"Some men in the Battle Creek College have a false idea as to what constitutes duty. The Lord God of heaven has caused His Holy Spirit from time to time to move upon the students in the school, that they might acknowledge Him in all their ways so that He might direct their paths. At times the manifestation of the Holy Spirit has been so decided that studies were forgotten, and the greatest Teacher the world ever knew made His voice heard, saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 . CT 369.2"
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Ellen White directly references Matthew 11:28-30 in this passage.
"The Lord knocked at the door of hearts, and I saw that angels of God were present. There seemed to be no special effort on the part of teachers to influence the students to give their attention to the things of God; but God had a Watcher in the school, who, though His presence was unseen, made His influence felt.... CT 369.3"
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
The EGW passage uses the imagery of God's presence and influence in a school, with the Lord 'knocking at the door of hearts.' This is a clear thematic parallel to Revelation 3:20, which speaks of Jesus standing at the door and knocking.
"The Lord has been waiting long to impart the greatest, truest joys to the heart. All those who look to Him with undivided hearts, He will greatly bless. Those who have thus looked to Him have caught more distinct views of Jesus as their sin bearer, their all-sufficient sacrifice, and have been hid in the cleft of the Rock, to behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. When we have a sense of Christ's sacrifice in our behalf, our lips are tuned to the highest, loftiest themes of praise. CT 369.4"
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions 'the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world,' which is a direct quote and clear allusion to John 1:29.
"And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:"
The EGW passage uses the imagery of being 'hid in the cleft of the Rock' which is a clear reference to Exodus 33:22, where Moses is hidden in the cleft of the rock to see God's glory. The connection is more than just thematic; it's a direct allusion to a specific event.
"They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed."
Both passages speak of looking to God and receiving blessing and light. The EGW passage expands on the blessings received, but the core idea of looking to God is present in both.