The comfort in distrusting our hearts

From The Full Corn in the Ear, by John Newton (1725-1807)

The mature Christian is as completely dependent on Christ for performing spiritual feats or resisting temptations as he was at the first day of his setting out. Yet he is much stronger, because he has a more constant awareness of his own weakness and natural corruption. The Lord has long been teaching him this lesson by a trying series of circumstances and through grace he can gladly say that he has not suffered these things in vain. His heart has deceived him so often, that he is now weaned from trusting to it and having found again and again the uselessness of all other helps, he is now taught to go to the Lord at once for "grace to help in every time of need." Thus he is strong, not in himself, but in the increasing grace that is in Christ Jesus.