Paradise opened, or, The secrets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…Paradice opened, or, The secreets, mysteries, and rarities of divine love, of infinite wisdom,…

Tenthly and lastly, many take up in a party, as of old some cried up Paul as the only deep Preacher, and others cried up Apollos as the only eloquent Preacher, and¹ many cried up Cephas as the most zealous Preacher; We are for the Church of England, say some, we are for the baptized People, say others, we are for the Presbyterian government, cry some, we are for the congregational way, cry others. I have so much ingenuity and charity, ⟨image 10⟩as to judge, that some of all these several parties and persuasions are really holy and will be eternally happy, are gracious and will be glorious, are sanctified and will be saved, are now governed by Christ and will be hereafter glorified with Christ. Judas was one of Christs party,² (if I may so speak) and yet he had no part nor portion in Christ. Demas was one of Paul's party, and yet he³ plaid the Apostate, and turned an idolatrous Priest at⁴ Thessalonica, as Dorotheus saith; And Phygellus and Hermogenes were of Paul's party, but were only famous for⁵ their recidivation and Apostasy. Hymeneus and Alexander were of Paul's party, but they made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. The five foolish Virgins⁶ were in society with the wise, and were accounted as members of their association, and yet the door of Heaven was shut against them. Many light, slight and vain persons went with the Children of Israel out of the Land⁷ of Egypt, even a mixed multitude that embarked in the same bottom with them, and yet never arrived at the Land of promise. O my Friends, it is not a mans being of this party or that, this Church or that, this way or that, this society or that, that will bring him to Heaven without⁸