January 28

"A good conscience."—1 Timothy 1:19.

A GOOD conscience—what a priceless possession it is!

It is a conscience whose fears and alarms have been quieted. It sees and knows its Saviour. It rejoices that He has cancelled its guilt and has set it free. The tumult is changed into a calm. The black indictment is obliterated by a pierced Hand. The sorrowful years of banishment are over.

It is a conscience which is tender and sensitive. It detects the far-off shadow and semblance of evil. It recoils from the contaminating touch of the wicked thing. An Ithuriel's spear belongs to it, by which it can penetrate the disguises in which sin arrays its foulness and hides its true and hateful self.

It is a conscience operative and powerful. It rules and directs the whole man. It is his mirror of right and wrong, his inner law enacting in what road he should go. Mr. Recorder, deposed so long from his place of authority, has been lifted into it again, and his voice, because it echoes his Master's, is a kingly voice.

It is a conscience which is governed by the Holy Spirit. It listens for His slightest whisper. It welcomes His least and greatest commandments. It is not its own guide and end; God is its All in all. The fetters which it loves and in which it glories will lie on it for ever, and no Emancipation Day will dawn for it through the ageless future.

My Lord, create in me this conscience, and educate it more and more in those things which are true and honourable and just and pure and lovely and of good report.