Some children begin to practice self-pollution in their infancy; and as they increase in years, the lustful passions grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength. Their minds are not at rest. Girls desire the society of boys, and boys that of the girls. Their deportment is not reserved and modest. They are bold and forward, and take indecent liberties. The habit of self-abuse has debased their minds and tainted their souls. Vile thoughts, and the reading of novels, love stories, and vile books excite their imagination, and just such suit their depraved minds. They do not love work, and when engaged in labor they complain of fatigue; their backs ache; their heads ache. Is there not sufficient cause? Are they fatigued because of their labor? No, no! Yet the parents indulge these children in their complaints, and release them from labor and responsibility. This is the very worst thing that they can do for them. They are thus removing almost the only barrier that prevents Sata…
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:"
Both passages address the consequences of giving in to lustful desires and the resulting corruption of the body and mind. The EGW passage provides a more detailed description of the specific behaviors and consequences, while Romans 1:24 provides the theological basis for this.
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;"
Both passages discuss the corruption of one's nature through lustful desires. Ephesians 4:22 speaks of putting off the 'old man' which is corrupt, while the EGW passage describes how lustful passions grow and debase the mind.
We have some knowledge of Satan's manner of working and how well he succeeds in it. From what has been shown me, he has paralyzed the minds of parents. They are slow to suspect that their own children can be wrong and sinful. Some of these children profess to be Christians, and parents sleep on, fearing no danger, while the minds and bodies of their children are becoming wrecked. Some parents do not even take care to keep their children with them when in the house of God. Young girls attend meetings and take their seats, it may be, with their parents, but more frequently back in the congregation. They are in the habit of making an excuse to leave the house. Boys understand this, and go out before or after the exit of the girls, and then, as the meeting closes, they accompany them home. Parents are none the wiser for this. Again, excuses are made to walk, and boys and girls assemble in the fair grounds, or some other secluded place, and there play and have a regular high time, with no e…
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
The EGW passage warns against parental complacency and the dangers of neglecting children's spiritual well-being, mirroring the call to vigilance and sobriety in 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Both emphasize the need to be watchful and aware of potential dangers.
"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."
The EGW passage describes parents being unaware of the negative influences affecting their children, drawing a parallel to the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:25, where the enemy sows tares while men sleep. Both highlight the danger of inattentiveness and the opportunity it provides for negative influences to take root.