That these elements are in Healdsburg as well as in other places none will deny; and if Satan did not use them, he would use some other influence to the same end. But “woe to that man by whom the offense cometh;” for it were “better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” God has His means of working. Men cannot always discern them, and by attaching so much importance to their own efforts they not only give the Lord no room to work, but are found working against Him. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” {5T 483.1}

At disse tilstande er i Healdsburg såvel som på andre steder vil ingen nægte og hvis Satan ikke bruger dem, vil han bruge andre anslag, til samme formål. Men »ve det menneske, ved hvem forargelsen kommer!« for det »var ... bedre, at der var lagt en møllesten om hans hals og han var kastet i havet.« Gud har sine midler at arbejde med. Mennesker kan ikke altid se dem og fæstner de sig så meget ved deres egne bestræbelser, fratager de ikke kun Herren plads til at arbejde, men gribes også i at arbejde imod ham. »Den, der mener at stå, tage sig i agt, at han ikke falder!« »Da I nu, I elske, har fået det at vide forud, skal I være på vagt, for at I ikke skal rives med af de tøjlesløses vildfarelser og miste jeres fodfæste; I skal derimod vokse i vor Herres og Frelsers Jesu Kristi nåde og erkendelse.«