Christ is our pattern; His life was an example of good works. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He wept over Jerusalem because they would not be saved by accepting the redemption which He offered them. They would not come to Him that they might have life. Compare your course of life with that of your Master, who made so great a sacrifice that you might be saved. He frequently spent the entire night upon the damp ground in agonizing prayer. You are seeking your own pleasure. Listen to the vain, frivolous conversation; hear the laugh, the jesting, the joking. Is this imitating the pattern? Still listen—is Jesus mentioned? Is the truth the theme of conversation? Are the speakers glorying in the cross of Christ? It is this fashion, that bonnet, that dress, what that young man said, or that young lady said, or the amusements they are planning. What glee! Are angels attracted and pressing close around them to ward off the darkness which Satan is pressing upon and around them…
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
EGW directly references Christ being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, which is a direct allusion to Isaiah 53:3.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
EGW directly quotes and expands upon John 5:40, emphasizing the refusal to come to Christ for life.
"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
EGW's description of Christ spending the night in agonizing prayer on the damp ground is a clear parallel to the account of Jesus praying in Gethsemane, as described in Matthew 26:39. The context of sacrifice and seeking God's will is also present in both passages.
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,"
EGW explicitly mentions that Christ wept over Jerusalem, which is a direct reference to Luke 19:41.
Eternal things have little weight with the youth. Angels of God are in tears as they write in the roll the words and acts of professed Christians. Angels are hovering around yonder dwelling. The young are there assembled; there is the sound of vocal and instrumental music. Christians are gathered there, but what is that you hear? It is a song, a frivolous ditty, fit for the dance hall. Behold the pure angels gather their light closer around them, and darkness envelops those in that dwelling. The angels are moving from the scene. Sadness is upon their countenances. Behold, they are weeping. This I saw repeated a number of times all through the ranks of Sabbathkeepers, and especially in —— . Music has occupied the hours which should have been devoted to prayer. Music is the idol which many professed Sabbathkeeping Christians worship. Satan has no objection to music if he can make that a channel through which to gain access to the minds of the youth. Anything will suit his purpose that wi…
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;"
Both passages address the importance of focusing on spiritual matters during youth. EGW's statement about 'eternal things have little weight with the youth' echoes the call to 'Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth' in Ecclesiastes 12:1.
"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
Both passages address the issue of inappropriate or frivolous conversation and activities among believers. EGW's description of 'frivolous ditty' aligns with the warning against 'foolish talking' and 'jesting' in Ephesians 5:4.