I was then carried back in your life, and you were shown to me when the truth found a response in your heart. The Spirit of God convicted you of the course you should pursue, and you had quite a struggle with self. You had been a sharp, scheming man. You had not done by others as you would wish them to do by you, but had taken advantage of them whenever you could. You had a close, stern battle to fight to subdue self and mortify pride; and it was only through the grace of God that this work could be accomplished. Instead of effecting a thorough reformation, you joined the truth to a patched-up character, which would not stand the test of temptation. You did not begin by seeking God with a broken and contrite heart, and making wrongs right. Had you done this, you would not have stumbled and fallen into the snare of the enemy. There was a mixture of selfishness in your motives, which you yourself did not clearly see. Arguments drawn from worldly interest, social position, and comparative respectability influenced you and decided you not to make earnest, thorough work before God and men. Reaching after the worldly standard marred the sincerity and purity of your Christian character; and you failed to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. {5T 338.2}

Jeg blev da ført tilbage i dit liv og du blev vist for mig, da sandheden fandt gensvar i dit hjerte. Guds Ånd overbeviste dig om den vej du skulle gå og du havde en ganske stor kamp med selvet. Du var et skarpsindigt, rænkefulde menneske. Du har ikke gjort det mod andre, som du ville ønske at de gjorde mod dig, men du udnyttede dem hvor du kunne. Du havde en tæt streng kamp med at (339) underkaste selvet og ydmyge stoltheden; og det var kun gennem Guds nåde at dette kunne lade sig gøre. I stedet for at gennemføre en grundig reformation, har du forenet sandheden med en sammenlappet karakter, som ikke vil bestå fristelsens prøve. Du begyndte ikke at søge Gud af et sønderbrudt og angerfuldt hjerte og rettede fejlene. Havde du gjort dette, ville du ikke have snublet og faldet i fjendens snare. Der er en blanding af selviskhed i dine motiver, som du ikke selv ser så klart. Argumenter drages ud fra verdslig interesse, social position og en forholdsvis agtværdighed har påvirket dig og fik dig til at ikke gøre et grundigt arbejde for Gud og mennesker. At gribe ud efter verdslig standard, ødelagde din kristne karakters oprigtighed og renhed; og du frembragte ikke de angergivende frugter.