"But it was not merely to preserve Luther from the wrath of his enemies, nor even to afford him a season of quiet for these important labors, that God had withdrawn His servant from the stage of public life. There were results more precious than these to be secured. In the solitude and obscurity of his mountain retreat, Luther was removed from earthly supports and shut out from human praise. He was thus saved from the pride and self- confidence that are so often caused by success. By suffering and humiliation he was prepared again to walk safely upon the dizzy heights to which he had been so suddenly exalted. GC 169.1"
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."
The EGW passage describes Luther's removal from public life to avoid pride and self-confidence, which parallels Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' to prevent him from being exalted above measure. The thematic connection is strong.
"that directs all the events of providence. Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and reverenced lose sight of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves. As a result they seek to control the minds and consciences of the people, who are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of God. The work of reform is often retarded because of this spirit indulged by its supporters. From this danger, God would guard the cause of the Reformation. He desired that work to receive, not the impress of man, but that of God. The eyes of men had been turned to Luther as the expounder of the truth; he was removed that all eyes might be directed to the eternal Author of truth. GC 169.2"
"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."
The EGW passage directly warns against trusting in religious leaders instead of God, which is the core principle of Jeremiah 17:5. The passage explicitly states that leaders should not be trusted over God.
"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."
Both passages emphasize that God is the one who ultimately brings about results, not human effort alone. The EGW passage speaks of God directing events and the Reformation receiving God's impress, while 1 Corinthians 3:7 states that God gives the increase.