It is impossible for the worldly and pleasure-loving to rightly value the messages of warning and reproof which God sends to correct the errors of his people. They cannot distinguish between the earnestness and zeal of the faithful servant, and the trifling, superficial spirit of him who is unfaithful. One declares that the sword is coming; the other puts far off the evil day. One faithfully reproves sin; the other excuses and palliates it. As the professed people of God depart from him and lose the simplicity of the faith, the words of his messengers seem to them unnecessarily harsh and severe. They cherish prejudice and unbelief, and finally place themselves fully on Satan’s side. His suggestions seem pleasant and palatable; they are controlled, in spirit and opinion, by the arch-deceiver, and having permitted him to direct their thoughts, they soon permit him to direct their actions. {LP 229.3}

Det var umuligt for verdslige og fornøjelseselskende at rigtig værdsætte de advarsels- og irettesættelsesbudskaber som Gud sendte, for at rette sit folks fejl. De kunne ikke skelne mellem den trofaste tjeners alvor og iver, og hans spøg og overfladiskhed som er upålidelig. Den ene erklærer at sværdet kommer; den anden lægger den onde dag langt bort. Den trofaste irettesætter synd; den anden undskylder og dækker over den. Idet Guds bekendende folk forlader ham og mister den enkle tro, syntes hans budbringeres ord at være unødige hårde og strenge. De gemmer på fordomme og vantro, og sætter sig selv til sidst, helt over på Satans side. Hans antydninger syntes at være behagelige og velsmagende; de kontrolleres i ånd og mening, ved ærkebedrageren, og giver ham lov til at styre deres tanker, de lader ham snart styre deres handlinger.