Therefore, if we would make way for the call of Christ, we must put far from us all arrogance and confidence.... Never shall we have sufficient confidence in [God] unless we are utterly distrustful of ourselves; never shall we take courage in him until we first despond of ourselves; never shall we have full consolation in him until we cease to have any in ourselves. When we have entirely discarded all self-confidence, and trust solely in the certainty of his goodness, we are fit to apprehend and obtain the grace of God.
-- Taken from Calvin's Institutes (3.12.8)
