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

oom and credit according to your ability. You are
jealous of others and have hindered the progress of
the cause in Illinois and Wisconsin, doing but little
yourself, and hindering those who would work if
you were out of their way. Your sensitiveness and
jealousy have weakened the hands of those who
would set things in order and bring up these
conferences. If any improvement is seen in these
states, you incline to think that it is attributable in a
great measure to yourself, when it is a fact that if
things were left to your dictation, they would
speedily go into the ground. In your preaching you
are generally too dry and formal. You do not
weave in the practical with the doctrinal. You talk
too long and weary the people. Instead of dwelling
only upon that portion of your subject that you can
fully make plain to the understanding of all, you go
way around and come down to minute particulars
that do not help the subject and might as well be
passed over. When so much matter not really
necessary is brought in, the hearer loses the chain
of the argument and cannot keep the subject in
mind. When a minister gets the ears of the people,
he should go from point to point, as far as possible
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