"Arriving at home, I spent most of the long hours of darkness in prayer and tears. One reason that led me to conceal my feelings from my friends was the dread of hearing a word of discouragement. My hope was so small, and my faith so weak, that I feared if another took a similar view of my condition, it would plunge me into despair. Yet I longed for someone to tell me what I should do to be saved, what steps to take to meet my Saviour and give myself entirely up to the Lord. I regarded it a great thing to be a Christian, and felt that it required some peculiar effort on my part. 1T 16.1"
"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
The EGW passage directly echoes the sentiment and question posed in Acts 16:30, 'what must I do to be saved?'
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Both passages deal with feeling burdened and seeking relief/salvation. The EGW passage describes a personal struggle and longing for guidance, while Matthew 11:28 offers an invitation to find rest in Christ. The connection is thematic, but not a direct allusion.
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."
Both passages relate to prayer. The EGW passage mentions spending long hours in prayer, while Psalms 55:17 describes a regular prayer schedule. The connection is thematic, but not a strong or direct link.
"I was much encouraged while listening to a discourse from the words, I will “go in unto the king,” “and if I perish, I perish.” In his remarks the speaker referred to those who were wavering between hope and fear, longing to be saved from their sins and receive the pardoning love of Christ, yet held in doubt and bondage by timidity and fear of failure. He counseled such ones to surrender themselves to God, and venture upon His mercy without delay. They would find a gracious Saviour ready to present to them the scepter of mercy, even as Ahasuerus offered to Esther the signal of his favor. All that was required of the sinner, trembling in the presence of his Lord, was to put forth the hand of faith and touch the scepter of His grace. That touch ensured pardon and peace. 1T 16.3"
"And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre."
The EGW passage explicitly references the story of Esther going before the king and uses it as an analogy for approaching God.
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
The EGW passage directly quotes Esther 4:16, "go in unto the king," "and if I perish, I perish." The context of Esther is also explicitly referenced.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Both passages deal with approaching a higher power (God/King) for mercy and grace. The EGW passage uses the Esther story as an illustration of the principle expressed in Hebrews 4:16.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Both passages offer comfort and rest to those who are burdened. The EGW passage speaks of those 'wavering between hope and fear' and encourages them to surrender to God, echoing the invitation in Matthew 11:28.