CHAP. XXII.
Mr. Cotton. Secondly (saith he) I know no man that reproa∣cheth Salem for their separation, nor doe I beleeve that they doe separate, howsoever if any do reproach them for it, I think it a sin meet to be censured, but not with so deep a censure as to Excommunicate all the Churches, or to separate from them before it do appeare that they doe tollerate their members in such their causeles reproachings: We confesse the errors of men are to be contended against, not with reproaches, but the Sword of the Spirit: but on the other side, the saylings of the Churches are not forthwith to be healed by separation. It is not chyrurgery but butcherie to heale every sore in a mem∣ber with no other but abscision from the body.
Ans. The Church of Salem was known to profes separation, and was generally and publikely reproached (and I could men∣cion a case wherin she was punished) for it implicitly.
Mr. Cotton here confesseth these 2 things, which (I leave to himselfe to reconcile,* 1.1 with his former profession here and elswhere against separation. First (saith he) if any reproach them for separation it is a sin meet to be censured. Secondly, the Churches themselves may be separated from, who tole∣rate their members in such causeles reproachings. In these later passages he seems (as in other his confessions and practises mentioned) to be for it, sensible of shame, disgrace or reproach to be cast on it.
I grant with him the failings of Churches are not forthwith to be healed by separation,* 1.2 yet himself within a few lines con∣fesseth there is a lawfull separation from Churches, that doe but tollerate their members in causeles reproaches.
I confesse also that it is not chyrurgerie but butcherie, to heale every sore with no other medicine but with abscision from the body: yet himselfe confesseth before, that even Churches of godly persons must be separated from, for im∣moderate