"“My dear son Edson, “I am now seated at the desk of Brother D. T. Bourdeau, at West Enosburgh, Vermont. After our meeting closed at Topsham, Maine, I was exceedingly weary. While packing my trunk, I nearly fainted from weariness. The last work I did there was to call Brother A's family together and have a special interview with them. I spoke to this dear family, giving words of exhortation and comfort, also of correction and counsel to one connected with them. All I said was fully received and was followed by confession, weeping, and great relief to Brother and Sister A. This is crossing work for me and wears me much. 1T 653.2"
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
The EGW passage describes her exhorting, comforting, correcting, and counseling a family, which aligns with Paul's instruction to Timothy to preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort. The connection is strong because it reflects the practical application of the biblical instruction.
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
The EGW passage describes a situation where confession led to relief, which aligns with James's encouragement to confess faults to one another for healing. The connection is valid as it highlights the positive outcome of confession, a key element in both passages.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
The EGW passage describes her work with a family, including correction, which aligns with Galatians 6:1's instruction to restore those overtaken in a fault with meekness. The connection is reasonable as it shows the practical application of restoring someone in a spiritual manner.
“After we were seated in the cars, I lay down and rested about one hour. We had an appointment that evening at West-brook, Maine, to meet the brethren from Portland and vicinity. We made our home with the kind family of Brother Martin. I was not able to sit up during the afternoon; but, being urged to attend the meeting in the evening, I went to the schoolhouse, feeling that I had not strength to stand and address the people. The house was filled with deeply interested listeners. Brother Andrews opened the meeting, and spoke a short time; your father followed with remarks. I then arose, and had spoken but a few words, when I felt my strength renewed; all my feebleness seemed to leave me, and I spoke about one hour with perfect freedom. I felt inexpressible gratitude for this help from God at the very time when I so much needed it. On Wednesday evening I spoke with freedom nearly two hours upon the health and dress reforms. To have my strength so unexpectedly renewed, when I had felt co…
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
EGW describes feeling weak and then receiving strength to speak, mirroring the idea in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
The EGW passage describes being welcomed into the home of Brother Martin. While not explicitly about angels, the act of hospitality aligns with the theme of Hebrews 13:2.