og de finder undskyldninger for at undgå menighedens og den korsfæstede Forløsers hellige krav. Denne klasse kan aldrig blive til det den kunne blive til, hvis ikke samvittighedens overbevisning var blevet kvalt, den helligste, mest ømhjertede hengivenhed sløvet. Hvis de efter nogle år bliver Kristi efterfølgere, vil de stadig bære ar, der er kommet af uærbødighed for hellige ting.