Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 - Ellen G. White

have Brother A return. They cared not enough to
unbend from their dignity and pride and make
special efforts to help him to the light. They stood
back on their dignity and said: "We will not go
after him; let him come to us." Viewing the
feelings of his brethren toward him as he did, it
was impossible for him to do this. Had they
regarded the lesson taught by Christ, they would
have been willing to yield their dignity and pride,
and go after the wandering ones. They would have
wept over them, prayed for them, implored them to
be faithful to God and the truth, and to abide with
the church. But the feeling of many was: "If he
wants to go, let him go."
When the Lord sent His servants to do for these
wanderers the work which you ought to have done,
and even when you had evidence that the Lord was
giving a message of mercy to these poor straying
ones, you were unprepared to give up your ideas.
You did not feel like leaving the ninety and nine,
and searching after the lost sheep till it was found,
and you did not do it. And when the sheep was
found, and brought back to the fold with rejoicing,
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