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

truth, and made their lack of spirituality, their
errors, and their sins an excuse for her worldloving
disposition. She has watched the course of
those who were connected with the ——-, and who
were forward to take upon them the burdens of the
church, and has offset her failures to their wrongs,
saying that she was no worse than they. Such and
such individuals in good standing did this or that,
and she had as good a right as they. Such and such
ones did not live the health reform any better than
she; they purchased and ate meat, and they were in
high standing in the church, and she was excusable,
of course, with such an example, if she did the
same.
This is not the only case where neglect to
follow the light which the Lord has given has been
shielded behind the faults of others. It is to the
shame of men and women of intelligence that they
have no higher standard than that of imperfect
human beings. The course of those around them,
however imperfect, is considered by some a
sufficient excuse for them to follow in the same
path. Many will be swayed by the influence of
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