Conscience by Wm. Mc Kearnin

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 16, 1866

Conscience.

By Wm. Mc Kearnin

"My conscience does not condemn me." This has, in almost every case, been the excuse of those whom the Lord has led me to reprove for indulging in things that his word forbids. They say "my conscience does not condemn; so I am all right." But are you sure that your consciences are enlightened by the Holy Ghost? If they are not, they cannot be a sure guide. Saul said, "verily I believed I must do things contrary to Jesus," so he followed the leadings of his conscience to deeds of persecution, yet he felt free in all this, till the Spirit of God shone on his heart. Then, and not till then, was it safe for him to follow his conscience. The conscience that will allow us to indulge in anything God's word does not permit, must be wrong. Who professes religion and does not profess to take the Bible for his rule of action? Yet many do things it forbids. Sister in Christ, thou that fostereth pride by putting on things that God's word forbids, how readest thou? 1 Pet. iii, 3; 1 Tim. ii, 9; Isa. iii, 16–25. In putting on these things, you are advertising the world in characters as visible as if they were written in large capitals, "I am living in disobedience to the claims of God."

Brother, thou that makest hard bargains with thy neighbors, you know you have property in your possession that honestly belongs to your neighbor, but you say, "my conscience does not condemn me." The command from the lips of your Redeemer is, "as you would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." Then do not allow your conscience to remain quiet when God condemns you. Like a true man, be honest with yourself. Would you be willing to stand at the judgment bar this day, with one dollar in your pocket that you know does not belong to you? Rest assured that it would shut you out of Heaven! Is not that saying of the prophet true, "as with the buyer so with the seller," are they not both guilty before God? Then repent, and restore, if it be in your power to do so, if not four-fold, make that good wherein you have wronged by mistakes or otherwise. Does not indulgence in superfluous ornaments in dress, or on your carriages, or harness, cost money for which you will have to give an account when the master settles with you? Then be not deceived either by conscience or otherwise, for God is not mocked.

God's holy word must be the chart by which we steer to Heaven. Then bring your life to this rule. Do not let your conscience lead you where the holy word will not go with you. "For he that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."—Wm. Mc Kearnin.