‘THE TESTIMONY OF OUR CONSCIENCE’
‘For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience.’
Conscience is a power, perhaps it will not be too much to say the greatest power in the world; a power which resides in every man.
A man is responsible for his conscience, whether to weaken or destroy, or to increase it and secure it in healthiness and strength. There may be a morbid conscience, and there may be a mistaken conscience; but
I. If a man will only faithfully obey two or three small rules all will be right.
(a) Pray to God that your conscience may be a right one in everything, and expect it in answer to your prayers.
(b) Square it with the Bible. Bring it constantly to that test, and that measure of all truth.
(c) Honour your conscience; never trifle with it in the smallest thing. Accept it as the echo of God’s voice, and listen for the echo’s return.
(d) Disobey instantly, whatever is against your conscience, however pleasant it may be, whatever worldly advantage it may be, however others may do the same, whatever the world may judge of it, give it up at once. It is enough, my conscience is against it!
(e) Do not be afraid to take the comfort of your conscience when it tells you that you are right. What it tells you, for instance, that you have made a little progress in the religious life. Accept the encouragement it gives; accept an approving conscience; but take care to give God the glory.
II. There are two lines which conscience should take.
(a) In worldly things, in all my dealings with my fellow-creatures; in money matters; in my various relations of life; in society; in my way of spending my time; my expenses, my amusements, my family, my servants, my employers, my private habits, what must conscience say? Has it all been with a single eye? Will it bear the light? Not after the world’s way of accepting a thing; but as the grace of God acts. Has it worked in me? Has it been ‘in simplicity and godly sincerity?’
(b) And in more decidedly religious points, what does conscience say? Have I been true to my Church, to my conscience, to my God? Could my Church’s walls bear witness, could my Baptismal font bear witness, could the Holy Table bear witness to the frequency, to the earnestness, to the reality of my worship? Have I loved God’s house? Am I the better for it? Could my own room testify to the truth and fervour of my private devotions? Have I done what I might in Church work for the bodies and souls of those around me, for my own friends, for my own family, for my Lord and Master? Is any one the better because I am a Christian?
—Rev. James Vaughan.
Illustration
‘Have you ever noticed the great clock of St. Paul’s Cathedral? At midday, in the roar of business, how few hear it but those who are close to it! But when the work of the day is over, and silence reigns in London, then it may be heard for miles around. That is just like the conscience of an impenitent man. While in health and strength he will not hear it; but the day will come when he must retire from the world and look death in the face; and then the clock of conscience—the solemn clock—will sound in his ears, and, if he has not repented, will bring wretchedness and misery to his soul.’