Election
Illustration★★★Doctrine of This opinion is not believed by thee, but is only pretended, as a cloak for thy wickedness and idleness; for if thou dost believe that, if God hath elected, he willsave thee however thou livest, why are not thy practices answerable to such ee Why dost thou not leave thy ground unsowed, and thy calling unfollowed, and say, If God hath decreed me a crop of corn, I shall have it, whether I sow my ground or no; and if God hath decreed me an estate, I shall have it though I never mind my calling? Why dost thou not neglect and refuse eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and say, If God hath decreed that I shall live longer, 1 shall do it, though 1 never eat, or drink, or sleep? For God hath decreed these things concerning thy ground, estate, and natural life, as well as concerning thine eternal condition in the other world.
The point
If a person truly believed God's decree of election excused them from responsible living, they would also stop plowing, eating, or sleeping — exposing the claim as a pretense for wickedness and idleness.