"Uniting with the Methodist Church Soon after our return from the camp meeting, I, with several others, was taken into the church on probation. My mind was very much exercised on the subject of baptism. Young as I was, I could see but one mode of baptism authorized by the Scriptures, and that was immersion. Some of my Methodist sisters tried in vain to convince me that sprinkling was Bible baptism. The Methodist minister consented to immerse the candidates if they conscientiously preferred that method, although he intimated that sprinkling would be equally acceptable with God. LS 25"
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Both passages discuss baptism. The EGW passage describes her personal experience and conviction regarding immersion, while the Matthew passage recounts Jesus' baptism by John. The parallel lies in the act of baptism itself and the importance placed on it.
"My life appeared to me in a different light. The affliction that had darkened my childhood seemed to have been dealt me in mercy, for my good, to turn my heart away from the world and its unsatisfying pleasures, and incline it toward the enduring attractions of heaven. LS 25.1"
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
The EGW passage directly illustrates the principle of Romans 8:28, that even difficult experiences can ultimately work for good in the lives of those who love God. The affliction is presented as a means of turning her heart toward God.
"Finally the time was appointed for us to receive this solemn ordinance. It was a windy day when we, twelve in number, went down into the sea to be baptized. The waves ran high and dashed upon the shore, but as I took up this heavy cross, my peace was like a river. When I arose from the water, my strength was nearly gone, for the power of the Lord rested upon me. I felt that henceforth I was not of this world, but had risen from the watery grave into a newness of life. LS 25.3"
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
The EGW passage explicitly alludes to the concept of being 'buried with him by baptism into death' and rising to 'newness of life' as described in Romans 6:4. The phrase 'watery grave' and the feeling of entering 'a newness of life' are direct echoes of the biblical text.
"The same day in the afternoon I was received into the church in full membership. LS 25.4"
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Both passages describe individuals being baptized and then being received into the church. The parallel lies in the sequence of events: baptism followed by church membership.