"When Lord Palmerston, premier of England, was petitioned by the Scotch clergy to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to avert the cholera, he replied, in effect, “Cleanse and disinfect your streets and houses, promote cleanliness and health among the poor, and see that they are plentifully supplied with good food and raiment, and employ right sanitary measures generally, and you will have no occasion to fast and pray. Nor will the Lord hear your prayers while these, His preventives, remain unheeded.” SL 30.1"
"And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"
Both the EGW quote and James 2:16 address the importance of practical action alongside prayer and faith. The EGW quote, through Lord Palmerston's response, emphasizes the need for tangible solutions (cleanliness, food, raiment) before seeking divine intervention. James 2:16 similarly criticizes offering empty words of comfort without providing material assistance. The thematic parallel is strong, as both highlight the inadequacy of faith without works in addressing real-world needs.
"Says Paul, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” ( 2 Corinthians 7:1 ). He presents for our encouragement the freedom enjoyed by the truly sanctified: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” ( Romans 8:1 ). He charges the Galatians, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” ( Galatians 5:16 ). He names some of the forms of fleshly lust—“idolatry, ...drunkenness, ...and such like” ( verses 20, 21 ). And after mentioning the fruits of the Spirit, among which is temperance, he adds, “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” ( verse 24 ). SL 30.2"
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
EGW directly quotes 2 Corinthians 7:1, making this a clear and explicit allusion. The context of cleansing oneself from filthiness of flesh and spirit is directly addressed in both passages.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
EGW directly quotes Romans 8:1.
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
EGW directly quotes Galatians 5:16.
"James says that the wisdom which is from above is “first pure” ( James 3:17 ). If he had seen his brethren using tobacco, would he not have denounced the practice as “earthly, sensual, devilish” ( verse 15 )? In this age of Christian light, how often the lips that take the precious name of Christ are defiled by tobacco spittle and the breath is polluted with the stench. Surely, the soul that can enjoy such uncleanness must also be defiled. As I have seen men who claimed to enjoy the blessing of entire sanctification, while they were slaves to tobacco, polluting everything around them, I have thought, How would heaven appear with tobacco users in it? God's word has plainly declared that “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth” ( Revelation 21:27 ). How, then, can those who indulge this filthy habit hope to find admittance there? SL 30.3"
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
EGW directly quotes James 3:17 and references James 3:15 to contrast wisdom from above with the supposed effects of tobacco use.
"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life."
Ellen White directly references Revelation 21:27 in this passage.