"The widespread use of such books at this time is one of the cunning devices of Satan. He is seeking to divert the minds of old and young from the great work of character building. He means that our children and youth shall be swept away by the soul-destroying deceptions with which he is filling the world. Therefore he seeks to divert their minds from the word of God and thus prevent them from obtaining a knowledge of those truths that would be their safeguard. MH 447.1"
"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 discuss Satan's deceptive tactics to corrupt minds and divert them from truth. The EGW passage specifically mentions diverting minds from the Word of God, while the verse in 2 Corinthians speaks of corruption from the simplicity in Christ, which is closely related to God's word.
"Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth. Let not our children, in the very process of obtaining an education, receive ideas that will prove to be seeds of sin. If those with mature minds had nothing to do with such books, they would themselves be far safer, and their example and influence on the right side would make it far less difficult to guard the youth from temptation. MH 447.2"
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Both passages emphasize the importance of proper upbringing and education for children. Proverbs 22:6 speaks of training a child in the right way, while the EGW passage warns against exposing children to harmful ideas that can lead to sin. The principle of guiding children towards righteousness is central to both.
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
Both passages address the harm caused by leading the young astray. Matthew 18:6 warns of severe consequences for offending 'little ones,' while the EGW passage discusses the danger of exposing children to corrupting influences. The shared theme is the protection of children from spiritual harm.
"We have an abundance of that which is real, that which is divine. Those who thirst for knowledge need not go to polluted fountains. The Lord says: MH 447.3"
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
Both passages contrast true, divine sources of knowledge and fulfillment with polluted or inadequate alternatives. Jeremiah 2:13 speaks of forsaking the 'fountain of living waters' for broken cisterns, while the EGW passage encourages seeking 'real' and 'divine' knowledge instead of 'polluted fountains.'
"“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thine heart unto My knowledge.... That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things In counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” “He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, MH 447.4"
"Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge."
The EGW passage directly quotes Proverbs 22:17, making it an explicit allusion. The connection is undeniable and strengthens the point being made.