W. W. Phelps

“ We grant that God looks upon the heart, and judges man accordingly: But hark! the Savior says from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, it is impossible for a bitter fountain to bring forth sweet water. Neither is it consistent to suppose that when the heart of man is right before God, that it will be full of prejudice, or religion in a coat or dress, or any thing that would be an outward adorning. ”

“ Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast, Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret ”

“ The earth no doubt has been cleansed once by water: But there remaineth another cleansing even by fire: and thus by water and by fire all things that remain will be cleansed in the own due time of the Lord. But wo, to that man, or woman, that does not cleanse and purify themselves by obeying the truth in all things. For the Lord will arise in his anger and shake terribly the earth, and consume the wicked and filthy with unquenchable fire. ”

“ It seems that when God in his providence, has gathered the house of Israel from their long dispersion, he will sprinkle clean water upon them & cleanse them, from all their filthiness; we would presume to say, that there will be a general time of cleansing: both spiritual and temporal. According to the word of God, water is used to cleanse men from sin, and will do it effectually too, if applied in a legal manner. All ordinances, that are instituted of Jehovah, will avail nothing unless they are administered by one who has been authorized of the Lord himself. ”

“ It seems that it is a good thing to be prepared to meet the worst and qualified to receive the best. When in these conditions we are never taken on surprise, nor caught in snares that we cannot extricate ourselves. ”

“ For the prophet says there shall be gathered to Zion from all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and, as far as our knowledge extends, we know that there are some from various kindreds, tongues and people, already among us; and no doubt, this saying will be verified to the fullest extent.—To be clean in all thing is a broad saying, and it must mean that a person that is filthy comes short of fulfilling it, and if so, they do not live by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God ”

“ Frequently we see a person walking humble and meek before the Lord, according to outward appearance, but no doubt that there are many as the sepulchres were in the days of the Savior, which appeared beautiful outwardly, but within were full of dead men's bones ”

“ No doubt the prophet had reference to sin, but this would not hinder us from quoting the passage, for we find in various places, that he that is filthy shall remain filthy still.—And if the immortal part of man must be washed and be made clean, why not the mortal also? ”