The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

If it be asked, What is the reason of this difference betwixt these two keys? Answ. It is, first, because the ground upon which we loose and bind with the key of Discipline, is something obvious to men's view, wherein they may warrantably judge and proceed, and therefore that is done absolutely: But in the key of Doctrine it is not so; for, men cannot tell who really believe, and who not, and it cannot by judicial proofs be made-out, Therefore they cannot bind or loose but conditionally. Secondly, God hath committed the outward man to be the object of Discipline, but the inner man and conscience is reserved to the Word and Doctrine, and men have not gotten authority over consciences and hearts; Therefore what concerneth the outward man, and outward ⟨p. 107⟩privileges, may be determined absolutely, But what concerneth the conscience and inner man only conditionally, because He hath reserved the absolute decision of that to himself, Therefore there is a sixth difference also. The word may and doth bind indefinitely, that is, persons so and so qualified, without making application in binding or loosing to individual persons, and doth not so bind or loose but conditionally, as is said; But Discipline striketh at individual persons, and as such, doth not otherwayes affect: for, suppose an indefinite Sentence of Excommunication, against persons so qualified, to be pronounced, it doth debar none from Church-privileges, as it is such; and for what influence it hath further, it is as it cometh under the key of doctrine, which doth bind or loose such, but not as it is under the key of Discipline, and that for the reasons mentioned.

If it be asked, What is the reason of this difference betwixt these two keys? Answ. It is, first, because the ground upon which we loose and bind with the key of Discipline, is something obvious to men's view, wherein they may warrantably judge and proceed, and therefore that is done absolutely: But in the key of Doctrine it is not so; for, men cannot tell who really believe, and who not, and it cannot by judicial proofs be made-out, Therefore they cannot bind or loose but conditionally. Secondly, God hath committed the outward man to be the object of Discipline, but the inner man and conscience is reserved to the Word and Doctrine, and men have not gotten authority over consciences and hearts; Therefore what concerneth the outward man, and outward ⟨p. 107⟩