With many in Vermont there has been a decided failure to come up to the requirements of God. Some have fallen into a cold and lifeless condition spiritually because they are unfaithful servants. The love of the world has so filled their hearts that they have lost their relish for heavenly things and have become dwarfs in spiritual attainments. The state has been deprived of the right kind of labor. Bordoville has been the center of attraction. All the large gatherings have been held in one locality, which has been like putting light under a bushel; its rays have not benefited the people of the state at large. Many are still in darkness who might now be rejoicing in the knowledge of the truth. The talents and special efforts have been drawn to one locality. This is not as the Lord would have it. He designs that the warning, testing message should be given to the world, and that His people, who are the light of the world, should be scattered as witnesses amid the moral darkness of the wo…
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
EGW directly references the concept of "putting light under a bushel," which is a clear allusion to Matthew 5:15.
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
The EGW passage speaks of spiritual coldness and a lack of fervor, mirroring the lukewarmness condemned in Revelation 3:15-16. The idea of light being hidden also connects to the concept of spiritual ineffectiveness.
"The Brethren D will need to be guarded, that they do not thwart the purposes of God by plans of their own. They are in danger of narrowing down the work of God, which is deep and extended. 2T 669.2"
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."
The EGW passage warns against narrowing God's work, which aligns with Isaiah 55:8's assertion that God's thoughts and ways are higher and broader than human ones.
"Brother D will be in danger of taking too narrow views of the work. God has given him an experience which will be of value if he makes the right use of it. But there is danger that his peculiarities will shape that experience and that other minds will become affected. Brother D's usefulness as a laborer is not what it otherwise would be if he were not so prone to concentrate the strength of his mind upon one idea. He dwells upon incidents and upon thoughts that he has had, and repeats them at length, when they are unimportant to others. 2T 669.3"
"For the body is not one member, but many."
The EGW passage discusses a brother's tendency to focus on one idea, potentially hindering the broader work. This resonates with 1 Corinthians 12:14, which emphasizes the importance of diverse members in the body of Christ.