"A hundred years later, in a day of great spiritual darkness, Whitefield and the Wesleys appeared as light bearers for God. Under the rule of the established church the people of England had lapsed into a state of religious declension hardly to be distinguished from heathenism. Natural religion was the favorite study of the clergy, and included most of their theology. The higher classes sneered at piety, and prided themselves on being above what they called its fanaticism. The lower classes were grossly ignorant and abandoned to vice, while the church had no courage or faith any longer to support the downfallen cause of truth. GC 253.1"
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."
The EGW passage describes a period of spiritual darkness in England, followed by the emergence of Whitefield and the Wesleys as 'light bearers.' This directly echoes the prophecy in Isaiah 60:1-2, which speaks of darkness covering the earth and the Lord's glory rising upon His people.
"The great doctrine of justification by faith, so clearly taught by Luther, had been almost wholly lost sight of; and the Romish principle of trusting to good works for salvation, had taken its place. Whitefield and the Wesleys, who were members of the established church, were sincere seekers for the favor of God, and this they had been taught was to be secured by a virtuous life and an observance of the ordinances of religion. GC 253.2"
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
The EGW passage directly discusses justification by faith in contrast to works, which is the central theme of Galatians 2:16.
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions the doctrine of justification by faith being lost and replaced by reliance on good works, which directly contradicts and contrasts with Romans 3:28's assertion that justification is by faith apart from deeds of the law.
"When Charles Wesley at one time fell ill, and anticipated that death was approaching, he was asked upon what he rested his hope of eternal life. His answer was: “I have used my best endeavors to serve God.” As the friend who had put the question seemed not to be fully satisfied with his answer, Wesley thought: “What! are not my endeavors a sufficient ground of hope? Would he rob me of my endeavors? I have nothing else to trust to.”—John Whitehead, Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, page 102. Such was the dense darkness that had settled down on the church, hiding the atonement, robbing Christ of His glory, and turning the minds of men from their only hope of salvation—the blood of the crucified Redeemer. GC 253.3"
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
The EGW passage illustrates the error of relying on works for salvation, which is directly refuted by Romans 3:20.
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
The EGW passage highlights Charles Wesley's initial reliance on his own efforts for salvation, which is in direct opposition to the message of Galatians 2:16 that justification comes through faith in Christ, not works of the law.