The glory in the kingdom of heaven shall be begun at death, but not perfected until the resurrection… Heaven is not only a kingdom which God has promised, but which Christ has purchased (Eph. 1:14) with the price of His blood (Heb. 10:19)… The elect must have this blessed kingdom by virtue of their coalition and union with Jesus Christ. They are members of Christ, therefore they must be where their head is. Can Christ lose a member of his body?
—-Thomas Watson, “Practical Divinity”

I believe that election is free and permanent, being founded in grace and the unchangeable will of God. I believe that we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom 8:29, 30).
I believe that without Christ Jesus there is neither election, grace, nor salvation (Eph. 1:3-14)… I believe that no man can know his election but by his calling… Election does not foretell or prevent the means which are appointed of God to bring us to Christ, to grace and to glory (II Pet. 1:6-11).
I believe that in effectual calling the Holy Ghost must accompany the work of the Gospel, and that with mighty power… Calling is the fruit of electing love (I Thess. 1:4-10)… an effectual awakening about the evil of sin, and especially of unbelief… and great awakenings about the world to come and the glory of unseen things.
—John Bunyan “A Confession of Faith”

A spiritual darkness and death came by sin on all mankind… In thi state of things, the Holy Spirit undertook to create  a new world… wherein righteousness should dwell.  And this, in the first place, was by his effectual communication of a new principle of spiritual life to the souls of God’s elect… This he does in their regeneration… All our faith and obedience to God, and all our acceptance with him, depend on regeneration or being born again.
—John Owen, “Discourse on the Holy Spirit”

I believe that election is free and permanent, being founded in grace and the unchangeable will of God. I believe that we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29, 300).
I believe that without Christ Jesus there is neither election, grace, nor salvation (Eph 1:3-14)… I believe that no man can know his election but by his calling… Election does not foretell or prevent the means which are appointed of God to bring us to Christ, to grace and to glory (II Pet. 1:8-11).
I believe that in effectual calling the Holy Ghost must accompany the work of the Gospel, and that with mighty power… Calling is the fruit of electing love (1 Thess 1:4-1)… an effectual awakening about the evil of sin, and especially of unbelief… and great awakenings about the world to come and the glory of unseen things.
–John Bunyan “A confession of Faith.”

Some are much troubled because they proceed by a false method and order in judging their estates. They begin with election, which is the highest step of the ladder; whereas they should begin from the work of grace wrought within their hearts, from God’s calling by his Spirit, and their answer to His call, and then raise themselves upward to know their election by their answer to God’s calling.
“Give diligence,” says Peter, “to make your calling and election sure.” Your election by your calling. God descends to use from election to calling, and so to sanctification. We must ascend to him beginning where he ends. Otherwise it is a great folly as in removing a pile of wood, to begin at the lower first, and so, besides the needless trouble, to be in danger to have the rest to fall upon our heads.
—Richard Sibbes “A Homiletic Encyclopedia,” pp. 1798.