Two Links of the Chain (namely, Election and Salvation) are up in
heaven in God's own hand; but this middle one (that is, Effectual
Calling) is let down to earth, into the hearts of his children, and
they laying hold on it have sure hold on the other two: for no power
can sever them. If, therefore, they can read the characters of God's
image in their own souls, those are the counterpart of the golden
characters of his love, in which their names are written in the book
of life. Their believing writes their names under the promises of the
revealed book of life (the Scriptures) and thus ascertains them, that
the same names are in the secret book of life which God hath by
himself from eternity. So that finding the stream of grace in their
hearts, though they see not the fountain whence it flows, nor the
ocean into which it returns, yet they know that it hath its source in
their eternal election, and shall empty itself into the ocean of their
eternal salvation.
If _election_, _effectual calling_, and _salvation_ be inseparably
linked together, then, by any one of them a man may lay hold upon all
the rest, and may know that his hold is sure; and this is the way
wherein we may attain and ought to seek, the comfortable assurance of
the love of God. Therefore _make your calling sure_, and by that your
_election_; for that being done, this follows of itself. We are not to
pry immediately into the decree, but to read it in the performance.
Though the mariner sees not the _pole-star_, yet the needle of the
compass which points to it, tells him which way he sails: thus the
heart that is touched with the loadstone of divine love, trembling
with godly fear, and yet still looking towards God by fixed believing,
interprets the fear by the love _in_ the fear, and tells the soul that
its course is heavenward, towards the haven of eternal rest. He that
loves may be sure he was loved first; and he that chooses God for his
delight and portion, may conclude confidently, that God has chosen him
to be one of those that shall enjoy him, and be happy in him for ever;
for that our love and electing of him is but the return and
repercussion of the beams of his love shining upon us.
Although from present unsanctification, a man cannot infer that he is
not _elected_; for the decree may, for part of a man's life, run (as
it were) underground; yet this is sure, that that estate leads to
death, and unless it be broken, will prove the black line of
reprobation. A man hath no portion amongst the children of God, nor
can read one word of comfort in all the promises that belong to them,
while he remains unholy.