While bowed at the altar with others who were seeking the Lord, all the language of my heart was: “Help, Jesus, save me or I perish! I will never cease to entreat till my prayer is heard and my sins forgiven!” I felt my needy, helpless condition as never before. As I knelt and prayed, suddenly my burden left me, and my heart was light. At first a feeling of alarm came over me, and I tried to resume my load of distress. It seemed to me that I had no right to feel joyous and happy. But Jesus seemed very near to me; I felt able to come to Him with all my griefs, misfortunes, and trials, even as the needy ones came to Him for relief when He was upon earth. There was a surety in my heart that He understood my peculiar trials and sympathized with me. I can never forget this precious assurance of the pitying tenderness of Jesus toward one so unworthy of His notice. I learned more of the divine character of Christ in that short period when bowed among the praying ones than ever before. 1T 17.2…
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The EGW passage describes a personal experience of seeking Jesus for salvation and finding relief from a burden, which directly echoes the invitation in Matthew 11:28 to come to Jesus for rest from being heavy laden.
"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."
Both passages describe a humble plea for mercy and recognition of one's sinful state before God. EGW's statement, "Help, Jesus, save me or I perish!" mirrors the publican's cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner."
"Soon after this the meeting closed, and we started for home. My mind was full of the sermons, exhortations, and prayers we had heard. Everything in nature seemed changed. During the meeting, clouds and rain prevailed a greater part of the time, and my feelings had been in harmony with the weather. Now the sun shone bright and clear, and flooded the earth with light and warmth. The trees and grass were a fresher green, the sky a deeper blue. The earth seemed to smile under the peace of God. So the rays of the Sun of Righteousness had penetrated the clouds and darkness of my mind, and dispelled its gloom. 1T 18.2"
"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."
EGW explicitly uses the phrase "Sun of Righteousness" and connects it to the dispelling of darkness and gloom in her mind, which is a clear allusion to Malachi 4:2.
"It seemed to me that everyone must be at peace with God and animated by His Spirit. Everything that my eyes rested upon seemed to have undergone a change. The trees were more beautiful and the birds sang more sweetly than ever before; they seemed to be praising the Creator in their songs. I did not care to talk, for fear this happiness might pass away, and I should lose the precious evidence of Jesus’ love for me. 1T 18.3"
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
The EGW passage describes a transformative experience where everything appears new and beautiful, reflecting the theme of new creation in Christ as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
"Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice"
Both passages describe nature rejoicing and praising God. The EGW passage specifically mentions birds singing praises, while the Psalm speaks of trees rejoicing. The connection is thematic, reflecting a sense of creation glorifying its Creator.
"As we neared our home in Portland, we passed men at work upon the street. They were conversing with one another upon ordinary topics, but my ears were deaf to everything but the praise of God, and their words came to me as grateful thanks and glad hosannas. Turning to my mother, I said: “Why, these men are all praising God, and they haven't been to the camp meeting.” I did not then understand why the tears gathered in my mother's eyes, and a tender smile lit up her face, as she listened to my simple words that recalled a similar experience of her own. 1T 18.4"
"And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."
The EGW passage describes the author hearing ordinary conversations as 'grateful thanks and glad hosannas,' while Matthew 21:9 records the multitude crying 'Hosanna.' The connection lies in the shared use of 'hosanna' as an expression of praise, although the context differs.