"We have learned by painful experience, also, that when these testimonies are silent, or their warning lightly regarded, coldness, backsliding, worldly-mindedness, and spiritual darkness take possession of the church. We would not give glory to man, but we should be recreant to our sense of duty not to speak in strong and pointed language our views of the importance of these testimonies. The fearful apostasy of those who have slighted and despised them has furnished many sad proofs of the dangerous business of doing despite to the Spirit of grace. 1T 610.1"
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."
Both passages address the concept of resisting or despising the Holy Spirit and the negative consequences that follow. The EGW passage speaks of 'doing despite to the Spirit of grace,' while Acts 7:51 describes resisting the Holy Ghost. This constitutes a strong thematic parallel.
"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."
Both passages discuss the negative consequences of turning away from known truth. The EGW passage speaks of apostasy and spiritual darkness resulting from disregarding testimonies, while 2 Peter 2:21 states it would have been better not to have known the way of righteousness than to turn from it. The theme of turning away from known truth and the resulting negative consequences is present in both.
"We have been witnesses of the great affliction through which Brother and Sister White have passed in the severe and dangerous sickness of Brother White. The hand of God in his restoration is to us most apparent. Probably no other one upon whom such a blow has fallen ever recovered. Yet a severe shock of paralysis, seriously affecting the brain, has, by the good hand of God, been removed from his servant, and new strength granted him both in body and mind. 1T 610.2"
"O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me."
Both passages express gratitude for healing received from God. The EGW passage describes the recovery of Brother White from a severe illness as a result of God's intervention, while Psalm 30:2 is a direct expression of thanks for healing.
"We think that the action of Sister White in taking her sick husband on her northern tour, in December last, was dictated by the Spirit of God; and that we, in standing opposed to such action, did not move in the counsel of God. We lacked heavenly wisdom in this matter and thus erred from the right path. We acknowledge ourselves to have been, at this time, lacking in that deep Christian sympathy that was called for by such great affliction, and that we have been too slow to see the hand of God in the recovery of Brother White. His labors and sufferings in our behalf entitled him to our warmest sympathy and support. But we have been blinded by Satan in respect to our own spiritual condition. 1T 610.3"
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions a lack of wisdom and implicitly suggests a need to ask God for it, aligning directly with James 1:5.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The EGW passage describes being 'blinded by Satan' and lacking spiritual discernment, which parallels the idea in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the 'natural man' cannot understand spiritual things.
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
The EGW passage discusses a lack of sympathy and support during affliction, which aligns with the biblical call to weep with those who weep. The connection is thematic, focusing on empathy and shared experience.