'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — May 28

God has engaged himself, having chosen a people for himself, and secured them from all that any can do against them. Election is as eternal as God is, without variableness or shadow of change, and thus is called 'an eternal purpose, and it must stand (Eph. 3:11; Rom. 9:11). It is absolute and unconditional. No works were foreseen in us that were the cause of God's choosing us; and no sin in us shall frustrate or make election void. By the act of election, we are wrapped and covered in Christ; he has chosen us in him; not in ourselves, not in our virtues, no, not for or because of anything but his own will (Eph. 1:4-11). Election is the permanent resolution of God to glorify his mercy on the vessels of mercy he foreordained unto glory (Rom. 9:15, 18, 23). By the act of electing love, it is concluded that all things whatsoever shall work together for good to those called according to the eternal purpose of God (Rom. 8:28-30). The eternal inheritance is by a covenant of free and unchangeable grace signed over to those who are chosen. It secures them from the danger of sin, and from the malice of Satan. The covenant is sealed by the blood of our advocate the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the mediator of this covenant and the guarantee for us in the great day of judgment. We are safe and sound before the Father's face (Rom. 9:23; Heb. 7:22; 9:15, 7-24; 13:20; John 10:28-29). By God's choice, purpose, and decree, the elect have been allotted in Christ a sufficiency of grace to bring them through all difficulties to glory. Every one of them, after the first act of faith—which also they shall certainly attain—shall receive the earnest and firstfruits of the Spirit into their souls which is part of the promise.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Bunyan, Works, I:163-164
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