"***** Chapter 3—Feelings of Despair In June, 1842, Mr. Miller gave his second course of lectures in Portland. I felt it a great privilege to attend these lectures, for I had fallen under discouragements and did not feel prepared to meet my Saviour. This second course created much more excitement in the city than the first. With few exceptions the different denominations closed the doors of their churches against Mr. Miller. Many discourses from the various pulpits sought to expose the alleged fanatical errors of the lecturer; but crowds of anxious listeners attended his meetings, while many were unable to enter the house. 1T 21"
"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
The EGW passage describes denominations closing their doors to Mr. Miller, mirroring the Pharisees shutting up the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 23:13. The parallel lies in the obstruction of spiritual truth.
"The congregations were unusually quiet and attentive. His manner of preaching was not flowery or oratorical, but he dealt in plain and startling facts that roused his hearers from their careless indifference. He supported his statements and theories by Scripture proof as he progressed. A convincing power attended his words that seemed to stamp them as the language of truth. 1T 21.2"
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"
Both passages discuss preaching that is not based on worldly wisdom but on the power of the Spirit. EGW's description of the preaching style and its effect on the audience echoes the sentiment in 1 Corinthians 2:4.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Both passages describe the effect of powerful preaching on the audience, leading to conviction and a desire for change. The 'startling facts' in EGW's writing leading to attentiveness and the 'pricked in their heart' reaction in Acts 2:37 share a similar theme.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Both passages describe the power of the word of God to affect people deeply. EGW's description of a 'convincing power' that 'stamps them as the language of truth' aligns with the idea of the word of God being 'quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword' in Hebrews 4:12.
"He was courteous and sympathetic. When every seat in the house was full, and the platform and places about the pulpit seemed crowded, I have seen him leave the desk and walk down the aisle, and take some feeble old man or woman by the hand and find a seat for them, then return and resume his discourse. He was indeed rightly called Father Miller, for he had a watchful care over those who came under his ministrations, was affectionate in his manner, of a genial disposition and tender heart. 1T 21.3"
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;"
Both passages describe a shepherd-like care for the flock. 1 Peter 5:2 speaks of feeding and overseeing the flock willingly, while the EGW passage illustrates this through Father Miller's actions of caring for the vulnerable.
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
Both passages emphasize kindness and brotherly love. Romans 12:10 calls for being kindly affectioned and preferring one another, while the EGW passage shows Father Miller putting others' needs before his own.