Cleanness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God.1
ATTRIBUTION:
Advancement of Learning. Book ii. (1605).
Note 1. Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.—John Wesley (quoted): Journal, Feb. 12, 1772.
According to Dr. A. S. Bettelheim, rabbi, this is found in the Hebrew fathers. He cites Phinehas ben Yair, as follows: “The doctrines of religion are resolved into carefulness; carefulness into vigorousness; vigorousness into guiltlessness; guiltlessness into abstemiousness; abstemiousness into cleanliness; cleanliness into godliness,”—literally, next to godliness. [back]
