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

The position which you occupied after the
fanaticism at ——-, standing back upon your
dignity, splitting hairs, dividing the matter with the
fanatical and with those whom God had sent with a
special message, stood directly in the way of
others' seeing and correcting their wrongs. Your
course at that time, in failing to take hold and work
on the right side to correct that blasting fanaticism,
gave shape to the discouraging state of things
which has grown out of that dark reign of
fanaticism. Brethren C and D, and the entire church
at ——-, and the people at ——-, were not brought
out upon correct positions, as they might have been
had you been humble and teachable, working in
union with the servants of God.
When a man who professes to be a teacher, a
leader, ventures in the course which you have
pursued because of your stubbornness, he will have
a heavy weight of responsibility to bear for the
souls who have stumbled over him to perdition. A
minister cannot be too careful of his influence.
Stubbornness, jealousy, and selfishness should
have no part in his being; for if they are indulged,
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