"May 17, 1908. ***** There is a fullness of experience for every teacher to gain. The studies you take will either strengthen your faith and confidence in God, and teach you how to work as His helping hand, or they will leave you in a worse condition than you were before. Those who work out the principles that the Lord has given will stand on vantage ground. The mercies and blessings of heaven will come into their lives, enabling them to work out the will of God. CT 252.1"
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
Both passages emphasize drawing near to God and the reciprocal action that follows. EGW's passage speaks of strengthening faith and working as God's helping hand, which aligns with the idea of God drawing near to those who draw near to Him.
"Teach the simple principles of the word of God, making the Bible the foundation of your study. The true higher education is that which is received by sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of Him. Let your character building be after the pattern revealed to man in the life of Christ. CT 252.2"
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions 'sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of Him,' which is a clear parallel to Jesus' invitation to 'learn of me' in Matthew 11:29. The concept of learning from Jesus is central to both passages.
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
EGW speaks of making the Bible the foundation of study and building character after the pattern of Christ. This aligns with 1 Corinthians 3:11, which states that Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can be laid.
"In all your work you must do as the husbandman does in laboring for the fruits of the earth. Apparently he throws away the seed; but, buried in the soil, the seed germinates. The power of the living God gives it life and vitality, and there is seen “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:28 . Study this wonderful process. Oh, there is so much to learn, so much to understand! If we improve our minds to the utmost of our ability we shall through the eternal ages continue to study the ways and works of God, and to know more and more of Him. CT 252.3"
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."
Ellen White directly references Mark 4:28 in this passage.