"Diverting Minds From Present Duty The enemy is seeking to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. His sophistries are designed to lead minds away from the perils and duties of the hour. They estimate as of little value the light that Christ came from heaven to give to John for His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to receive special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science. “Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.” [ Jeremiah 6:16 .] GW 306"
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."
Ellen White directly references Jeremiah 6:16 in this passage.
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Both passages warn against being led astray from the true path. While 2 Corinthians 11:3 focuses on the deception of Eve, EGW's passage speaks more broadly about diversions from present duty. The underlying theme of avoiding deception and staying true to the correct path connects them.
"I am instructed to say to our people, Let us follow Christ. Do not forget that He is to be our pattern in all things. We may safely discard those ideas that are not found in His teaching. I appeal to our ministers to be sure that their feet are planted on the platform of eternal truth. Beware how you follow impulse, calling it the Holy Spirit. Some are in danger of doing this. The word of God urges us to be sound in the faith, able to give to every one who asks, a reason of the hope that is in us. GW 306.1"
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
Both passages emphasize the importance of being able to articulate and defend one's faith. EGW's statement about giving a reason for the hope within us directly echoes the sentiment in 1 Peter 3:15.