Conscience in Religion

Men of the world are ready to admit the genuineness of the piety which speaks the truth — and pays its honest debts. But when a manis fervid in the prayer-meeting and frigidly selfish — outside of the meeting — when he can sing a psalm or swindle a neighbor in a bargain with the same smooth tongue — he must expect to be F held ‘‘at a discount.’? This is but right. The — world is warranted in looking for a high standard of character and conduct from those who profess to follow the pure and holy Jesus. Chris- — tians must not find fault with the unconverted 7 who find fault with them for any inconsistencies of conduct. It is a tribute of solid respect for — Christianity that is paid to it by those who expect its professors to be upright and conscientious. ‘‘By their fruits ye shall know them,” said the Master. Jesus expects and demands

ie that his followers shall live up to the clear bright standard of his Word. To do this the conscience must be well edu-

‘cated and thoroughly obeyed. A conscience is

to its owner what a compass is to an ocean steamer. Some Christians’ moral compasses are ‘so constantly deflected by the presence of disturbing elements in the heart that they ‘“‘ steer

’ wild,’’ and often run on rocks. A conscience

that does not point squarely and unvaryingly towards the pole-star of God’s truth is a dangerous one to steer the life by. Bible-study is

necessary to keep our consciences well adjusted. A careful man often sets his watch by the sun. A careful Christian will be constantly setting his

conscience by the Bible. ‘Then he can: go by it

without any fear of going astray. Paul makes much, but not too much, of having ‘‘a good con-

’ science.’? The characteristics of a good conscience are quick discernment of sin even when

’ it wears a white raiment, and a loud voice to warn its possessor when sin is getting too near. The office of the conscience is to detect sin and

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a ae, to sound the alarm-bell; then it becomes the duty of the will to seize the helm and steer clear of the danger.

What a beautifully-adjusted conscience Joseph had! Behind the captivating smile of his wanton temptress he detects-a lurking devil. There is no spectator present except One. God is in that chamber. Joseph’s first question is not, ‘‘How shall I do this wrong to Potiphar?”’ but, ‘‘ How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’ If he had stopped to calculate — the chances of Potiphar’s ever finding him out, he would have probably wrecked himself on the spot. He would have taken hell-fire into his bosom, as every young man or woman does who commits this deadly sin. The first trait of a good conscience is that it keeps God ever before the eye.

But of what value is the best instructed conscience if it is not obeyed? It was Joseph’s one decisive act of obedience to conscience which, ‘in the end, seated him on the Prime Minister’s throne in Egypt. It was King Saul’s constant throttling of his own conscience that made him the gloomy wretch that he was. Paul and Silas made the old Bastile of Philippi ring with their joyful hymns at midnight, because their spirits were in sweet harmony with God. On the other hand, it was Judas Iscariot’s constant fight against conscience which made his career so wretched; and conscience got her revenge when she twisted a suicide’s rope around his worthless neck. If the secret could be known, this is the reason why many Christian professors have such a sorry time of it and know nothing of joyous sunshine in their religion. They are at war with their own consciences. ‘They slip into this sin and into that, resolving every time, ‘‘ This shall be the last.” But it is not the last. Every violence done to their own moral sense makes them the weaker and the more wretched. Jesus hides his face from them. ‘They take but little com-: fort in any religious duty, and even come to the communion table with the guilty feeling that they are ‘‘dipping the hand into the dish”? only to betray their Lord. Unless we are very much mistaken, the real reason for so much unhappiness in the tempers and the lives of many church members is that their consciences are ill at ease. Instead of being a trusted guide and comforter, conscience becomes a constant tormentor. Such a wounded spirit who can bear?

We throw out these few hints with a hope that they may discover to certain unhappy and unhealthy professors the real reason for their dark and dreary condition. No man can be happy unless he sets his conscience ‘i ee

in time’’ with the teachings of Christ and then goes by it. He will then find himself in the right frame for prayer. He will enjoy his own meditations and his communion with his Master. He will be a living witness for Christ, never a stumbling-block for others. His life, instead of being a jangling discord of inconsistencies, will be a beautiful harmony, both with the inner voice of a pure conscience and with the heavenly voice of his beloved Lord.

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THE MIGHTY WORD “NO.”