p. 452 | Conscience by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 28, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 29.

Conscience

By Eliza H. Morton

CONSCIENCE is primarily a feeling, yet it makes its decisions in accordance with the intellect; and unless the intellect is educated by the word of God, it is not a safe guide. The conscience enforces what the Bible and reason say is right, and prompts and prods when the carnal mind leads contrary to God's revealed will.

Every man that comes into the world is to a certain extent enlightened by conscience; for there is enough in nature to reveal the existence of a God, and even heathens feel a conscience accusing or excusing them. Rom. 2: 14, 15. Conscience, however, may be educated wrong, and lead men to do many cruel and wicked deeds. John 16: 2.

The blood of Christ is the only thing that will purge and strengthen a conscience that has been weakened by sin. Heb. 9: 14. It is the blessed privilege of every Christian to hold a good conscience, and to go on from strength to strength. In order to have this growth in the divine life, one must not tamper with sin, no matter in what garb it comes, and no matter how alluringly and bewitchingly it appeals to the senses.

The repeated transgression of any command of God deadens the moral sensibilities, defiles the conscience (Titus 1: 15), sears it as with a hot iron (1 Tim. 4: 2), and leads the soul straight downward to destruction.

The conscience that is in harmony with the Bible will be quick to discern the motions of sin in the members of the body, and quick to obey the voice that says, "This is the way, walk ye in it." Isa. 30: 21. Those who honestly desire to do right, and seek help from above, will be strengthened by God's Spirit, and be enabled to overcome the tendencies of the natural heart. "There is power in the blood." ELIZA H. MORTON.