Some of these persons have exercises which they call gifts and say that the Lord has placed them in the church. They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue, which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived here. The fruits of all this have not been good. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Fanaticism and noise have been considered special evidences of faith. Some are not satisfied with a meeting unless they have a powerful and happy time. They work for this and get up an excitement of feeling. But the influence of such meetings is not beneficial. When the happy flight of feeling is gone, they sink lower than before the meeting because their happiness did not come from the right source. The most profitable meeti…
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
The EGW passage directly quotes 'Ye shall know them by their fruits' when discussing false gifts and fanaticism, making it a clear and direct allusion to Matthew 7:20.
"So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air."
Both passages discuss the importance of understandable communication in religious settings. Paul emphasizes clarity in speaking in tongues, while EGW criticizes 'unmeaning gibberish' and 'false talking in tongues.'
"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"
Both passages address the issue of speaking in tongues and its potential for causing confusion or being perceived as madness by outsiders. EGW critiques 'false talking in tongues,' while Paul warns that speaking in tongues without interpretation can lead unbelievers to think the speakers are mad.
"Brother Lunt of Portland, Maine, has suffered much in his feelings. He has felt that the spirit which often ruled in their meetings was not in harmony with the message of the third angel. He has had an experience in the fanaticism which has left desolation in the East, and this leads him to look with suspicion upon everything which appears like fanaticism. He has the past before him as a warning and has felt like keeping aloof from, and speaking plainly with, those who had any degree of fanaticism, for he felt that both they and the cause of God were in danger. He has looked upon things in about the right light. 1T 412.2"
"A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."
Both passages touch on the idea of wisdom and caution in the face of danger. Brother Lunt's fear of fanaticism and desire to avoid it aligns with the proverb's emphasis on fearing evil and departing from it.
"As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Both passages deal with the importance of adhering to the correct gospel or message and rejecting anything that deviates from it. The EGW passage discusses the need to ensure that the spirit of meetings is in harmony with the message of the third angel, while the Bible verse condemns preaching any other gospel.