"Eli should have first attempted to restrain evil by mild measures; but if that would not avail, he should have subdued the wrong by the sternest measures. God's honor must be sacredly preserved, even if it separates us from the nearest relative. One defect in a man otherwise talented may destroy his usefulness in this life and cause him to hear in the day of God the unwelcome words: “Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” 4T 517.1"
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
EGW directly quotes "Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" from Matthew 7:23.
"cause. He was a man who had power in prayer. He never rose up in rebellion against the words of God. But he was wanting; he did not have firmness of character to reprove sin and execute justice against the sinner so that God could depend upon him to keep Israel pure. He did not add to his faith the courage and power to say No at the right time and in the right place. Sin is sin; righteousness is righteousness. The trumpet note of warning must be sounded. We are living in a fearfully wicked age. The worship of God will become corrupted unless there are wide-awake men at every post of duty. It is no time now for any to be absorbed in selfish ease. Not one of the words which God has spoken must be allowed to fall to the ground. 4T 517.2"
"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."
Both passages discuss the responsibility of warning others of their wickedness and the consequences of failing to do so. EGW's passage emphasizes the need for watchmen who will not compromise with sin, echoing the role of the watchman in Ezekiel.
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
The EGW passage uses the phrase "trumpet note of warning" in the context of reproving sin, which is a clear allusion to Isaiah 58:1, where the prophet is commanded to "lift up thy voice like a trumpet" to show the people their transgressions.
"While some in Battle Creek have professedly believed the Testimonies , they have been trampling them under their feet. But few have read them with interest; but few have heeded them. The indulgence of self, pride, fashion, and display are mingled with the worship of God. He wants brave men for action, who will not regard the setting up of idols and the coming in of abominations without lifting up the voice like a trumpet, showing the people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. 4T 517.3"
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
EGW directly uses the phrase "lift up the voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression" which is a direct quote from Isaiah 58:1.