"The spirit of liberty went with the Bible. Wherever the gospel was received, the minds of the people were awakened. They began to cast off the shackles that had held them bondslaves of ignorance, vice, and superstition. They began to think and act as men. Monarchs saw it and trembled for their despotism. GC 277.1"
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
The EGW passage explicitly connects the reception of the gospel with the awakening of minds and the casting off of shackles, directly reflecting the principle in John 8:32 that 'the truth shall make you free.'
Rome was not slow to inflame their jealous fears. Said the pope to the regent of France in 1525: “This mania [Protestantism] will not only confound and destroy religion, but all principalities, nobility, laws, orders, and ranks besides.”—G. de Felice, History of the Protestants of France, b. 1, ch. 2, par. 8. A few years later a papal nuncio warned the king: “Sire, be not deceived. The Protestants will upset all civil as well as religious order.... The throne is in as much danger as the altar.... The introduction of a new religion must necessarily introduce a new government.”—D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin, b. 2, ch. 36. And theologians appealed to the prejudices of the people by declaring that the Protestant doctrine “entices men away to novelties and folly; it robs the king of the devoted affection of his subjects, and devastates both church and state.” Thus Rome succeeded in arraying France against the Reformation. “It was to uphold the throne,…
"And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;"
Both passages describe accusations against religious groups for disrupting societal order. The EGW passage details Rome's accusations against Protestants, while Acts 17:6 describes accusations against early Christians for 'turning the world upside down.'
Little did the rulers of the land foresee the results of that fateful policy. The teaching of the Bible would have implanted in the minds and hearts of the people those principles of justice, temperance, truth, equity, and benevolence which are the very cornerstone of a nation's prosperity. “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” Thereby “the throne is established.” Proverbs 14:34 ; 16:12 . “The work of righteousness shall be peace;” and the effect, “quietness and assurance forever.” Isaiah 32:17 . He who obeys the divine law will most truly respect and obey the laws of his country. He who fears God will honor the king in the exercise of all just and legitimate authority. But unhappy France prohibited the Bible and banned its disciples. Century after century, men of principle and integrity, men of intellectual acuteness and moral strength, who had the courage to avow their convictions and the faith to suffer for the truth—for centuries these men toiled as slaves in the galleys, perished at …
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
Ellen White directly references Proverbs 14:34 in this passage.
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."
Ellen White directly references Isaiah 32:17 in this passage.