November 24

Holding faith, and a good conscience.—1 Timothy 1:19.

DO I realize that an intelligent faith is the only sure foundation of a good conscience; and that conscience, when enlightened and faithful, is as the voice of God himself; and that obedience to its dictates, is the way of duty, and safety, and happiness? By always harkening to its voice, do I encourage it to be prompt and faithful in speaking? By the prayerful study of God's word do I seek to have my conscience divinely enlightened, so that I may always safely obey its voice?

As the sun-dial cannot make known the hour when the sun does not shine upon it, so conscience is not a safe guide to duty unless enlightened by God's word.

Conscience is the true vicar of Christ in the soul; a prophet in its information; a monarch in its peremptoriness; a priest in its blessings or anathemas, according as we obey or disobey it.—J. NEWMAN.

Keep your conscience tender—tender as the eye that closes its lid against an atom of dust, or as the sensitive plant which shrinks and shuts its leaves not merely at the rude touch of a finger, but at the breath of a moth.

O conscience! conscience! man's most faithful friend, Him thou carst comfort, cheer, relieve, defend: But if he will thy friendly checks forego, Thy voice is terror—thou his deadliest foe!—CRABBE.