The people of whom the prophet spoke made a high profession of piety, and pointed to their fasting and to other external forms as an evidence of their piety. But their deeds were tainted by the leprosy of selfishness and covetousness. They had nothing except that which they had first received from God. He bestowed His goods on them that they might be His helping hand, doing what Christ would do were He in their place, giving a true representation of the principles of heaven (Letter 76, 1902){4BC 1149.5}

Det folk som profeten omtaler bekender sig højt til fromhed, og peger på deres faster og på andre ydre former som bevis på deres fromhed. Men deres gerninger er blevet besmittet af selviskhedens og begærlighedens spedalskhed. De har intet undtagen det som de først fik fra Gud. Han gav Sine goder til dem, så de kan være Hans hjælpende hænder, gøre det som Kristus vil gøre, om Han var i deres sted, gav en sand fremstilling af himlens principper (Brev 76, 1902)