from A VIEW OF SAVING FAITH by John Colquhoun 

Has God, as was evidenced above, collected into the Scriptures, all the revelations which are needful for the knowledge, faith, and obedience of men? It is the duty, then, of every one who is favored with the Scriptures, highly to esteem, and diligently to search them. They contain the word of God, that treasure of superlative worth, that light from heaven, which shines with transcendent lustre, on our benighted world. They are a lamp to guide our feet in the way of peace. They contain, not only a plain and perfect rule, but the only rule to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy God. They are able, in the hand of the adorable Spirit, to make the man of God perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. They are, as it were, a vessel come from a far country, laden with celestial stores; Christ, the Pearl of great price, with his righteousness and salvation. If the ship that carried Cæsar, was honored, what must the dignity, the excellence of sacred Scripture be, which conveys the Saviour and his great salvation, to sinful men! And Oh! what happy shores are ours, to which, the celestial vessel has come! How dear, should the Scriptures be to us, how thoroughly should they be searched, how diligently studied, how firmly believed! They are the appointed means, by which, the Holy Spirit regenerates and sanctifies the soul;his great instrument, in beginning and promoting spiritual life. When he opens our understanding, it is, that we may understand the Scriptures. When he renews the will and the affections, it is, that we may yield to them the obedience of faith, and receive the love of the truth. Whatever spiritual blessings, the Lord Jesus communicates to us, it is only "by obeying the truth through the Spirit," that we receive them. Should not we, then, with increasing delight, treasure them in our memory, receive them into our heart, and bring them into our life? Dictated by the Holy Spirit, they are able to make us wise unto salvation. They are a lamp for direction, a sword for defense, food for nourishment, and a rich magazine of all true comfort. If, therefore, it were put to the choice of the saints, either to part with the sun out of the firmament, or with the Bible out of the world, they would unanimously choose the former.

 from A VIEW OF SAVING FAITH by John Colquhoun 

 

Saving faith is inestimably precious. The apostle Peter styles it, "precious faith," 2 Peter 1:1. The grace of faith, is far more precious than gold. This perishes by using; but that increases by exercise. The very least measure of it, is so inexpressibly valuable, as not to be obtained for gold. They who possess it, how poor soever they may be, in this world, are rich, and heirs of a heavenly kingdom, James 2:5; "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." The very trial of faith, is much more precious than that of gold; for the trial of our faith "worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed." Whilst it was purchased for us, at an infinite price, it is our obedience to God's first, and great commandment. By means of it, we attain a personal interest in a precious Saviour, in his precious blood, his precious grace, and his great and precious promises. It is a receiving of Christ, with all his righteousness and fulness; and, therefore, it is eminently honorable, and pleasing to God. It gives the highest honor to the Son, and, therefore, must be highly acceptable to the Father. By believing cordially what God hath spoken, and that, because He hath said it, faith gives to him the glory of his truth. And, how precious is it, to the believer himself! By faith, he is indissolubly united to the Lord Jesus, (Ephesians 3:17). By faith he is justified, (Romans 5:1). By faith he is adopted, (Galatians 3:26). By faith he is sanctified, (Acts 26:18). By faith he lives, Galatians (2:20). By faith he stands, (2 Cor. 2:24). By faith he walks, (2 Cor. 5:7). By faith he fights, (1 Timothy 6:12). By faith he overcomes, (1 John 5:4). By faith he is saved, (Ephesians 2:8). By faith he is comforted, (1 Peter 1:8). And in faith he dies, (Hebrews 11:13). O, that the reader may have this precious faith; that it may grow exceedingly in him; and that he may "continue in the faith, grounded and settled!"

 from the book by Jeremiah Burroughs - The Saint's Treasury

.....by the liberty thou hast now by Christ, this is thy condition, that whatever thou doest, though there be so many numerous imperfections in it, yet if God can spy out but the least good thing in thee, he will take notice of that, and cast away all the evil:  if God sees any thing of his own spirit in thee, he will be sure to take notice of that. If there be but one dust of gold, though it be mixed with abundance of dross, God will not lose it, but will find it out: God he is not strict to mark what is done amiss by his children, but he is strict to mark what is done well by them. Indeed the law tells us, nay a moral man will tell us, that to make an action good, all circumstances must concur: but the liberty of the Gospel tells us, that where there is any good, any grace in an action, God observes and takes notice of it. To give but one influence for this, and it is an excellent one for this purpose, I Peter 3:6 the apostle propounds Sarah as a pattern for good women, Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. She never calls him Lord; but then when she did it unbelievingly, and yet God takes notice of that word, and never mentions her unbelief. Now Sarah was a free woman, and this is the gracious dealing of God with the free woman; and if thou be a child of the free women, this is thy privilege, that God will take notice of every good action thou doest. Isaiah 42:3, A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. The word signifies as soon as ever the flax begins to be black, God will not reject it: so that if there be but the least degree of good, it is accepted.