Conscience
Conscience Needs Illumination. — I do not hesitate to say, that we all unwittingly allow ourselves in practices, which clearer light would show to be sins. Even the best of men have done this in the past. For instance, John Newton, in his trading for slaves in his early days, never seemed to have felt that there was any wrong in it; and Whitefield in accepting slaves for his orphanage in Georgia, never raised or dreamed of raising the question as to whether slavery was in itself sinful. Perhaps advancing light will show that many of the habits and customs of our present civilization are essentially bad, and our grandsons will wonder how we could have acted as we did. It may need centuries before the national conscience, or even the common Christian conscience, will be enlightened up to the true standard of right; and the individual man may need many a chastisement and rebuke from the Lord ere he has fully discerned between good and evil.
A Fearful Conscience. — I have heard of a man who was so constantly in debt, and continually being arrested by the bailiffs, that once upon a time, when going by some area railings, having caught his sleeve upon one of the rails, he turned round and said, “I don’t owe you any thing, sir.” He thought it was a bailiff. And so it is with unforgiven sinners, wherever they are, they think they are going to be arrested. They can enjoy nothing.
Even their mirth, what is it, but the color of joy, the crackling of thorns under the pot? there is no solid, steady fire. But when once a man is forgiven, he can walk anywhere. He says,” to me it is nothing whether I live or die, whether ocean depths engulf me, or whether I am buried beneath the avalanche; with sin forgiven, I am secure. Death has no sting to him. His conscience is at rest.
True to His Conscience. — I know a man whose master had tried to make him go against his conscience; but he said, “No, sir.” And the master thought, “Well, he is a very valuable servant; but I will beat him, if I can.” So he threatened that if he did not do as he wished he would turn him away. The man was dependent on his master, and he knew not what he should do for his daily bread. So he said to his master honestly at once, “Sir, I don’t know of any other situation; I should be very sorry to leave you, for I have been very comfortable, but if it comes to that, sir, I would sooner starve than submit my conscience to any one.” The man left, and the master had to go after him to bring him back again. And so it will be in every case. If Christians are but faithful, they must win the day.