Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

It remains to treat of the second thing, ⟨p. 412⟩that is, That he may be assured of his perseverance in Grace, and so of his Salvation. He knows, That his Graces are true, and withal, That they are [Greek or Hebrew], things having or containing Salvation. Heaven buds, and Eternal Life begins in them, He that believeth hath everlasting life, Joh. 5.24. He hath it in the first-fruits and irrevocable earnest of it. The Seed of God in him, will grow up into Immortality; the Well of living Water will spring up into everlasting Life. Only it may be alleged, That these Graces may be lost: Unto which I answer, Abstractively & in their mere creature-essence they may; but in their dependence they cannot. Their Standing, if on mans Will only, might fail; but their Foundation on the Covenant of Grace cannot. The Believer may not only see his own Graces, but beyond them, that Eternal Election which is the great Fountain thereof. Reflecting on the true Graces in his heart, he may say, Here is the Faith of Gods Elect, and, Here is the Love and Patience of Gods Elect. Spiritual Blessings are given according to Election, Eph. 1.3.4; and I have those Blessings in me. Effectual Vocation hangs on Predestination, as the highest Link in the Chain of Grace, Rom. 8.30; and I am so called. This made St. Bernard, ¹speaking of effectual Vocation, say, Ad ortum solis justitiae Sacramentum absconditum à seculis de praedestinatis beatificandis emergere quodammodo incipit ex abysso aeternitatis; When the Sun of Righteousness ⟨p. 413⟩rises upon the Heart in an effectual Call, the secret mystery of Predestination hid from Ages, breaks forth out of the abyss of Eternity. Here the Great Counsel of Eternal Love, which lay in Gods Bosom, shows forth it self to the Believer through the Lattice of his Graces. Hence he may conclude on good grounds, That his Graces shall never fail, so long as the Foundation of God standeth sure in Election. Continual supplies of Grace from the Fountain will keep his Lamp from going out. Its observable, that when God expresses his fresh Mercies to his People, he doth it thus; I will yet choose Israel,