Horatius Bonar on justifying faith

Horatius Bonar reminds us that the faith which justifies us is in no sense our meritorious contribution to salvation, but is rather the utter renunciation of all our own works and righteousness:

Faith is not work, nor merit, nor effort; but the cessation from all these, and the acceptance in place of them of what another has done—done completely, and forever. (From Bonar's The Everlasting Righteousness)