The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

I have known some that have lived long in doubts and fears of damnation, who have turned Anabaptists, and suddenly had comfort: And yet in a short time they forsook that Sect and turned to another. I have known those also that have lived many years in timorous complaints, and fears of Hell; and they have turned to the Antinomians, and suddenly been comforted: And others have turned Arminians, which is clean contrary, and been comforted: And others have but heard of the Doctrine of perfection in this life, and suddenly been past their fears, as if hearing of perfection had made them perfect: And from thence they have turned Familists, and at last showed their perfection by fornication and licentiousness and mere Apostasy; who yet lived very conscionably and blamelessly, as long as they lived in their fears and troubles.

I have known some that have lived long in doubts and fears of damnation, who have turned Anabaptists, and suddenly had comfort: And yet in a short time they forsook that Sect and turned to another. I have known those also that have lived many years in timerous complaints, and fears of Hell; and they have turned to the Antinomians, and suddenly been comforted: And others have turned Arminians, which is clean contrary, and been comforted: And others have but heard of the Doctrine of perfection in this life, and suddenly been past their fears, as if hearing of perfection had made them perfect: And from thence they have turned Familists, and at last shew'd their perfection by fornication and licentiousness and meer Apostasie; who yet liv'd very conscionably and blamelesly, as long as they lived in their fears and troubles.

The reason of all this is plain to any judicious Observer. 1. The persons are ignorant and never had the right knowledge and skilful improvement, of the sound doctrine which at first they seemed to embrace. And 2. the power of conceit and fancy brought them comfort or quietness in their change. For they thought before, that if they had not somewhat extraordinary they could have no assurance of salvation: And while they held that sound Doctrine which all about them held as well as they, and found no extraordinary power of it on their hearts, they perceived no difference between themselves and others: But when they had entertained new opinions, and entered into a new Sect, which confidently told them, that they only were in the right, they had