The cross of Christ has been presented to Brother P; but he has turned away from it, for it involves shame and reproach rather than the honor and praise of the world. Again and again Jesus has called: Take up the cross and follow Me, so shall ye be My disciple. But other voices have been calling in the direction of worldly pride and ambition; and he has listened to these voices because their spirit is more pleasing to the natural heart. He has turned from Jesus, divorced himself from God, and embraced the world. He was called to represent Christ, and to be a bright light in the world; but he has betrayed his sacred trust. The world interposes between his soul and Jesus, and he has had a worldly experience when he should have been gaining one of an entirely opposite character. He has been decidedly worldly in his tastes and opinions, and consequently has been unable to comprehend spiritual things. {5T 411.3}

Kristi kors er blevet fremstillet for bror P; men han har vendt sig bort fra det, for det er mere forbundet med skam og irettesættelse, end med verdens ære og pris. Igen og igen har Jesus kaldt: Tag korset op og følg mig, så (412) I skal være mine disciple. Men andre stemmer har kaldt i retning mod verdslig stolthed og ærgerrighed; og han har lyttet til disse stemmer fordi deres ånd er behageligere for det naturlige hjerte. Han vendte sig fra Jesus, adskilte sig selv fra Gud og omfavnede verden. han blev kaldet til at fremstille Kristus og være et klart lys i verden; men han har forrådt sin hellige tillid. Verden sætter skæl mellem hans sjæl og Jesus og han har fået en verdslig erfaring, skønt han skulle have fået én af den helt modsatte art. Han har været helt verdslig i sin smag og anskuelser og som følge deraf ikke været i stand til at fatte åndelige ting.