"All should feel it a Christian duty to pray short. Tell the Lord just what you want, without going all over the world. In private prayer all have the privilege of praying as long as they desire and of being as explicit as they please. They can pray for all their relatives and friends. The closet is the place to tell all their private difficulties, and trials, and temptations. A common meeting to worship God is not the place to open the privacies of the heart. 2T 578.1"
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of private prayer outlined in Matthew 6:6, emphasizing the importance of personal and intimate communication with God in a secluded setting.
"What is the object of assembling together? Is it to inform God, to instruct Him by telling Him all we know in prayer? We meet together to edify one another by an interchange of thoughts and feelings, to gather strength, and light, and courage by becoming acquainted with one another's hopes and aspirations; and by our earnest, heartfelt prayers, offered up in faith, we receive refreshment and vigor from the Source of our strength. These meetings should be most precious seasons and should be made interesting to all who have any relish for religious things. 2T 578.2"
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle of edification found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Both emphasize the importance of mutual encouragement and building one another up through shared experiences and faith.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Both passages highlight the importance of gathering together in a religious context. While Matthew 18:20 focuses on Christ's presence, the EGW quote emphasizes mutual edification and strengthening, which aligns with the general theme of communal worship.
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
Both passages convey the idea of mutual benefit and strengthening through interaction. Proverbs 27:17 uses the analogy of iron sharpening iron, while the EGW quote speaks of being refreshed by bringing 'lights' together. The underlying principle of mutual edification is similar.