Brother P’s success in the ministry, and also in his position of trust in the office, depended upon the character he should maintain. Painstaking, persevering effort was needed that in going out and coming in before his fellow laborers no wrong example should be set. The plan he should have adopted, the course of action he should have pursued, is plainly marked out in the word of God. Had he taken heed to that word, it would have been a light to his path, guiding his inexperienced feet into a safe way. Testimonies of the Spirit of God have been sent to him again and again, showing him where he was diverging from the highway cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in and warning and entreating him to change his course of action. But his own ways have seemed right in his eyes; and he has followed inclination, not heeding the light given him. He was not a safe counselor. He was not a safe man in the office; neither was he a safe shepherd, for he would lead the sheep astray. He has preached excellent discourses; but out of the desk he has not carried out the principles he has preached. This kind of work is an offense to God. {5T 412.1}

Bror P's succes i sin tjenestegerning og også i sin betroede stilling på kontoret, er afhængig af den karakter han skal fastholde. Der var brug for smerteudholdende anstrengelser, så intet forkert eksempel ville blive sat, ved at gå ud og komme forud for hans kollegaer. Den plan han burde have taget, den måde han burde have handle på, er tydeligt markeret i Guds ord. Havde han givet agt på det ord, ville det have været et lys for hans sti, ledt hans uerfarne fødder på en sikker vej. Guds Ånds vidnesbyrd er blevet sat for ham igen og igen, vist ham hvor han afviger fra den hovedvej, der er skitseret for Herrens løsepenge, til at vandre på og advare og bønfalde ham om at ændre hans handlemåder. Men hans egne veje synes rigtig i hans øjne; og han har fulgt tilbøjeligheden, ikke givet agt på det lys han har fået. Han var ikke en pålidelig rådgiver. Han var ikke en pålidelig mand på kontoret; han var heller ikke en pålidelig hyrde, for han ville lede hjorden på vildspor. Han har forkyndt fremragende prædikener; men uden for talerstolen har han ikke gennemført de principper han har forkyndt. Den slags arbejde er en forhånelse mod Gud.